Instructions for Inviting Relatives to Visit the United States

The instructions below are to assist UMMS students and employees who would like to invite relatives to the U.S. who are not their spouse or children.   While a review is not required, we do encourage you to bring your completed Form I-134, Affidavit of Support to our office for review.  To meet with the ISSO, please schedule an appointment with an Immigration Coordinator.  During this meeting we will review the form and issue the required statement from the employer. 

Form I-134 can be obtained from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration website.  Scroll down to the Affidavit of Support, I-134.  This is a fillable form, so please type directly on the form and then print it.  If you are filling it out by hand, be sure to use black ink and print very clearly.

Instructions for Completing Form I-134.

  • First 2 Lines:  Type your name, home address, city, state, zip code and country of citizenship.
  • Question 1: Type in your birth date and city / country of birth. If you are a U.S. Permanent Resident, check either 1a, 1b, 1d, or 1e as it applies to you.  If you are not a U.S. Permanent Resident, leave blank.
  • Question 2:  Type in your age and the date you entered the United States.
  • Question 3:  Type in the name of the individual whom you are inviting to visit you (father, mother, cousin, etc.).  If you are not sure of their age, you can leave that blank.  Where it says “name of spouse and children accompanying or following to join person” type in the names of anyone else who will be visiting you together with the first person indicated (this should not be your children or spouse).
  • Question 7: Type one of the following depending on your position at UMASS – Medical Research, Ph.D. Student or Clinical Residency.  Then type in UMASS Medical School and the address at 55 Lake Avenue North, Worcester, MA 01655. 
    • Line 1: Type in your annual salary
    • Line 2:  Type in amount of money you have in savings accounts in the U.S. [this does not need to be completed before coming to the ISSO]  
    • Line 3: Type in amount of other personal property [OK to leave this blank]
    • Line 4:  Stocks and bonds [OK to leave this blank]
    • Line 5:  Life Insurance [OK to leave this blank]
    • Line 7: Real Estate [if you own a home, complete this section].  Write in the value of the property, mortgage amount and street address.
  • Question 8: Type in the names of any family members who are IN THE U.S. who are NOT employed (children / unemployed spouse).  Do not include any family members who are outside the U.S.  If your spouse and children are not working, indicate that you are wholly supporting all of them.  If you and your spouse are working in the U.S., indicate that you are partially supporting your children.
  • Question 9:  Type “NONE” unless you have previously submitted an I-134 form.  If this is the case, fill-in the remaining details.
  • Question 10: Type “NONE” unless you have previously submitted an application for U.S. Permanent Residence sponsorship for another person.
  • Question 11:  Check “intend” and type “I will provide food and lodging for my [brother, sister, mother, father, mother-in-law, father-in-law, etc.] during their brief visit to the United States.”

Sign the form.

When you send the information to your relatives outside the U.S., the final package should contain the following information:

  • I-134, Affidavit of Support.
  • Bank Letter:  Statement from your bank that verifies the date your account was opened, the total amount deposited for the last year and the present balance of your account.
  • Invitation Letter:  Write a personal invitation letter to your relatives that includes an itinerary of places to visit and things to do while they are in the U.S. for the visit.
  • Employer Letter, (will be issued by ISSO) – The ISSO will need the following information from you to complete this letter:

Name
UMass Title
UMass Department
Annual Salary
Full name of all Individuals you are inviting to visit you
Each individual’s relationship to you (i.e. cousin, mother-in-law, brother, father, etc.)
City and Country of U.S. Consulate where visa will be requested


If you would like to send this information to the ISSO in advance, please email the information to issoumms@umassmed.edu.  Then, if you would like for an Immigration Coordinator to review your invitation packet, please schedule an appointment at the ISSO.  We will review the form and issue the employment letter during this time.