Required Financial Documents

Once admitted to Cleveland State, all international students are required to provide official documentation that supports financing one academic year (fall and spring semesters) at CSU as listed on the Tuition and Scholarships webpage.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services require CSU to verify that each student has sufficient funding before issuing a Certificate of Eligibility SEVIS Form I-20 (for F-1 visas) or Form DS-2019 (for J-1 visas). You must present these documents, along with the issued form, at the U.S. Embassy or Consulate when applying for your visa.

If you are currently holding an F1 student visa and are transferring from another U.S. institution to CSU you still need to follow this procedure.

Preparing Your Documents

Please have two original financial documents prepared — one for Cleveland State University and one to present to the U.S. Embassy or Consulate. All documents must be dated and issued within the past six months.

Acceptable Documents

1. A bank statement in your name or a parent's name that indicates the amount of funds available in a checking or savings account, accompanied by a letter from your financial sponsor confirming intention to provide support. 
    
2. A bank statement in the name of a non-parental financial sponsor that indicates the amount available, accompanied by a letter of confirmation from the guarantor confirming intention to provide support. 
    
3. A letter from your financial sponsor’s employer, indicating the employee’s annual salary, accompanied by a letter from your financial sponsor confirming ntention to provide support. The annual salary of the financial sponsor noted in the letter must be sufficient to demonstrate ability to support you given the primary (personal) financial obligations of the sponsor. 
    
4. A Financial Guarantee from your government or other sponsoring agency that indicates the amount of funding available to you and that clearly stipulates any and all additional provisions of the support agreement, such as health insurance coverage. Please provide a copy of the Financial Guarantee to the Center for International Services and Programs (CISP). 
    

Bank statements must be presented on the bank's letterhead, dated and indicate the exact amount held in the account. If your documents indicate an amount in a currency other than U.S. dollars we will convert the amount according to the exchange rate on the day we receive your financial support documents.

Review your documentation!

Failure to comply with any of the below conditions may delay the issuance of the Form I-20.

• All bank, scholarship and sponsor letters must be original with original signatures, specify the amount of funding available to you and indicate which currency is being used.
• Copies, faxes and emails will be accepted only if they are legible.
• All financial documents must be dated and issued within the past six months.
• Your name must appear on all bank, scholarship and sponsor letters

Unacceptable Documents

The following documents are not sufficient for Form I-20 issuance and will not be accepted:

• Deeds for real property or lease holdings
• Insurance policies
• Pension or retirement accounts (including certificates of deposit)
• Form I-134 Affidavit of Support is no longer accepted

Submitting Your Documents

Once you are admitted to CSU, The Center for International Services and Programs (CISP) will email you a Newly-Admitted I-20 request form. Submit your financial documents directly to the request form and the I20 will be processed in a timely manner. 

Your financial documents will be reviewed by our CISP team to determine your ability to meet the financial obligation while you are attending the University. If your financial documents are not approved or if there are additional questions, you will be notified by email.

All financial documentation must be submitted at least six weeks prior to international orientation. CISP will not issue I-20s after July 1 for Fall semester start and April 12 for Summer semester start.

Transfer Students

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) requires that you obtain a release from your current institution before your new Form I-20 is issued. Once you are admitted to Cleveland State University and receive your admission letter, please contact your immigration advisor at your current school and request that your SEVIS record be transferred to Cleveland State University.

Married Students

A married student who plans to bring his/her dependents will require an additional $3,500 for the spouse, $2,000 for the first child and $1,500 for each additional child. These amounts should be added to the total number under the appropriate column. Additional insurance for family of F1 students is optional, but highly recommended. F2 dependents are not permitted to work or enroll in classes.

Enrollment Requirement

Immigration regulations require all international students be enrolled full-time. Students who are admitted to the summer semester must enroll full-time for that semester and subsequent terms.

Full-Time Enrollment:

• 12 credit hours per semester, Undergraduate
• 9 credit hours per semester, Graduate