Please Advise

[Valeriia]

Dear friends, any ideas and suggestions are more than welcome!

I came to the States on B-2 visa to visit my former host family with whom I stayed as an exchange student 2 yrs. ago on J-1 visa. During the stay I visited a local University and spontaneously decided to apply.
I got admissions and my I-20 and applied for a change of status from B-2 to F-1 with Texas Service Center after about 5 months--during the time I was an unpaid volunteer.

TSC requested additional evidence:
1.Provide proof of the basis and source of your income and your sponsor's income. Include a letter from the employer, most recent pay stub or anyinvestment ownership.
2.Provide your sponsor's 2003 income tax return. Include Wage and Tax statement.
3. Provide proof of your and your sponsor's credible sufficient financial funds. Include your and your sponsor's three monthsbank statements showing deposits and withdrawals. Do not include any account at a glance, memos, CDs, wire transfers, internet printouts, foreign bank statements, etc. Only immediately available funds under your account or your sponsor's account are acceptable.
4.Provide proof of I-134 Affidavit of support from your sponsor.

My questions are the following:
a.Do I need to prove funds for only first year of studies or entire four years?
b.I will be responsible for paying my tuition and fees. However, I do not have a bank account in the States and no tax returns or employment. And they do not accept foreign bank statements. Therefore, I cannot be my own sponsor. Do you think I still have a chance if all the documents will be provided by my former host dad?
c.Does a sponsor need to write a letter explaining why he/she is sponsoring me?
d. If my sponsor is providing me with free room and board and I will only have to pay tuition and fees should I explain all that in a separate letter?
e. What other evidence can I provide to prove my nonimmigrant intent and stronger ties with my home country?
f. Can a Congressman or Senator be helpful in any way? Or is it waste of time?


Sorry for so many questions. If you have any thoughts on at least one of them,please reply. Your help will be very much appreciated! Thanks.

 

[Valika]

In America the tuition is very expensive compare to other countries so it is essential to prove that you will be able to pay it.
a: you do not have to show the four year expenses only the first year which is the school's estimation of all your expenses for that specif year, You must have that or they will not issue an I-20
b: If you do not have your own bank account then you can not sponsor yourself. You need a sponsor who needs to sign the affidavit of support which basically is law binding aggreement by your sponsor that he or she will be responsible for you expenses. Now that person has to meet the financial criteria by the school. Anybody can be that person.
c: I do not think so but ask the school international adviser
d: You do not have to write anything to anyone the only thing that you need to show is your American bank account with the available money for the tuition and your sponsor money for your living expenses.
e: Well If you are an investor with many properties in your home country they might think that you will definitely return home after school.
d: Why don't you try your county's embassy instead?