Declaration and Certification of Finances (DCF) Information

Read all the pages of this form carefully. Then fill out this form on your computer. Be sure to complete all the parts of the form. Print the completed form from your computer and mail it to the ELI with your application, your $50.00 application fee, and your bank letter. (See below for details about the bank letter.) The ELI must have the ORIGINAL of this DCF form and your bank letter. Do not fax or photocopy this form.

To determine how much money one student needs for a semester in the ELI and in Akron, we add together the fixed costs for tuition and fees and the estimated costs for living expenses (housing and food), health insurance, books, and other expenses. The table below lists these fixed expenses and estimates.

Some students might spend more than these amounts each semester; other students might spend less. All students must provide written proof of having at least this much money available for one semester in the ELI. You may not need to use all of this money, but you must prove that it is available.

PLEASE NOTE: ELI tuition and fees and the cost for mandatory health insurance are subject to change without notice. These fees must be paid in full at the time of registration. The registration period is the week before each semester begins. Payment for tuition must be made in the form of a personal check from a U.S. bank, a money order, or travelers' checks. Your materials fee and other expenses can be paid by a credit card (VISA, Mastercard, or Discover) or by a personal check from a U.S. bank, a money order, or travelers' checks. Students who pay after the registration period will be charged a $50.00 late fee.

PLEASE NOTE: The fixed expenses and estimates above do NOT include the fee for the use of the Student Recreation Center. Students who wish to use the Recreation Center will have to pay a membership fee when they arrive in Akron.

If you plan to travel to the U.S. with a spouse (wife or husband) and/or children, the Declaration and Certification of Finances (DCF) and the bank letter must show that you have enough money to cover their living expenses while they are in the U.S. with you. These living expenses include food and personal purchases such as clothing and entertainment. Refer to the chart below for the amounts for a spouse and each child.

Please Note: Health insurance is not required for dependents of F-1 students. However, you are strongly advised to buy health insurance policies for your spouse and children while they are here. Medical costs in the U.S. are very high, and if you do not have insurance for everyone in your family, you will have to pay by yourself.

For us to issue you immigration documents, 

1. the person responsible for your expenses (your sponsor) must sign this form. By signing, he or she agrees to be financially responsible for you for the amounts listed above for the semester in which you begin your ELI studies. If you travel to the U.S. with a spouse (husband or wife) and/or children, your sponsor must agree to be responsible for the additional amount listed for each dependent. 
2. your sponsor must provide us with an official bank letter proving that he or she has the specified amount of money available. If your family members come with you, the letter must show the additional amounts for them. 
3. the bank letter must:
• be in English.
• be signed and certified by a bank official.
• show the amount of money in the bank account in local currency.
• be an original document, not a fax or photocopy.
• show that the sponsor has enough money available for the semester that the student wishes to begin plus additional funds for any dependents who will travel with the student.