International students applying for F-1 immigration status must show evidence of funding for one year before WashU can issue an I-20. Students applying for J-1 immigration status must show evidence of funding for the entire academic program before WashU can issue a DS-2019. 

Funding must cover all required tuition, fees, living expenses, and any applicable dependent(s) living expenses. Living expenses and dependent expenses amounts are set by WashU. 

Affidavit of Financial support

In order to receive an I-20 or DS-2019, you must complete the Affidavit of Financial Support unless you are fully funded by WashU.

Personal funding only: complete the top portion of the Affidavit. 

Sponsor/family funding: also complete the Sponsor Information section of the Affidavit. Sponsor must sign the form.  

OISS will typically accept a sponsor letter in place of the Affidavit sponsor section, as long as it includes all the information requested in the Affidavit. In this case, you must still complete and sign your portion of the Affidavit. 

Acceptable forms of funding

WashU funding

May include:

  • WashU tuition scholarship 
  • WashU fellowship/stipend 
  • WashU tuition remission 
  • Pre-approved on-campus employment funding

All award letters must include the following: 

  • Official WashU letterhead 
  • Appropriate department authority’s signature 
  • Program of Study 
  • Semester of admission 
  • Amount of the award(s) 
  • Duration of the award(s) 

This information is typically listed on the letter of admission.  

Personal or sponsor/family funding 

Personal funding includes the your own funds as evidenced by a financial document(s) listed in the your name. Family funding includes funding from your family members* as evidenced by financial documents in those family members’ names.

May include: 

  • Checking account 
  • Savings account 
  • Certificate of Deposit with a future “available” date  
  • Typically acceptable but OISS reserves the right to request additional documentation 

*Family members include parent(s), spouse, sibling(s), grandparent(s), or aunt(s) or uncle(s). Funding from friends is acceptable and is subject to the same rules as family funding.

Funds must be liquid and available no later than the beginning of the first semester in the program or when tuition payments are due, whichever is earlier. There is no liquidity indication requirement on a bank statement, but OISS reserves the right to request additional documentation. 

Bank statements or a bank letter are acceptable documents to demonstrate personal or family funding. Regardless of the format, the statement/letter must:

  • be in English 
  • be on official bank letterhead or include an official company logo/seal 
  • be issued within 6 months from the date of submission to the admitting unit at WashU 
  • list total amount of funding for all listed accounts 
  • list the account holder’s full name 
  • be in USD (or include a currency conversion*) 
  • include the official’s signature and print the official’s name and contact information (if presenting a letter from a bank official)

*Speak to your WashU admitting unit about currency conversion if necessary. OISS accepts currency conversion printouts from XE or OANDA.  

Loans

Loans are an acceptable funding source, and loan statements or letters must: 

  • be on company letterhead 
  • indicate that the loan is approved 
  • list the applicant’s name (yours or the sponsor’s) 
  • be in USD (or include a currency conversion*) 

*Speak to your WashU admitting unit about currency conversion if necessary. OISS accepts currency conversion printouts from XE or OANDA.  

Loan statements can be accepted even if proof of U.S. status is required for loan disbursement. 

Other external funding 

Other sources of acceptable funding include: 

  • External scholarships, fellowships, or awards 
  • Government funding 
  • Employer funding (except when it’s based on future income) 
  • Funding from international organizations 

Funding from these sources must be documented in the following way: 

  • Letter on official letterhead stating the entity’s intent to provide financial support 
  • Include name, contact information, and signature of the organization’s official issuing the letter 
  • Must include the applicant’s (your) name 
  • Must include the amount of funding and the dates when the funding is being provided 
  • For F-1 students, it must be clearly stated how much funding will be available to you during your first 12 months in the program

Unacceptable financial documentation 

Investments or tax and income statements

Investment, tax, or salary income statements only show how much money a person made or will make over a given period of time, not the amount which is currently liquid and available. 

Retirement accounts

Usually subject to taxes and laws/regulations that reduce the amount of money received compared to what appears on the document. Funding also must be available by the time tuition is due. 

Proof of property value

Property cannot be sold easily, and the value is subject to many external factors that can easily fluctuate. This source of funding is too volatile. 

OFAC financial sanctions

OISS cannot accept financial statements from financial institutions who are part of the comprehensively embargoed countries per the U.S. Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC). 

Currently, this list includes Cuba, Iran, North Korea, and Syria.  

For more information, please refer to WashU Export Control office.