Conference Circuit: Stakeholder Questions is a blog series on Study in the States that answers questions that stakeholders ask at conferences. Representatives from the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) frequently attend and participate in international education conferences in person and via teleconference or webinars. If you would like to view SEVP's conference presentation, read our monthly Conference Bulletin, or take our Stakeholder Satisfaction Survey, visit our Conference Materials page.

Question: What is evidence of financial support?

Students who study in the United States must be able to prove their ability to pay for the entire cost of their program. If students are beginning to apply to schools, they should also begin to prepare financially. Once a Student and Exchange Visitor Program-certified school has accepted a student and they choose a program, they must provide evidence of financial support to you, their designated school official (DSO).

DSOs need students' financial evidence before issuing them their Form I-20, “Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Status.” The Form I-20 also indicates the amount of tuition and living expenses that the student must be able to pay. Students should also bring their Form I-20 and financial evidence to their visa appointment with the Department of State.

While federal regulations that discuss student status do not explain specific requirements for what kind of evidence of financial support students must provide, here are some examples:

• Bank statements
• Letters from a sponsor
• Scholarship letter

Schools may have specific requirements for the types of documents they will accept, and should communicate this to students.