Hotels & Travel

To Western University of Health Sciences
309 E. 2nd Street. Pomona, CA

To Sheraton Fairplex and Conference Center
601 W. Mckinley Ave, Pomona, CA 91768

The parking fee is $14 per vehicle. We encourage graduates and guests to prepay using the prepay link below. While cash and card payments are accepted at the gate, prepayment is preferred to ensure a smooth arrival experience. Be sure to keep proof of payment on your photo to scan at the gate.

When prompted, enter your ceremony date and start time. See the full schedule of ceremonies below:

• College of Podiatric Medicine: May 13, 2025, 9:00 a.m.
• College of Optometry: May 13, 2025, 12:00 p.m.
• College of Dental Medicine: May 13, 2025, 3:00 p.m.
• College of Pharmacy: May 13, 2025, 6:30 p.m.
• College of Veterinary Medicine: May 14, 2025, 8:00 a.m.
• College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific Medicine: May 14, 2025, 12:00 p.m.
• College of Graduate Nursing: May 14, 2025, 4:30 p.m.
• College of Health Sciences: May 14, 2025, 7:30 p.m.

Guests should enter the Fairplex at Gate 17.  A shuttle service will be provided to transport guests to the ceremony location. Please be advised that guests have a 5-minute walk from the shuttle drop-off location to the security checkpoint. The distance is approximately 0.2 miles without an incline.  We recommend wearing comfortable footwear and planning accordingly to allow ample time for arrival.

Graduates should use Gate 3 and will be directed to the Red Lot. A RED graduate access pass and $14 parking fee are required for entry. The access pass was included in your graduate packet along with your tickets. If you do not have the pass, you will be redirected to General Parking at Gate 17.

The Sheraton Fairplex Conference Center provides accessible parking spaces for vehicles displaying disability plates or placards. These spaces are available on a first-come, first-served basis in the Red Lot and the parking lot at Gate 17. The Red Lot is adjacent to the Conference Center and is the designated lot for graduate parking. We recommend that guests with mobility impairments drive in with their graduate to ensure parking close to the venue. An accessible transport is available for all guests that park at Gate 17 to the Conference Center.

Students requiring accessible parking accommodations for their guests may also reserve such parking directly through the Harris Family Center for Disability and Health Programs (CDHP) by contacting disabilityaccommodations@westernu.edu no later than May 7, 2025. Reservations made after this date cannot be guaranteed. Students who do not secure a reservation by the deadline will be directed to utilize the accessible parking spaces available on a first-come, first-served basis. Please note: The distance from the transport drop-off location to the Conference Center is 0.2 miles. Individuals with mobility-related concerns are encouraged to make arrangements in advance.

505 Mullins Drive
Lebanon, OR  97355
541-451-1000

Located five minutes walk from COMP-Northwest

2500 SW Western Blvd
Corvallis, OR  97333
541-286-9824

Located 30 minutes from COMP-Northwest

781 NE 2nd St
Corvallis, OR  97333
541-752-0800

Located 30 minutes from COMP-Northwest

400 1st. St.
Corvallis, OR  97333
541-753-0199

Located 30 minutes from COMP-Northwest

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.
Parking Map 

For our soon-to-be graduates with international visitors, we suggest the following documentation to help invite your loved ones:

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).

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:

1. A letter from you to your invitee, in English, inviting him/her for a visit (see a suggested format below).
2. Evidence of your valid student status.
   1. Copies of your transcript and/or enrollment verification.
   2. A photocopy of your I-20 or DS-2019, passport, visa and I-94 card.
3. 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.

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

Email

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