Chapman Graduate SchoolInternational Student Visa Documents
If you are not on a valid visa for study in the U.S., you will need an initial I-20. FIU creates this document for you to take to the U.S. Embassy/Consulate in your home country. We are required by the Department of Homeland Security/U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services to carefully review the financial ability of each student prior to issuing this document. Therefore, it is important that you are aware of the cost of attending FIU and that you have sufficient funds to support yourself.
Issuing Your I-20
To obtain your I-20 you must submit supporting financial documents. Upon admission, you will submit all Declaration Certification of Finances documents on your myFIU page. You will select the Admissions Tile and then the DCF Activity Guide tile.
After finances are approved, we will issue your I-20 form. This is what you will use to schedule your visa appointment.
For FIU’s Chapman Graduate School of Business to issue an I-20 you must supply the following documents:
- Declaration of Finance – Please complete all information requested in the form. The form must reflect, at a minimum, the total cost of the program (tuition, books, and medical insurance).
- Official bank letter – This must have signature and seals from the bank official. You may also submit a current copy of the bank statement, or a letter printed on the official bank letterhead, containing the following information:
- State the name of the account holder (applicant or sponsor)
- Be signed and/or stamped by an authorized member of the bank
- Show sufficient funds to cover tuition and living expenses
- Bank letters are accepted from the following types of accounts: savings, checking, current, or money market accounts. Any other account available would need to specify if the account is liquid, or if the funds are available for withdrawal at any time.
- Sponsor letter – If the bank letter or account is not in the student’s name (e.g., family member, employer, etc.), the sponsor will need to sign the Affidavit of Support or submit a signed letter stating that they will be financially responsible for all expenses while the student is pursuing a degree at FIU.
- Copy of passport – A valid passport is required to verify all names are spelled correctly on the I-20, and that there are no errors on the birth date. This is required for the applicant and all dependents (if applicable). This must be valid for 6 months after the start of the program.
- F1 transfer form – If you are currently in the U.S. on a valid I-20 and are transferring your visa to FIU, we require all the documents listed above plus the F-1 Transfer Form. This form must be completed by your international student advisor and include an appropriate SEVIS release date. Without this date and your international student advisor’s approval of your transfer, the F-1 Transfer Form remains incomplete.
Currently, I-20s and admission letters are being sent via email only due to the ongoing situation with COVID-19. No further action will be needed on your part to receive your I-20. Please be sure to check your email regularly, your I-20 will be sent by the university’s central admission office and not your program.
If you have not received this within three weeks of submitting all financial documents, please follow up with cobglobal@fiu.edu.
