Visa Invitation Letter
Write a clear, well-organized letter inviting a relative or friend to visit you in the United States, ready for them to include with their visitor visa application.
Includes 30 days of edits
- 5 to 20 minutes
- Print-ready PDF
What is a Visa Invitation Letter?
A visa invitation letter is a personal letter from someone living in the United States to a family member or friend abroad who plans to visit. The visitor usually brings it to their visa interview or keeps it with their application papers. It explains who you are, how you know the visitor, why they are coming, how long they plan to stay, where they will live during the trip and who will pay for it.
The letter does not create a right to a visa, and it does not replace the visitor's own application forms or evidence. U.S. consular officers decide each case based mainly on the applicant's own circumstances, especially whether the trip is temporary and whether the applicant has strong reasons to return home. A specific, honest letter from a host can still help by confirming the details of the trip and showing that the visitor has a place to stay and a clear plan.
This letter is addressed to the consular officer, identifies each visitor with passport details, states your immigration status in the United States, describes the visit and its dates, sets out any expenses you will cover, and lists the supporting documents you are enclosing. You can also add a notary acknowledgment if you want your signature verified.
When to use it
- Your parents, siblings or other relatives are applying for a U.S. visitor visa to see you.
- A friend is coming to attend your wedding, graduation, the birth of a child or another family event.
- You will host someone in your home and want to confirm the arrangement in writing.
- You are covering some or all of a visitor's travel expenses and want to say so clearly.
What is included
- Your contact details and immigration status in the United States
- Each visitor's full name, date of birth, nationality and passport number
- Your relationship to each visitor
- Purpose of the visit and planned arrival and departure dates
- Where the visitors will stay during the trip
- Expenses you will cover, or confirmation that visitors pay their own way
- The visitors' ties to their home country and intent to return
- List of enclosed supporting documents
- Signature block with an optional notary acknowledgment
How to make your Visa Invitation
Answer the questions
Tell us about the parties and the terms you want. Most documents take about 5 to 20 minutes.
Review the preview
Check the draft as you go and change any answer. The document updates instantly.
Download, sign and keep a copy
Download a print-ready PDF, sign it with the other parties, and give everyone a copy.
Frequently asked questions
Is an invitation letter required for a U.S. visitor visa?
Generally, no. A U.S. visitor visa application does not usually require an invitation letter, and consular officers focus on the applicant's own situation. Many applicants still bring one because it confirms the purpose of the trip, where they will stay and who their host is.
Does an invitation letter guarantee that the visa will be approved?
No. Only a consular officer decides whether to issue a visa, and an invitation letter is just one piece of supporting information. The visitor still has to show that the trip is temporary and that they qualify for the visa on their own.
Do I have to be a U.S. citizen to write an invitation letter?
No. U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents and people who are lawfully living in the United States on a visa can all write invitation letters. The letter should state your status honestly, and you can enclose a copy of a document that shows it.
Is an invitation letter the same as a financial sponsorship form?
No. An invitation letter is an informal personal letter. Formal government forms in which a sponsor declares financial support are separate documents used in specific situations. Saying in this letter that you will cover certain expenses is a statement of your plans, not a substitute for any form the government requests.
Should a visa invitation letter be notarized?
Notarization is not usually required. Some hosts choose to have their signature notarized because it confirms who signed the letter, which can make it look more formal. This letter includes an optional notary acknowledgment for that purpose.
Can I invite more than one person in the same letter?
Yes. You can list several visitors, such as both parents or a family traveling together, in one letter. Each visitor is identified separately with their passport details. If visitors are applying separately, it is common to give each of them a signed copy.
What documents should I send along with the letter?
Hosts often include a copy of a document showing their U.S. status, proof of address such as a lease or utility bill, and, if they are paying for part of the trip, evidence of income such as an employment letter, recent pay stubs or bank statements. Never send originals you cannot replace.
How do I get the letter to the visitor?
Most hosts sign the letter and send the visitor a scanned copy right away, followed by the signed original by mail or courier if there is time. The visitor brings it to the visa interview along with their own documents.
