For our soon-to-be graduates with international visitors, we suggest the following documentation to help invite your loved ones:
Hotels and Travel
Hotels
For your convenience we’ve provided a list of nearby hotels. There are a limited number of rooms blocked at a discounted rate and are on a first-come first-served basis. Please click the links below or call them directly for the rates.
HYATT PASADENA
399 E. Green Street
Pasadena, CA 91101
626-219-7162
Distance from Ceremony: 0.1 mile
Distance from Campus: 29 miles
HOTEL DENA
303 Cordova Street
Pasadena, CA 91101
844-201-8912
Distance from Ceremony: 0.2 mile
Distance from Campus: 27 miles
THE WESTIN PASADENA
191 N. Lose Robles
Pasadena, CA 91101
866-837-4181Distance from Ceremony: 1/2 mile
Distance from Campus: 27 miles
HILTON PASADENA
168 S. Los Robles Ave.
Pasadena, CA 91101
626-577-1000
Distance from Ceremony: 1/2 miles
Distance from Campus: 27 miles
Directions
To the Pasadena Civic Auditorium
300 E. Green Street. Pasadena, CA
To Western University of Health Sciences
309 E. 2nd Street. Pomona, CA
Parking
If you are staying at one of the Pasadena hotels, check with them regarding parking rates, and ask if they are within walking distance of the Pasadena Civic Auditorium. There are parking areas adjacent to the Pasadena Civic Auditorium (parking fees may be subject to change):
Across the street from the Paseo Colorado on E. Green St.
NW corner of E. Green St. and Marengo Ave.
Pasadena Convention Center Onsite Parking. Enter on Marengo or Euclid
Valet parking is available at the entrance of the Civic Auditorium on Green St.
BEST WESTERN PREMIER BOULDER FALLS INN
505 Mullins Drive
Lebanon, OR 97355
541-451-1000
Located five minutes walk from COMP-Northwest
HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS
781 NE 2nd St
Corvallis, OR 97333
541-752-0800
Located 30 minutes from COMP-Northwest
HILTON GARDEN INN
2500 SW Western Blvd
Corvallis, OR 97333
541-286-9824
Located 30 minutes from COMP-Northwest
COURTYARD MARRIOTT
400 1st. St.
Corvallis, OR 97333
541-753-0199
Located 30 minutes from COMP-Northwest
Shuttle Service
Groome Transportation
Airport transportation from PDX is available through Groome Transportation.
Parking
For parking please follow the Event Parking signs. For ADA and preferred parking, a pass is required. Please see a parking attendant for more information.
Directions
Invitation Letter
For a list of required documentation your family members should take with them to their visa interview, please refer to the specific U.S. Embassy website that your family will be going to for their interview: http://www.usembassy.gov.
Consular officials from the U.S. Department of State have stated that B-2 tourist/visitor visa applicants do not need an invitation letter from the school to process a visa application and that the letters are not helpful. Invitation letters are not a documentation requirement for visitors to apply for a tourist visa.
If you would still like to provide an invitation letter to your visitor(s) to present with their visa application, we suggest that you, yourself write a letter for the visitor(s) (see a suggested format below).
Suggested Documentation
The following suggestions are meant as advice only. We cannot guarantee how U.S. consulates will approach each individual situation.
The applicant should also present as much documentation as possible to establish that she/he will depart the U.S. prior to the expiration of her/his authorized stay in the United States.
To support the application for a B-2 visa, we suggest that you send the following to the applicant:
- A letter from you to your invitee, in English, inviting him/her for a visit (see a suggested format below).
- Evidence of your valid student status.
- Copies of your transcript and/or enrollment verification.
- A photocopy of your I-20 or DS-2019, passport, visa and I-94 card.
- Evidence of your ability to financially support your visitor during their stay (for example, a bank statement). This evidence is needed only if your visitor does not have the funds to support themselves during the visit to the U.S.
Suggested Invitation Letter Format
This letter should be sent to the person who will be applying for the visa, and that person should present it to the U.S. consulate along with the application for the tourist (B-2) visa.
SAMPLE LETTER
Date:
United States Consul General
(Address of Foreign Consulate Where Person Will Apply for the Visa – check online)
Dear Honorable Consul:
My name is (Last Name), (First Name) and I reside at (Your U.S. Address). I am a student at Western University of Health Sciences in the (Degree) program. I am requesting that a tourist (B-2) visa be issued to (Person you want to invite), to allow (her/him) to visit me in the United States. (She/He) is my (Explain your relationship to the person) and will be visiting me from (arrival date) to (departure date). (Explain why you want the person to visit).
Your kind consideration of this request will be greatly appreciated.
Very truly yours,
(Signature)
Name
Address
You will receive free general printed invitations however they do not get mailed until March/April and I’m sure you would like to submit documents sooner than later. I’m also not sure if the general invitations would help as they will not have your name printed (although you can purchase personalized invitations from the Campus Store in January). The suggestion is that you write a letter to your loved ones that wish to travel to the US and include your proof of enrollment. Please let us know if you have any other questions: internationalservices@westernu.edu
Questions? Contact the Office for International Students & Scholars