An invitation letter for a B2 visa is a short, signed statement from a U.S.-based host confirming who the visitor is, why they are coming, where they will stay, and who is paying. It is optional. The State Department states plainly that “a letter of invitation or Affidavit of Support is not needed to apply for a visitor visa” and that the letter “is not one of the factors used in determining whether to issue or deny the visa.”1U.S. Department of State. Visitor Visa Still, a clear letter gives the consular officer context the applicant would otherwise have to describe from memory at the interview, and it lets you attach the financial and residence documents that back up what the visitor says.
What to Put in the Letter
There is no official form. One page, addressed to “U.S. Consulate” or “Consular Officer” at the embassy handling the interview, signed and dated at the bottom. Keep the tone factual. The letter should cover five things.
Who you are. Your full legal name, date of birth, U.S. address, phone number, and email. State your immigration status: U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident, or valid visa holder.
Who the visitor is. Full legal name, date of birth, passport number, and home address abroad. This ties the letter to one specific person and one specific passport.
How you know each other. Parent, sibling, childhood friend, professional colleague. The officer wants to understand why this particular person is visiting you.
What the visit is for and when. Planned arrival and departure dates and a brief description of the activity. A B2 visa covers tourism, visiting family, medical treatment, social events, and unpaid amateur athletic or musical participation.1U.S. Department of State. Visitor Visa Naming the specific occasion — a wedding, a graduation, a family reunion — reads far better than vague talk about “spending time together.” Keep the dates realistic; an itinerary casually spanning eight months raises the concern the letter is supposed to settle.
Where they will stay and who is paying. Say whether the visitor will be in your home or a hotel you are booking, and state who is covering travel, lodging, and daily expenses. If you are paying, say so explicitly.
Documents to Attach
A letter without backup is just a claim. A few attachments turn it into something the officer can verify.
Your Status and Residence
Include a photocopy of your U.S. passport, permanent resident card, or valid visa to show you have legal status. Add a utility bill, lease, or mortgage statement in your name to confirm you actually live at the address you gave and have somewhere to host the visitor. Clear photocopies are fine; certified copies are not required.
Your Finances
If you are funding the trip, attach recent bank statements — two to three months is typical — showing enough to cover travel, lodging, and daily expenses during the stay.
You can also file Form I-134, which USCIS calls the “Declaration of Financial Support.” The form lets you formally agree to provide financial support for the duration of the visitor’s temporary stay.2U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. I-134, Declaration of Financial Support It is signed under penalty of perjury and asks for documentation of sufficient income or financial resources.3U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. USCIS Form I-134 – Declaration of Financial Support
I-134 Is Not the Same as I-864
Hosts often confuse the I-134 with Form I-864, the Affidavit of Support used in immigrant visa petitions, and worry they are signing up for years of legal liability. They are not. The I-134 is not a legally enforceable contract. It does not give the government or the visitor the right to sue you for support. Your commitment lasts only for the visitor’s authorized stay and ends when they leave.
Do You Need to Notarize It
No. No federal law or State Department regulation requires notarization, and a signed letter is acceptable on its own. Notarization adds a small layer of credibility by confirming your identity and signature through a third party, and the cost is modest (roughly $2 to $25 depending on the state). If the visitor is applying at a consulate with high refusal rates, some hosts choose to notarize for the added formality. Skipping it will not hurt the application.
Getting the Letter to the Applicant
Do not send anything to the consulate yourself. Mail or courier the signed letter and attachments to the visitor in their home country, and they will bring everything to the interview alongside their own materials: a valid passport, the DS-160 confirmation page, the fee receipt, and a passport-style photo.1U.S. Department of State. Visitor Visa Emailing a scanned copy for speed and following up with the paper original is common. The State Department does not require an original signature on paper.
Be Careful What You Sign
The letter goes to a federal agency, and the I-134 is signed under penalty of perjury. Knowingly making a false statement in any document submitted in connection with a visa application is a federal crime under 18 U.S.C. § 1546, carrying penalties of up to 10 years in prison and substantial fines.4Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 18 USC 1546 – Fraud and Misuse of Visas, Permits, and Other Documents Separately, 18 U.S.C. § 1001 makes it a crime to submit materially false statements to any federal agency, with penalties of up to five years in prison.5Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 18 USC 1001 – Statements or Entries Generally
Do not exaggerate your income, invent a family relationship, or embellish trip details to make the application look stronger. If the visitor later overstays or violates status, a false invitation letter can put the host in the frame of any investigation. Write what is true, attach documents that support it, and let the application stand on honest facts.