Proof of Finances

Students requesting F-1 status must prove that enough funds are readily available to cover the first year of estimated expenses and should be prepared to prove that additional funds will be available for the duration of studies. Students requesting J-1 status must prove that funding is available for the entire J-1 program. Sufficient proof of finances must be provided before an I-20 or DS-2019 immigration document is created.

Acceptable Types of Financial Documentation

• A bank statement from checking, savings, stock holding and/or certificates of deposit
• Bank letter on letterhead indicating date account opened, average balance and current balance
• An official loan sanction letter, indicating unconditional approval for a student education loan
• A scholarship or sponsorship letter verifying the amount, source, and dates of the student's award

• An official Graduate Assistantship (such as GTA or GRA) offer letter that indicates the benefits and dates of the student’s position issued by the student’s department.

  *Please note that Graduate Assistantships are managed and issued by the program department. Questions/concerns should be directed to the department’s program coordinators.

Requirements for Financial Documentation

• Documents must be issued on the official stationery of the financial, sponsoring or lending institution.
• Documents must be dated and less than six months old.
• Documents must indicate the type and amount of currency held in the account.
• The amount that you are required to show should be reflected in the closing/final balance of the document(s).
• Documents must indicate the account holder’s name, the date the account was opened, the average balance of the account and the current balance of the account.
• If the documents are not in English, a certified English translation of the documents must be included with a copy of the original.
• If the financial document is not in the student's name, an affidavit statement (pdf) will be required.

*ISS reserves the right to verify any submitted documentation for authenticity with the financial institution.

If Your Sponsor Is a Company or Organization

If your educational expenses will be sponsored by a company, business, nonprofit organization, or other entity, you must provide documentation showing that the organization has sufficient funds available and that an authorized representative has approved the use of those funds for your studies.

Please submit:

• A recent financial statement or bank statement from the sponsoring company or organization showing available funds.
• A completed Affidavit of Financial Support from the company owner, financial guarantor, or other authorized representative.
• A signed letter on company or organization letterhead verifying:
  • The individual's role and authority within the organization.
  • That they have access to and authority over the organization's funds.
  • That the organization agrees to sponsor your educational and living expenses while studying in the United States.
  • That the funds shown in the submitted financial documents may be used to support your studies.

Important: Financial documents alone are not sufficient when the sponsor is a company or organization. We must also receive documentation from an individual who has authorized access to the organization's finances and can confirm that the funds are available for your educational expenses.

Providing both the organization's financial statement and the authorized representative's affidavit helps verify that the funds are legitimately available for your use and meet U.S. immigration document requirements.