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Baylor University
Center for Global Engagement
  • About
    • Facts and Figures
      • Baylor Faculty Global Activity
      • Global Traveler Demographics
      • Global Trends
      • International Representation
      • International Student Demographics
    • News
    • CGE Main Office
    • Study Abroad Office
    • International Student and Scholar Services Office
    • Global Gateway Office
  • Study Abroad
    • Student Resources
    • Parent & Guardian Resources
    • Faculty & Staff Resources
    • Study Abroad Fair
    • FAQ
  • International Student and Scholar Services
    • International Students
      • New Student/Scholar Information
      • F-1 Student Processes
      • J-1 Student Processes
    • International Scholars
      • Maintaining J-1 Status
      • J-2 Dependents
      • Travel Procedures
      • Lecture Requests & Consultations
      • Extensions
      • 12 and 24 Month Bars
      • Two-Year Residency Requirement
      • 212e Waiver
      • Program Transfer
    • Programs and Activities
      • Spring 2025 Trips & Events
      • Fall 2025 Trips & Events
      • Global Friendship Program
      • CGE Ambassadors
      • Educational Workshops and Training
      • International Student Organizations
      • ISSS Programming Framework
    • Support Resources
      • Academic & English Language Support
      • Current Issues Regarding Student and Scholar Status
      • Paying Taxes
      • Special Statuses and Programs to Support International Students
      • Community Resource Map
      • Living in Waco
      • Avoiding Frauds and Scams
    • Faculty & Staff Toolkit
    • Fulbright Awards
    • Global Bears Login
  • Global Baylor
    • Global Scholars
      • Why Global Scholars
      • Global Scholars Application Process
      • Starting Abroad
      • 4 Year Plan
    • Certificate in Global Engagement
    • International Education Week
    • Global Calendar of Events
    • GBL 1101, 1102 & 1103
    • Connecting to Global Initiatives
    • COIL: Collaborative Online International Learning
  • Global Gateway
    • Our Programs
      • English Pathway Overview
      • International Plus Admission Option
    • About Us
      • GGP Administrative Staff
      • Global Gateway Office
      • GGP Faculty
      • Visitor Directions to the Global Gateway Program
    • Current Students
    • New Students
      • On-Campus Study Information
    • Frequently Asked Questions
      • GGP Arrival Information
      • On-Campus Housing & Dining
      • Finances
      • Life at Baylor
      • GGP Academics
    • Academic & English Language Support
  • Global Partnerships
    • Visiting Delegations
    • Global Partners
    • Initiating an Agreement
  • Register Travel
    • Faculty & Student Group Travel
    • Faculty/Staff Only Travel
    • Student Only Travel
Baylor BU Center for Global Engagement International Student and Scholar Services International Students F-1 Student Processes Letter Requests
  • International Students
    • New Student/Scholar Information
    • F-1 Student Processes
      • Maintaining Status
      • Academic Program Completion & the SEVIS Record
      • Arrival & Check-In
      • CAP GAP Extension
      • Change of Academic Level
      • Changing to F-1 Status
      • Deferment
      • Dependents
      • Important Documents and When to Carry Them
      • Extend or Shorten Program Length
      • F-1 Visa Renewal
      • Getting the Baylor I-20
      • Global Bears Login
      • Health Services & Insurance
      • Insufficient Funds
      • Internships/Curricular Practical Training (CPT)
      • Late Arrival (after Program Start Date)
      • Leave of Absence
      • Letter Requests
      • On-Campus Work Authorization
      • Online Programs & Courses
      • Optional Practical Training (OPT)
      • Permanent Resident/Permanent Resident Pending
      • Post-Baccalaureate Study
      • Reduced Course Load
      • Reinstatement of Status
      • Replace/Update I-20
      • Returning Students
      • SEVIS Registration for Fall and Spring Semesters
      • Severe Economic Hardship
      • Social Security Card
      • Summer Enrollment Requirements
      • Suspension & Expulsion
      • Termination of SEVIS (I-20) Record
      • Transfer I-20 to Another Institution
      • Travel Authorization
    • J-1 Student Processes
  • International Scholars
  • Programs and Activities
  • Support Resources
  • Faculty & Staff Toolkit
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  • Global Bears Login

Letter Requests

Letter of Invitation

The United States Department of State which issues all visas to the United States through its embassies and consulates has stated that letters of invitation from universities are not necessary and are not reviewed as part of the decision-making process for granting a visitor (B2) visa.  From the Department of State Travel webpage: "Visa applicants must qualify on the basis of the applicant's residence and ties abroad, rather than assurances from U.S. family and friends. A letter of invitation or Affidavit of Support is not needed to apply for a visitor visa. If you choose to bring a letter of invitation or Affidavit of Support to your interview, please remember it is not one of the factors used in determining whether to issue or deny the visa."  If the embassy or consulate requests additional information from the Baylor, that will provide a secure system for Baylor to submit any documents so they can verify authenticity.

That being said, many students and scholars write their own letters of invitation and give it to their parents to take with them to their visa interview.  Students can use the link below to write their own invitation letter that a family member can have with them at the visa interview. The template for that letter can be found HERE.

Letter of Immigration Status

A student may request an official letter from the Baylor ISSS Office that serves as a letter of good standing with United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). A student is considered “in good standing” when the student is currently in-status with USCIS. Students should allow at least five (5) business days to process a letter of good standing.

Letter of Immigration Status Procedures

  1. A student must submit a letter request form to the Baylor ISSS Office.

  2. A DSO will review the information and determine whether the student is in status with USCIS.

  3. The DSO will then create the letter.

  4. The student will be contacted by email to come pick-up the <

Letter of Temporary Study

A student may request an official letter from the Baylor ISSS Office to present to another institution for temporary study during summer or mini-semester months. To qualify for this special situation, a student must be registered for classes at Baylor for the upcoming semester (after the summer break or mini-semester in which study occurs). A student’s options include winter break, spring break, or summer break.

Letter of Temporary Study Procedures

  1. A student must submit a letter request form to the Baylor ISSS Office with the name of the school that he or she will be attending and when he or she plans to attend.

  2. A DSO will review the information and determine if the student is eligible.

  3. The DSO will then create the letter.

  4. The student will be contacted by email to come pick-up the letter.

Letter for Social Security Office

A student may request an official letter from the Baylor ISSS Office to present to the Social Security Office. This letter only applies to those who are working on-campus (graduate assistants, student workers, etc.) Students must also have a letter from the office/department that is employing them to take to the Social Security Office. Click HERE to get a template for your department/office to use. Students working on-campus do not have to wait for their Social Security Card to begin working but should apply for it as soon as possible. For students who are beginning their first semester of study at Baylor, due to processing times, students should not apply for their Social Security Card until 30 days after they begin classes. (Note: For those pursuing CPT or OPT, you will need a letter from your employer - no letter from the ISSS Office is required). For instructions on how to get a Social Security Card and the necessary documents, please go to the following link: Social Security Website and then scroll down to the section “How to Get a New, Replacement, or Corrected Card”, and click on the “Learn what documents you need” box. On the next page in the left column, select “Noncitizen” under the “Citizenship of the person the card is for” heading.

Letter for Social Security Office Procedures

  1. A student must submit a letter request form to the Baylor ISSS Office.

  2. A DSO will review the information and determine if the student is fully registered and has already been approved to work on-campus.

  3. The DSO will then create the letter.

  4. The student will be contacted by email to come pick-up the letter

Center for Global Engagement

Sid Richardson Bldg. 1st Floor – East Wing
1410 S. 3rd St. Waco, TX 76798

One Bear Place #97012
Waco, TX 76798-7012

Global_Baylor@baylor.edu
Global_Gateway@baylor.edu
ISSS_Support@baylor.edu
StudyAbroad@baylor.edu
(254) 710-1461
Global Gateway Program
Global Baylor
Study Abroad
International Student and Scholar Services
Register Your Travel
Global Partnerships
Baylor BU Center for Global Engagement International Student and Scholar Services International Students F-1 Student Processes Letter Requests
  • About
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    • Study Abroad Office
    • International Student and Scholar Services Office
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    Back
    • Student Resources
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    • Study Abroad Fair
    • FAQ
  • International Student and Scholar Services
    Back
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      Back
      • New Student/Scholar Information
        Back
        • Global Bears Week
        • Getting to Waco
        • Expenses & Budgeting
      • F-1 Student Processes
        Back
        • Maintaining Status
        • Academic Program Completion & the SEVIS Record
        • Arrival & Check-In
        • CAP GAP Extension
        • Change of Academic Level
        • Changing to F-1 Status
        • Deferment
        • Dependents
        • Important Documents and When to Carry Them
        • Extend or Shorten Program Length
        • F-1 Visa Renewal
        • Getting the Baylor I-20
        • Global Bears Login
        • Health Services & Insurance
        • Insufficient Funds
        • Internships/Curricular Practical Training (CPT)
        • Late Arrival (after Program Start Date)
        • Leave of Absence
        • Letter Requests
        • On-Campus Work Authorization
        • Online Programs & Courses
        • Optional Practical Training (OPT)
          Back
          • Post-Completion OPT
          • Pre-Completion OPT
          • STEM OPT Extension
        • Permanent Resident/Permanent Resident Pending
        • Post-Baccalaureate Study
        • Reduced Course Load
        • Reinstatement of Status
        • Replace/Update I-20
        • Returning Students
        • SEVIS Registration for Fall and Spring Semesters
        • Severe Economic Hardship
        • Social Security Card
        • Summer Enrollment Requirements
        • Suspension & Expulsion
        • Termination of SEVIS (I-20) Record
        • Transfer I-20 to Another Institution
        • Travel Authorization
      • J-1 Student Processes
        Back
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        • Getting the Baylor DS-2019
        • Arrival & Check-In (J1 Students)
        • Maintaining Status (J-1 Student)
        • Extend Your Program
        • Letter Requests (J-1 Student)
        • On-Campus Work Authorization for J-1 Students
        • Replace or Update DS-2019 Request
        • Social Security Card (J-1 Student)
        • Academic Training
        • Travel Authorization (J-1 Students)
    • International Scholars
      Back
      • Maintaining J-1 Status
      • J-2 Dependents
      • Travel Procedures
      • Lecture Requests & Consultations
      • Extensions
      • 12 and 24 Month Bars
      • Two-Year Residency Requirement
      • 212e Waiver
      • Program Transfer
    • Programs and Activities
      Back
      • Spring 2025 Trips & Events
        Back
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        • Bowling @ The SUB - Feb. 8th
        • Cameron Park Zoo Trip - Mar. 22nd
        • NASA Trip - Apr. 12th
      • Fall 2025 Trips & Events
        Back
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        • Waco Discovery Day - Sept. 21
        • Heart of Texas Rodeo - Oct. 4
        • Homecoming Parade - Oct. 26
        • International Showcase - Nov. 12th
        • International Thanksgiving Dinner - Nov. 13th
        • International Graduation Reception - Dec. 18th
      • Global Friendship Program
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      • International Student Organizations
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        • Transition to the U.S. University
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      • Why Global Scholars
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        Back
        • Program Details
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        • Housing
      • 4 Year Plan
    • Certificate in Global Engagement
    • International Education Week
    • Global Calendar of Events
    • GBL 1101, 1102 & 1103
    • Connecting to Global Initiatives
    • COIL: Collaborative Online International Learning
  • Global Gateway
    Back
    • Our Programs
      Back
      • English Pathway Overview
      • International Plus Admission Option
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      • Global Gateway Office
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      • On-Campus Study Information
    • Frequently Asked Questions
      Back
      • GGP Arrival Information
      • On-Campus Housing & Dining
      • Finances
      • Life at Baylor
      • GGP Academics
    • Academic & English Language Support
  • Global Partnerships
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    • Visiting Delegations
    • Global Partners
    • Initiating an Agreement
  • Register Travel
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