SAMPLE INVITATION LETTER FOR J-1 SCHOLARS

(original signed letter must be on departmental letterhead.)

[Date]
[Name]
[Title]
[Street Address]
[City] [Province] [Postal Code]
[Country]
Dear [Name],
On behalf of [Name of Department], am pleased to invite you to be a [Position Title or
!"isitin# Scholar$] %&'( [Professor, )esearch Scholar, Short'term Scholar or Specialist]* at
the State +niversity of Ne, -or. at /uffalo %!+niversity at /uffalo$*0 This invitation is
effective for the period of [Start Date of Pro#ram] to [1nd Date of Pro#ram]0 Durin# this
period, you ,ill be en#a#ed in [Describe Pro#ram Activities]0
[+/ 2undin# Option]
The +niversity at /uffalo shall provide a stipend of 3[Dollar Amount] per [4onth5-ear]0 The
+niversity ,ill also provide medical insurance startin# on the 67
rd
day of your employment0
-ou ,ill be responsible for purchasin# health insurance from +/8s Student 4edical
nsurance Office for the 69'day ,aitin# period before your employer'sponsored health
insurance ta.es effect0 The +niversity at /uffalo ,ill also provide you ,ith [office]5[lab] space
%,hich may be shared*, the use of a computer and access to library facilities0
[Non'+/ 2undin# Option]
t is my understandin# that you ,ill provide your o,n fundin# to cover all the e:penses of
your stay at the +niversity at /uffalo, includin# health insurance for yourself and your
accompanyin# dependents, if any0 The +niversity at /uffalo ,ill provide you ,ith [office]5
[lab] space %,hich may be shared*, the use of a computer and library facilities0
+nless your academic department ,ill ma.e arran#ements for you, it ,ill be your
responsibility to find housin# for yourself %and your family, if applicable* for the duration of
your stay at the +niversity0 ;elpful tips for findin# off'campus housin# can be found at
,,,0buffalo0edu5intlservices5offcampus0html0 Please note that the +niversity at /uffalo
offers temporary housin# for visitin# scholars in the +niversity <uest =uarters %+<=*0 To
ma.e a reservation in the +<=, please visit ,,,0buffalo0edu5intled5u#>0htm0
/oth the +0S0 Department of State %DOS* and State +niversity of Ne, -or. %S+N-* re>uire
&'( 1:chan#e "isitors to have medical insurance covera#e durin# their stay in the +0S0 as &'
( 1:chan#e "isitors0 The DOS also re>uires that &'9 dependents have medical insurance
that meets DOS re#ulatory re>uirements0 2urther information about insurance for &'(
scholars is available at ,,,0buffalo0edu5intlservices5health?sch0html
To affirm that you and your dependents ,ill have the necessary health insurance covera#e,
,e re>uire you to si#n and submit the 4edical nsurance Attestation form to us0 After you
have done so, ,e ,ill send you a DS'9@(A so you can apply for a &'( visa0 The 4edical
nsurance Attestation 2orm is available at
,,,0buffalo0edu5intlservices5pdf?files54edicalnsuranceAttestation'B;0pdf0
Althou#h &'( 1:chan#e "isitors may ,ish to purchase health insurance in their home
country, they should be a,are that their home country policy can only substitute for the
S+N- policy if the health insurance covera#e is comparable0 f not, the &'( 1:chan#e "isitor
,ill also have to purchase the S+N- policy0 Similarly, any health insurance policy purchased
for &'9 dependents must meet the DOS re>uirements or the &'9 ,ill also need to purchase
the S+N- policy0 Therefore, ,e do not recommend purchasin# health insurance in your
home country to cover you durin# your stay in the +0S0
2urther information re#ardin# the &'( 1:chan#e "isitor Pro#ram is available at
,,,0buffalo0edu5intlservices5C(?scholars0html0
De are deli#hted that you ,ill come to our +niversity as a [Position Title or !"isitin# Scholar$]
and loo. for,ard to meetin# you0
Sincerely,
[Name]
[Title]