International Students who wish to attend USM must document that they have proof of sufficient funding to support their educational and living costs throughout the duration of their academic program. This documentation of funding is a key component of the admission application process and required by USCIS.

At USM incoming international students must supply the following information to complete the documentation of funding process:

1. Liquid funds (actual cash) for year #1.
   Most often this is provided in the form of a bank statement, or a letter from the bank stating that the customer has access to the minimum amount needed.
   
   
2. A letter of sponsorship if the funding does not belong to the student. If the source of funding is the student's own money, a letter of sponsorship is not necessary.
   
   
3. A source of funding for the additional years.
   If you are an undergraduate student it is estimated that you will need an additional 3 years to complete your degree. Most graduate programs take a total of 2 years. Students need to show that a source of funding exists for these additional years. Most often this documentation is in the form of a wage statement, tax return, etc.

The following documents should help you to complete this process:

• Declaration of Finances Form: this form provides some additional guidance on the types of documents that can be submitted for this process.
  
• Sample letter of Sponsorship
  

If you have additional questions about what types of documentation are acceptable for your specific situation please contact Kimberly or Kaoru in the International Programs Office. 207-780-4959 or via e-mail at usm.international@maine.edu