Proof of Financial Support Requirements
J-1 Scholar Exchange Visitor Program
The U.S. Department of State requires that a J-1 Exchange Visitor have adequate financial resources to participate in the Exchange Visitor Program for themselves and their J-2 Dependents.
The potential scholar presents the original documentation during the J-1 visa interview (Canadian and Bermudian scholar present the original documentation to the immigration official at the port of entry).
Types of Funding and Required Documents
Type of Funding | Required Document(s) |
University of Colorado Salary | Letter of Offer |
Personal Funding | · Personal bank statement or bank letter (see the requirements below for bank documents) · IF using a personal loan, provide a letter of the approved loan |
Government or Embassy Sponsorship | Financial Guarantee Letter from Sponsor on official letterhead with the amount and dates of funding |
Employer Sponsorship | Financial Guarantee Letter from the Employer on official letterhead with the amount and dates of funding |
Family or Other Individual Funding | · Family Member's or Other Individual's bank statement or bank letter (see the requirements below for bank documents) · Letter dated and signed by the account owner stating the amount and dates of funding |
Other Organization Sponsorship | Financial Guarantee Letter from organization on official letterhead with the amount and dates of funding |
Acceptable Bank Document
A bank statement or letter issued by a bank for DS-2019 purposes must contain all the information listed below.
- The bank letter is printed on official bank stationery. The bank statement must be a regularly issued statement, not screenshots or printouts of an online account taken directly from the browser window
- Issue date is within six months of the DS-2019 request
- Name of account holder
- If the bank letter/statement is for an account held by a business or corporation, provide proof that you or your sponsor may withdraw money from the account. Proof can be in the form of an additional statement on the letter or a separate document showing ownership of the business.
- Type of Account
- Account Number
- Exact current available balance. If you do not wish to disclose the exact balance in the account, indicate that the current available balance is equal to or greater than the amount required. For example, a letter can state, “…the current available balance is greater than $XXXX USD.”
- Type of currency
- Bank letter only
- Statement that funds are current and liquid
- Signature of bank official AND/OR Bank stamp
- The letter is written in English
- If the letter is not in English, you may submit a word-for-word translation with the original-language document. An official translation is not required; you can complete the word-for-word translation yourself.
Unacceptable Documents & Funding Sources
- Any document that is dated more than six months prior to the DS-2019 request.
- Screenshots or printouts of an online account taken directly from the browser window. A regular monthly statement downloaded from your online account documents is acceptable.
- Investment accounts such as stocks, lines of credit, bonds, retirement accounts or any other type of investment funds.
- Statements of value for property, land, houses, apartments, or other assets.
- Salary, wage, or income statements; tax forms or insurance policies.
CMS Login