F1 Visa Financial Proof Requirements

[Variant 0]

Hello! my girlfriend (Aus) and myself (USA), both in late 20's, are exploring her coming her on an F1 visa to do a 2 year associates degree at a Community College. This is a program she plans on doing either in Aus or here, the benefit of doing it here is that she would have certification if we were to end up living in the US (and it is still somewhat affordable).They sponsor F1's and the school only needs you to prove that you have access to $18k for the first year if you are not doing housing through them (the 2 year program would be about $22k). I will be a grad student in the same city but have quite a bit saved up and access to plenty of credit, so I'm really not worried about getting the $22k but rather the above and beyond burden that immigration might require for an F1.

 

I have 2 questions.... 1) Has anyone recently done an F1 and what kind of proof did you need to show? Did you borrow money overseas? Could you just show that you are approved for a loan?   and 2) Will being in a relationship with myself, of course we will declare it, keep her from potentially getting the F1 Visa? She still has ties to her home country, family, etc... and after school we would either stay here or go to Aus depending on work and life situation.

 

Any advice would be great, thanks in advance 

[R78 16]

Husband / Wife / Fiancee / Son / Daughter etc. are considered relationships. BF / GF ...not as much for this purpose. 

From a document standpoint, the best bet is to approach it as if she were coming here to study (without even knowing you). That means, show that she has enough funds for the first year (minimum), a bank loan approval would be best.

 

I highly doubt anyone will ask her if she has a BF. 

 

Another approach is for you to sign the financial affidavits of support for her education. 

[SusieQQQ 11,586]

DHS page on studying says 

 

Evidence of Financial Ability

A prospective student must have financial evidence showing that they or a sponsor has sufficient funds to cover tuition and living expenses during the period of intended study. Evidence of financial ability includes but is not limited to:

Family bank statements.

Documentation from a sponsor.

Financial aid letters.

Scholarship letters.

Letter from an employer showing annual salary.

https://studyinthestates.dhs.gov/financial-ability

You might also want to note from the actual DoS visa page https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/study/student-visa.html#documentation

Apart from the passport, i20 etc:

Additional Documentation May Be Required

A consular officer will interview you to determine your qualifications for a student visa, and may request additional documents, such as evidence of:

Your academic preparation, such as:

Transcripts, diplomas, degrees, or certificates from schools you attended; and

Standardized test scores required by your U.S. school;

Your intent to depart the United States upon completion of the course of study; and

How you will pay all educational, living and travel costs. 

 

[SalishSea 17,829]

10 hours ago, Variant said:

access to plenty of credit,

I don't think that a CO would deem a BF's access to credit to be in her favor.

[arken 4,197]

Two main things they usually wanna see seem to not be in a good position here.

 

1. Financial: Financial support from a BF isn’t convincing and likely not accepted. Even in case they accept,  a loan in the US for a foreign student will likely doom the chance.

 

2. Country ties: Whether they accept your financial support or not, her ties to the US with a USC bf who is willing to provide financial support for tuition and food/lodging will seem much stronger than the ties to her family who isn’t sponsoring her for the study.

[SusieQQQ 11,586]

20 minutes ago, arken said:

Country ties: Whether they accept your financial support or not, her ties to the US with a USC bf who is willing to provide financial support for tuition and food/lodging will seem much stronger than the ties to her family who isn’t sponsoring her for the study.

Bingo.