Inviting Family & Friends to the US

F-2 Visas (Dependents)

F-2 visas can be obtained by a student’s spouse and/or children (under the age of 18), and therefore will grant them the ability to remain in the U.S during the student’s academic program. In order to receive an F-2 I-20, students must apply through the ISS Student Portal.

We highly recommend that students complete at least one full academic term before bringing their immediate family to the U.S. This will allow the student to secure adequate housing and will also ensure students adjust both academically and culturally.

Students must be able to prove suitable funding for each dependent. The minimum financial support needed for a spouse is $12,000 USD. For children, the student must be able to provide $10,000 USD per child.

This will be added onto a student’s existing I-20. Calculate the total cost for both the student and the dependents to ensure there is enough funding. If there is not enough funding, the requesting student must obtain a new bank statement with adequate funding.

To request a dependent to be added, submit a request in the ISS student portal and select Add Dependent.

  • Students must upload the required documentation and fill out the request form. This includes a marriage license as well as any and all passports for each dependent.
  • If a student does not have enough funding to cover each dependent from their initial bank statement, please also upload any supplementary statements into the portal under General Document Upload. It must be titled “Additional Bank Statement for Dependents”.

If any supplementary information or materials are required to fulfill this request, a staff member from the Office of International & Immigration Services will reach out accordingly.

B-1/B-2 Visas

For family, friends, or relatives to visit you temporarily in the U.S., including Commencement, in most cases they will need to apply for a visitor visa (B-1/B-2 visa) or be eligible to visit under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP). If your visitor needs to apply for their B-1/B-2 visa, they must do so at a U.S. consulate or embassy. You can learn more about the visitor visa program and how to apply at the U.S Department of State website.

The OIIS does not issue invitation letters, as the U.S. Department of State does not require them or consider them a factor when making a determination whether to issue or deny a visa. The OIIS is not authorized to provide advice on the B-1/B-2 visa process, but is able to provide the following general information that may be helpful for your family or friends who plan to visit you:

  • The B-1/B-2 visa is for persons who are interested in coming to the United States for short-term, temporary trips for either business (B-1) or tourism or medical treatments (B-2).
  • Applicants are required to show that their visit to the United States will be a temporary one and that they will retain connections to their home country, including keeping it as their country of residence.
  • Applicants should be prepared to show why they are coming to the U.S., how long they expect to stay in the U.S. (dates they will arrive and leave), and their ability to pay all costs of the trip.
  • Examples of home country ties include proof of employment, home country family, and property, as well as proof of a return date (e.g., a return trip ticket).

While not required or recommended by the U.S. Department of State, you may want to issue a personal invitation written and signed by you. The OIIS provides a sample invitation letter template as a courtesy but cannot guarantee that your visitor will have their visa approved. Along with the invitation letter, you may want to provide documentation of your student status such as a copy of your Form I-20, Enrollment Verification Letter, or Transcript to your visitor for their visa application process. If coming for your graduation, you may also want to provide a copy of your Graduation Application Received email (which you will receive after applying for graduation) and a print out from the Sacred Heart University commencement website.