International students

English Proficiency and Correspondence

All written correspondence, including letters of recommendation, must be in English. All instruction, rehearsals, and classes are conducted in English at MMF. Participants must be proficient in English in order to participate fully in the program.

Payment of Fees

All fees are payable in US funds drawn from a US correspondent bank. The major credit cards (Visa, Discover, Mastercard, or American Express) are accepted. Accepted participants are responsible for paying all visa-related fees and travel expenses.

Financial Aid

International participants are eligible for financial assistance. Participants applying for a scholarship or financial assistance must make certain that all application information is complete. Incomplete applications may result in ineligibility for aid. The scholarship committee is aware that other countries use different methods of calculating personal income. If you need to provide further clarification, please contact our staff.

Visa Information

Mostly Modern Festival provides the below information to assist international participants in their endeavors to attend the festival, but participants should also make sure to contact their embassy and get official assistance if they have any further questions or are not sure which visa to apply for. Please do not wait until the last minute to start this process, as it does vary by country, can be lengthy, and could potentially affect your ability to attend the festival if there are delays.

B-2 Visa
Participants who do not attend school in the US and do not plan to stay in the US could be eligible for a B-2 tourist visa, as MMF does not count toward any school credit. There are specific parameters for using a B visa for study, so if you are unsure if you qualify, please review these with your embassy.

F-1 Visa
Students enrolled in a US school on an F-1 visa valid through July can legally stay in the United States for the summer. Students should contact the international advisor at their current school to complete the appropriate paperwork necessary for extending training and education over the summer.
Students enrolled in a US school on an F-1 visa that is not valid through July will need to either enroll in a school for the fall following Mostly Modern Festival or apply for Optional Practical Training (OPT).

Students continuing school at either a new institution or the same institution in the fall will need to speak with their international advisor to ensure paperwork is processed correctly. Students starting a new school in the fall may be able to transfer their current visas. It is recommended students DO NOT leave the country when transferring visas. Students must check with their international advisor for best practices.

Students not continuing school after the spring before Mostly Modern Festival may consider applying for OPT. Students should start this application immediately by meeting with their current international student advisor. MMF must be informed of the application status.

Optional Practical Training
Optional Practical Training (OPT) is an excellent option for international students finishing school in the United States and not planning to continue with a new degree in the fall. OPT is a period during which undergraduate and graduate students with F-1 status who have completed or who have been pursuing their degrees for more than nine months are permitted by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services to work towards getting practical training to complement their field of studies on a student visa for at most one year. F-1 students are usually permitted a total of 12 months of practical training. Any students who meet these requirements will need to contact their current international advisor immediately to start the application process. MMF must be informed of the application status.

Additional options
Participants who do not meet the B-2, F-1, or OPT requirements described above are encouraged to explore other visa possibilities that best suit their situation. Please note that MMF is unable to sign any documentation to aid in the visa process. MMF does not offer M-1 or J-1 visas at this time. Please contact your embassy with any further questions.