Letter to a Vendor

Date:
To: Prospective Landlord / Cell Phone Company Representative
From: [Your Name][Your Title, Name of office and institution]

RE: Renting apartment to ____________ Or
Opening Cell Phone account for _______________

I am writing in my capacity as the [Your Title of the [your Office] at The [your institution] to request your assistance in facilitating the opening of a bank account / cell phone account / apartment rental for the above named student.

[Name of student] is a full time student studying for a Bachelor's / Master’s in [major]. S/he is in good academic standing, and is in lawful F-1 status. Due to changes in Social Security Administration regulations governing the issuance of Social Security Numbers to nonimmigrants, F-1 students are only allowed to receive social security numbers if they have proof of on campus employment, or off campus work authorization from the Department of Homeland Security. Therefore many international students will now not be eligible for social security numbers.

Many [landlords / cell phone companies] understandably have concerns about a prospective customer’s financial solvency, and therefore request to see a social security number to check credit history. However, most international students do not have such a credit history in the U.S. since they have been here for such a short time. But to address this issue, I now provide you an overview as to what an international student must do financially in order to obtain and maintain F-1 status:

The student must prove to this University he has access to sufficient financial resources to cover his/her tuition and living expenses. [name of student] has provided documentation in the amount of [total funds listed on I-20 form]. S/he is in good financial standing with [name of institution]. [Name of Student] also must (and did) prove such financial resources to the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Immigration Service (now housed in the Department of Homeland Security). Both agencies accepted this evidence of support.

I hope you will also accept his documentation and verification for financial support and give all kind considerations and services for which our student qualifies. Please do not hesitate to contact this office should you require additional information.