The U.S. Department of State has indicated that schools and individuals do not need to issue invitation letters for visa applications for international family members who may wish to visit you.
As such, UMD does not issue visa invitation letters, but the following is meant as advice about how to write your own letter for your family members if you wish. This is meant as a suggestion only. We do not know how individual U.S. consulates or embassies will view your family member’s individual situation.
For more information, please visit the U.S. State Department website.
Suggested Documentation
- Letter of Invitation from you
- This letter should be in English, from you, inviting your family member or friend to visit. It should describe the purpose of visit, your relationship to the individual, how long they plan to visit (usually less than 3 months), your status in the U.S., and it can be helpful to emphasize the temporary nature of the visit and to demonstrate the individual’s intention to return to their home country following their visit.
- See below for a sample invitation letter
- Evidence of Your Valid Student Status
- Enrollment Verification from UMD
- You can request this in your MyU. For more detailed instructions, visit this OneStop website.
- Copies of your I-20/DS-2019, passport, visa, I-94 (or green card, etc.)
- Evidence of your ability to financially support your visitor during their stay (for example, your assistantship letter or a bank statement). This evidence is needed only if your visitor does not have the funds to support themselves during the visit to the U.S.
- Enrollment Verification from UMD
Sample Invitation Letter Format
Please use this letter as a guide/template only, and make sure to fill in your specific details.
Date:
United States Consul General
(Address of Foreign Consulate Where Person Will Apply for the Visa – check online)
Dear Consular Officer:
My name is (First Name) (Last Name) and I reside at (Your U.S. Address). I am a student at the University of Minnesota Duluth majoring in (Major). I am requesting that a tourist (B-2) visa be issued to (Person you want to invite), in order to allow (her/him/them) to visit with me in the United States. (She/He/They) is my (Explain your relationship to the person) and will be visiting with me from (arrival date) to (departure date). (Explain why you want the person to visit).
As my guest, (name(s)) will stay at (my home, a hotel, etc) during the visit from (date) to (date). As can be seen in the attached financial documentation, the costs of the visit will be covered by (family member, personal funds, etc.). Upon the termination of (her/his/their) visit, (she/he/they) will return to (Country).
Your kind consideration of this request will be greatly appreciated.
Sincerely,
(Your Signature)
Name
Address
Email