Thank you for your message. I apologize for not replying sooner. Your portfolio and transcript have been received. We will update Wolverineaccess. Financial certification has not been submitted. Every year, many international applicants delay in submitting the required financial certification because the amount of money required to certify is high and difficult to secure. Many applicants choose to wait for an admission decision before sending financial certification. In previous years, the delay in submitting financial documents has prevented international students from securing F-1 Visas in time to attend the program. The financial certification is needed in order for the University of Michigan to be able to issue an I-20 document.
An applicant must have an I-20 document in his/her possession in order to make a Visa appointment with the US Consulate at the United States Embassy. The wait times for visa appointments vary from country to country. Please check for wait times for your country at this website.
If an applicant has submitted proper financial certification documents and is admitted to the University of Michigan, Taubman College can send a regular admit offer which contains enrollment deposit information in early March. An applicant is then able to pay the enrollment deposit fee anytime after receiving this letter to secure a seat in the incoming class. When an enrollment deposit is received, the I-20 document process can begin which can take 1-3 weeks. Once the I-20 is prepared, it is sent via courier to the applicant and so they may begin the visa process by making an appointment with the US Consulate. In this scenario, students may have an I-20 document in their possession as early as April 1st and usually no later than May 15th if they have sent the financial certification by Jan. 15th.
If an applicant has not submitted proper financial certification documents and is admitted to the University of Michigan, Taubman College can only extend a conditional admit offer in early March. The conditional admit letter states that the applicant is conditionally admitted provided that financial certification is submitted within 3 weeks. The applicant then sends the certification to Taubman College (1-3 weeks). Taubman College confirms that the certification meets the requirements and a new regular admission letter is generated (1-2 weeks). An applicant is then able to pay the enrollment deposit fee anytime after receiving this regular admit letter to secure a seat in the incoming Master of Architecture class. The University of Michigan can then generate an I-20 for the student (1-3 weeks). Once the I-20 is prepared, it is sent via courier to the applicant and they may begin the visa process by making an appointment with the US Consulate (wait times for appointments will vary by country).
The additional time it takes to mail documents back and forth can take the applicant 3-8 weeks longer than if the applicant had sent the financial certification by the January 15th deadline. This I-20 delay can negatively impact the Visa appointment availability.
Please note - Financial certification does NOT affect scholarship decisions. The financial certification is not in the applicant’s file during the Admissions Committee’s review. Scholarship decisions are based solely on the merit of the application materials submitted (statement of purpose, resume, letters of recommendation, portfolio, GRE, TOEFL, and transcripts).
It is better to submit some financial certification, even if it is not the full required amount. If the applicant receives a scholarship, it would be applied towards the financial certification, lessening the certification amount required.
Thank you,
Meghan Lee
Admissions Counselor
Taubman College of Architecture + Urban Planning
University of Michigan
2000 Bonisteel Blvd
Ann Arbor MI 48109-2069