Proof of Funding

In order to receive an I-20, you must show that you have sufficient funding to support yourself during your studies. This amount of money must be enough to cover tuition, fees, health insurance, housing expenses, food, and books. All funding must be less than six (6) months old.  Proof of funding documents will NOT be returned to you, so be sure to keep the original documents as you will need them during the visa application.

Proof of funding can be shown in one of the following ways:

  • Personal Funds: Bank letter or statement in your name.
  • Personal Sponsor (Family Member or Friend): Bank letter or bank statement in their name and an Affidavit of Support letter signed by the account holder
    • An Affidavit of Support letter:  An Affidavit of Support letter is a letter that is completed by your sponsor that states that your sponsor will be providing the funds for your time of study, including tuition, fees, housing expenses, food, and books. Click here for a copy of this template letter
  • Government Sponsorship: Award Letter/Financial Guarantee
We Will Not Accept Accounts where the money is not immediately accessible, such as property ownership, proof of salary, insurance policies, etc.
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Estimated Minimum One Year (12 months) Expenses for the Intensive English Program
Tuition:  $14336
Fees:  $740
Health Insurance:  $2244
Living Expenses: $15,000
Amount you must show:  $32,320
Estimated Minimum Semester (4 months) Expenses for the Intensive English Program (only available to students beginning at the start of a semester)
Tuition:  $7168
Fees:  $370
Health Insurance:  $931
Living Expenses: $7,500
Amount you must show:  $15,969
*** Students who are not able to provide funding for one year I20 who begin in Summer will be required to show at least 6 months of funding as they are required to enroll in the entire following semester. Estimated Minimum  Expenses (6 months) for the Intensive English Program
Tuition:  $10752
Fees:  $620
Health Insurance:  $1431
Living Expenses: $7,500
Amount you must show:  $20,303

*Costs are estimates. Please be aware, although you are only required to show funding for one semester, you will be financially responsible for your ENTIRE program of study*

Dependents

Students can add immediate family members to their I-20 records, dependents can be a spouse (husband or wife) and/or children.

To add a dependent, please provide at least $5,000/year or $2,500/four months additional funding for a spouse and $4,000/year or $2000/four months in additional funding per each child.

Once we have this funding and copies of each of their passports, we can issue a dependent I-20 that they can use to apply for F2 visas.

If you have any questions about proof of funding, please email the English Language Academy at el-academy@uwm.edu.