Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on registration, fees, courses, money, and much more...

1. When can I start my courses?
2. How much does it cost to come to your school?
3. When should I register and when do I have to pay?
4. What happens if I cancel?
5. How much money should I bring with me?
6. What happens if I want to change my courses or schedule when I am there?
7. How do I register?
8. Do I need a TOEFL® test score to enter one of your schools?
9. Can I choose the courses that I want right now and be sure I will get them?
10. How do you decide what level I am at before I take classes?
11. What happens on my first day at GEOS?
12. Do I get a diploma or certificate when I finish?
13. What is the materials fee?
14. I am trying to register online but I don't think it is working. Do I need to change something in my computer?
15. Can I take a break from my classes if I want to go on a trip for a week or two?
16. Can I go from one GEOS school to another? Are there any extra fees for doing this?
17. Do I need a visa to come to your school?
18. I am studying or visiting Canada right now. Can I use the same visa I used to enter Canada to come to the United States?
19. I am studying or visiting the United States right now. Can I use the same visa I used to enter the United States to come to Canada?
20. Can I visit Canada while I am in the United States?
21. Can I visit the United States while I am in Canada?
22. If I decide to stay longer at GEOS can I extend my F-1 visa in the United States?
23. If I decide to stay longer at GEOS can I extend my Study Permit in Canada?
24. Can I work while I am in the United States studying at GEOS?
25. Can I work while I am in Canada studying at GEOS?
26. How do I obtain an extension of my Study Permit?
27. Can I have packages delivered to the school?
28. Where can I read your Privacy Policy?

Our courses are 12-weeks long and are based on a rolling admission. If you are studying English, and have studied French before, you can start on any Monday. However, if you are a beginner French student, you will need to start on one of our Beginner French start dates.
We also suggest that you do not start one week before our recommended start dates each month. (This is because that week is used for examinations and report cards.) You can find the information on Beginner French start dates and recommended start dates here.

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It depends on what program you wish to take and what school you wish to go to. Please take a look at our tuition fees.

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The earlier you register, the earlier your place is confirmed in the school. We want to accept all students, but if all classes are full, we might not be able to accept you.

Here are the registration steps:

1. Send us the registration form. If you are currently a full-time student in the U.S.A., you will need to fill out and send a transfer form from one of our GEOS' schools.
2. For students who will apply for an F-1 student visa in the USA, submit a statement from your bank saying that you have the financial support for the period you wish to study for. Your financial statement must be in English and must be recent (dated within the last 6 months). (Please calculate the total tuition, enrollment fee, and cost of living in that particular city (usually about $1000/month) in your statement.)
3. You must also submit a non-refundable $120 registration fee and $60 as shipping fee plus 40% of the total amount as deposit. If you are unable to obtain an F-1 visa, we will refund you the deposit in full less the non refundable fees and all other fees for any services rendered.
4. You must pay the balance of your invoice four weeks before arrival. You can pay by bank wire transfer or credit card (Visa/Mastercard). If you are paying by credit card, please fill out and send the credit card registration form.
5. Once you have received your complete registration, we will send your official letter of acceptance and book your accommodation (if you have asked for this).

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Please see the Withdrawal Policy for all our schools.

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Besides your classes, you will probably need a minimum of $1,000 per month for accommodations and spending money.

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Students can switch between courses if it is recommended by their teachers. However, to change a contract (from full-time to part-time, or to private courses) requires the permission of the School Manager. Normally students study according to the terms of the contract that they sign.

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Please fill out the appropriate registration form and send it to the school. We will reply to you within 1 business day.

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No, you do not need a TOEFL score or IELTS score to enter the school. However, for those students who do want to study for the TOEFL or IELTS proficiency tests, we do have a TOEFL iBT, IELTS, and TOEIC Preparation Courses available.

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If you register for a full-time or part-time course, that course is guaranteed to be running when you are here at the school.

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On your first morning, you will be given a placement test and an orientation. Your placement test measures speaking, listening, reading, and writing. We will know your level after giving you this test.

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On your first day of school, your schedule is:
Morning: Welcome and Placement Test
Lunch: Free
Afternoon: Orientation and/or Afternoon class

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Yes. GEOS gives a certificate to all of our students who attend at least 80% of their classes.

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All students are given textbooks for our classes. We charge 40$/textbook. Books for exam preparation classes may be more expensive. For a part-time program, students need to buy one book ($40), for a standard course, students need to get two books ($80), for an intensive program, students need to get three books ($120) and finally for a super intensive course, students needs to get 4 books for min. $160.

For any enrolment from 1 to 4 weeks, students can rent their textbooks for $5/book/week. They first need to make a full payment for their books. If they return them without writing in them, we will refund the difference.

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Please contact the school if you are having problems registering. We can send you an registration form by email.

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Depending on the school, students can take 2-4-weeks vacation per year. If you are studying for less than 12 weeks, there is no vacation available, unless this is discussed with the school at the time of your enrolment.

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There are no transfer fees to move from one GEOS school to another in North America. However, if you are moving to a school with higher fees, then you are responsible for the difference in tuition.

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This depends on how long you plan to study, and what country you are from.

CANADA:

• How long do you plan to study?
  You may study in Canada for up to 6 months with a visitor’s visa. If you would like to study longer than six months, then you need two important documents, the CAQ (if you are studying in Quebec) and the Canadian Student Visa. In regards to the CAQ in Quebec: First, you need to apply for a CAQ, which is a Quebec Study Certificate. This is an registration that you send to Government of Quebec office here in Montreal. When your CAQ is accepted (3-4 weeks), the Government of Quebec will send it to your nearest Canadian Embassy or Consulate where you will be applying for your Student Visa. Canadian Immigration Law states that students with a student visa must attend at least 80% of their classes. The school’s registration form and the enrolment agreement contain the details of our refund policy. We are happy to help with all visa applications.
• What country you are from?
  All students who are studying for longer than 6 months need a CAQ (if you are studying in Quebec) and a Canadian Student Visa. Students who study for less than six months can come as visitors/tourists. However, students from some countries do need a temporary resident visa.

USA:

• You may study in the USA part-time (up to 18 hours/week) with a visitor's visa. If you would like to study for more hours in a week, you will need to apply for a F-1 visa. Please fill out a transfer form and we will guide you through the registration process.

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No. Canada and the USA have different immigration systems. Participants from these countries can enter the USA with just a passport, so these people may easily enter the United States from Canada for a visit or for part-time studies. For other students, a non-immigrant visa will be required.

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No. Canada and the USA have different immigration systems. Students from some countries can enter Canada with just a passport, so these students may easily enter Canada from the United States for a visit or for studies of 6 months or less. For longer studies, a Quebec CAQ and a Canadian Student Visa are required.

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Yes, but only people from these countries can enter Canada with just a passport. Other people will need to apply for a Canadian tourist visa. If you are studying using a F-1 Visa, you will need the following to re-enter the United States:

• A valid signed SEVIS Form 1-20
• A valid F-Stamp in your passport
• Evidence of monetary support as listed in Section 8 of the I-20
• ESTA registration*

* As of January 12, 2009, all students from Visa Waiver Program countries in the United States will need to be authorized in ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorization). ESTA is an application system that authorizes people to travel to, or pass through, the U.S.A. Therefore, to re-enter the United States from Canada, all students will have to be registered in this system or they will be denied re-entry.

• Find out more information about ESTA, HERE
• Apply online for ESTA here (you must register at least 72 hours before your entry into the United States)

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Yes, but only if you have a visa to visit the United States. Even if your visa says "one entry", you are allowed to visit the United States and return to Canada. The United States is an exception to the "one entry" rule.

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Yes, GEOS will be happy to help you extend your F-1 Visa.

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Yes, GEOS is happy to help you extend your Quebec CAQ and/or Canada Study Permit.

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No. Students with a visitor visa are not allowed to work. Students with a student visa who study at a language school like GEOS are not permitted to work.

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No. Students with a visitor visa are not allowed to work. Students with a student visa must be attending an Internship Program and have a work permit to be able to work after their studies.

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You first need to extend your Quebec CAQ. When this CAQ extension arrives, you can apply to extend your student visa.

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Yes, you can have packages delivered to the school. Just make sure that they are marked "DDP" (Delivery Duty Paid) and not "DDU" (Delivery Duty Unpaid), otherwise they will be sent to the courier company and you will have to pick them up yourself.

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You can read our Privacy policy here.

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