An Invitation Letter for a Visa is a document written by an American citizen or permanent resident inviting someone to visit the United States.

An invitation letter for a U.S. visitor explains the purpose of their trip, who they will see, where they are staying, and the trip dates. The visa may be for tourism, business, or both.

The invite shows the embassy or consular officer verification that the applicant is visiting temporarily and the reason for the traveler’s trip.

When applying for a visa to visit the U.S., an applicant may have to provide evidence of the purpose of their trip. An invitation letter can act as evidence and help show employment or family ties.

An Invitation Letter for a Visa can help demonstrate to immigration officials that the applicant:

• Has a legitimate reason to enter the country
• Intends to return home after their visit

Getting an invitation letter from a resident strengthens your visa application and can increase your chances of getting your visa approved.

For example, an American employer may require their foreign-based employee to visit the U.S. to attend an important business meeting. If the employee requires a travel visa, the employer could support them by writing an invitation letter.

Or, a legal resident graduating from university may want to help their out-of-country parents attend the ceremony in the States. The resident would strengthen their parents’ visa application by filling out a letter of invitation.

An easy and convenient way to create an Invitation Letter for a Visa is by using LawDepot’s template. To customize your letter, we’ll ask you to complete the following steps:

1. Provide host/writer details

Include who is writing the invitation and their contact information, citizenship status, address, phone number, and email. You’ll also want to include the date you wrote the letter.

2. Provide visitor details

Next, include who applied for the visa and where they scheduled their visa interview. Write down their contact information, relationship with the host/writer, and passport number.

3. Provide trip details

Write down the date the visitor plans to arrive in the United States and when they will leave. Also, specify the purpose of the visitor’s trip, such as business and/or tourism.

Planning for an international trip can be time-consuming. Prepare in advance using our international travel checklist to have peace of mind.

An Invitation Letter for a Visa is not needed to apply for a visa. However, it is a useful addition to your visa application that confirms that you qualify to visit the United States.

When you visit the U.S. on a visitor visa, you’re permitted to travel for business (B-1 visa), tourism (B-2 visa), or a combination of the two (B-1/B-2 visa).

• If you are a tourist wanting to come to the U.S. for vacation, you can get a letter of invitation written by your host
• If you want to visit the U.S. for a work conference, a letter of invitation will provide necessary details about your business trip to the consular officer

If you are from select countries, such as Canada or Spain, you may be able to visit the U.S. without getting a visa. The Visa Waiver Program (VWP) enables citizens of participating countries to travel to the U.S. for tourism or business for 90 days or less without obtaining a visa.

U.S. visa officials want to ensure non-residents can cover their trip costs and return to their home country. In other words, visitors need to make it clear that they have reliable finances and won’t become a burden while in the country.

Therefore, in cases where the visitor may not have enough funds, it can be useful for the party writing the invitation letter to specify if they are covering any of the visitor's accommodation or transportation expenses while they are in the United States.

Accommodation expenses could include things like hotels or staying with the host. Transportation expenses refer to the cost of travel to and from the destination country, including plane tickets, train fares, or other forms of transport.

Bring your invitation letter to your visa interview at the consulate or embassy. The officer will ask you about your travel plans and review your documents. Presenting a truthful invitation letter at your meeting will confirm what you wrote on your visa application.

Alongside your letter of invitation, make sure to bring your:

• Passport
• Form DS-160 Confirmation Page (also known as nonimmigrant visa application)
• Application fee payment receipt
• Proper visa photo