Proof of a U.S.-Based Address
All applicants must provide proof of a U.S. address. Note the following about the documentation or identification that you submit:
- Applicant’s full name must be included.
- Applicant’s current U.S. address must be included.
- For identification (such as an ID), it must be unexpired.
- For documentation, it must be issued within the last 60 days of the date you submit your application
The following are the documentation and forms of ID that will be accepted as proof of a U.S. address:
- Utility bill (water, gas, electric, oil, or cable).
- Telephone bill (landline, cell phone, and wireless are acceptable).
- Fully signed, unexpired lease or rental agreement with the applicant listed as the lessee, permitted resident, or renter (may be a photocopy).
- Bank, credit card, or investment account statement.
- Student loan statement.
- Letter on official letterhead issued by any U.S. university or college registrar's office.
- Official mail received from any government agency.
- Government check or employer paycheck.
- Driver’s license or government ID (entire ID with no evidence of tampering, such as clipped corners or holes).
Required Supporting Documentation
If your submitted Fee Assistance Program application meets the eligibility requirements, you'll receive an email asking you to submit financial documentation to verify your and your parents' incomes (if applicable) and your address. Within your submitted application, you will find your Consent and Certification Form(s), which will also list the documents you must submit. Other documentation may be required based on the financial information you provide.
All tax filers must provide a copy of their IRS Federal Income Tax Forms (1040, 1040A, 1040EZ, etc.) for the previous calendar year. Non-tax filers are required to provide copies of W-2 or 1099 forms for the previous calendar year. If you received financial aid or scholarships, you must provide a copy of your Financial Aid Award Letter and Cost of Attendance information.
Upload any required documentation to your application. Sign in to your Fee Assistance Program application and view the Next Steps section for uploading instructions. If you are unable to upload the documents, they may be mailed. Be sure to mail all required documents for each household.
All required supporting documentation must be accompanied by a signed Consent and Certification Form. Once your application is "Submitted and On Hold," sign in to your application and click on the Next Steps section to access this document.
Once all of your documents are received, allow up to ten (10) business days for the AAMC to grant a final decision.
Types of supporting documentation you may need to provide:
Alimony Document
This documentation may vary but must be official and state the amount of income received in the form of Alimony or Spousal Support. This document is not required for applicants or parents who have filed their Federal Tax Returns.
Bank, credit card, or investment account statement
A bank, credit card, or investment statement is a document (also known as an account statement) that is typically sent by the bank to the account holder every month, summarizing all the transactions of an account during the month. The statements contain account information, such as account numbers and a detailed list of deposits and withdrawals.
Child Support Document
This documentation may vary but must be official and state the amount of financial assistance received in the form of child support.
Consent and Certification Form
A version of this form will be generated for each household identified in your application. Print the form after you submit your application. Upload each signed Consent and Certification Statement to the corresponding household section of your application.
Signatures are required for all living parents and parent’s spouse (if applicable). Typed signatures are not accepted. Remember, even if you live with your parent(s), you are considered your own household. To meet the supporting documentation requirements, you must submit all Consent and Certification Forms, each with the required signature(s) for that form. Your application is considered incomplete and will not be processed without them.
Error Explanation Letter
If an error is discovered in your Fee Assistance Program application by you or our staff, you may be required to complete an Error Explanation Letter to document the error and provide revised information. The Error Explanation Letter may only be considered when your application is actively being reviewed by the AAMC.
Please note that submitting an Error Explanation Letter may not change the information you entered and submitted in your application, nor will it prevent the AAMC from initiating or continuing Investigation Procedures over an application that was submitted with incomplete, incorrect, or inaccurate information.
You must sign this letter, typed signatures are not accepted.
Financial Aid Award Letter and Cost of Attendance Info
Your Financial Aid Award Letter must include your school's name, the full amount of financial aid you received, and the breakdown of the cost of attendance as provided by your school. (If the cost of attendance is not included on your Financial Aid Award letter, it can usually be located and printed from your school's website.) Financial Aid award letters must be for the academic year specified on the Consent and Certification Form.
Documents that will not be accepted include (but are not limited to) Form 1098-T Tuition Statement, semester bills, loan statements, and FAFSA documentation.
The Fee Assistance Program only considers the portion of your financial aid awarded for living expenses (room and board, transportation, etc.) as income. Aid awarded for educational expenses (tuition, fees, and books) are excluded from your total income calculation.
Financial Gift Letter
This letter is required if you, your spouse (if applicable), or your parent(s) received a cash or other monetary gift of $200 or more. The Financial Gift Letter must be signed; typed signatures are not accepted.
Foreign Income Letter
This letter is required if you, your spouse (if applicable), or your parents earned income while residing in a foreign country. The Foreign Income Letter must be signed; typed signatures are not accepted.
Fully signed, unexpired lease or rental agreement
Leases are legal and binding contracts that set forth the terms of rental agreements in real estate and real and personal property. The applicant must be listed as the lesee, permitted resident, or renter. This document may also be photocopied.
Government check or employer paycheck
A pay stub from your employer typically comes attached to a check (if physical copy) or will show up as a deposit of funds into an employee’s account. This document will list your pay frequency, hours worked, gross and net pay, in addition to the employee’s full name and address.
Housing and Food Assistance Letter
This type of letter should not be confused with housing and food assistance received through welfare or financial aid. The Housing and Food Assistance Letter is required if you were provided housing or food (for example, you lived at home with a parent). The same requirement applies if your parents received housing assistance or if you received housing assistance from a non-family member.
This letter must be signe; typed signatures are not accepted.
The “fair market rate” can generally be determined by assigning a percentage of the total rent or mortgage that you or your parents would have contributed, plus a fair value for food.
IRS 1040 Federal Tax Form
Any variety of the IRS 1040 tax return form (1040, 1040A, 1040EZ) that you filed with the IRS. The document must display the Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) and any dependents claimed. Only the first two pages of the IRS 1040 Federal Tax form are required; the AAMC does not need any of the Schedules or Forms associated with the tax return. Do not provide this document if it has not been filed with the IRS.
Letter on official letterhead issued by any U.S. university or college registrar's office
This document may state the Financial Aid given to a student for the academic year, or could be an acceptance letter that lists the addressee in the letter, along with an address.
Official mail received from any government agency
Any document received by a government agency (state or national) that provides the recipient’s name and address within the document (welfare statement, letter pertaining to social security benefits, etc.).
Other Documentation
You must provide documentation about any income you or your parents' received from sources other than those detailed in the financial documents you have already submitted in support of your application. Please list the source and the amount of income received.
If no formal document is available from the source, then please submit a signed letter with the required details.
No template is provided for this type of documentation.
Social Security Documentation
This documentation is provided by the Social Security Administration and details any social security funds received during the previous tax year. Some Social Security documents outline the amount of income that you or your parents will receive in the upcoming tax year, so be sure to verify that the income listed is for the previous tax year. This document is not required for applicants or parents who have filed their Federal Tax Returns.
Student loan statement
A federal student loan statement provides a summary of loan details, including the last payment received, the current amount due, and where to send payment. This document also includes the name and address of the loan holder.
Telephone bill
A phone bill is an account or bill for the charges for a telephone and line and for calls made from it. This document will list the customer’s name, address, and account number. Landline and wireless bills are acceptable as proof of a U.S. address.
Utility bill
A utility bill is a monthly statement of the amount a household or business owes for essential services or utilities. Examples of utilities include electricity, water, and gas. This document lists the customer’s name, address, and account number.
W-2 and 1099 Forms
W-2 Wage and Tax Statement form and/or any 1099 form. This is provided by your employer and is typically available on or before January 31 of each year. The AAMC will not accept a paystub in place of this document.
Welfare Statement
Welfare statements are typically provided by a welfare agency and may vary by agency, city, county, or state. The documentation provided must be official and include the amount of income received in the form of welfare in the previous tax year.