International Visa & Travel Information

Update: State Department Updates Visa Bond Requirements for Travelers

On January 8, 2026, the U.S. Department of State announced an update to the visa bond requirements for certain countries. Nationals from these countries may need to post a “visa bond” when applying for a B-1/B-2 tourist/visitor visa.

This could affect family attending Stanford events, including Commencement.

Background

This Information applies to family members outside the United States who hope to attend Commencement in person. If you are a current Stanford international student eligible to graduate and your family members are not United States citizens or permanent residents, they will need to apply for a tourist visa (B-2), unless they qualify for the visa waiver program.

Those who qualify for the visa waiver program (also known as ESTA) do not need to apply for a B-2 visa.

B-2 Visa Application Process

To begin the application process, your family members must find and visit their nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate website. They should then fill out the visa application form and request an appointment at: https://ceac.state.gov/genniv/.

Prior to the scheduled appointment, your family members may need to prepare additional documents. Some of these documents may include information related to:

The visitor’s intent to return to their home country
Proof that each visitor has sufficient financial resources to cover the expenses of their visit to the U.S. and their return to the home country, such as a bank statement
Evidence of the purpose/reason for the trip and its short-term nature (e.g. flight itinerary, attending graduation, etc.)
Proof of student enrollment certification
Screenshots from websites for specific events (e.g. graduation) showing the date, time, and location of said event such as the University's Commencement page.

For additional information regarding the B-2 visa application process, please visit Stanford’s Bechtel International Center’s webpage referencing the B-2 Visa process.

Optional Student Letter: If you are an international student eligible to graduate and you would like to provide an optional invitation letter to your family to attend Commencement, please see the B-2 letter sample at the bottom of the Bechtel International Center’s webpage.

The U.S. Department of State has confirmed: “Note: Visa applicants must qualify based on their ties abroad/to their home country, 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.”

This and additional information on visa requirements and details can be found on the U.S. Department of State website.

University Information

Please note: There are no letters or documents required from Stanford University, its schools, or departments related to your family/visitor’s B-2 visa application process.

Commencement Information

For family members and guests who cannot attend the Commencement ceremony, it will be available for live viewing via livestream on this website on:

Sunday, June 14, 2026, at 9:00 a.m., Pacific Time.

A recording of the ceremony will be shared on this website shortly following the event.

Event schedules and general information about Stanford’s Commencement Weekend can also be found on this website.