Retro Boutique: 五月 2010

USA Visitor Visa - Sponsor Documents

The following documents need to be sent from the person who is sponsoring his/her relatives (or anyone else such as friends) to visit the United States. Please send completed and legible documents. Wherever possible, send computer printed or typed documents to avoid any confusion. Also, please try to send the most current documents. Any documents like employment letter, pay stubs, bank letter etc. must be less than 6 months old.

If you are sponsoring multiple people at the same time (such as both parents), you should send separate I-134 forms for each person. However, you can just send one set of supporting documents for both of them.

Form I-134[1], Affidavit of Support Form

You will need to show that you can financially support your relatives while they are in the U.S. You need to fill a form called "Affidavit of Support form (I-134[1])" for that purpose. One form should be filled for each applicant. So, even though parents are applying together, you need to send two forms. Some consulates say that if you are applying for a family (such as parents, in-laws etc.), you have to submit only one I-134 and not for each person. But there is no harm in providing one for every one, instead of taking chances.

Notary: You no longer need to get it notarized.

Download Fillable I-134[1]
Step by step guide to complete Form I-134[2]
Employment Letter

Statement from your employer (1 original for each applicant) on business stationary, showing:
- Date and nature of employment
- Salary paid
- Whether position is temporary or permanent
Sample employment letter[3]
Pay Stubs

Recent pay stubs. 3 or 4 should be enough.
Bank Letter

Letter from your Bank (1 original for each applicant) on their business stationary, giving the following details:
- Date account opened
- Total amount deposited for the past year
- Present balance
- Average balance last year
It's OK for the letter to be addressed to "To Whom It May Concern".

Some banks may take a long time to provide such a letter. Therefore, it is advisable to prepare well in advance.
Bank Statements

Send the bank statements for the last 6 months. It should have a good balance at least for the last 6 months. Do not deposit money into your bank account the day before to show a big balance, only to withdraw the next day. You really should have money to show your financial strength to be able to support the people you are sponsoring. While there is no specific guideline how much money you should have in the bank, it should be enough to take care of all their expenses. Something like $5,000/person should be good enough.
Letter to the Consulate

Letter from yourself stating that you will take care of their expenses in the USA. This letter should be addressed to the U.S. consulate your relatives will be visiting.

Sample letter to consulate[4]
Invitation Letter

A personal letter of invitation (free format, but formal; explain here how you will be able to accommodate them in your house and take them around for tourist purposes).

One letter should be enough for both parents. If your relatives don't understand English, it may be helpful to send the translation of the letter in your native language because the consular officer may question that your parents might have never read the letter.

Sample invitation letter[5]
Income Tax Documents

Copy of last 3 years of income tax returns and W2s. If you don't have them, you can request the transcripts from the IRS[6] using a Form 4506. Don't include state income tax returns. If you have not been in the U.S. for the last 3 years, send the tax returns for the years that you have.

If you did not file a tax return, a written explanation describing why you had no legal duty to file the return. If you filed a late or amended tax return, you should submit evidence of this.

If you are self-employed, include self-employment schedules filed with income tax returns or financial records such as a bank statement for the business accounts.

Identification, Relationship and Legal Status Documents
- If you are an Indian citizen:
  1. Your Original birth certificate[7]. If you are sponsoring your in-laws, your spouse's original birth certificate[7] is required instead.
  2. Photocopy of all pages (including blank pages) of your passport. If the visa is in your old passport, then a photocopy of all pages of the old and new passport is required.
  3. Also, the proof of legal status:
    1. If you are on an H1 or L1, copy of latest H1/L1 visa approval notice[8] (I-797 Notice of Action).
      
      If you are at an adjustment of status (I-485 stage), send copies of the I-485 receipt[9], EAD card[10] and Advance Parole[11]. These may not be required, but it does not hurt to send them.
    2. If your visa has expired, but has a renewed petition, photocopy of the renewed petition[12].
    3. If you are a legal permanent resident in the USA, provide proof of green card[13] (front and back).
- If you are a U.S. citizen, provide proof of U.S. citizenship[14].
Legal Status of Siblings

If the parents have more than one child in the U.S., send the proof of legal status of all children, in addition to all of the documents described above from the sponsor child.

Please look at the list just above to determine what kind of document to provide for a given legal status.
Spouse Documents

If you are sponsoring your spouse's relatives (such as in-laws), photocopies of all pages (including blank pages) of your spouse's passport and your marriage certificate[15].

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Writing an Invitation Letter

http://www.maybenow.com/sample-invitation-letter-to-Canadian-visa-officer-q24005159

An invitation letter is usually needed if you are going to Canada to visit a friend or family member. All you need to do is ask your friend to send you an invitation letter. Send them all the information about yourself and let them write the letter. I suggest that you ask them to mail the letter to you by regular mail, then you can place the letter with the stamped envelope in your application package. The stamped envelope is important because it makes it shows some form of authenticity. However, before mailing out the letter, ask your friend to scan the signed letter and send a copy to you via email. You will use this copy if you do not receive the mailed letter on time. My friends and family have used the scaned copy a couple of times and it has worked for them. However, I suggest that you use the original copy if possible.

When I wrote my first invitation letter a couple of years ago, I did not have a clue about what should be on it. So I went to the Canada Immigration website and I found a guide. You can find the guide here - Invitation letter quide from Immigration Canada.

In summary the following should be on the invitation letter. This list is addressed to the person writing the invitation letter. Simply send them a link to this page all should go well.

Your letter must include the following information about the person being invited:

Complete name.

Date of birth.

The person’s address and telephone number.

Your relationship to the person being invited.

The purpose of the trip.

How long the person you are inviting intends to stay in Canada.

Details on accommodation and living expenses.

The date the person you are inviting intends to leave Canada.

Your letter must also include the following information about the person writing the letter:

Complete name.

Date of birth.

Address and telephone number in Canada.

Occupation.

Whether you are a Canadian citizen or Permanent Resident

A photocopy of a document proving your status in Canada. For instance, a Canadian birth certificate if you were born in Canada or a Canadian citizenship card if you are a naturalized citizen. If you are Permanent Resident, you must send proof of your permanent resident status (a copy of your PR card or your IMM 1000 proof of landing).

Sample Invitation Letter

Below is a sample invitation letter. The names on it are ficticious but this format has been used and visas have been issued using this format. There are other formats that can be used. The most important thing is for the information required to be on it. If you have other formats, please send them so that I can share with our readers.

March 27th, 2005

Hello Daddy & Mummy,

As follow-up to our telephone discussion, please take this as a formal invitation to Montreal for a visit. Please plan to come around June 10th 2005 so that you can stay for about 2 – 3weeks and celebrate my birthday with us on 28th ofJune 2005. This will be a great opportunity for you to see your first grandchild, Johnson. All my friends and church members are so eager to see you again.

Love u lots,

OlaLekan Adekoga

GUESTS:
Name: Dr. Babajide Adekoga
Address:.1 salle st, Ebutte Metta, lagos State Nigeria
Date of Birth - May 12, 1940
Telephone: +2348032173333
Relationship: Father.

Name:Mrs. Titilope Adekoga
Address:.1 salle st, Ebutte Metta, lagos State Nigeria
Date of Birth - Aug 12, 1948
Telephone: +2348032173333
Relationship: Mother.

HOSTS:
Name: Mr Olalelkan Adekoga
Address: #102, 234 Sherbrooke Ave, Montreal, Quebec. H4g 2k2, Canada.
Date of Birth: 28th June, 1978
Telephone: 1-514-444-2233
Status in Canada – Citizen
Profession: Computer Engineer, Nortel networks

Name: Mrs. Temitope Adekoga
Address: #102, 234 Sherbrooke Ave, Montreal, Quebec. H4g 2k2, Canada.
Date of Birth: 5th December, 1980
Telephone: 1-514-444-2233
Status in Canada – Permanent Resident
Profession: Accountant, Royal Bank.

FAQ on Sponsoring Visitors Visa[16]

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