International Guests at SLU
Inviting parents, friends and other non-dependent relatives to the U.S.
While you’re at Saint Louis University, you may have friends or family from back home who want to visit you. Your visitor(s) will probably require a B-2 visa. They can apply for this type of visa at the U.S. Embassy/Consulate. This visa will allow your family and friends to enter the United States as a tourist.
The following is important information regarding inviting parents, parents-in-law, siblings and friends:
- Some individuals may be eligible to enter the U.S. on the Visa Waiver Program (see below).
- Parents and siblings of F-1 or J-1 visa status holders are not eligible for F-2 or J-2 visa (these are for dependents).
- I-20 and DS-2019 forms are not issued to guests visiting you in the U.S.
- You should send a copy of your I-20 or DS-2019 form, but this should not be submitted to the consulate unless requested by the consular officer. (Do not send your original I-20 or DS-2019 form; you must keep this for yourself.)
Helping Family and Friends Prepare for B-2 Visa
We want to help you prepare your family and friends for the visa request process. Please review the following information which outlines what the Office of International Services at SLU recommends that your guests take with them to the U.S. consulate:
- An invitation letter from you. Write a letter in English to your relative or friend stating:
- Whom it is you are inviting
- The purpose of the visit (for example: vacation, attend graduation)
- The dates of the planned visit (include the date of travel and the date the person plans to return home)
- What financial support you are offering (for example: cost of travel, offering room and board)
- Evidence of financial support. If you are going to provide any financial support for their visit, you need to provide
your visitors with documentation. This could include:
- a letter verifying employment and/or a bank statement showing current and balance history
- Form I-134 Affidavit of Support (if visitors will be pay for their expenses you are not required to complete form I-134.)
- Visa application form including photograph
- Evidence of ties to home country. Visitors must provide evidence of strong ties to home country, or their request for a B visa is at risk for denial. Under U.S. law, consular officers will not issue a B visa if there is no evidence the visitor has ties and intends to return home.
Please note, the SLU Office of International Services does not provide letter of support.
Traveling Under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP)
Friends and family (non-dependent) from certain countries may be eligible to travel to the U.S. for business or pleasure up to 90 days without a visa. A complete list of VWP countries can be found on the U.S. Department of State website. If visitors qualify for travel under the Visa Waiver Program they do not need to visit a U.S. consulate and apply for a visa prior to visiting the United States. However, visitors are not eligible to change their visit status nor apply for an extension to stay beyond 90 days.
To learn more about the Visa Waiver Program and eligibility, visitors should consult their local U.S. Embassy.
Additional Information for B-2 or Visa Waiver Program Visitors
- Visitors must have health insurance that will cover them while in the U.S. Most guests will require "major medial coverage," which is health insurance that goes into effect if they are unexpectedly hospitalized due to an accident or an illness.
- Visitors change of visa or extension of stay. Entering the U.S. on a B-2 visa or VWP supports a specific visit status. Changing to a student visa (F-1) while in the U.S. or extending their stay beyond 90-days is difficult. Should your visitor wish to apply to enroll they should consult with an OIS advisor and will most likely be required to return to home country to apply for an F-1 Visa to study in the U.S.
- Biometric Data and Visiting the U.S.
This data is collected when persons apply for both non-immigrant and immigrant visas and upon entering and exiting the U.S. Biometric data, in this case, simply refers to the photographs along with digital "inkless" fingerprints. This information is kept electronically by the U.S. government, and is included in the SEVIS tracking system. The intent of the U.S. government is to have an electronic tracking system of non-citizen's entries and exits to and from the U.S.
This means that anyone who "overstays" his or her visit to the U.S. will have that information immediately available to immigration officers. If you have visitors come in B-1 or B-2 status, or who may come on the Visa Waiver program, remember that they are allowed to be in the U.S. only until a specific date. If the visitor does not leave the U.S. by that date, they will be considered to have "overstayed" the visit to the U.S. (unless steps were taken to extend their visit before that date). Consequences of overstaying a visit to the U.S. may vary from a "review with immigration officials to removal from the United States or even a bar from future entry, depending on the individual circumstances."
Review the website of the U.S. embassy or consulate where your visitor(s) will apply for their visas for country-specific instructions. This is the best source of detailed information for the steps they must take and the documents required to obtain a visitor visa.
B-1/B-2 Visa Overview
The B-1 visa is for visitors who are coming temporarily to the United States for business purposes, such as consulting with associates or attending a conference. The B-2 visa is for visitors who are coming temporarily to the United States for pleasure or tourism.
Visitors from some countries are permitted to enter the United States without a visa stamp in their passport. These visitors are admitted as B-1/B-2, but under the Visa Waiver Program.
B-1 and B-2 visas are not intended for people who plan to work or study in the United States. You are prohibited from these activities while in the country on a B-1/B-2 visa, and it can be tough to change your status.
A B-1/B-2 visitor may receive an honorarium and reimbursement of expenses for giving a lecture or presenting at a conference as long as they are at Saint Louis University for no more than nine days and have not accepted similar payments from more than five other institutions in the previous six months.