Many students and scholars would like to host family and friends to come to the U.S. for short-term visits, especially for holidays or special occasions like graduation. The following information about visitors visas.

Visiting the U.S.

The standard visa options for visiting the U.S. as a tourist are the following:

• using a B-2 (or a combination B-1 / B-2) visitors visa, or
• through the Visa Waiver Program, which allows “visa free” travel as long as the traveler is from a participating Visa Waiver country and has valid ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorization) on the day of their arrival.

Note: Canadian citizens do not require visas to enter the U.S., and can request B-2 visitor status at a U.S. land border crossing or port of entry.

B-2 and WT Status

Persons who enter on a B-2 visitors visa are normally given stays of up to six months. Persons who enter on the Visa Waiver Program with ESTA clearance are given WT (waiver - tourism) status for stays of up to 90 days. WT status cannot be extended.

B-2 and WT visitors are only permitted to engage in recreational activity and may not be employed or engage in degree study. Recreational study (e.g., a short not-for-credit class such as an arts or cooking class) hat is incidental to the primary purpose of tourism is permitted.

Applying for a B-2 Visa and Visa Wait Times

Persons who need to apply for a B-2 visa should refer to the U.S. State Department's Visitors Visa web page for a list of required steps and documentation. The State Department also provides general information and tips about applying for a visitors visa. 

It is strongly recommended to start the B-2 visa application early! Applying early is strongly recommended, as visa appointment wait times for B-1/B-2 visas are currently taking many months at many U.S. consular locations. In most situations, visa interviews are now required and applicants may be subjected to enhanced visa scrutiny. Consult the Global Visa Wait Times page to review the approximate visa appointment wait times for the consulate where your family or relatives might apply for a visa.

Invitation Letters and Home Country Ties

The U.S. State Department has indicated that a letter of invitation is NOT a required to apply for a visitor's visa, and invitation letters and affidavits are NOT considered when deciding whether or not to approve a visitors visa. Instead, visa approval is primarily dependent on the individual applicant's ability to show continued ties to their home country that they will not abandon after coming to the U.S. Proof of home country ties could include evidence such as the following:

• a letter from a home country employer confirming that the visitor has a job that they will return to by a certain date
• evidence of other family members in their home country that they are expected to return to after their visit
• evidence of property or business ownership or similar commitments in the home country that they will not abandon
• a travel reservation or itinerary that demonstrates the visit will be for a specific period, with a commitment to depart the US by a certain date.

Writing your own invitation letter: Because invitation letters are not a required document, ISSS is no longer able to produce them. However, you may choose to provide your family and friends with your own personal invitation using this sample personal invitation letter template.