This post was most recently updated on May 27th, 2019
What is an Invitation Letter for US Visa?
An invitation letter for US visa, is a letter or document written by a legal resident of USA to request the presence ( or visit ) of a non-US resident to the United States. Writing an invitation letter for US visa can be quite challenging when you have no idea about what is expected. My goal in this article is to show you how to write the letter and also present so samples for inspiration.
If you would like to know how a proper invitation letter for US visa should be written, you have found the right article. In writing an Invitation Letter for US visa (Tourist visa) what is most important is to ensure that all the required information is in the letter.
In 2016 alone (according to CNN) the USA issued over 10 million non-immigrant visas to visitors all over the world. And in 2018 over 9 million non-immigrant visas were issued. Most of these visas were issued based on the belief that these visitors would leave the United States of America at the end of their visit. Although you would not see an invitation letter among the list of documents required for the issuance of a B2 Visa, it is highly suggested that you have one with you when attending a visa interview.
There is no specific method or style for writing an invitation letter. However, you must ensure that all the required information is visible in the letter. Please note that the consulate does not require an invitation letter for the issuance of a B-2 Visa. An invitation letter is a good document to have because it gives more details about the reason for your intended visit to the USA.
In summary, the following should be in the letter of invitation.
Your letter should include the following information about the person being invited:
- Complete name.
- Date of birth.
- The person’s address and telephone number.
- Your relationship to the person being invited.
- The purpose of the trip.
- How long the person you are inviting intends to stay in the United States of America.
- Details on accommodation and living expenses.
- The date the person you are inviting intends to leave the USA.
Your letter should also include the following information about the person writing the letter:
- Complete name.
- Date of birth.
- Address and telephone number in the United States.
- Occupation.
- Your status in the United States
- A photocopy of a document proving your status in the United States.
How does the visa officer evaluate an invitation letter?
The Chief of the Non-Immigrant Visa Unit at the U.S. Consulate in Casablanca, Morocco, Ms. Nahal Kazemi, participated in a Town Hall meeting with Moroccan Americans, in Washington, where she spoke about various aspects of immigration policies affecting the Moroccan and Moroccan-American community. In this clip, she talks about the invitation letter for US visa.
Before you start writing your letter
If you do not have Grammarly - A grammar checker that I use every day for all my writing, please get it free from here Now. Grammarly. You can read my full story on how I discovered Grammarly here.Sample invitation letter for US Visa written to a Girl Friend
There are two ways to address an invitation letter for US Visa. You could either address it to the visa officer or you could address it to the person you want to invite. Please find below a sample invitation letter addressed to the US consulate! The names on it are fictitious but this format has been used and visas have been issued using this format. There are other formats that can be used. The most important thing is for the information required to be on it.
Remember that this is just a sample and we are not in any way connected to the US immigration.
Sample Invitation Letter for US visa Addressed to the US Consulate
January 27th, 2019
United States Consulate General
Address of the Consulate
Dear Honourable Consul,
SADE OMOTOLEWA – PASSPORT NO AO234567 – DATE OF BIRTH (24 JUNE, 1983)
My name is Maya Louhre, and I reside at 4532 68th Street, New York, NY 12546. I am a United States citizen (or lawful permanent resident alien).
I am requesting that you issue a tourist (B-2) visa to my girlfriend Sade Omotolewa who resides at 234 lane, House 2, Mararaba Estate, Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria. This is to allow her to visit with me in the United States. We have been friends for the past 2 years and I would like her to visit, this summer.
Sade will be visiting with me from June 1st 2019 to June 30th 2019. This will be a great time because we will both be off work at this time. During her stay in the United States, she will stay with me at my home at the address stated above.
I will be responsible for all of her accommodation expenses while she is in the United States. Upon the termination of her visit, she will return to Lagos, Nigeria.
Sade will be presenting this letter to you, together with other evidence to establish her close ties with Nigeria, and to assure you that she will return prior to the expiration of her stay in the United States.
Your kind consideration of this request will be greatly appreciated.
Yours Truly,
Maya Louhre
4532 68th Street, New York, NY 12546
1-202-123-1234
Do not forget to send a scanned copy of your passport or Green card.
Here is an image to give you an idea of how the invitation letter for us visa could be laid out. This is just one way. You may choose to do it another way.
PDF Sample of the Invitation Letter for US visa
Here is a pdf version of the letter! (Sample Invitation letter for USA visa). I have chosen not to include a Microsoft word version so that you are not tempted to use the exact wording of this sample. It is better to use these samples as guides and to write the invitation letter in your own words.
Sample Invitation Letter for US Visa Addressed to the Invited Guest.
January 27th, 2016
Sade Omotolewa
234 lane, House 2,
Mararaba Estate,
Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria
Dear Sade,
Please consider this as a formal invitation to visit me at my home in 4532 68th Street, New York, NY 12546.
You can visit me during this summer from June 1st – June 30th, 2016. During your visit, I will be on vacation and I can show you the various tourist attractions in New York. During your visit, you can stay at my place and I will be responsible for the transportation expenses around New York.
You may use this as part of your supporting documents during your visa interview!
Yours Truly,
Maya Louhre
1-202-123-1234
GUEST INFORMATION
- Name: SADE OMOTOLEWA –
- PASSPORT NO AO234567 –
- DATE OF BIRTH (24 JUNE, 1983)
- PHONE: 234809569989
- OCCUPATION: LAWYER
- CITIZENSHIP: NIGERIAN
HOST INFORMATION
- NAME: Maya Louhre
- Status in USA: Citizen of USA
- OCCUPATION: Truck Driver
Sample Invitation Letter for US Visa Addressed to an old friend
March 27th, 2019
To whom it may concern,
This is to certify that John Smith will be visiting me in Queens, New York from June 1st, 2019 to September 15st 2019. John has been a close personal friend of mine for eight years and will be staying at my home for the duration of his stay.
My address:
234 Lachine Ave, Queens, New York. 111111. USA
Tel: 111-767-0987.
I am a Citizen of the United States of America
Should you require any further information, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Kind regards,
David Adidas
GUESTS:
Name: Mr. John Smith
Address:.1 Progress Street, Accra, Ghana.
Date of Birth – May 12, 1976
Telephone: +233-803-217-3333
Relationship: Friend.
Do not forget to send a scanned copy of your passport or permanent resident card.
Sample letter of invitation for your girlfriend
Please take note that there is no specific format for an invitation letter. What you need to be concerned about is that you have the necessary information on the letter.
Dave Malay
3444 Mascot Ave, New York,
New York.
23 Month, year
Susan Molly
114 Amorsolo Street, Legaspi Village,
Makati City, Metro Manila, Philippines
INVITATION TO VISIT NEW YORK
Hi Babe,
Please use this as a formal invitation to visit me in New York this coming Summer. As discussed on the phone, you may come between May 25 and June 25. This will give you enough time to visit a few places and for us to get to enjoy each other again. I really enjoyed my visit to Manila last summer. I am looking forward to your visit. I have made arrangements for us to visit the Blabla Museum and the [another tourist attraction.]
During your visit, you would be staying at my apartment at 3444 Mascot Ave, New York. I will be responsible for your travel around the USA. You can take this letter for your visa interview as part of the supporting documents for your visa application.
I love you
Insert your signature here – Don’t forget to do this!!!
Dave
Host Information
Name – Dave Malay
Address – 3444 Mascot Ave, New York,
Occupation – Marketing Representative, Widget Company
Status in USA – Citizen
Passport N0 – XXXXXXXXX
Phone No. 12121212112
Guest Information
Name – Susan Molly
Address -114 Amorsolo Street, Legaspi Village, Makati City, Metro Manila, Philippines.
Occupation – School Teacher – Go TO School, Secondary School.
Date of Birth – 23 March 1980
Passport No – XXXXXXXX
Telephone No – 12121221212
All you have to do after signing is to send scanned copies of the letter and the Bio-data page (the one with your photo and information) to your girlfriend in Manila. You are free to send any other document that you feel comfortable to send such as proof of your apartment or tax return.
Sample Invitation Letter for US Visa written to a Fiancee’s Mother to attend a wedding
John Gray
93 Compton St,
Kingston, State,
USA
Dear Mrs. Jonathan,
Invitation to attend our wedding
Further to all the plans that have been made over the phone, this is a formal invitation for your visa application!
You are invited to visit us for 4 weeks from July 1st, 2015 to July 31st! This will be so that you can help us with the final preparations for the wedding which you are a major part of on the 25th of July!
A copy of the formal invitation card is attached to this letter as well as the order of events on that day!
While you are here, you will stay with us and we will be responsible for your feeding and transportation around the city.
We look forward to having you here. Peace your daughter would really appreciate your help at this time!
With love,
John Bay
Phone Number
Guest information
Name
Address
Phone
Passport no
Relationship
Please be reminded that you will need to send photocopies your Passport or Immigration documents and bank statements if you are sponsoring the entire trip.
Writing an Invitation Letter is just one piece of the puzzle, your guest may need help with Visa Application or Interview. You may also need to read about B1 B2 Visa Interview Questions and Answers
Sample Invitation Letter for US Visa for Sister
January 27th, 2016
Jessica Hickens Okon
XYZ Street, House 41,
Thuja Villa,
Utako, Abuja Nigeria
Dear Jessica,
Please consider this as a formal invitation to visit me at my home in 4528 58th Street, New York, NY 12547.
You can visit me during this summer from August 1st to August 16th, 2018. During your visit, I will be on vacation and I can show you the various tourist attractions in New York. You can stay at my place and I will be responsible for the transport and feeding expenses in New York.
Please use this as part of your supporting documents during your visa interview!
Yours Truly,
[Signature]
Tochi Larry
1-212-423-1884
GUEST INFORMATION
Name: Jessica Hickens Okon
PASSPORT NO A0004239
DATE OF BIRTH (12th January 1988)
PHONE: 2348025678923
OCCUPATION: Events Planner/Interior Decorator
CITIZENSHIP: Nigerian
HOST INFORMATION
NAME: Tochi Larry
Status in the USA: Citizen of USA
OCCUPATION: Business Writer
*You could also use this as a sample invitation letter for your brother or parent.
Sample Invitation Letter for Us Visa for Aunt
Tochi Larry
4528 58th Street,
New York, NY 12547
Phone Number:1-212-423-1884
Email: tochilarry@gmail.com
[Date]
Aunt Becky
XYZ Street, House 41,
Thuja Villa, Utako, Abuja, Nigeria
Dear Aunt Becky,
I invite you to visit us and spend your vacation in the USA with me. I have plans to visit famous tourist places like [name of tourist places to visit] and also check out those fast food joints you’ve been dying to go to. It will also be an opportunity for you to see and experience the American culture and lifestyle.
I will be taking care of your entire USA tour expenses, including the round-trip airfare food, housing, medical insurance, and all your other personal expenses.
Herewith I am sending all the required documents for getting the necessary tourist visa from the US Consulate, [Name of US Consulate, e.g. Mumbai Consulate]
Sincerely,
[Sponsor’s signature]
Tochi Larry
Sample Invitation Letter for Visitor Visa for In-laws addressed to the US Consulate
United States Consulate General
Address of the Consulate
Dear Honorable Consul,
JESSICA HICKENS OKON – PASSPORT NO A0004239 – DATE OF BIRTH [12th January 1988]
My name is Tochi Larry, and I reside at 4528 58th Street, New York, NY 12546. I am a United States citizen and a lawful permanent resident.
I am requesting that you issue a tourist (B-2) visa to my sister-in-law, Jessica Hickens, who resides in Hs 41, Thuja Villa, Utako Abuja. I’m inviting her over and the visa will allow her to visit with me in the United States. We have been friends for the past 4 years and I would like her to visit, this summer.
Jessica will be visiting with me from August 1st to August 16th, 2018. This will be convenient for us because we will both be off work at this time. During her stay in the United States, she will stay with me at my home at the address stated above. I will be responsible for all of her accommodation expenses while she is in the United States. Upon the termination of her visit, she will return to Abuja, Nigeria.
Jessica will be presenting this letter to you, together with other evidence to establish her close ties with Nigeria and to assure you that she will return prior to the expiration of her stay in the United States.
Your kind consideration of this request will be greatly appreciated.
Thank you.
Tochi Lori
How should the Invitation letter for Visa be delivered?
I suggest you write the invitation letter on a computer, get it printed and signed. You can then scan the signed letter and send it to your guest(s). You can attach scanned copies of your immigration documents and send them via email as well.
What Next After the Invitation Letter is Written?
Once you have written an invitation letter, you send it with copies of your documents as listed above to your guest. Your guest will them obtain and fill out an application for visa form. The procedure for obtaining and filling out these forms as well as cost varies from country to country. It is the responsibility of your guest to contact the embassy or consulate of the country they want to visit to find out the procedure. Most embassies have these procedures listed on their websites. You can find links to some of these websites on the right-hand side of this page.
In many cases, your guest would need to schedule an appointment for a visa interview online. In some countries, the visa office will contact your guest to give him or her a date for a visa interview. During this interview, several questions will be asked to determine their eligibility for a visitor visa and to confirm that what they wrote in their application is true.
If the visa officer is satisfied with the answers they provide to her questions, they will be issued a visa. The visa office will then instruct them on when to come back for their international passport with the visa already placed in it.
Is an Invitation Letter for Visa really necessary?
Many countries required an invitation letter for the issuance of a visitor visa in the past. These days however, some countries have stated that an invitation letter for visa application is not required.
Nevertheless, they require proof of the purpose of your visit and an invitation letter in many cases is the only proof you have that you want to go and visit your cousin or girlfriend for a few weeks.
If however you want to visit the USA for example and you have no friend there, you do not need to look for an invitation letter from a stranger. Find ways of showing that you are visiting the country as a tourist and that would satisfy the requirement to show proof of the purpose of your visit. Read what the US visa office has to say on this issue
Please I have a friend in mississippi USA that wants to invite me over just to spend time together, we haven’t seen each other yet, and he’s asking how to write the invitation letter and what he need to do and documents to attach, and on my own side I work with my sister in her salon, I’m not yet a graduate as a matter of fact I’m not in university yet, what do I need to do so I can get the visa if he send the invitation letter, I need advice please
Hi peace, you need to visit the U.S. Consulate website
A friend wants to invite me to the u.s in this december.but am a student offering a nursing course for two years and will complete my certificate1 in december.i dont have any properties,bank account.so what are the ties am supposed to give to show that I will surely come back for my cert 2
Hi Ike,
The chances may be slim but it does not cost much to try. Just make sure you prepare properly for the interview. I have heard of students who have received visas.
Hello dear Admin,
Im currently a DACA receiver and I’m married to a US citizen and we would like to have my father come visit us for the holidays, he is currently married in el salvador and has 3 kids, but he would only come to visit for a few weeks. Can i send him a letter of invitation or would it have to be done my citizen wife? we would be taking care of all of his expenses . and should i use my w2/tax proofs or just my wires as she is citizen .
Thank you.
Hi Willy, I suggest that you both invite him. Use your joint financial proof.
Hi I want to write a letter for my aunt she wants to come as an immigrant not visit. My aunt and her children been waiting for 11 years to come to the us pleas help me where do I write a letter for her so they can make it faster. And also the country that she is in has war she need to come fast. Where do I write the letter and how to send it. Thank You
Hi Gamal, for your Aunts case, you will need to consult an immigration lawyer.
hello,
I study in Canada with a student visa and want to travel to the USA for holiday. I have a friend that is a permanent resident that wants to send me an invitation letter. so my question is what document do I need to apply because you said something about proof to return back and what kind of notary for the invitation letter?
Hi Kes,
You will need documents to show that you are registered in school and any other documents that you think will help prove that you will return to Canada.
hello
Thanks for your response, I also asked about the type of notary for the invitation letter
Any Commissioner of Oaths or Notary Public – please search on google
Hi, my name is Winnie and I would like to know how to go about writing an invitation letter for a loved my boyfriend. Also to know what documents he will need to enable him get a Visa. He would like to come to the US in May 2106. Also, when is the best time to begin working towards Visa? Thanks for all your help.
My cousin want to invite me and my wife in usa what is the process
I have a priest friend staying in Chicago. He wants to bring me to Chicago so that I can join any DIOCESE in America for my vocation to priesthood. No diocese in USA admits candidates without them first come to USA on their own effort to show their zeal. This priest want to help me come. How do he write the invitation and things he needs to include in the invitation. He has not invited one before.
Hi Harrison, He could send you a letter as a friend coming to visit him.
hello please my name is Godwin and am from Ghana I have a friend who is leaving in USA and she is a us citizen.she is on pension cus of some illness and things and the government pay her everything,she has taking me us a son. please she want me to visit her how can I possible go.cus I will be paying my expense which am ready to do so.please I need an advice.
Hello Admin,
My name is Daniel actually I need advice and steps,she is my friend,she is citizens of USA and she wanted to send me an invitation letter,but she doesn’t know how to write about this,and steps she need to be taken,just for a months,please any formats or sample of the letter?,!!!
thanks you Sir.
Hallo. My mother in-law has invite me to come to usa. Alongside with my brother and his girlfriend. Is that possible for her to write an invitation letter including all of us?
Hallo. My mother in-law has invite me to come to usa. Alongside with my brother and his girlfriend. Is that possible for her to write an invitation letter including all of us?
Hope you can reply this soon. Thank you.
Dear Sir or Madam,
My name is Jason, and while this may not be the correct forum, I do have a question.
I am an American living in China, I am visiting family over the Christmas Holiday and I want to bring my Chinese GF. We both have jobs and we both work in Beijing.
My question revolves around what type of information to include in my letter: Should I discuss that I live and work in China and I just want her to accompany me on our vacation. HOw much if any should be about me?
Thank you very Much,
Jason
My friend will be inviting me for his wedding in United States of American. hopefully by next. Am in Abuja Nigeria, what the processes? and can one extend his or her staying when the said time and period expires.
Thank you.
Good day madamsir..my friends americann invite me in USA to thier wedding next year in texas and want to be there.im.from the philippines..how can i go there?they need my letters too ot thier invitation letter only..please help me..
Hello,
My name is Gulsana. I have a question. I got married to an american citizen 3 months ago. We haven’t have an official ceremony yet. so we would like to invite my mother to come for our wedding ceremony. What would I need to invite her? my current immigration status is adjustment pending,but we got our marriage license, would that be enough to proof them my immigration status?
Dear admin –
Thank you for all of this helpful information, I have gone through all of the comments to see if my question has been answered, and could not find one. I have a good friend in Buenos Aires and he is currently trying to get all of his documentation for the tourist Visa to come visit me.
In writing my invitation letter, my only snag is that I do not have a passport. I am a US citizen, is there anything else I can in place of a passport copy? License, copy of birth certificate…..I am disabled, would a copy of proof of disability be usable?
Thank you in advance for taking the time.
Best, Kelly
Hi. I’m a filipino and I’m working here in Dubai. My American friend is inviting me to come and visit him in the US. I just met him online and we’ve been friends for 4yrs now. Can he also send me an invitation even we haven’t met each other in person yet?
Yes Angeline!
Hi, My Friend wants to invite me for a visit to US.
Since he will send along some letter for support, do I still need to have proof if funds myself to show the embassy? Thanks
Hi Anita! Not at all. You don’t need to add your Social Security number in the invitation letter.