Greetings to you from Bethany College of Missions!
Thank you for your interest in financially supporting one of our international applicants. You play a key role in equipping future missionaries from nations all around the world, who might not otherwise have the means for such training. With your financial support, prayers, and encouragement, you can make a difference, not only in the life of an individual student, but in the spreading of the Gospel of Jesus Christ around the globe!
The information we are providing in this section of our web site is designed to help you understand some basic information about :
1) Our college and the screening methods for international applicants
2) Restrictions and requirements of the U.S. government regarding international students
3) The obligations and commitments you assume as a financial supporter of an international student
You will also find the necessary information and forms that must be submitted to the college in order to become a financial supporter.
If you have questions that are not sufficiently covered through these resources, please feel free to contact our office.
International students may choose to be self-supporting or their family may choose to serve as the financial supporter. They may also have one or more individuals or organizations pledge to provide financial support.
Whoever the financial supporter is, all supporters of an international student agree to provide finances for the student’s school-related fees, medical insurance, and personal expenses, when required. The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) mandates that international students submit proof of this financial support for one year at a time throughout the student’s enrollment.
According to USCIS law, the proof of support documents must be updated and re-submitted to the college each year by the financial supporter. Therefore, it should be understood by the financial supporter, that unless otherwise indicated, their commitment to the international student is to be renewed annually for the duration of their enrollment at BCOM.
A student must go through the entire application process and be accepted by the Admissions Committee before supporters submit the proof of support paperwork, and the first term funds they have pledged. At that time these items and the fees for major medical insurance for the year must be receipted by BCOM. This must be verified before the I-20 immigration form will be sent to the international student.
Students will also have other expenses during their enrollment. Major medical insurance is required to maintain enrollment and is payable annually. The BA student will be asked to raise financial support for his/her overseas internship during the course of his/her studies. Personal expenses will also be an issue for nearly all international students.
The financial supporter should consider whether or not they are willing to cover these additional expenses for the international student, and should be forthright in stating their commitment in all proof of support documentation.
Communicating with the Financial Supporter
Though the college will send all receipts of funds received directly to the financial supporter, the financial supporter should not expect to have regular contact directly with the college. The international student is expected to manage his/her own relationships with his/her supporting organizations and individuals. Therefore, the college does not make financial appeals on behalf of the international student, except in the case of an emergency situation. We hold to the position that the student must take the initiative to arrange all financial support, communicate needs, and follow up with the financial supporter.
The international student may or may not choose to contact the financial supporter for additional funding or special expenses. The student will also choose whether to make supporters aware of fees and expenses related to their schooling as they arise.
Likewise, the college does not release school records, such as grade reports or assessments, to financial supporters without written permission from the student.
Since BCOM has a responsibility to report all variations in the international student’s status to the USCIS, it would be greatly appreciated if financial supporters would encourage their international student friend to contact the college if they have plans for such variations (e.g. intention to drop out of school, intention to marry, intention to transfer to another program, etc.).
It should be noted that the college can only receipt money that goes directly toward the student’s college fees, as required by BCOM. These monies are not tax-deductible.
Money donated toward a student’s Global Internship expenses are tax-deductible, in most cases. They should not be made payable to the college or the student, but to Bethany International Ministries, our missions-sending arm, which sponsors the outreach activity of interns and receipts monies for them. Bethany International Ministries will then send a receipt to the financial supporter. More information about support-raising and receipting internship funds will be made available to the student during the 2nd term of their enrollment.
Money given toward a student’s personal expenses should be sent directly to the student or to their church, if they have a personal account set up through a home congregation. If sent directly to the student, the donation will not be tax-deductible. If channeled through a church the donation will usually be tax-deductible. Financial supporters should check with the individual church for details.
