The certificate of eligibility for F-1 student status, Form I-20, is issued only to students who have given the college the documents proving the ability to meet expenses while living and studying at Bucks County Community College. To receive the I-20, you must complete the required financial forms accurately and return them to the Director, Adult and Multicultural Student Services, with additional documents supporting your financial ability and/or that of your sponsor(s). Unacceptable documents will be rejected and returned to you. All papers must be completed exactly as specified below. Please read the following rules carefully before completing the papers.

DO NOT SUBMIT OLD DOCUMENTS. Both the college and U.S. government agencies require new documents (less than six months old). Older documents will be rejected and returned.

DO NOT SEND COPIES. Except for tax documents, all papers must be originals. Copies will be rejected and returned. Originals will be attached to the I-20's issued for visa applications and returned to students.
The college will not accept documents by fax

DO NOT SEND PAPERS SEPARATELY. All financial papers must be submitted at the same time.

STUDENTS CAN SPONSOR THEMSELVES, EITHER PARTLY OR IN FULL. No affidavits are needed when the student's own money is being used. Recent bank statements in the student's name must be provided. The bank statement must include the current balance and the average balance for the past six months.

THE COLLEGE DOES NOT MANDATE A SPECIFIC NUMBER OF SPONSORS, NEITHER DOES IT REQUIRE THAT THEY BE U.S. CITIZENS.

EACH SPONSOR MUST SUBMIT AN AFFIDAVIT STATING EXACTLY WHAT IS TO BE PAID. All questions on the affidavit must be answered.

FINANCIAL PAPERS MUST STATE ACTUAL AMOUNTS IN U.S. DOLLARS. The college will not accept documents which say that the sponsor has "enough" or "sufficient" funds to support the student.

SCHOLARSHIPS MAY BE USED TO QUALIFY FOR THE FORM I-20. The college must be given an award letter from the scholarship sponsor stating how much money is to be given and for how many years.

SPONSORS WHO ARE EITHER U.S. CITIZENS OR PERMANENT RESIDENTS MUST ALSO COMPLETE THE FORM I-134 IN ADDITION TO BCCC'S "AFFIDAVIT OF SPONSOR" FORM. In completing the form I-134, sponsors should give particular attention to item #11 on page 2 of this document. The sponsor must check the box stating, "I
do intend" and describe the exact nature of the contribution in U.S. dollars.

DO NOT EXPECT THE BANK STATEMENT ALONE TO PROVE FINANCIAL ABILITY OF THE SPONSOR. Bank statements are a very poor indicator of financial ability. The college wants to verify the sponsor's income, either from an employer's letter or an income tax return.

AFFIDAVIT OF ROOM AND BOARD IS REQUIRED SINCE BCCC IS NOT A RESIDENTIAL COLLEGE. The Affidavit of Free Room and Board will not be accepted if the place to live is too far from BCCC. A photocopy of the sponsor's lease or deed must accompany the affidavit.

EVERY DOLLAR OF SUPPORT MUST BE DOCUMENTED BY A STUDENT'S BANK STATEMENT, PROOF OF SPONSOR''S INCOME, OR AN AFFIDAVIT OF FREE ROOM AND BOARD. Each dollar, not provided by the student personally, must be promised in the affidavit(s) by the sponsor(s).

THE SPONSOR, IN THE PRESENCE OF A NOTARY PUBLIC, MUST SIGN ALL AFFIDAVITS. The notary must also sign the affidavits. The official seal or stamp of the notary must be on the affidavit(s).