Requirements for Financial Documents

Students applying for an F-1 or J-1 visa must provide documentary evidence of financial support in the amount indicated on the form I-20 or DS-2019. You may be asked to provide proof of financial support upon initial admission to Hamline, or if you require an extension of the program end date listed on your I-20/DS-2019. Financial documents must meet the following requirements:

• Financial documents must be original for new applicants (must be on letterhead and include an original stamp and/or signature.) Scanned documents will be accepted, but the GEC strongly encourages students to get two copies of original documents for their visa interview and entry to the US.
• Financial documents must be less than six months old at the time the I-20 or DS-2019 is issued. Updated financial documents may be required for newly admitted students who defer attendance to a future semester.
• Financial documents must be in English or must include an official English translation.
• For F-1 students, the amount of funding must cover at least one year of costs or the length of the program, whichever is less. For J-1 students and scholars, the amount of funding must cover the entire length of the academic program. For current Hamline students/scholars applying for a program extension, the amount of funding must cover the costs for the length of the extension.
• Financial documents may be from one or more of the following sources:
  • A personal bank statement or letter from a bank official (must be accompanied by an Affidavit of Financial Support)
  • A bank statement or letter from a bank official indicating funds from a family member or private sponsor (must be accompanied by an Affidavit of Financial Support) 
  • An official letter from a sponsoring organization or government agency providing financial support for the purpose of education. Letter from sponsoring organization must clearly indicate amount of funding and what is covered (e.g. tuition and fees, living expenses, health insurance, etc.)
  • A scholarship or offer letter from Hamline University  
  • An official letter from a lending institution including specific amount of an approved loan (must indicate that loan is for the student's education or must be accompanied by an Affidavit of Financial Support)
• Financial documents must include exact amount of funding available and must be liquid assets. Not accepted: Credit card lines of credit, fixed assets such as property or real estate, or other funds which are not immediately accessible or liquid. 
  • Retirement funds, Certificates of Deposit (CDs), and life insurance policies will be assessed at 60 percent of current estimated value to account for any possible fluctuations in actual value, taxes, and fees associated with liquidation.
  • Stocks and bonds are unacceptable.