THIS is how to write a visa invitation letter [2022]

At a Glance: A visa invitation letter is a document that was written by a citizen from the United States. It shows that they are willing to admit an international in their home.

As a person living in the United States on a green card, you probably had a variety of moments when you wanted to host someone from your own country in your home. It may have been a parent, or it may have been a friend that wanted to visit you. Regardless, you need to ensure that your guest has the visa necessary to legally stay there.

That being said, while the visa invitation letter is only a small part of their visa application, it is still quite an important part. Without it, there is no chance that your visitor will get their B2 travel visa – as they will require a place to reside in.

What Is a Visa Invitation Letter?

In order to understand why you need a visa invitation letter, you first need to understand exactly what that document is. To put it simply, a visa invitation letter is a document that was written by a citizen from the United States – and in which they confirm they are willing to admit an international in their home. This international can be anyone from a family member to a friend.

Why Is a Visa Invitation Letter Required

When an international citizen visits you, their visa will have to show a temporary place of residence. This confirmation is necessary, as it proves that the host has the willingness and space to keep their visitor there for the entire duration of their stay. While it may not be required by all of the world’s embassies, it is still recommended that you submit one. It will improve the chances of their B2 visa getting accepted.

Visa Invitation Letter Requirements

For the visa invitation letter to be considered valid, the host that is signing it will need to go through the following requirements:

They have to be a lawful permanent resident or a citizen of the country which the applicant is trying to visit
They must have a registered living space (a house or a flat)
They must be a friend, girlfriend/boyfriend, or relative/member of the family of the person applying for a visa
They must have enough room in their home for the person opting for the visa

In most cases, people can write the visa invitation letter themselves, by using information that was published online. However, if they aren’t completely sure how to do so, the main recommendation is that they ask for the help of an immigration attorney or a visa specialist.

How to Write a Visa Invitation Letter

Some people find it quite difficult to write a visa invitation letter – but once you learn about its purpose, it’s easy to go through the things that you must include. Some embassies will have their own form when it comes to the visa. However, if they don’t, you need to know that there is specific information that you will need to add, as the host. This information includes:

Full name
Address
Date of birth
Telephone number
Occupation
Home type (room/flat/rented home/owned home)
Status of the host in the host country (e.g. work visa, lawful citizen, or any other legal status)

That being said, this letter should also include certain information about the guest, among which are:

Full name of the visitor, as it is shown on their international passport
Visitor’s address and phone number
Date of birth
Relationship between guest and host
Trip purpose
Exact entry and exit date

Many visa applications get rejected simply because the host did not write the letter correctly. You may also want to watch the tone – it should not sound too official or formal. You need to show that the relationship between you and the visitor is close.

Visa Invitation Letter Sample

[Current Date]
[Embassy of the Country]
[Address of Embassy]
Letter of Invitation for [Name of Visitor]: Passport No: [Passport Number]

Dear Sir/Madam,

My name is [Name of Host], and my place of residence is at [Address of Host], United States. I am sending this letter so that it may act as support for the visa application for [Name of Visitor]. He is a citizen of my native country, [Insert Country], living at [Visitor’s Address], whereas I am a lawful permanent citizen of the United States. We have been friends for five years, and I would like it that he could visit me between [entry date] and [exit date], during which time we can visit the country together.

As an IT specialist, my income is a total of [insert sum] per year – which means that I am in the ability to financially support him with accommodations and any necessities. He will be staying with me at the address I stated above, during which I will be fully responsible for him. Both of us have taken days off during this time, which means that I will be able to give him my full attention.

I own an apartment that has an extra room in it, which I will give to [Name of Visitor], during their stay. During his time here, we plan on visiting [Insert main attractions that you plan on visiting] – and once his stay has come to an end, [Name of Visitor] will be returning to his home country.

[Name of Visitor] will present to you this letter, along with the supporting documentation necessary to obtain his visa. We hope that you would kindly consider this request, as I assure you that he will return before the expiration of his stay.

With Respect,
[Name of Host]
[Address of Host]
[Phone Number of Host]
[Signature of Host]

Supporting Documents

As mentioned, while it may not be necessary for every embassy to submit the visa invitation letter (therefore, will not require any documents), it would still be quite thoughtful if you include the following:

Evidence of subsistence means (in the eventuality that the host will support the guest financially)
A copy of the host’s ID or passport
Proof or flat/homeownership or a rental contract
An itinerary of the places that you are planning to go to or visit during their stay
Proof of days off from work (not mandatory, but if you have proof, it will work in your favor)

Where to Submit a Visa Invitation Letter

Once the letter has been written, it will have to be submitted by the guest planning to visit at the consulate or embassy – along with the other documents for the visa. The host is required to scan it and forward it to their guest, who will proceed to submit it along with the supporting documents, including the Form I-134. This will be done at the time of their appointment.

Final Thoughts

Writing a visa invitation letter is not that difficult, provided you know what details are necessary to add. After all, the purpose of this letter is to prove that the visitor has a place to stay at, and will not cause any troubles while in the U.S. The more reliable you seem, the more trustworthy they will also appear in the eyes of the immigration agent.

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Frank Gogol

I’m a firm believer that information is the key to financial freedom. On the Stilt Blog, I write about the complex topics — like finance, immigration, and technology — to help immigrants make the most of their lives in the U.S. Our content and brand have been featured in Forbes, TechCrunch, VentureBeat, and more.

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