Most of the information requested on the Confidential Declaration and Certification of Finance is straightforward. These instructions apply mainly to the information and documentation you need to submit to demonstrate that you possess or will be provided with sufficient funds to finance your stay in the U.S., based on the estimates given by the International Student Service Center (ISSC). These estimates of living expenses are provided in Part II of your Exchange Student Application on page 3, Certifying Your Sources of Financial Support. However, the estimates change, so please verify the amount of funds you will need with the Baruch Study Abroad Office (study.abroadxc@baruch.cuny.edu). Please note:

• If you are receiving a scholarship or stipend to finance your study at Baruch, you must submit the original award letter (or equivalent documentation of your award), and this documentation must list the specific amount of money you are to receive and for what period of time. (The original award letter will be returned to you with your DS-2019).
• If you are being sponsored by a private individual for your expenses during your study at Baruch, please indicate the specific amount of money each sponsor will be providing.
• If you are using private savings to pay for your expenses during your study at Baruch, you must provide original documentation of your ability to provide the funds listed on the Confidential Declaration and Certification of Finance.

As used here, “original documentation” means a recent (within the past three months) original bank statement, or a letter from the bank holding the account, on official letterhead stationery, showing a specific amount of funds in the account, and you must be named as the account holder. This original bank statement or letter must be authenticated by a bank official with a stamp and signature. Please note: A letter from a bank that states merely that the client “has sufficient funds to cover the expenses” or something similar is NOT considered to be sufficient documentation. A letter from a bank must state a specific amount of money, and is best accompanied by an authenticated bank statement described above.

Affidavit of Personal Sponsorship

If you are receiving support from your parents, other relatives, or friends, the sponsor herself/himself must complete and submit the Affidavit of Personal Sponsorship. The sponsor must also provide original documentation of her/his ability to provide the funds listed on the Affidavit.

Basic Coverage

The insurance you purchase must cover at least the following:

• medical benefits of at least $100,000 per person per accident or illness
• repatriation of remains in the amount of $25,000
• expenses associated with medical evacuation in the amount of $50,000

Additional Terms

The policy you obtain may not have a deductible that exceeds $500 per accident or illness, and it must meet other standards specified in the regulations. (A “deductible” is the amount that the patient must pay for medical treatment before the insurance carrier begins paying the patient’s medical expenses.)

Please note: If you wish, you may consult the following websites, which offer coverage for foreign citizens visiting the United States. We do not specifically endorse any of these products, but make them available to you:

• http://www.culturalinsurance.com/international/
• http://www.gatewayplans.com/
• http://www.medexassist.com/Individuals/Products/AllProducts.aspx
• https://www.studenthealthusa.com/
• https://www.isoa.org/

Failure to comply with this requirement of U.S. immigration will place you in violation of your visa status. As a result, Baruch College will be forced to cancel your DS-2019, you will not be allowed to attend Baruch, and you could be subject to deportation. Please take this provision very seriously.

Documentation of Insurance Coverage

Legislation of the State of New York requires all students matriculating at public universities to be immunized against mumps, measles and rubella. Every student attending Baruch College must complete and submit an Immunization Record. This Immunization Record is included in your Application.

Please note: you are REQUIRED to submit a scanned copy of your completed Immunization Record to the Study Abroad Office. You should use the secure document drop box to do so. You will be sent instructions on how to use the secure document drop box, but if you have not received these instructions, please contact the Baruch Study Abroad Office  at study.abroadxc@baruch.cuny.edu. Please complete the form and submit it as soon as possible, but no later than October 8th for entry in the following Spring semester or April 8th for entry in the following Fall semester. Failure to comply will result in removal from the program and cancellation of your DS-2019.

Please read the information we have provided about Baruch’s immunization policy as it applies to exchange students. General information about the policy on immunization can be found on the Baruch College website.

There are two parts to the Immunization Record included in your application packet. You should complete Part 1 yourself.

In Part 1, please give your current address (the address at your home university).

Part 1 also provides information about a bacterial disease, meningococcal meningitis, and requires you to check one of two boxes. Please note that Part 1 of the Immunization Record does NOT require you to receive the meningococcal meningitis vaccine. However, if you decide not to receive the vaccination, you must check the appropriate box, then sign and date this section of the form. Only one box should be checked on this page. Please note: your documents should be sent to the Baruch Study Abroad Office, NOT to Medical Records at Baruch.

Part 2 of the Immunization Record must be completed and signed (with an official stamp) by a qualified health care professional. Every exchange student must be immunized against mumps, measles and rubella. As stated on the Baruch website, you must provide one of the following items to prove that you are immunized:

• A record of vaccination with live virus vaccine with the first dose given no sooner than four days prior to your first birthday. This includes one dose for mumps, one dose for rubella, and two doses for measles. The dates of the live mumps and rubella vaccines must be 1969 or later. Both measles vaccinations must have been given after January 1, 1968, and the second measles must be on or after 15 months of age.
• A report of the results of a titer for immunity (i.e. a laboratory test performed on blood) for measles, mumps and rubella.

The New York State Board of Health does not accept a doctor’s diagnosis for measles, mumps or rubella. All students must provide exact dates they received the vaccines or a copy of the immune titer.

The practices of the medical professions regarding immunization and the reporting of blood titers are not uniform, so please make certain that you complete the Baruch College Immunization Record in the way indicated on the form. Please note that the blanks on the right margins of the form are for the dates of each of the required immunizations using the MM/DD/YYYY format (for example, February 8, 2001 would be written 02/08/2001).

Any information given by the health care professional on this form that is not in English must be translated into English. This includes any laboratory reports of blood titers, and information (including the address and professional title) on the stamp of the health care professional completing the form.