{"id":196,"date":"2018-01-13T17:06:12","date_gmt":"2018-01-13T17:06:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/160-isp\/family-travel\/"},"modified":"2025-10-23T16:53:10","modified_gmt":"2025-10-23T21:53:10","slug":"family-travel","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/isp\/graduatingstudents\/family-travel\/","title":{"rendered":"Family Travel"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Visa Application<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Family members (except your spouse and\/or children) wishing to visit the US must apply for a \u201ctourist\u201d (B2) visa at the U.S. embassy\/consulate in their home countries, unless they qualify for an <a href=\"https:\/\/esta.cbp.dhs.gov\/esta\">ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorization)<\/a> under the <a href=\"https:\/\/esta.cbp.dhs.gov\/faq?lang=en&amp;focusedTopic=About%20ESTA%20and%20The%20Visa%20Waiver%20Program&amp;answerToDisplay=How%20does%20Cuba%E2%80%99s%20designation%20as%20a%20State%20Sponsor%20of%20Terrorism%20impact%20my%20travel%20to%20the%20United%20States%20using%20my%20approved%20ESTA%3F%20\">Visa Waiver Program (VWP)<\/a>\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n<accordion-container\n    tag=\"section\"\n    class=\"accordion-group block-container\"\n    >\t\n\t<div class=\"accordion-group__outer\">\n\t    \t        <h2 class=\"accordion-group__heading\">What documents should I provide my family to support their visa application process?<\/h2>\n\t    \t    <ul class=\"accordion-group__list\">\n\t        \t            <li class=\"accordion-group__list-item\">\n\t                <accordion-container-header\n\t                    tag=\"h3\"\n\t                    class=\"accordion-group__item-heading\"\n\t                >\n\t                    <accordion-container-header-button\n\t                        class=\"accordion-group__heading-button\"\n\t                        controls=\"accordion-group-1\"\n\t                        id=\"accordion-group-heading-button-1\"\n\t                    >\n\t                        <span class=\"accordion-group__button-text\">Evidence of funding<\/span>\n\t                        <span class=\"accordion-group__icon-wrap\">\n\t                        \t<svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"base-symbol accordion-group__button-icon\" viewbox=\"0 0 12 12\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t    <use xlink:href=\"\/wp-content\/themes\/macalester-2020\/dist\/svgs\/symbol-plus-small.svg#icon\"\/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t                        <\/span>\n\t                    <\/accordion-container-header-button>\n\t                <\/accordion-container-header>\n\t                <accordion-container-panel\n\t                    id=\"accordion-group-1\"\n\t                    class=\"accordion-group__item-panel\"\n\t                >\n\t                    <div class=\"accordion-group__item-panel-inner\">\n\t                        <p><p>If you are providing room and board or any other specific form of financial assistance, such as airfare, you should supply evidence of your source(s) of funding in the form of bank statements or letters from employers. Even though there is no set minimum amount required, it is recommended that you indicate a reasonable amount reflecting the level of support you are providing.<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>If your family members are funding the trip themselves, it is also recommended that they carry with them Bank statements, Employee verifications and\/or other relevant documents to prove that they have sufficient funding for this trip.<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><\/p><\/p>\n\t                    <\/div>\n\t                <\/accordion-container-panel>\n\t            <\/li>\n\t        \t            <li class=\"accordion-group__list-item\">\n\t                <accordion-container-header\n\t                    tag=\"h3\"\n\t                    class=\"accordion-group__item-heading\"\n\t                >\n\t                    <accordion-container-header-button\n\t                        class=\"accordion-group__heading-button\"\n\t                        controls=\"accordion-group-2\"\n\t                        id=\"accordion-group-heading-button-2\"\n\t                    >\n\t                        <span class=\"accordion-group__button-text\">Evidence of your (student) status in the US<\/span>\n\t                        <span class=\"accordion-group__icon-wrap\">\n\t                        \t<svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"base-symbol accordion-group__button-icon\" viewbox=\"0 0 12 12\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t    <use xlink:href=\"\/wp-content\/themes\/macalester-2020\/dist\/svgs\/symbol-plus-small.svg#icon\"\/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t                        <\/span>\n\t                    <\/accordion-container-header-button>\n\t                <\/accordion-container-header>\n\t                <accordion-container-panel\n\t                    id=\"accordion-group-2\"\n\t                    class=\"accordion-group__item-panel\"\n\t                >\n\t                    <div class=\"accordion-group__item-panel-inner\">\n\t                        <p><p>You should provide your family members with a copy of your I-20 (or DS-2019 for J visas) and other relevant documents verifying your status in the U.S.<\/p><\/p>\n\t                    <\/div>\n\t                <\/accordion-container-panel>\n\t            <\/li>\n\t        \t            <li class=\"accordion-group__list-item\">\n\t                <accordion-container-header\n\t                    tag=\"h3\"\n\t                    class=\"accordion-group__item-heading\"\n\t                >\n\t                    <accordion-container-header-button\n\t                        class=\"accordion-group__heading-button\"\n\t                        controls=\"accordion-group-3\"\n\t                        id=\"accordion-group-heading-button-3\"\n\t                    >\n\t                        <span class=\"accordion-group__button-text\">Evidence of family\u2019s intent to return home<\/span>\n\t                        <span class=\"accordion-group__icon-wrap\">\n\t                        \t<svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"base-symbol accordion-group__button-icon\" viewbox=\"0 0 12 12\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t    <use xlink:href=\"\/wp-content\/themes\/macalester-2020\/dist\/svgs\/symbol-plus-small.svg#icon\"\/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t                        <\/span>\n\t                    <\/accordion-container-header-button>\n\t                <\/accordion-container-header>\n\t                <accordion-container-panel\n\t                    id=\"accordion-group-3\"\n\t                    class=\"accordion-group__item-panel\"\n\t                >\n\t                    <div class=\"accordion-group__item-panel-inner\">\n\t                        <p><p>Your family members must prove that they will return home after visiting you in the U.S. It is recommended that they carry with them for their visa interview, documents showing employment, property ownership, enrolment in any educational institute.<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>For more information please visit\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/travel.state.gov\/content\/travel\/en.html\">U.S. Department of State Bureau of Consular Affairs<\/a><\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><\/p><\/p>\n\t                    <\/div>\n\t                <\/accordion-container-panel>\n\t            <\/li>\n\t        \t            <li class=\"accordion-group__list-item\">\n\t                <accordion-container-header\n\t                    tag=\"h3\"\n\t                    class=\"accordion-group__item-heading\"\n\t                >\n\t                    <accordion-container-header-button\n\t                        class=\"accordion-group__heading-button\"\n\t                        controls=\"accordion-group-4\"\n\t                        id=\"accordion-group-heading-button-4\"\n\t                    >\n\t                        <span class=\"accordion-group__button-text\">Invitation letter from yourself (optional)<\/span>\n\t                        <span class=\"accordion-group__icon-wrap\">\n\t                        \t<svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"base-symbol accordion-group__button-icon\" viewbox=\"0 0 12 12\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t    <use xlink:href=\"\/wp-content\/themes\/macalester-2020\/dist\/svgs\/symbol-plus-small.svg#icon\"\/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t                        <\/span>\n\t                    <\/accordion-container-header-button>\n\t                <\/accordion-container-header>\n\t                <accordion-container-panel\n\t                    id=\"accordion-group-4\"\n\t                    class=\"accordion-group__item-panel\"\n\t                >\n\t                    <div class=\"accordion-group__item-panel-inner\">\n\t                        <p><p><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>The U.S. Department of State (which issues visitor visa) has this note about support letters:<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<blockquote><p>Visa applicants must qualify on the basis of the applicant\u2019s residence and ties abroad, rather than assurances from U.S. (based) family and friends (or Macalester College). <strong>A letter of invitation or Affidavit of Support is not needed to apply for a nonimmigrant tourist visa.<\/strong> If you do choose to bring a letter of invitation or Affidavit of Support to your interview, please remember that it is not one of the factors that we use in determining whether to issue or deny a nonimmigrant tourist visa.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>If you would still like a letter, you can write one yourself. Create a copy of <a href=\"https:\/\/docs.google.com\/document\/d\/1sRr0Le7UqllUe7aZXyeOnRQOZzpBHVab0USj3lDvGKw\/copy\">this template<\/a> and follow the instructions on the document, making sure that the information below is included.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px\"><input type=\"checkbox\" \/> Your name and the reason for your living in the U.S.<br \/>\n<input type=\"checkbox\" \/> The name of your family member who wishes to visit and the purpose of their visit. You should prepare a separate letter for each visitor.<br \/>\n<input type=\"checkbox\" \/> The duration of their visit.<br \/>\n<input type=\"checkbox\" \/> If you are providing room and board or any other form of financial assistance, be sure to state that as well.<\/p>\n<p>Please email ISP (<a href=\"mailto:isp@macalester.edu\">isp@macalester.edu<\/a>) if you have any questions.<\/p>\n<p><strong><a class=\"action-btn\" href=\"https:\/\/docs.google.com\/document\/d\/1sRr0Le7UqllUe7aZXyeOnRQOZzpBHVab0USj3lDvGKw\/copy\">COPY TEMPLATE<\/a><\/strong><\/p><\/p>\n\t                    <\/div>\n\t                <\/accordion-container-panel>\n\t            <\/li>\n\t        \t    <\/ul>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/accordion-container>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Accommodations<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>For places to stay near campus, in Minneapolis or near the airport, see Macalester Admission\u2019s\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/admissions\/visitcampus\/placestostay\/\">Places to Stay page<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Commencement also has a page with&nbsp;<a href=\"http:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/commencement\/families\/\">Information for Families and Visitors.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.airbnb.com\/\">Airbnb<\/a>&nbsp;is an online platform that matches visitors with anything from private rooms to entire houses for short-term stay. Airbnb options are often more affordable and interesting.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Visa Application Family members (except your spouse and\/or children) wishing to visit the US must apply for a \u201ctourist\u201d (B2) visa at the U.S. embassy\/consulate in their home countries, unless they qualify for an ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorization) under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP)\u00a0 Accommodations For places to stay near campus, in Minneapolis [&hellip;]<\/p>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":172,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-196","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/isp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/196","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/isp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/isp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/isp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/isp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=196"}],"version-history":[{"count":41,"href":"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/isp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/196\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":8381,"href":"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/isp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/196\/revisions\/8381"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/isp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/172"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/isp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=196"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}