We understand many graduates may have family members and guests traveling to Washington to help graduates celebrate at the Commencement Ceremony.  Please see the below suggestions given to students when planning for guest international travel.

Please note that ISSS Advisors and Office of the Registrar are unable to write letter of invitation for your family members.

Inviting Family Members to Visit the U.S.

As graduation approaches, you may want to invite your parents or other family members to celebrate commencement with you. Here are some suggestions to help them apply for a visitor’s visa (B-2) at a US consulate or embassy in their home country.

To facilitate their visa interview process you should do the following:

  • Write your letter of invitation. Include the purpose of the visit, your relationship to the individuals, a statement of your status here, itinerary details and the length of time they will be visiting (usually less than three months). It is best to emphasize the temporary nature of the invitation and to demonstrate their intention to return to their home country following the visit. If you will provide their financial support while they are here, include that information as well.
  • Include an Enrollment Verification Letter from the Office of the  Registrar. This form may be used by students and alumni to request a verification of enrollment, anticipated graduation date or degree earned. This form will be submitted to  reguwt@uw.edu.
  • Provide details of the Commencement Ceremony.
  • For additional information about U.S. consulate/embassy locations and application procedures, review the U.S. Department of State visa information.

Providing your family members with this documentation may improve their chances of obtaining a visa; however, there is no guarantee a visa will be issued. The success of their request for a visa lies in their ability to prove that they have no intention of staying permanently in the U.S.