If you are applying for a US Visitor Visa(B2 Visa) for your family or your parents, you must show proof of funds to indicate that your parents or family can afford the trip to the US. Usually, the sponsor for the trip needs to show proof of funds in their bank account.
In this article, we will review the typical format for the bank verification letter, what it should contain, and how it usually looks. We will also share the sample Bank verification letter shared by one of our community members, Dmitri, which is from a US Bank(Bank of America). This letter was sent to his parents for Visitor visa stamping, and it went well. Thanks to Dmitri for sharing the document and write-up for community benefit.
Background: US B2 Visitor Visa Process
Applying for a visitor visa for you or your parents involves many steps ranging from getting your passports, filling out the DS-160 form, booking appointments, preparing for the interview, and other steps. You can check out the below articles for you to be prepared for the same.
- Step-by-Step Process, Documents: Parents/ Visitor Visa for USA
- Collection of B2 Visitors Visa Experiences
- Parents B2 Visa – Interview Questions
Bank Verification Letter Format for US Visa Stamping
In general, there is no fixed format for the Bank verification letter. Every bank can have their own format. What is important to consider is to have all your details and the balance of your account reflected properly, these are the key things to keep in mind.
Key things to remember regarding the Bank Verification Letter:
- The Bank Verification Letter should be printed on the Bank’s official letterhead
- It should be signed and stamped by an authorized Bank Officer.
- It should have the sponsor’s full name, bank account number, current balance, and last 6 months’ average balance(optional).
- It should have the contact information of the bank for verification.
Below is a typical format of the Bank Verification Letter that you may suggest to your bank for US visa stamping.
[Name of the Bank]
[Full Address of the Bank with Street Name, City, and Country]
[Phone Number of the Bank]
[Date]
To Whom It May Concern,
This is to certify that [ Account Holder’s Name (Person paying for the US Trip)] with Account Number: [Account Number of person paying for US Trip] has been maintaining a [Type of Account Savings or Current] account with our bank since [Account Opening Date].
The account’s current balance is [Amount of Balance in USD], and the average balance for the past six months is [Average Balance in USD].
We trust this confidential information will be of assistance to you.
If you have any questions, please feel free to reach us at [Contact Number of Bank].
Sincerely,
[Signature]
[Name of the Authorized Bank Officer]
[Title of the Bank Officer]
There is no official format for the bank verification letter as defined by the US Consulate or US Embassy, so do not be particular about the format. The key intent is to demonstrate your finances and bank-related balance information. So, take the format whichever the bank is willing to provide.
Depending on the bank, you may be asked to pay a certain fee by the bank. In some banks, it is given for free. So, check with your bank for specific details on the fee payment for the same.
Below is the experience shared by our community member Dmitri regarding getting the bank verification letter and what all it takes from your side.
Sample Bank Verification letter for B2 Visa stamping, Parent’s Visa
I was searching online everywhere to find a sample of the Bank Verification Letter(Reference) Letter issued by Bank of America(BOA) for the Parents’ Visa Sponsorship and could not get one. The bank employees were also not able to help me with the information that was going to be in the letter as it was dispatched from their Registered Office. I am sharing my experience with the same and a sample letter here.
FAQs on Bank Verification Letter for Visitor Visa USA ( Parents Visa)
- Bank of America (BOA) charges $10 for this letter, debited from your bank account
- The letter can be collected the next business day from the bank associate if you order the letter at the bank. (It will be emailed to them; they will give a printout)
- The letter can also be ordered online via chat
- The letter is just a printout and can be faxed emailed to the folks
- The period for calculating the average balance can be chosen (3, 6 or 12 months)
- The application for the letter requires the names of the applicant’s(full name as per passport) and the Consulate to which the letter needs to be addressed
- Some other banks may have other processes for this, but it should be pretty similar and banks do give out letter for visa purposes. If you are in doubt, visit a branch and get it clarified.
Sample Bank Verification Letter for B2 Visitor Visa from Bank of America
Is it Mandatory to get a Bank Verification Letter? My Options?
Well, getting a bank verification letter for a B2 Visa is to show proof of funds for your travel. It is not a mandatory document, as per the US State Department. Lately, many users are just carrying Bank statements for the last 3 to 6 months printed directly from the bank website.
Getting a bank verification letter is great, but if you cannot, you could technically print out the Bank Statements from the last six months and then send them to your parents to carry the same.
What has been your experience with getting Bank Verification Letter? Share your feedback in comments section below.
I am funding my parents’ trip to US from India.
Q: What if the savings (proof of funds) are in another account, not on my name, but I am running a checking (salaried account). How can I show proof of funds for my parents’ B1/B2 visa interview?
Hello Sir,
Which is good to do for visitor visa extension? Self sponsor from parents or to show we sponsor for their trip?
Also is there any format to prove their intend to return to Infia after US trip?
Hi i am applying visitors visa for my parents just wanted to know for how long bank reference letter is valid.. because i got the letter from bank now( August) and appointment date is in October.
Ideally, you should carry it within a month, 3 months is too late…
For my Parents B2 Visa, can I send all sponsorship documents signed and scanned including the my employment letter, pay stubs, tax paper etc by e-mail or is it a must that all the document should be sent physically by post.
Please advice
is invtitation letter to parent mandatory ? Also do I need to submit another letter to the consulate requesting to issue visa ? I personally feel invitation letter from me to my parent looks like a drama and very silly
It is not mandatory for visitor visa, in general, if you are staying in hotel or any other location. Invite letter is just one of the ways to communicate to Visa officer that you are in US and inviting your parents and they will stay with you. It may sound silly, but has been the practice…There is no requirement even for other letter mandated by anyone, these are all supporting documentation.
hi sir, im David from chennai India.
it is a good website to get our doubts clear.
can my brother in law send all sponsorship documents signed and scanned including the affidavit, pay stubs, letters, tax paper etc.
or is it a must that all the document should be couriered to the person physically.
Please advice.
I asked him to courier it, but he is saying scanned copy is enough. im not sure please clear my doubt.
I got bank verification letter from Chase. It does not have From, Re:To Consulate.., For the Sponsorship..To:My name in the letter..The letter heading is “Deposit Account Balance Summary”..
Is this fine.? Do we need to have signature of bank employee who did this..However, it has the details who completed this request..
It has my name, address, account open date, current balance and average balance from past 12 months.
It should be fine. There is no fixed format as such, this is just additional documentation indicating that you have enough balance to support the travel.
I have received verification letter in similar format from BOA but does not have bank manager signature or stamp on it. Is it mandatory to have bank manager signature on letter?
Well, I guess, if has digital signature from higher authority, should be fine. If not, how can someone validate that those are real…right ?
Thank you kumar for quick response. I will check with BOA again on this.
Can I show money in my parents account summing up around $10k in INR.
Thanks
Yes, it indicates that they are sponsoring their trip, that’s the difference. You are only sending invite letter, but not funding their trip.
Thank you for helping. Applying now by following the procedure.
Do I need to make sure that I have at least 10K current balance available on my account when applying for the bank verification letter? What if its low at the time I apply for the letter ?
Hi,
This question is directed to the person who obtained the BOA verification letter. I am facing the same trouble with BOA. On their call-center , I requested for a letter of this format – All I received was a letter just stating my account balances.
I’m at a place in the US and the nearest BOA branch is about 250 miles away, So I’m not in a position to travel all the way to talk to someone physically.
They claim that they have a few templates and are un-willing to give something close to the format mentioned above.
Assume that I’m unable to get such a letter – Can a letter that simply states my account balance suffice. Please address this concern of mine
Best Regards,
Sitaram. S
You summary of deposit accounts should suffice. I got a similar one from Chase – which contains:
1. Date
2. Account holder’s address
3. Summary of Deposit Accounts: A/C Number, A/C Type, Open date, Current Balance, Avg. Balance (12 months)
I want to bring my parents(2) for visit to US from Africa, how much money I have to show and what would happen if I put my cousins money to show?
10-15K should be fine.
Do i need to send original bank statements to india or can i just send the scanned copy to my parents. thank you.
Smitha,
Scanned copies should be fine.
thank you very much for the letter. I have been looking for this for past several months.
Thanks again.
This is really very helpful blog especially to them who really want a visa and are unable to find a proper manner to get it. Visa is a legal document which requires 100 percent purity. A visa entitles the holder to travel to the United States and apply for admission. Some steps are requiring to get this visa and the steps given by you are as same.
My parents are visitng us this month, and this blog post has helped them in the visa process. Thank you.