nona the brit  +  414395 Wed, 05 Sep 07 07:40 AM Because it is often a condition of getting a visa. It's not so much the invitation itself, but that the inviter has to guarantee certain things about the person's visit, for example that they will leave when their visa runs out, or that the inviter will be financially supporting their visitor. They are only required in certain circumstances and for travellers from certain countries. If someone already has a passport and visa then there's no real need for a letter, other than to provide evidence that their visit will stay within the limits of their visa. Having a visa doesn't guarantee your entry into any country and the immigration checks can still send you back if they don't believe your real intentions match your stated ones. nona the brit Joined on Wed, Sep 22 2004 England Veteran Member 11,713 The name says it all. Invitations, How to Write a Letter

	Grammar Geek  +  444404 Tue, 20 Nov 07 01:42 PM Anon, you have greatly misunderstood the purpose of this forum and what we do. 1) We do not write letters for people. 2) We do not send invitations to people on your behalf. 3) We are not your adminstrative assistants. Here is what we DO do: Review letters/invitations that you have written to help you with the grammar. If you write the invitation, we will help you make it better. Then YOU send it to people, not us. Never post the personal contact information for the people you want to communicate with on here. I know that I would not like to see my home address, phone number, and mobile phone number posted on a forum like this, without my knowledge and without my permission. I expect they do not want this either. Grammar Geek Joined on Tue, Jan 10 2006 Veteran Member 19,660 Barbara, who answers in American English. My housekeeping skills attest to the truth of the second law of thermodynamics: Left to themselves, things get more and more random! Grammar, Invitations, Invitation Letters

	Grammar Geek  +  446464 Mon, 26 Nov 07 02:55 PM Actually, the other day, I was looking around on the U.S. immigration Web site, and they said that it really doesn't matter whether your write a letter or what you say in the letter. It will have no impact on getting a visa. Mostly, they want to know that after your visit, you will return to your home country and not try to stay illegally. I suppose you could even argue that having a good friend who will let you stay with them makes it more likely you will try to stay beyond your visa, while someone staying at a hotel, in town for business, is more likely to leave. Grammar Geek Invitations, Invitation Letters

	Grammar Geek  +  459843 Thu, 03 Jan 08 01:32 PM Please see this: Hosting Visitors to the U.S. People often ask how they can help a family member, relative or friend get a visa to visit them in the United States. We appreciate their desire to help and do understand that sometimes the need for a visit can be urgent. We understand that you may want to help with the visa process. However, it does not help the applicant if you write a letter of invitation or personally guarantee his or her departure from the United States after the visit is over. The consular officer evaluates each visa application on its own merits according to visa law and procedures. You can be most helpful by making sure the applicant has all the information they need to submit a correct application and by explaining fully the standards for visa issuance. This is from http://www.unitedstatesvisas.gov/visiting2.html   Good luck. Grammar Geek Invitations, Letter of Invitation, Invitation Letters