Intensive English Program Application Process

You must be able to prove that you will have the financial support to cover your minimum annual expenses for the entire length of your program of study. The American Embassy or consulate requires to see that funds are available to cover one year’s minimum expenses and that there is sufficient evidence that equal amounts will be available for every year of your program. Our requirements are the same for issuing your Form I-20.

Types of financial support

• Personal funds.
• Funds from a sponsor such as a parent living in the home country or a local relative or friend.
• Local sponsor giving free room and board.

Documenting financial support

1. Sponsor affidavits — the promise to support you by giving you up to a specific amount of money for a specified period of time. Also, if relevant, the promise to provide free room and board.
2. Six months of bank statements with sponsor’s name, monthly deposits/balance, and current balance.
3. Proof of Employment and Income.
4. Income tax returns.
   • Documents must be in English, less than three months old, and in US dollars. They must be less than six months old when applying for the F-1 Visa.
   • Photocopies and faxes are accepted. The American Embassy will need your originals when you get your I-20 and apply for the F-1 Visa.

Your sponsor’s income is more important than your sponsor’s bank statement

• Bank statements are very poor evidence of your sponsor’s ability to support you unless the balance is very high.
• Proof of your sponsor’s income must be on the employer’s letterhead, on income tax returns or receipts,
  or estimated by a bank or private accountant if the sponsor is self-employed.
• The income of a company is not the income of the owner of the business.

Bank documents

• Bank statements must state: 1) sponsor’s name, 2) Monthly deposits/balance, 3) Current balance.
• Bank statements saying “enough” or “sufficient” funds are available, or that “the account holder is capable of supporting the student” will not be accepted.

A sponsor is the source of the support

• A sponsor may be one or more family members, friends, or organizations.
• A family member in the U.S. who is receiving money from another family member in another country to give to you is not a sponsor.
• You may sponsor yourself completely or partially. The amount in your account will be divided by the number of years in your program.

Sponsors must submit an affidavit

• Each sponsor must submit an affidavit stating exactly what is to be provided annually.
• Affidavits must be signed by the sponsor.

Free room and board counts as cash support

• A person who is giving you a place to live and food to eat must submit an affidavit of free room and board with a copy of the property deed or rental lease or copy of income tax forms on which the house is reported.
• Free room and board reduces living expenses by the amount indicated for living expenses (housing, utilities, and food).
• Affidavits will not be accepted if the place to live is too small or too far from WCC.

Non-liquid funds or property are not accepted

• Income from investments and property should appear in bank accounts.
• Retirement accounts are not accepted.

Sponsor’s Affidavit of Annual Financial Support

Your commitment as a sponsor to a student

When you complete the Sponsor’s Affidavit of Financial Support on the other side of this page, you are certifying and swearing to Westchester Community College Intensive English Program and the US government that you can and will provide a student with a specific amount of money for every year of study at Westchester Community College Intensive English Program.

It is assumed that you have carefully considered the real costs of supporting the student while living and studying in New York and do not expect that he/she will be able to find employment or other support after beginning school. Employment is strictly controlled by the US Immigration Service and permission to work is extremely difficult to get. You should anticipate that the student’s expenses will increase 4-5% annually. Sponsors who fail to meet their stated commitment jeopardize the student’s education and legal status in the U.S. and cause pain and suffering.

Instructions for completing the affidavit

1. Fill out the form completely. Please print or type.
2. Promise to provide only the amount you intend and are able to give to the student.
3. Sign the affidavit.
4. Attach documents which prove that you are capable of providing this amount of support.
5. Documents must be in English, less than three months old, and in US dollars. Photocopies and faxes are accepted. However, the student will need original copies when going for the visa.

Proving financial support

Prove your ability to support the student by sending us the following documents:

1. Six recent bank statements stating sponsor’s name, monthly deposits/balance, and current balance. Bank statements alone will not be accepted as sufficient proof of ability to support the student unless the account balance is very high. Bank statements saying “enough” or “sufficient” funds are available to support a student are not accepted. All statements must indicate US dollar amounts.
2. A letter from your employer on business stationery stating your annual salary, or income tax returns or receipts (preferred for US Residents), or pay stubs for the last six months.

DO NOT SEND:

1. Information about non-liquid funds or property. It is assumed that income from investments will appear in other accounts.
2. Retirement account information.
3. Bank statements or tax returns that are not in your name.

Please complete the sponsor’s affidavit

Your commitment

When you complete the Sponsor’s Affidavit of Free Room and Board on the other side of this page, you are certifying and swearing to Westchester Community College and the U.S. government that you can and will provide a student with free room and food for every year of study at Westchester Community College. The student cannot be required to provide you with any services such as babysitting, cleaning, etc. in exchange for room and board, as that is considered employment.

It is assumed that you have carefully considered the real cost of providing the student with a free room and all meals while living in New York and do not expect that he/she will be able to find employment or other support after beginning school. Employment is strictly controlled by the U.S. Immigration Service and permission to work is extremely difficult to get. Sponsors who fail to meet their commitment jeopardize the student’s education and legal status in the U.S. and cause pain and suffering.

Instructions for Completing the affidavit

1. Fill out the form on the back of this page completely. Please print very clearly or type.
2. Sign the affidavit.
3. Attach a photocopy of a lease or deed in your name or photocopy of income tax forms on which the house is reported.
4. The affidavit must be in English.
5. The affidavit will be accepted only if it is clear that there is enough space for the student and that the location is not too far from school.