If your family/friends wish to visit you in the U.S., they may need to apply for a visitor visa. In preparation for their visa application and interview, your family/friends will need to prove:
- WHY they are coming to the U.S.
- WHAT they will be doing here.
- WHERE they are going in the U.S.
- WHEN they will be in the U.S.
- WHEN they will return to their home country.
- HOW they will support themselves while they are in the U.S.
NOTE: If your family/friends need a visitor visa, they need to thoroughly read the instructions for visitor visa applications which can be found on the website of the U.S. embassy/consulate where they will apply for the visa. This is a personal application in which applicants must demonstrate their eligibility through a visa interview.
Useful tips for visa applications
Invitation Letter:
- You are responsible in creating your own invitation letter for your friends & family. See sample letter here
- Your family/friends may bring a letter from you explaining who you are and what you are doing in the U.S. and that you want to invite them to visit for your graduation (and/or vacation, tour, etc.).
- Your letter should list the dates and locations that your family/friends will visit in the U.S.
- You should be as specific as possible. Include your name, date of birth, SEVIS ID# (if applicable) and address in the U.S.
Additional (Optional) documentation
- Most recent I-20
- If you do not have a copy, you can request through ISGSS website under the Forms for international students.
- Most recent I-94
- Copy of your passport and visa
- Proof of graduation (if inviting friends and family for graduation)
- MyLewis Portal > Degree Works (you can print this out as proof)
- More info for graduation can be found here
- Official school transcript – order here