Does the SEI provide international invitation letters in accordance with visa guidelines?
In order to obtain an invitation letter to attend a public course at the SEI, please follow the guidelines below: You must be registered and confirmed for an SEI public offering. Your registration course fee must be paid in full before an invitation letter can be issued Send your request via email to courseregistration@sei.cmu.edu and provide your full name, address, phone and fax number (we cannot express mail invitation letters to a PO Box). Please allow 2 to 3 weeks for processing. We have been advised by the Carnegie Mellon Office of International Education that SEI students are to enter the US in B1 visitor status. They have based this advice on 22 CFR 41.31(b) (1) which states that business activities can include “conventions, conferences, consultations and other legitimate activities of a commercial or professional nature.” The Foreign Affairs Manual gives further guidance on the types of acceptable activities at 9 FAM 41.31 N8. Among the activities listed are “scientific, educa
