2. Documents from banks or anyone else that say that a sponsor has "enough" or "sufficient" funds to support a student will not be accepted. Only the College can determine how much is enough. Financial papers must state actual dollar amounts in U.S. dollars. However, we will accept a document which says that the income or savings are "in the high five figures (or low six figures, etc.) in U.S. dollars".

3. Do not send papers separately. All financial papers must be submitted together. If we receive partial documentation, we will return it. Families should designate one family member to collect all papers and submit the complete package to us.

4. Each sponsor must submit an affidavit stating exactly what is to be provided. All questions on affidavit forms must be answered. All affidavits must be signed by the sponsor in the presence of a notary public. The notary public must sign and the official seal of the notary public must be on the affidavit. If an affidavit is changed in any way, it must have signatures of both the sponsor and the notary public on each change. It is a crime to change a sworn statement.

There are notaries at all U.S. embassies and consulates. In the U.S. many local pharmacists, lawyers, and accountants are notaries . There are notaries in all countries though names for them may be different. They are officials licensed by the national or regional government to take sworn statements for courts of law or to witness contracts or property deeds.

5. Sponsors should not promise too much money. Many sponsors seem to believe that the more money they promise to give to the student, the more likely we are to issue the I-20. The opposite is true. The second most common reason why we must reject financial documents is that the sponsor has promised to give more money than his/her income will permit. Sponsors should promise what they truly intend to give.

6. Do not submit old documents. Both the College and the U.S. Government agencies require new documents (less than six months old). Older documents will be rejected and returned.

7. Do not send copies. Except for tax documents, leases and deeds, all papers must be originals. Copies will be rejected and returned. Originals will be attached to INS Form I-20 issued for visa applications and returned to students who are outside the U.S. We will not accept documents sent by fax.

8. The College does not care how many sponsors there are, whether or not they are U.S. citizens, or where they live. It is usually easier to get an F-1 visa when at least part of a student's support comes from outside the U.S.

9. Students can sponsor themselves, either partly or in full. No affidavits are needed. Recent bank statements in the student's name must be provided and the amount of money in the bank account must be divided by two because BMCC has two-year programs.

10. Scholarships may be used to qualify for I-20. We must have an award letter from the private or government scholarship board stating how much money is to be given and for how many years.

11. Free Room and Board is worth more than half of the dollar amount estimated to support a student. When a family member in New York gives a student a free place to live and/or free meals, the student needs far less in cash from other sponsors. Affidavits of free room and board must be sent with a copy of the property deed or rental lease. Such affidavits will not be accepted if the place to live is too small or too far away from the college.

12. Every dollar of support must be proven by student's bank statements, proof of the sponsor's income, or a lease or deed. Each dollar not provided by the student personally must be promised in an affidavit by a sponsor.