New Student Intake Forms

The information listed on the I-20 or DS-2019 must exactly match the passport you intend to use for your visa interview and travel both for security and to avoid potential errors or delays. You’ll also be prompted to enter details related to your birth and residency status outside the US. If you have multiple passports, please determine which one you’ll use for your travel to the United States as a student and list your details to match that document.

It’s important to make sure that the name entered into the SEVIS database is accurate, to avoid problems when you apply for the visa. Additionally, the University systems must list your name the same way, so the information provided on this form may be used to update your University records as well.

To find the official formatting of your name, reference the second to last line on the bottom of your identification page of a machine-readable passport (reference sample image below). Your surname will be separated by << from your given name(s).

If there is an official custom in your country that allows for a different order of your name in the passport (such as: Last Name, Middle Name, First Name), please include a short explanation. If you don’t have a surname listed on your passport, ISO is required to enter your full name in the last name field of the SEVIS database and to leave your first name blank.

Reference image:

Upload a copy of the photo identification page of your passport for verification purposes to the NSIF (not the cover or any other informational pages). If you have a student visa in your passport, either current or expired, you’ll be asked to upload a copy of that as well.

If you don’t have a passport because you are required to have an I-20 or DS-2019 in order to apply, please check the box for ‘Passport not available’. In this case, you must provide a copy to the ISO once you receive it.

You’ll also enter home country academic and occupation details.

Please contact your admitting department or Admissions Office for detailed information regarding program costs.

For immigration purposes, the ISO is required to identify the average cost of living for international students, including:

• housing
• meals
• local transportation
• personal costs
• academic books and supplies

Keep in mind these figures are estimates of anticipated expenses and may not fully reflect all charges billed by the University. These estimates do not include international travel costs, optional services, or other professional costs that you may incur here.

For students living off-campus, this total currently averages up to $1725 per month, over 9 to 12 months in the academic year. This figure is an estimate only, made in consultation with the Financial Aid Office. Many students find that their actual costs will vary, either higher or lower, from this amount.

For undergraduates expected to live on-campus, standard room and board fees will be used instead of a monthly calculation.

For each dependent family member accompanying you to the University of Rochester, you’ll be required to show documented financial support for an additional $7000 annually, per person.

Proof of available funds should only include liquid assets that are easily accessible: cash, stocks or bonds, money market accounts, mutual funds, or similar.

Other assets that represent future, past or estimated values are not sufficient, such as retirement accounts, annual salary statements, tax documents and property/land holdings.

Plan ahead to request and update required funding documents with your financial institution, as needed. Please consider the following guidelines:

• Proof of financial support must include the bank or financial institution, name of the account holder(s), account number, type of account, current balance and currency, and statement date.
• Documents must be unaltered and recently issued, not more than 4-6 months prior to the date of your visa interview or entry to the country.
• Statements printed in a language other than English will require a written translation. Be sure to include this when uploading documentation to the NSIF as well.
• A bank letter may be issued in lieu of a current account statement, provided the bank official attests to the availability of sufficient funds and provides an original signature or other certification.
• Support from an outside scholarship, home institution, employer, or other organization can be documented by the official award letter. Similarly, University funding should be documented via your University of Rochester award letter during your visa interview and travel.

If you’re being funded by a relative, friend or other private sponsor, you must have documentation that they intend to support your education at the University of Rochester. In addition to their bank statement showing available funds, they must provide a brief statement indicating their relationship to you and explaining that the documented funding is available for your studies.

Your sponsor may use the template provided as a Statement of Financial Support, or they may prepare a similar letter on your behalf.

This letter is not necessary when your name is officially listed on the financial account, as these will be considered personal funds for immigration purposes.

Document files must be clear and readable after uploading to the NSIF. Incomplete or insufficient proof of funding will result in delays in issuing your I-20 or DS-2019. If documentation provided does not appear to be authentic or may not satisfy official review at the US Consulate, we will request additional evidence for evaluation.