<p>The 'International Student Certificate of Finances' form asks us to declare the amount of contribution we can make to the colleges' fees, and to have his signed by a bank. </p>
<p>I've just been to see my accoutant who said that this can not be signed as a bank can not guarantee funds will be avaliable in the future, even if they are now. 'we can only work with fact'. As in, If for some reason the funds become unavaliable, the banks are responsible and is, therefore unsignable. </p>
<p>There is a problem here, for without a signature of avaliable funds, I can't apply for aid. I am in no doubt that people have faced and will be facing the same situation, so my question is, how is this issue resolved?</p>
<p>Contact the colleges you are applying to and inform them about your situation. They might be okay with a bank statement certifying, “This is the amount of money available right now.”</p>
<p>Colleges want to know that you have a certain amount of money, and that you have access to that money. For example, you might have a $100,000 invested so that you cannot access that money for the next 4 years. It wouldn’t help you pay your tuition bills anytime soon, and a bank statement saying you have $100,000 without any sort of indication of the availability of the funds is useless for financial aid and visa purposes.</p>
<p>That’s why colleges want a statement along the lines of “the applicant has these funds and the funds will be provided as indicated.” (That might mean that the funds are available right now, or that they become available by the time you claim to use them on the Certification of Finances form.)</p>
<p>I understand that that might be too loosely worded for a bank to sign. If you work with your colleges and the bank, you can probably come up with a compromise that will work for everyone involved.</p>
<p>Thanks for your help, I really appreciate it. </p>
<p>If my parents said that they would provide £x, they would do whatever necessary to find it. It’s just the banks refuse to take their word for that, which I suppose is understandable seeing as the college would chase the bank for money. </p>
<p>I’ll email the colleges explaining, like you said, I have seen some colleges saying the banks just need to sign proof of income and, like you said, that the money is there now. </p>