Acceptable documents
Unacceptable Documents
Acceptable documents
All documentation for Bank Statements, Certificate of Deposit/Fixed Deposits, Educational Loans, Government Scholarships, and Investment Accounts must be in English or accompanied by an English translation.
Athletics scholarship/Grant-in-Aid agreement
Depending on the level of support (often based on the particular sport), these awards may or may not cover all of the required expenses. Awards may cover some or all of a combination of the following types of expenses:
- Tuition and fees
- Books
- Living expenses
- Student Insurance Plan
Depending on the specific terms of the award, students may need to provide additional proof of financial support for the remaining estimated expenses not included in the Grant-in-Aid agreement. Students will be provided with a calculation of the remaining required support after that agreement is reviewed by an admissions representative.
Bank statement
Students may provide an account statement or a letter from a financial institution showing the balance of the account. The account should be a checking, savings, or similar type of account. At minimum, the following information should be available in the documentation provided:
- Name of the bank
- Name of the account holder
- Type of account (e.g., checking, savings, money market)
- Current/final balance of the account
- Currency in which the account is held
- Date the document was issued
- For new students from outside the U.S., the bank statement must be issued no more than one year before the start of the student’s first term at PSU
- For students transferring to PSU or beginning a new degree program at PSU, the bank statement must be issued no more than six months before the start of the student’s first term at PSU (in their new program)
- Date on which the current/final balance indicated arose
If providing a letter from the bank confirming the available balance, the letter should also include the following:
- The office/branch where the document was issued
- Specific contact information for that office/branch
Students must also submit the Immigration Information Form if they have a sponsor.
Certificate of Deposit/Fixed Deposit
Students may provide evidence of funds on deposit at a financial institution in a certificate of deposit or fixed deposit account. At a minimum, the following information should be available in the documentation provided:
- Name of the financial institution
- Name of the account holder
- Type of account (checking, savings, money market)
- Current/final balance of the account
- Currency in which the account is held
- Date the document was issued
- Date of maturity for the deposit
If the deposit will mature after the student’s first term of admission, they will need to provide additional documentation from the financial institution verifying any penalties for withdrawing the deposit prior to the maturity date, and what balance would be available after penalties are applied.
Educational Loans
Students may provide proof of approved educational loans. At a minimum, the following information should be available in the documentation provided:
- Name of the lending institution
- Name of the loan recipient
- Amount of the loan principal approved
- Information about any restrictions or exclusions on the uses of the loan principal
Government Scholarships
Students who are sponsored by a government agency in their home country may provide a financial guarantee or financial support letter from the granting agency. The letter must include the following information:
- Date of issuance
- Dates/terms of the funding
- Major/degree approved for study
- Costs covered or the amount of funding provided
Graduate Assistantship
Students receiving a graduate assistantship may apply this toward their financial support. In many cases, however, students will need to supplement this financial support with proof of other funds. Under the current Collective Bargaining Agreement with the Graduate Employees Union, graduate assistantship appointments include tuition remission for 9 credits of tuition and the associated mandatory student fees (Building, Incidental, Health Service, and ASRC), but do not include remission for the Student Health Insurance Plan or the OISSS Processing fee.
Students may be required to show additional financial support through another source if the total stipend for their GA appointment is less than the total for living expenses, the Student Health Insurance Plan, and OISSS Processing fee, and the difference between their tuition remission and differential tuition, if any. In this case, students will be contacted regarding the amount of remaining financial support with instructions for how to submit that documentation.
Investment Account
Students may provide an account statement showing funds held in an investment account. At minimum, the following information should be available in the documentation provided:
- Name of the brokerage
- Total value of investment portfolio
- Composition and value of the investment portfolio segments
The balance of funds in the account must be equal to 130% of the required amount for I-20 issuance in order to account for changes in value in the account.
Proof of Income (sponsor in U.S.)
Students who will be residing with a sponsor in the Portland Metro area or within reasonable commuting distance may show financial support for their living expenses (rent and food) by documenting the income of that sponsor instead of showing available funds through another source. A reasonable commuting distance for the purposes of this policy is defined as a radius of 50 straight-line miles from Portland State University (measured based on the street address for SMSU). Students must show support for the books, transportation, and miscellaneous/personal expenses in liquid funds. Two options for documenting this funding exist:
- Providing an employment verification letter.
- Providing copies of the past three months’ pay stubs to demonstrate the sponsor’s income.
In either case, the annual salary must be equivalent to at least 133% of the estimated living expenses for the student and any dependents. You are encouraged to have your sponsor complete Form I-134, Declaration of Financial Support, to provide with your visa or change of status application.
Employment Verification Letter
The letter should include the following information:
- The letter is issued on business letterhead.
- The letter includes the dates and nature of employment.
- The letter includes the annual or monthly salary rate.
Pay Stubs
The pay stubs should include the gross income for the pay period and year-to-date pay information as of that pay period.
Unacceptable documents
Capability Statements
Documentation from a financial institution specifying their ability to meet the estimated cost of attendance/living; letters must provide verification of an existing balance in an amount equivalent to or greater than the minimum estimated cost of attendance and living.
Life Insurance
Documentation showing the value of a life insurance policy for the student or sponsor, regardless of who is the beneficiary of the policy.
Lines of Credit (non-educational)
Credit cards, home equity lines of credit (HELOC), or other loans or lines of credit not issued specifically for the purposes of funding the student’s education.
Proof of Income (sponsor outside U.S.)
Any proof of income or salary for a sponsor residing outside the U.S., or statements of salary for the student from an employer based outside the U.S.
Real Estate or other Illiquid Assets
Documentation of any illiquid assets held by the student or their sponsor, including property, vehicles, jewelry, or other physical assets.
Retirement Accounts
Documentation of any account intended for supporting the living expenses of an individual following the end of their employment. Includes both private and public benefit plans for this purpose.
Cryptocurrency
No crypto currency holdings of any manner can be accepted as financial documentation for I-20 issuance, either as part or all of an individual’s investment portfolio.