Office of International Services
  • Travel
  • Invitation Letters for Family Members

Invitation Letters for Family Members

If your family will visit you during your time as a student or scholar at USC, here’s what to know about invitation letters.

Invitation letters are not required by U.S. embassies or consulates for family members of F-1 and J-1 students and scholars to obtain visitor visas. Therefore, OIS does not issue invitation letters for family members visiting the United States.

As a courtesy, OIS provides an invitation letter template for students and scholars who wish to write their own letter to invite immediate family members, including parents, grandparents and siblings.

If the student or scholar chooses to write an invitation letter, they should also provide their guest with a copy of their most recent Form I-20 or DS-2019.