After you’ve been unconditionally admitted to ACU, you can qualify for a “Certificate of Eligibility”, otherwise known as an I-20, by providing documents that prove you have the funding available for your educational journey at ACU. We’ll walk you through the steps on this page.
Step 1: Cost Estimate
Learn the Cost Estimate you need to meet for your degree level:
Additional costs not included in the estimate:
- New Computer or phone costs: $1,500
- Transportation: $1,548
- Personal/Miscellaneous expenses: $2,000
- Student visa: $750 (estimated)
- Airfare: $2,000 for one-way travel to the USA and another $2,000 for travel home (estimated)
- Summer break housing & food: $2,500
Step 2: Demonstrate Financial Sufficiency
Next, you’ll need to collect documents to demonstrate financial sufficiency. According to the federal regulations, international students must demonstrate their financial sufficiency in the following ways:
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Submit documents showing evidence of liquid funds available to pay for the costs of the first academic year.
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Show evidence that, barring unforeseen circumstances, you will have the ability to fund all additional years of study for your degree program.
If your funding plan includes contributions from parents or other sponsors, you will need to send the parent/sponsor an Agreement of Support document for them to complete, print and hand-sign. Collect a scan of the signed document and all accompanying bank letters and bank statements from your parents or sponsors.
Please note that students who are sponsored by non-parental individuals will need to submit a personal 3-month bank statement with at least a $5,000 USD surplus.
Additional Bank Statement Requirements:
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Please note that all bank statements must be authentic and demonstrate a consistently available surplus over at least a recent 3-month period.
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Parental sponsorship provides the highest level of access for students and is markedly preferred by consular officials over sponsorship by other relatives or unrelated individuals.
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Personal savings account statements from parents and sponsors are the best way to demonstrate available funds for your educational use.
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Students sponsored by someone other than a parent must provide a recent three-month personal or parental bank statement showing a consistent monthly surplus of at least $5,000.
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Letters from a parent or sponsor’s bank or financial institution are acceptable if they meet the requirements below:
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Printed on the bank/institution’s official letterhead
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Contain a certification statement in English confirming the balance (in U.S. dollars)
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List the average monthly balance for the most recent three month period
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Include the name, signature, title, date and contact information of the bank or financial institution, the currency of the funds, and an official seal or stamp
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For parents and sponsors who are using business accounts:
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Business account funds can make up no more than 50% of the student’s total required financial resources.
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Only up to 50% of the monthly average balance in the business account can be counted as available for the student.
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All business statements must be accompanied by ownership documents and approval from all owners that the funds may be applied for the student’s educational use.
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Approved loans from a bank may be submitted as proof of support, but if the loan only covers one year’s costs, the student must submit evidence of eligibility for an extension of the loan to cover the following years’ costs.
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Church sponsorship is not acceptable as proof of support unless specifically waived for partner organizations.
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All statements must be from liquid funds. Non-liquid funds, such as investments, may be submitted to demonstrate continued funding for the subsequent years of your program.
Step 3: Create a Portal Account
Using your ACU email address, create an Office of International Students and Visiting Scholars (OISVS) Portal account. Click “Sign In” and complete the intake questionnaire.
Step 4: Submit Request
Locate the “Request” tab in the dashboard of the OISVS Portal. Submit either the “F-1 Initial I-20 Request” or the “J-1 Initial I-20 Request” (for sponsored students).
Step 5: Monitor ACU Email
Our office may request additional documents or inform you that your I-20 is now available. Please monitor your ACU email account regularly for new messages.
Step 6: Download and Print
Review, download and print your new I-20. You are now ready to begin the visa application process.
We’re here to help, so contact us if you have questions or experience difficulties submitting the requests.