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International Students
Rules for Financial Documentation
Proof of Financial Eligibility
The Certificate of Eligibility for F-1 (Student) Status, Form I-20, is issued only to students who have given the college the documents proving the ability to meet expenses while living and studying at Mercer County Community College. To receive the I-20, you must complete the required financial forms accurately, and return them to the Coordinator of International Student Services with additional documents supporting the financial ability of yourself and/or your sponsor(s). Unacceptable documents will be rejected and returned to you. All papers must be completed exactly as the rules below require. Please read the following rules carefully before completing the papers.
E-mail your questions about financial eligibility.
Do not submit old documents.
Both the college and U.S. government agencies require new documents (less than six months old). Older documents will be rejected and returned.
Do not send copies.
Except for tax documents, all papers must be originals. Copies will be rejected and returned. Originals will be attached to the I-20's issued for visa applications and returned to students. The college will not accept documents by fax.
Do not send papers separately.
All financial papers must be submitted at the same time.
Students can sponsor themselves, either partly or in full.
No affidavits are needed when the student's own money is being used. Recent bank statements in the student's name must be provided. The bank statement must include the current balance and the average balance for the past six months.
The college does not care how many sponsors there are, whether or not they are U.S. citizens or where they live.
Remember, however, that it is usually easier to get an F-1 (student) visa when at least part of the student's support comes from outside the United States.
Each sponsor must submit an affidavit stating exactly what is to be provided.
All questions on the affidavit must be answered.
Financial papers must state actual amounts in U.S. dollars.
The college will not accept documents which say that the sponsor has "enough" or "sufficient" funds to support the student.
Scholarships may be used to qualify for the form I-20.
The college must be given an award letter from the scholarship sponsor stating how much money is to be given and for how many years.
Sponsors who are either U.S. citizens or permanent residents must also complete the form I-134 in addition to Mercer's affidavit or sponsor form.
In completing the Form I-134, sponsors should give particular attention to item #11 on page 2 of this document. The sponsor must check the box saying, "I do intend..." and describe the exact nature of the contribution in U.S. dollars. For example, $7200 for tuition and other expenses and free room and board (=$7000) for each year of study at Mercer.
Do not expect bank statements alone to prove the financial ability of the sponsor.
Bank statements are very poor evidence of financial ability unless the amount of the money is very large. Instead, the college wants to know the sponsor's income, either from an employer's letter or an income tax return.
Free room and board is worth almost half the dollar amount estimated to support a student for a year.
When a family member or friend within commuting distance from the college gives a student a free place to live and free meals, the student needs far less cash support from other sponsors. The Affidavit of Free Room and Board will not be accepted if the place to live is too far from Mercer. A photocopy of the sponsor's lease or deed must accompany the affidavit.
Every dollar of support must be documented by a student's bank statement, proof of sponsor's income or an affidavit of free room and board.
Each dollar not provided by the student personally must be promised in the affidavit(s) by the sponsor(s).
All affidavits must be signed by the sponsor in the presence of a notary public.
The notary must also sign the affidavit(s). The official seal or stamp of the notary must be on the affidavit(s).
These financial forms are available through this website:
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