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The short answer
US universities usually accept recent bank statements or bank letters, a signed sponsor form for each sponsor, an I-134 from a US-based sponsor, approved loan letters and university scholarship letters. Bank documents must commonly be dated within six months, and schools refuse property, shares, bonds, retirement accounts and anything not immediately available.
Each school sets its own list
The I-20 is issued by your school, so the document list is the school's. The two we checked in October 2026 show how much the details vary. The University of Montana wants documents dated within the past six months at submission. Texas A&M International University wants statements dated within six months of first enrolment and gives fixed cut-off dates by intake (for Fall, 1 January or later). The shape of the list, though, is similar across most schools.
Documents most schools accept
| Document | What it must show | Notes from schools checked |
|---|---|---|
| Bank statement | Bank name or letterhead, account holder, date, balance, currency, account type | Within 6 months (Montana); official, translated if not in English (TAMIU) |
| Bank letter or bank affidavit | Same details, confirmed by the bank | TAMIU prefers its bank affidavit form; a plain letter only if neither statement nor affidavit is available |
| Sponsor form | Sponsor's signature, date and amount in US dollars | One form per sponsor (Montana) |
| Form I-134 | US-resident sponsor's declaration | Asked of US-based sponsors with supporting documents (TAMIU) |
| Loan letter | Student's name and approved amount, on lender letterhead | Conditional approval accepted only if the condition is the I-20; applications refused (Montana) |
| Scholarship or assistantship | Award amount and period | University funds count; any shortfall from another source (TAMIU) |
What schools refuse
Montana's list of unacceptable documents is typical: investment accounts (stocks, bonds, real estate), property or solvency statements, retirement or pension accounts, life insurance policies, tax returns, documents older than six months and funds not immediately accessible. TAMIU adds non-liquid assets, credit cards and certificates of deposit. The common thread is liquidity: the money must be available to pay costs now.
Ageing limits and timing
Six months is the common window, but how it is measured differs. Montana counts back from when you submit; TAMIU counts from your first enrolment and publishes cut-off dates. If your application slips to a later intake, a statement that was in date can expire. Plan to refresh documents if more than a few months pass between the school's request and your submission.
Worked example: will my statement still be valid?
Example only, using TAMIU's rule as published. A student plans to start in Fall. TAMIU's earliest acceptable date for Fall is 1 January. A statement dated 15 December would be refused, even if the student submits in February. A statement dated 10 January is acceptable. At a school using Montana's rule, the same 10 January statement would be within six months if submitted before 10 July.
Nigerian specifics
- Name matching: the name on the statement should match the sponsor form exactly; Montana requires romanised names.
- Currency: show the currency on the statement; sponsor amounts are stated in US dollars on Montana's form.
- Domiciliary versus naira accounts: either can be used if the school accepts it; dollar balances avoid conversion surprises. See domiciliary versus multicurrency accounts.
- Several sponsors: each signs their own form and provides their own document.
- Authenticity: schools and consulates are alert to altered documents; our explainer on doctored statements explains how they are caught.
What to check first
- Open your school's I-20 financial page and list exactly what it asks for.
- Check the date rule and the cut-off for your intake.
- Get one sponsor form per sponsor.
- For US-resident sponsors, ask whether the school wants Form I-134.
- Make sure totals, after scholarships, meet the school's one-year figure.
Common reasons schools send documents back
- The statement shows only the last page with the balance, not the account holder and date.
- The account belongs to someone who has not signed a sponsor form.
- The figure is in naira with no indication of the amount in dollars, at a school that asks for it.
- A loan document is an application, not an approved offer.
- A screenshot from a banking app instead of an official statement or letter.
- A statement in a language other than English with no translation, where TAMIU, for instance, requires one.
Requests for more documents add weeks before the I-20 is issued, and the visa appointment cannot proceed without it. Sending a complete set the first time is the fastest route. A short covering note that lists each sponsor, the amount and the matching document also helps the officer reviewing your file.
Who signs what
The student signs the I-20 itself once issued. Each sponsor signs their own support form, and a US-resident sponsor may also sign Form I-134. The bank produces the statement or letter. Keep a copy of everything you send, because the same papers support your answers at the interview.
Where Pryme fits
Any Pryme customer can generate a regular or a verifiable statement through our partner VerifyDoc.ai; anyone can check a verifiable one is genuine and unaltered (statements). Whether a school accepts it is the school's call. For the amount itself, see how much to show for the I-20.
Questions people ask
How old can a bank statement be for an I-20?
Most schools want it dated within six months. Some, such as TAMIU, measure from first enrolment and publish cut-off dates by intake.
Is a fixed deposit accepted for an I-20?
Some schools refuse certificates of deposit; TAMIU lists CDs as not acceptable. Ask your school, or move the funds to an accessible account and get a bank letter.
Can I use property documents as proof of funds for an I-20?
No. Schools such as Montana and TAMIU refuse property and real estate as proof because it is not liquid.
Does the bank letter need to be in dollars?
The statement must show the currency. Sponsor amounts are usually stated in dollars on the school's form; check whether your school converts naira itself.
Sources
- University of Montana: Financial Documents for I-20 (published 7 Oct 2026) · accessed Oct 2026
- Texas A&M International University: I-20 and DS-2019 financial documents · accessed Oct 2026
- USCIS: Form I-134, Affidavit of Support · accessed Oct 2026
This article is general information, not financial, legal or tax advice. Products described are provided under the terms on this site and are subject to regulation and eligibility.