Invitation Letter for Family/Friends Visiting You in the U.S.
You may have family members or friends who would like to visit you during your time studying at Wesleyan or for your graduation ceremony. (Congratulations!) To enter the U.S., they will most likely need to apply for a tourist visa, which is the B-1/B-2 type.
Guidance about the process for your family member/friend to apply for a tourist visa can be accessed on the U.S. Department of State website. Please note that the U.S. Department of State explicitly states on their website that an invitation letter is “not one of the factors used in determining whether to issue or deny the visa”:
“Note: Visa applicants must qualify on the basis of the applicant's residence and ties abroad, rather than assurances from U.S. family and friends. A letter of invitation or Affidavit of Support is not needed to apply for a visitor visa. If you choose to bring a letter of invitation or Affidavit of Support to your interview, please remember it is not one of the factors used in determining whether to issue or deny the visa.”
As your family member/friend will be visiting you in the U.S. and you want an invitation letter for them, it is best that it be written by you. You may use this invitation letter template and fill in the highlighted sections with your own information.
We also encourage you to provide your family member/friend your proof of enrollment as applicable. You can do this by accessing your academic history and printing your enrollment verification via WesPortal or requesting a Certification of Enrollment or transcript from the Registrar’s Office.
Please remind your family members and friends to review the visa application process at the U.S. embassy/consulate in their passport country well in advance of the date they wish to visit you and contact their local consular office if they have questions.