Overview
The page explains how to submit the required documentation in order to be issued a form DS-2019 or form I-20 from the University of West Florida. For help with this process, please contact International Programs at international@uwf.edu.
Financial Ability
After being admitted into a degree program or being accepted into a student exchange, there are several documents required before the university can issue immigration documents. The documents required are a copy of a valid passport and a certification of your financial support. Proof of adequate financial support for the estimated cost of study is required before UWF can issue the Form I-20 or Form DS-2019.
How much do I need to show in support?
Select your student type below to see the estimated cost of study you must show in financial support. Information on the document standards for proof of financial support will be listed below. If your spouse and/or children will travel with you as dependents, you will need to submit additional proof of support.
What is required to show financial support?
You must have enough financial support to cover the minimum required by immigration. Financial support can be submitted in the following document types:
- Support from yourself, you must upload a completed Certification of Financial Resources.
- Support from friends and/or family, you must upload a completed Certification of Financial Resources.
- Scholarship or Awards of support from UWF: Such as athletic award letters, scholarship award letters, and graduate assistantship letters. You will need to upload proof of that support - PDF of the award letter.
- Other Scholarships or support from an organization that is not UWF: This may include student support from your home government. You will need to upload proof of that support - PDF of the award letter.
A Certification of Financial Resources (CFR) Form MUST BE submitted for these types of support. The form has different types of information that are required.
Support that is from friends, family, or yourself requires a Certification of Financial Resources. The document can be downloaded below or downloaded in MyUWF.
The Certification of Financial Resources is completed and signed by the sponsor (or yourself if it is self support), and then, taken to your bank for approval. The bank should sign and stamp the form.
Below is an example of a correctly completed Certification of Financial Resources.
We have provided color-coded examples for submitting the CFR.
The Student's Name must be listed where requested on the CFR Form.
The Sponsor completes the Sponsor Section and signs. The Sponsor is the person providing the support; this is the student if the money is from the student's bank.
The Financial Institution/Bank completes the Financial Institution section of the CFR.
Upload Option #1:
You must upload a 100% complete CFR form (Sponsor’s Section + Financial Institution’s Section).
IF the Financial Institution/Bank will not sign/stamp the section of the CFR, an alternate document MUST BE submitted WITH the CFR signed by the Sponsor. An Alternative Bank document MUST include the Financial Institution/Bank Name and Address, the Sponsor's name, current available balance (US dollars is preferred but not required IF the balance is easily identifiable), AND the signature and/or stamp of the financial institution/bank; the document must also have a date and the document must be less than six months old.
Upload Option #2:
You must upload a 50% complete CFR form (Sponsor’s Section) AND Financial Institution Alternate Documentation.
Instructions to Upload Your Proof of Financial Support and Passport
After being admitted into a degree program or being accepted into a student exchange, there are several documents required before the university can issue immigration documents. The documents required are a copy of a valid passport and a certification of your financial support.
Activate MyUWF
In order to submit this documentation, you must have access to MyUWF. If you have not already activated your account, you can do so following the instructions at Activating your MyUWF/ArgoNet Account.
Use the MyUWF App
Search for "I-20" or "Proof of Identity and Financial Support for Immigration" in MyUWF. Then, click on the app.
Complete the Form
Once you have clicked the app, a page opens asking you to complete the form. Click "Complete This Form."
Select Your Student Type
After clicking "Complete This Form," you are taken to the start of the form. Your name. date of birth, student email, and UWF ID should automatically load. If it does not, please contact international@uwf.edu for help.
Select your student type using the guidelines below:
Exchange Student (this is for students participating in a partner exchange with the University of West Florida).
Graduate Students (this is for degree and non-degree seeking students who have been admitted to a Masters, Specialist, or Doctoral program)
Intensive English Program Student (this is for students who are study English at the Intensive English Program including students who have Undergraduate Conditional Admission)
Transatlantik Institut Student (this is for cohort students participating in the Transatlantik Institut MBA cohort)
Undergraduate Student (this is for degree and non-degree seeking students who have been admitted to an Undergraduate program)
Review the Required Financial Support and Select Dependents
After you select your student type, you will see the required proof of financial support. The amount is different depending on the type of student you are.
Next, you select if you have any dependents. Adding dependents increases the amount of financial support required.
Dependents only need to be added if they are going to be attached to your visa status.
Choose the Type of Financial Support
To show proof of support, you first select the type of support you have using the guidelines below. (See FAQs below for guidance on documents that can and cannot be accepted as financial proof.)
Athletic Scholarship (use this for scholarships from UWF athletics teams)
Friends/ Family (use this for support that is from friends or family; this support requires a completed Certification of Financial Resources)
Scholarship (use this for support that is from a scholarship outside UWF)
Self (use this for support you are providing; this support requires a completed Certification of Financial Resources)
University of West Florida (use this for scholarships and support from UWF that is not related to athletics)
Enter Financial Support Information
After choosing the type of support, enter the requested information.
After the CFR form has been signed by all parties and stamped by the bank, upload the completed form.
Multiple Sources of Support
It is very common to have multiple sources of support. If you need another source of support, click the check box label "I have another source of support" and additional sources will appear. Each additional source of support must have its own Certification of Financial Resources.
You may upload up to three different sources of support in one form submission. If you have more than three sources of financial support, please submit an additional Proof of Identity and Financial Support FOrm in MyUWF.
Uploading your Passport and Completing the Form
Once you have added all of your sources of financial support, click "next." This will take you to the passport upload page.
Upload a scanned copy of your passport, and click "next." This will take you to the signature page.
After you sign, the form will automatically be sent to International Programs for review. If your financial support is not complete, International Programs will provide information on what is missing.
- Once financial support is complete, students may expect 2-3 business days processing before the Form I-20 or Form DS-2019 is ready.
FAQs
Most financial institutions will complete the form. However, if your institution will not, please contact international@uwf.edu. It is possible to accept certain types of bank letters in place of the signature or stamp.
You must include a completed CFR form. The CFR form is the "Certification of Financial Resources" and is required for before receiving an I-20 form because the CFR explains who is providing the money for your education & living expenses.
If you are using your money from your bank, then you are the Sponsor. Ask an official from your bank to complete the bottom half of the form.
Please finish these steps quickly to receive an I-20 Form.
- Download the CFR Form
- Complete the CFR Form (Sponsor signature & Bank stamp/signature)
- Upload the CFR and another copy of your passport. (You may complete multiple uploads for extra documents.)
Definitions & Instructions:CFR Student - The student applying for study at UWF.
CFR Sponsor - The person who owns the money must sign the CFR form. (Usually a family member, friend, or the student.)
CFR Financial Institution - The bank containing the sponsor’s money must complete the bottom half of the form. A completed CFR form will include a signature and/or stamp from a bank officer.
Financial Institution Alternate Documentation - Sometimes a bank will refuse to sign the CFR form. This is okay, but you should ask the bank to provide "Alternate Documentation" such as an official letter or account statement showing the "Sponsor’s Name" and the sponsor’s current account balance with the bank’s official stamp/signature & date.
Upload Option #1:
You must upload a 100% complete CFR form (Sponsor’s Section + Financial Institution’s Section).
Upload Option #2:
You must upload a 50% complete CFR form (Sponsor’s Section) AND Financial Institution Alternate Documentation.
Bank Statements are not required. UWF suggests requesting a bank letter which includes the above listed information rather than submitting a full bank statement.