Graduate & Professional

Visa Requests

If you need an I-20 or a DS-2019 from GW, you must submit an original Visa Request and Financial Certificate form to verify funding sources, along with the original supporting documents described below. Please note that applications from prospective students requiring an I-20 or a DS-2019 from GW are not considered complete without these materials. If you lack sufficient funding, please complete the form indicating whatever funding is currently available to you. You will be considered for admission and any graduate student support if available in your program regardless of the current state of your funding.

Please note that an I-20 or a DS-2019 can only be issued once sufficient funding is documented for you and any accompanying dependents, whether that funding comes from you, a third party, GW, or a combination of these. Funds must be certified in U.S. currency and, if your documents are in a language other than English, an original, certified English translation must be provided. Financial documents should be as current as possible and may not be more than 12 months old at the time your GW studies will begin. Unless you are offered a University assistantship at the time of admission, you should not plan to work in the U.S. to support your studies.

Please make sure your full legal name (as listed in your passport) is included in all financial supporting documents, especially when documents are provided from a sponsor whose name is different than yours. A photocopy of the biographic/identification page of your passport should be attached to your application (see section below on Biographical/Visa Information).

If you have a disability and will require attendant care, you must certify the availability of additional funds to pay for this service. For more information, contact:

Disability Support Services
The George Washington University
800 21st Street, NW
Washington, DC 20052
U.S.A.
202-994-8250 (TDD/Voice)
cwillis@gwu.edu

Required Dependent Information

You must check the appropriate box on the Visa Request and Financial Certificate form to indicate whether you plan to come alone or will bring dependents. If you will be accompanied by dependents, you must submit a legible copy of their biographic/identification passport page and, on a separate sheet of paper, provide the following information:

Full legal name (first, last, and middle names as shown on passport)
Gender
Relationship to you
Date of birth
City and country of birth
Country of citizenship
Country of legal permanent residency

Source of Funds

The following documentation is required to support the sources of funds listed on the Visa Request and Financial Certificate form. All materials must be provided for the estimated length of your entire academic program (at least two years for a master's degree, and four to five years for a doctoral program). If you plan on bringing dependents, financial documents must show sufficient funds to cover that additional cost.

Self-support. Enclose a letter from a bank official on letterhead stationery including the following information: name of account owner, type of account, date the account was opened, and the current available balance. Documents must be original and may not be more than 12 months old at the time your GW studies will begin. If you are using personal funds as your sole source of support, you must show sufficient funds for the entire length of your academic program. If you do not have sufficient funds for the entire program, a sponsor must agree to provide support for the remaining years.
Family/Individual Sponsor. Your sponsor must complete and sign the official certification portion of the Visa Request and Financial Certificate form and enclose a letter from a bank official on letterhead stationary including the following information: name of account owner, type of account, date the account was opened, and the current available balance. Documents must be original and may not be more than 12 months old at the time your GW studies will begin. The sponsor must show sufficient funds for the first year of study in cash and must document means of support for subsequent years.
Government/Agency Sponsor. Enclose an original sponsorship letter, letter of award, or scholarship certificate. The letter should include the following information: current date, name and address of sponsor, name of your intended degree and major at The George Washington University, and the U.S. dollar amount, exact starting and ending dates, and conditions of the award.
The George Washington University. Enclose a copy of the letter of award of a GW assistantship, fellowship, or tuition award. The letter should include the following information: U.S. dollar amount or value of award, exact starting and ending dates (or specify whether the award is renewable), and conditions of the award.
Other. Specify the source, type, and amount of the support and enclose a signed affidavit from a person authorized to certify the accuracy of this entry,as well as original financial documents (for example, bank letters, bank statements).

Biographic/Visa Information

All international applicants must attach a legible copy of their biographic/identification passport page for themselves and for each dependent. You must also attach a legible copy of the following documents, if applicable:

If you currently live in the U.S., the front and back of your I-94 (the red stamp must be clear on the copy).
If you are on F-1 Optional Practical training, your employment authorization document.
Copies of any U.S. visa stamps.
All I-20 or DS-2019 forms you have been issued, if you are or were in F or J status.