Whether you’re a parent who wants to visit your child in the US or a globetrotter who wishes to experience what the country has to offer, a letter of invitation can go a long way in improving your chances of securing a tourist visa to the USA.

An invitation letter for US visa is written by a US citizen/legal resident to confirm that they wish to admit an international visitor into their house; that they have strong ties with the concerned person and that they are willing to provide accommodation and financial assistance to the visitor for their trip.

Requirements for Invitation Letter for US Visa

The following are the key requirements for a letter of invitation to the US.

Make sure the following points are covered for the letter to be considered valid and be effective as a supporting document in the B2 visa application process.

• The person sending the letter must be a lawful citizen or permanent resident of the US.
• The visa applicant must be a relative, friend or boyfriend/girlfriend of the person sending the invite.
• The host must possess a registered flat or house.
• The host must have sufficient room for the visa applicant.

How to Write an Invitation Letter for US Visa

Analysis of data released by the US Department of State reveals that visitor visa denials have seen a significant increase (39% for immigrants and 5% for non-immigrants) from 2017 to 2018, according to a study conducted by National Foundation of American Policy.

This is why it is even more important now to have a well-written invitation letter to tilt the odds in your favor when applying for the B2 visa.

The writing process is fairly easy, but there is some important information that your letter of invitation needs to include. 

Details to include in the invitation letter for US visa.

• The full name of the host, their date of birth and their address and telephone number in the US.
• The host’s occupation and status in the US. A photcopy of a document that proves the host’s status should be attached to the letter of invitation.
• The full name of the guest, their date of birth and their address and telephone number
• The relationship between the host and the guest
• The purpose of the visit
• Information on the visitor’s duration of stay (with specific dates)
• Details related to accomodation and expenses for the visit
• The host’s signature

Ideally, the invitation letter should have an informal and personal tone to show the close relationship between the host and their guest.

Sample Invitation Letter for US Visa

Here is a sample invitation letter for US visa. You can copy-paste and change the details in the visa application process.

[Date]
[Host’s name]
[Their full address]

USA

Contact Numbers:

(Work): [(xxx) xxx-xxxx]

(Home): [(xxx) xxx-xxxx]

Email: [email address]

To:

[Visitor’s name]
[Their Address]

Dear [Visitor’s name],

I invite you to give us a visit in the US and spend your vacations here. We’ll visit popular tourist attractions, such as [names of places to visit]. This will also be a great opportunity for you to experience USA’s lifestyle and culture.    

I’ll be covering all of your expenses for the trip, including housing, round-trip airfare food, medical insurance and other personal expenses. 

I’m enclosing herewith the necessary documents for obtaining the required tourist visa from the US Consulate [Name of US Consulate, e.g. New Delhi Consulate]  

Sincerely,

[Host‘s name][Their signature]

While it is not an obligation, the host should send some documents along with the letter to improve visa approval chances for their guest. This includes a copy of the host’s passport/ID, proof of means of subsistence, proof of flat/house ownership, flight itinerary, and the USCIS form I-134.

Documents to Add with Invitation Letter for US Visa

Since the Letter of Invitation is not required, the host need not provide any further paperwork.

Nevertheless, the candidate should include the following papers with the Letter of Invitation:

• A scanned copy of the host’s ID
• Proof of sustenance (if the host will financially support the guest)
• Ownership or rental contract proof
• Airline ticket as evidence of flight itinerary for US visa application.
• Affidavit of Support — USCIS Form I-134, accessible online. Only submit if the host intends to financially support the visitor.

Once you have your letter and documents ready, proceed to the visit visa application process.

There are two kinds of letters of invitation for B2 visa. One is addressed to the guest, while the other is addressed to the US consulate/ embassy. Below is a sample letter to the consulate.           

Sample Letter Template

[Date]

United States Consulate General

[Address of the consulate]

Dear Honorable Consul,

[Name of visitor] – PASSPORT NO XXXXXXXX – Born on [Date of birth of visitor]

My name is [Name of the host]. I am a United States citizen (or lawful permanent resident) residing at [Address of the host].

I request that you issue a B-2 tourist visa to [Name of the visitor] who resides at [Address of the visitor], so that he/she can visit me in the United States. I have known him/her and have been his/her friend for the past X years and I would like him/her to come and visit me this summer.

[Name of visitor] will be visiting the country from [Date of arrival to the US] to [Date of departure from the US]. This will be a good time for his/ her visit since I have a light work schedule during this time. He/ she will be staying with me at my house/ flat at the address mentioned above during his/ her visit to the United States.

I will take responsibility for his / her accommodation and other expenses while he/ she is in the country. He/ she will return to [hometown of the visitor] once his / her visit is concluded.

[Name of the visitor] will present this letter to you, along with proof to establish his/ her close ties with [home country of the visitor]. I assure you that he / she shall return to [home country of the visitor] prior to the expiration of his / her authorized stay in the United States.

I shall highly appreciate your kind consideration of this request.

Sincerely,

[Name of the host][Address of the host][Phone number of the host][Signature of the host]

Documents to Be Enclosed

The following documents should be provided by the host to the guest, in case they wish to financially support their trip to the US

• Completed Form I-134 (Affidavit of support)
• Photocopy of H1B approval notice (Form I-797)
• Photocopy of passport, I-94 and visa
• Photocopy of birth certificate
• Employment verification letter
• Photocopy of the past two pay stubs
• Photocopy of recent stock asset statements and bank statements
• Bank account verification letter
• Photocopy of past two years’ tax returns and W2’s 

Check out health insurance plans for US visitors here.

While a letter of invitation can significantly boost one’s chances of tourist visa success, it is essential to be thoroughly prepared for the visa interview and the questions that will be asked. The key is to show the consul that you’re a trustworthy person and that you won’t be a liability to the US government, during your stay in the country.

One thing that can tilt the odds in your favor is having an invitation letter from your friend or relative who is a US citizen or a permanent resident. The main aim of this letter is to prove to the US consular officers that you have a specific plan regarding your entry and eventual exit from the country. It will also indicate your accommodation arrangements and the source of economic support during your stay in America.

If you’re looking for more US immigration tips, check out US Visit Visa Guide.

Who Needs an Invitation Letter?

Everyone. Even parents who want to get a tourist visa to visit their children in the United States can take this letter with them as supporting document during their visa interview.

To improve your chances of getting a US tourist visa, make sure certain details are clearly mentioned in the invitation letter, such as.

• The duration for which you will be staying with your US contact or the arrangements that you have made for your stay.
• The reason for the visit and the complete travel itinerary.
• The amount of expenses, if any, that will be borne by your US host.
• Whether your transportation costs will be covered by them.

Make sure that the letter is written like a personal document and is not overly formal. Also, keep in mind that both the name and address of your contact are mentioned clearly.

US Visa Sample Invitation Letter

Here is a sample format that you can provide to your sponsor to help them create a proper invitation letter. The letter format and language given below is purely for reference purposes. Your contact can make changes to their letter, based on your specific circumstances. Also, your sponsor will need to send copies of relevant documents, such as address and identity proof, green card or other permanent residence/citizenship proof.

(Date)

(Name of Sponsor),

(Complete address),

USA

Phone Numbers:

(Work): (xxx) xxx-xxxx

(Home): (xxx) xxx-xxxx

Email ID: (email address)

To:

(Name of Visitor)

(Complete Address of Visitor)

Dear (Visitor’s Name),

I wish to invite you to pay us a visit and spend your vacations in the United States with us. We have planned to visit the most famous American tourist spots, such as (name of all the tourist places that are included in the plan). It will also give you the chance to experience the amazing cuisine and lifestyle of America.

I will be bearing all your trip-related expenses, such as round-trip flight fares, housing, food, insurance and other personal expenses.

I am attaching all the documents you need to get your tourist visa from the US Consulate.

Herewith, I am sending all the required documents for getting the necessary tourist visa from the (Name of the relevant US consulate, such as Chennai Consulate)

Sincerely,

(Signature of Sponsor)

(Name of Sponsor)

All the best with your visa application!