Our Intensive English program with 20 lessons is is designed for individuals whose primary purpose in the U.S. is to gain cultural experience. Fewer lesson hours allow more time for sightseeing and travel. Our Intensive Plus and Super Intensive with 24 and more lessons per week is designed for individuals whose primary purpose in the US is English studies. CEL advises students to apply for student visa if (1) the main purpose of travel is to study English and (2) a full-time course is chosen. Students interested in applying for an F-1 student visa must provide proof of financial means to cover the cost of tuition and living expenses. This could be a recent bank statement from the student, the student’s parent or legal guardian or a financial guarantee from the student’s company or government. Qualifying students will be issued an I-20 that the student must take to the US Embassy in the student’s home country before coming to the US. If you enter the US on a tourist visa, the main purpose of the trip must be sightseeing or a personal visit. The main purpose of travel may not be English language study. English language study must be incidental to the student’s sightseeing or personal visit plans. CEL has been authorized by the Department of Homeland Security to issue F-1 student visas to students who are coming to the US to study full-time (18 hours or more per week). The maximum time to complete the full course of study at CEL is 80 weeks.
To guarantee your application and mailing of the I-20, you must pay a partially refundable deposit of up to $500 including the non-refundable registration fee and non-refundable accommodation placement fee (if applicable). The remaining fees need to be paid in full 42 days before the start date. We accept credit card payment or wire transfers. Please make sure to cover all banking fees. CEL reserves the right to charge an additional $50 if you request more than 2 changes on your I-20.
If you have applied directly at CEL, the following cancellation fees will be charged:
Cancellation received 28 days or more before start date: Express mail fee, registration fee, accommodation placement fee, non-refundable deposit of the English plus Experience Program
Cancellation received 14 days or more before start date: Express mail fee, registration fee, accommodation placement fee, 2 weeks of housing, 2 weeks of courses, $400 of the English plus Experience Program fee
Cancellation received 3 days or more before start date: Express mail fee, registration fee, accommodation placement fee, 4 weeks of housing, 4 weeks of courses, airport transfer, $400 of the English plus Experience Program fee
Cancellation received less than 3 days before the start date or no-shows will be considered as cancellation after start date.
Students who come to CEL through an agent are subject to their agent's registration and refund policies. The agent may be contacted for details on those policies. If the student applied directly to CEL, the refund will be made directly to that student within 30 days of cancellation. Registration, housing placement, and express mail fees are non-refundable and therefore are not included in refunds. There is no refund for airport departure transfers which are cancelled less than 7 days prior to the departure date.
Course: On or after the course start date, the first four weeks of the course are non-refundable. Remaining weeks will be refunded on a prorated basis less a 30% cancellation fee, and are calculated from the last recorded day of attendance (any part of a week attended is considered a full week for refund calculations). Please note, there is no refund if you withdraw from a course greater than four weeks after fifty (50) percent of the course has been completed.
English plus Experience Program:: After the course start, there is no refund for this program.
Accommodation: On or after the course start date, the first four weeks of housing are non-refundable. A 30-day notice is required to cancel housing. Remaining weeks will be refunded on a prorated basis less 30% cancellation fee. All refunds are made to the person or company that made the original payment.
All course changes after course start will occur in a $50 course change fee. All accommodation changes after accommodation start date will occur in a $50 accommodation change fee. Please note, that a downgrade of both course and accommodation is considered a cancellation which results in both, course change fee, plus a cancellation fee of 30% of the difference.
If for any reason a student is directed by the local public health authorities (based on CDC guidelines) to isolate/ quarantine due to possible contact with COVID positive tested individual, or being tested positive themselves, the following will apply:
Classes
Students are not allowed to join classes until they are cleared to return to face-to-face lessons at CEL. There is no refund given.
Housing
Students may be asked and/or mandated to move to alternative accommodation to assure they are able to follow the local guidelines for self-isolating/quarantining which could incur additional costs over and above original accommodation booking (costs). These costs will need to be met at student’s expense. No refund is given should a student miss any part of the original accommodation package. The same applies if a student is required to self-isolate/quarantine for a period after their course has terminated. Additional expenses may apply, such as the need to pay for food. Students may return to the originally booked accommodation type once the local public health authorities advise that they can do so.
Testing
Students may be asked to get tested if directed due to possible contact with COVID positive tested individual, or being tested positive themselves. The costs will need to be met at student’s expense (some sites offer free testing).
CEL reserves the right to expel students from classes for unacceptable or unlawful behavior or lack of attendance. No course refund will be given. Students expelled from a course at CEL are no longer eligible for housing through CEL. Repatriation is at the student’s own expense. Housing refund policies will apply.
CEL reserves the right to evict students from housing if students don’t comply with the housing rules. No housing refund will apply in this case. Students are able to attend a course at CEL if no expulsion from CEL applies.
CEL has a zero-tolerance policy for harassment, discrimination, and bullying. Inappropriate behavior includes but is not limited to:
1. Theft of CEL or fellow classmates' property
2. Disruptions of learning environment (e.g. profanity)
3. Improper use of e-mail or internet access
4. Violence or threats of violence towards students or staff
5. Use of drugs (including marijuana where legal) or alcohol on premises
All CEL centers will be closed on all public holidays as listed on the price list and website. The classes for Thanksgiving Friday will be made up. No other classes will be made up, except for private lessons. There is no refund for lessons missed. If a public holiday falls on a Monday, classes will start on Tuesday that week.
If a student does not meet the minimum level of English required to follow a particular course (e.g. Exam Preparation courses), CEL reserves the right to place the student to an appropriate course/level.
CEL reserves the right to reduce the number of lessons for our General English 30 - GE30 course, with 30 lessons per week, due to an insufficient number of students, as explained below:
CEL reserves the right to reduce the number of your 6 TOEFL lessons for our TOEFL Plus and Super TOEFL, due to an insufficient number of students for the TOEFL part of the program. In return, you will receive an appropriate amount of private lessons of TOEFL.
CEL courses run on weekdays only (Monday - Friday). Classes can be scheduled in the morning and/or afternoon and no specific timetable can be guaranteed. CEL reserves the right to use alternative classroom of a similar standard in surrounding premises if needed. CEL places a strong emphasis on punctual classroom arrival. Students who arrive more than 5 minutes late to class will be asked to wait in the student area until the start of the next class period.
Students are required to have medical insurance. CEL does not provide students with medical insurance. CEL strongly recommends that you purchase medical traveler’s insurance or ensure that your current policy is also valid in the US.
CEL, its staff and representatives will not be liable for loss, damage or injury to persons or property however caused, except where liability is expressly imposed beyond exclusion by statute.
Students agree to allow photos and videos taken during the program to be used for CEL publicity and recruitment purposes.
CEL will not be responsible for any failure to comply with any of its obligations (and therefore shall not be required to provide any compensation) if the failure is occasioned by any cause beyond CEL’s reasonable control. CEL will not be responsible for any costs incurred by or on behalf of the student as a result of any such cause. Causes shall include but shall not be limited to act of government, war, threat of war, riot, civil strife, industrial dispute, terrorist activity, strike, protest, natural or nuclear disaster, unusually adverse weather conditions, infectious diseases or act of God.
