If an applicant is coming to Fermilab from a country where English is not the official language, the Visa Office must verify that they have sufficient English language skills to participate in J-1 programs. U.S. regulations require the Visa Office to obtain this proof from all applicants, including those from English-speaking countries and institutions, with no exceptions unless English is the official language of their country.
Ways to Verify English Language Abilities
- Online test: Take the 15-minute English Proficiency test online and provide a PDF of your results page.
- Standard test results: Email TOEFL or other standard English language test results to the Visa Office or fax them to the Education Office at 630-840-8248.
- Interview: Be interviewed by either a professor from your school on behalf of Fermilab or by one of Fermilab’s scientists. The interview can be conducted in person, via video teleconferencing, or by webcam, but not by telephone. If a professor conducts the interview, they must first enter into an agreement with Fermilab. The professor must contact the Fermilab Visa Office to receive the agreement, instructions for the interview, and a template letter for the final report.
- School confirmation: Your school can confirm that you have attended English language classes as part of your coursework or that certain courses are conducted in English. The school must also attest that it believes your English abilities are sufficient for the internship program using the English Language Certification form provided. No other form will be accepted.
If an applicant is a native English speaker, a professor or other representative from their institution may provide a letter on official letterhead. The letter should include any or all of the following statements, as appropriate to the applicant’s situation. The letter can then be emailed to the Visa Office at VisaOffice@fnal.gov or faxed to the Education Office at 630-840-8248.
Sample:
<full address of the University>
<Date>
To whom it may concern:
This is to certify proficiency in English of <full name of student>, student of #th year of study in the <Institution Name> in the Department of <Department Field>.
<Name> has completed # semesters of English classes, totaling ### hours. OR <Name> has completed # semesters of classes that were taught in English, totaling ### hours.
The final grade awarded to <Name> for the Fall 2008 semester was # (out of # possible). <Name> has a level of fluency in English that is satisfactory for successful participation in a summer internship in the U.S.A.
<Name of the official>,
<Title>
Sample:
<Date>
To whom it may concern:
This is to certify proficiency in English of <full name of student> , student of #th year of study in the <Institution Name> in the Department of <Department Field>.
<Name>’s native language is English. S/he was born in <Country>, the official language of which is English. Further, <Institution Name> teaches all courses in English. I therefore confirm that <Name> is fluent in English.
<Name of the official>,
<Title>
Translate the page
If you need to translate the web page, the Google Chrome browser is recommended. On the right of the address bar, click translate and select your preferred language. Google Chrome will then translate the webpage.
Si necesita traducir la página web, se recomienda utilizar el navegador Google Chrome. A la derecha de la barra de direcciones, haga clic en traducir y seleccione su idioma preferido. Luego, Google Chrome traducirá la página web.