INSTRUCTIONS FOR INVITING
YOUR FAMILY MEMBERS/FRIENDS WHO LIVE OVERSEAS
TO ATTEND SOUTHEASTERN'S GRADUATION CEREMONY

For Southeastern, one of the best parts of the graduation ceremony is welcoming the family and friends of our graduates from all over the world. We are happy to assist you in facilitating their visit here.

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW

If your family members and/or friends live in a country whose citizens are required to have a visa to enter the United States, each person who wishes to attend the ceremony will have to visit the US Embassy/Consulate nearest their home to apply for a "tourist visa" (category B2). If any of the people who wish to attend already have an unexpired, multiple entry tourist visa for the United States, this step will not be necessary.

Many students ask Southeastern to "invite" their family members/friends to attend graduation. Southeastern does not actually invite your family members and friends to come to graduation - you do!!!!! After all, we do not have enough beds for everyone to sleep in!!!!!

The letter Southeastern will write on behalf of your family members and friends will simply advise the embassy in your country that you have applied to participate in the graduation ceremony and inform them of the date the ceremony will take place.

WHEN WE WILL WRITE THE LETTERS

Normally, we begin preparing the letters in the middle of February. We do that for two reasons:

1. Before writing the letter, we must confirm with the Registrar's Office that you have, in fact, applied to participate in the graduation ceremony.
2. Your family member will have a better chance at getting their visa if they apply for it no earlier than March. The Embassy may question why they are applying for it so early if the ceremony is not until June.

However, these days, we fully understand that it may take several months for your family members/friends to get an appointment at an Embassy to apply for their visa. Therefore, if you wish for us to write the letter earlier than February, we will be happy to do so anytime after we have confirmed with the Registrar's Office that you have applied for graduation.

THE INFORMATION YOU WILL NEED TO GIVE US FOR THE LETTER

For each person you wish to invite, we will need the following information:

1. their full name as it appears on their passport;
2. their date of birth (if they know it);
3. their passport number (if they already have a passport);
4. their relationship to you (if it is a friend, just say friend);
5. the location of the US Embassy where they will be going to apply for their visa (city and country).

We understand that in some of your countries, your relatives can not get a passport before receiving this letter. Therefore, they will not already have a passport. However, if they do already have a passport, call them to get their passport information. It is especially important in places like China and Pakistan where many people have the same name. Putting their birth date and passport information on the letter will help the embassy verify that they are the person the letter is being written for.

HOW TO GET THE LETTER

1. Thoroughly complete the invitation form.
2. Return it to Southeastern's International Student Advisor.
3. Indicate on the form if you want us to mail the letter to you or if you will pick it up from our office. Letters will require one week to prepare.
4. A separate letter will be prepared for each person who you plan to invite.

WHAT TO DO AFTER YOU RECEIVE THE LETTER

1. 1. Write a letter to your family member/friend informing them that you plan to participate in the graduation ceremony on June 22, 2008 and you hope they will attend it. Talk about the person's financial arrangements in the letter. For example, if you will provide them with food and housing during their visit, say that in the letter. If you will pay for their plane ticket, say that in the letter. If you expect them to pay for their own plane ticket and or accommodation, say that in the letter.
2. Send the letter to them with our letter and copies of:
   • the pages in your passport showing your biographic data, visa and I-94 card (for international students);
   • pages 1 and 3 of your I-20 (for international students);
   • copies of your grade reports or transcript;
   • bank statements and/or employment letters (if you are providing them with financial support during their stay).
3. Tell them to call the Embassy to ask what the procedure is to apply for a tourist visa. When they go to apply, they should bring whatever the embassy has told them to bring plus the documents you have sent them. If it is your parents, they should also bring a copy of your birth certificate. If it is your spouse, he/she should bring a copy of your marriage certificate.