Certificate of Finances?

[Polopo]

I don't know where to post it, so I am asking here.

 

So I have been admitted to a PhD program a long time ago with teaching assistantship. The assistantship will pay the tuition and leave me with a 20k/year stipend for rent and food.

 

I just received an email from the graduate school, though, that my admission is conditional upon me providing them with a proof of sufficient funding. I called the grad school and explained that I have the assistantship from the school.

 

They explained to me that although I have received the assistantship, the certificate of finances is required for international students just in case if I lose my assistantship in the future. So, I guess it's an emergency thing. But the problem is that I am required to show that I have 50,000 dollars. To be honest, I don't have that kind of money saved. I guess I can borrow from my family just to show that I have the funding, but it's a real hassle and it makes me worry.

 

Are all international students required to do this? Is there a chance that they might revoke my admission just because I don't have sufficient amount of "extra" funding? They said that they cannot issue i20 without this document, so I guess I need to hurry up.

Edited May 27, 2013 by avisottda

[DeleteMePlease]

Do you actually have to borrow the money? Wouldn't a letter from your parents, that they cover your expenses in an emergency be enough?

I know it was for my J-1 visa.

[1Q84]

That shouldn't be the case. On my I-20 application form, I simply left the funding part blank and had my grad director email the office of international students stating how much funding I would receive. Then I received the I-20 from the school which guarantees a certain amount of funding (in my case, enough to cover all of the basic minimum requirements for enrollment).

 

I don't think it's right for them to require proof of $50k when clearly your attendance is predicated on their funding. I would talk with the whoever handles international students at your school as they often have a lot more knowledge of the bureaucratic process than the grad director of your department does.

 

Good luck!

[Carthage32]

Yep, totally agree with 1Q84 that they really shouldn't ask you to show proof of funding if you will have a stipend. 

 

I wasn't asked for any of this information. My school sent me the I-20 already filled out with the stipend amounts. Under the funding section, it listed "Student's personal funds" as $0 and "Funds from the school" as the total tuition + stipend amount.

 

I think you should contact your grad director or the international students' office and let them know what the situation is. I'm sure this can be sorted out. You should not be expected to show proof of funding of such a large amount when you have a stipend.

[Polopo]

Thank you all for your replies. I called them multiple times and checked with them. I still don't understand the precise reason but what they told me is that since the assistantship offer can be revoked at any time in case of sub-par grades or low rating on TA performance, the certification of tuition and living expenses is necessary so that I can remain in the US.

 

I am still confused, though. The assistantship is basically a contract that I made with the school, and if the school stops funding I am not going to attend the school anyway as there is no way I am going to pay $50k for graduate school even if I had $50k saved.

 

My driver's license in the states is expiring soon, and I still haven't obtained my i20 to renew my license. Feeling nervous :/

[Polopo]

And this is a fairly well known research university with lots of international students, so it's not like they don't deal with international students often.

[Pinaman]

This requirement from your school sounds very cheezy to me. Why would anyone pack USD50K in the expectation that if his funding is rescinded, then there will be something to fall back on?

 

Maybe, you are speaking with the wrong persons. I'd get in touch with the head of the international students office. Its not a even a requirement for visa, so why would they ask this of you? Imagine if all the US universities were asking int students to show proof of 'just in case' funds.

 

Sorry that i'm ranting about this, but it sounds silly to me, unless there's something (like they use the initial funding to lure students and then revoke it after the students matriculates ) they are not telling you!!!

Edited May 31, 2013 by Pinaman