I-20/DS-2019 FUNDING REQUIREMENTS FOR 2023-2024

The International Students & Programs Office (ISPO) is required by law to verify that each person applying for a Form I-20 (F-1) or Form DS-2019 (J-1) has sufficient funds to cover the period of their stay in the United States. In most cases, the documentation that we require will also be required at the U.S. Embassy or Consulate when applying for the F-1 or J-1 visa.

To obtain your I-20 or DS-2019 in a timely manner, follow the guidelines below when submitting your request for a new or extension document:

• F-1 students must show 9 months of financial support to obtain a Form I-20.
• J-1 students (including EAP students) must show financial support for the entire duration of their program of study to obtain a Form DS-2019.
• If you are a continuing UCSD student who needs less than 9 months to complete your program of study, please refer to the 6-month or 3-month columns for program extensions.
• Students accompanied by a spouse and/or children in dependent status must show additional funding as indicated below.
• Exceptions: If you are filing an extension of your expected program end date but do not plan to enroll in coursework and pay tuition fees during the extended period, you may deduct the Tuition and Fees costs from the overall total. Please explain in your iPortal Request (Note to Advisors) for program extensions why your funding requirements differ from costs outlined on this page.
• Note: students who do not 'pay rent' or bear cost of living expenses may not deduct that cost from their overall total. Proof of funding for the standardized estimated rent consts will be required of all F-1/J-1 students when requesting program extensions.

A financial sponsor may be a parent, family member, or another person who will provide financial support. It is not necessary that a financial sponsor reside in the U.S. An individual financial sponsor may provide complete or partial support for the student, but the student’s total financial support must equal or exceed the total estimated costs.

Be prepared to provide a statement of relationship, should your financial sponsorship documentation list a person other than yourself. Although a formal letter or document providing verification of the relationship is not required for I-20/DS-2019 issuance, you may need to provide such evidence at the time of your visa interview. For those sponsored by a government, educational institution, or company or other business enterprise, a letter of financial support is required directly from the sponsor for your I-20 or DS-2019.

If you are a graduate student receiving financial support from your department (e.g., teaching assistantship, graduate student researcher), you may include evidence of this support in your application for your Form I-20 or DS-2019. Any financial support that does not meet the minimum requirements outlined below must be supplemented by documentation of other financial support to meet these requirements.

NOTE: In general, financial support for masters degree students is not guaranteed, regardless of program of study or department. Doctoral students have priority for Teaching Assistant and Graduate Student Researcher positions. As a result, masters degree students should not plan on those positions as a means of financial support during their course of study and should have other plans in place to fund their program tuition, fees, and living expenses.