Preparing Your Financial Documentation
Information on the financial documentation needed for admission
When preparing your documentation for admission, please note that both the US Government and Long Beach City College require submitted documents to be no more than three months old.
We cannot discuss financial documents with sponsors or students. The provided information is to assist you (the student, and/or your family sponsor(s)) with the financial detail requirements. Our decision will be made after evaluating the documents with care and thought. To the best of our ability, we try to see the documents as if we were US consuls so that when you go to apply for your visa, you will not have difficulty because of insufficient or unclear financial documentation. Required documents must be uploaded through your online international application in English or include a certified English translation.
Bank Account
All funds must be from a liquid Checking or Savings account. Certificates of Deposit may only be accepted when the maturity date is on or before the program start date. All other types of accounts will not be accepted.
Personal Funds
Students can sponsor themselves, either partly or in full.
- Current bank statement, bank letter, or government scholarship is required (see bank statement details, bank letter, government scholarships details).
(Note: No affidavit is needed for student’s own personal funds)
Family Financial Sponsor(s)
A student’s family member may sponsor the student. It is okay to have more than one family sponsor providing support as long as the sum of all the bank statements show that there is sufficient money available to support the student. It does not matter how many family financial sponsors there are, and whether or not they are US citizens. It is usually easier to get an F1 visa when at least part of a student’s support comes from outside the US.
- Friend/Family friend(s) and fiancés cannot be sponsors.
- Bank statement is required (see Bank Statement Details).
(Note: Affidavit of Sponsor is NOT required for family sponsor(s) outside the US.)
US Citizen/Permanent Resident – Family Sponsor(s)
- Friend/Family friend(s) and fiancés cannot be sponsors.
- Bank statement is required (see Bank Statement Details).
- Affidavit of Sponsor Form is required.
- Affidavit of Sponsor Form must be signed by the sponsor in the presence of a notary public, the notary public must sign, and the official seal of the notary public must be on the affidavit. Affidavits that have been changed in any way will be rejected unless each change has been signed by both the sponsor and the notary.
- All question fields on the Affidavit of Sponsor Form must be answered.
(NOTE: Sponsor(s) should not promise too much money. Some sponsors believe that the more money they promise, the more likely we are to say “yes.” You should promise only what you intend to give and should give only as much as you can afford to meet the minimum financial requirement.)
Family Business Owner Sponsor
The income of a company is not the income of the owner of the business and cannot be accepted as proof of income.
- Must provide an official statement (Bank Letter) of the salary paid to the family owner/sponsor (see Bank Letter Details).
- If the family sponsor is the owner of the company, the sponsor’s bank or business accountant should write the salary letter.
Bank Statement Details
- Date must be within the last 3 months.
- Must include the account owner/holder’s name.
- Type of account (Savings/Checking/Certificate of Deposit) must be included.
- Currency must be included.
- Total account balance must be listed.
- Account balance must be no less than the minimum total financial requirement.
Bank Letter Details
We cannot accept letters from banks or anyone else saying that the student or sponsor has enough money to support all expenses.
- Date must be within the last 3 months.
- Must include the account owner/holder’s name.
- Type of account (Savings/Checking/Certificate of Deposit) must be included.
- Currency must be included.
- Account balance must be listed OR the letter must say that the current account balance exceeds the amount required (USD$ minimum amount) to verify that the amount is clearly sufficient.
Private or Government Scholarships Details
Private or home country government scholarship awarded to the student may be used to qualify for international admission and Form I-20.
- Must be dated within the last 3 months.
- Must show the student’s full name.
- Must state the total award amount given to the student per year.
- Must include the total award time period (i.e. award start date and end date).
(NOTE: Students sponsored by the UA Embassy must provide a Financial Guarantee showing the student’s full name, and LBCC name.)
Free Room and Board – Cash Credit
Free room and board are worth more than half of the dollar amount to support a student for a year. LBCC offers a “cash credit” to those students who are provided free room and board from a US family member, friend or family friend close to LBCC.
- Sponsor providing free room and board agrees that the student will not be charged any rent.
- Free room and board home address must be within 10 miles from LBCC address.
- Affidavit of Sponsor Providing Free Room and Board Form is required.
- Affidavit of Sponsor Providing Free Room and Board Form must be signed by the sponsor in the presence of a notary public, the notary public must sign, and the official seal of the notary public must be on the affidavit. Affidavits that have been changed in any way will be rejected unless each change has been signed by both the sponsor and the notary.
- Affidavit must include a copy of the property lease/rental agreement or property deed.
- All question fields on the Affidavit must be answered.
(NOTE: The housing total amount listed in the estimated expenses cannot be omitted from the total amount – only the cash credit amount is deducted from the total financial amount.)
Student Dependent(s)
International students may bring dependents to live with them while studying in the US (unmarried children under the age of 21, and/or spouse). Each dependent will require an I-20 to apply for an F2 Visa.
- Financial support per dependent is required. Student’s total financial amount per year plus:
- Spouse + USD $6,650 per year.
- Child + USD $5,124 per child/per year.
- Bank statement with additional financial support amount is required (see bank statement details).
- Copy of Passport or Birth Certificate for each dependent is required.