Template: letter appointing a U.S. guardian for a boarding-school student
Template
LETTER OF APPOINTMENT OF U.S. GUARDIAN (LOCAL CONTACT) To: [School name], [Dean of Students / International Student Office] Date: [YYYY-MM-DD] We, [parent 1 full name] and [parent 2 full name], the parents of [student's full name], born [YYYY-MM-DD], a student at [school name] in grade [grade], appoint the following adult as our child's guardian and local contact in the United States: Name: [guardian's full name] Relationship to the family: [e.g. family friend, aunt] Address: [U.S. address] Phone: [mobile] · E-mail: [e-mail] From [start date] until [end date or "further written notice"], the guardian may, in our place: 1. Receive our child during school breaks, weekends away and holidays, and arrange travel to and from school. 2. Talk with the school about our child's well-being, attendance and academic progress. 3. Be contacted in an emergency and make urgent decisions if we cannot be reached, including authorizing emergency medical treatment. 4. [Other permissions, or delete this line.] We can be reached at: [parents' phones, e-mails, time zone]. Please contact us as well as the guardian whenever possible. Parent 1 signature: ______________________ Date: __________ Parent 2 signature: ______________________ Date: __________ I accept this appointment. Guardian signature: ______________________ Date: __________
USAnaru™ original template — free to copy and adapt. It is not a government form.
Steps
- Read the school's guardian or 'local contact' policy — use its form if it has one.
- Choose an adult who lives in the U.S., ideally within a few hours of the school, who agrees to help.
- Fill in the letter and list exactly what the guardian may do (travel, school meetings, medical emergencies).
- Both parents sign; the guardian signs to accept. Notarize if the school asks.
- Send copies to the school and the guardian; keep one with the student's documents.
Why boarding schools ask for a guardian
Boarding schools close or reduce supervision during breaks, and parents abroad cannot always respond quickly. A named U.S. adult gives the school someone to call and somewhere for the student to go. Requirements differ by school — some require a guardian within a certain distance, some offer an approved guardianship service.
This USAnaru™ original template is a private letter of authorization. It does not create a court-ordered guardianship, and it is not a U.S. government form. For medical consent, a hospital or the school may require its own form or notarization; state law varies.
Common mistakes
- Naming someone who is often abroad or far from the school.
- Not telling the school when the guardian changes.
- Assuming this letter is a court order — it is a private authorization; hospitals may ask for their own forms.
Questions
Does the U.S. government require a guardian for an F-1 high-school student?
We found no federal form for this. Guardian requirements usually come from the school (and, for J-1, the sponsor arranges a host family or boarding placement and a local coordinator). Check the school's policy.
Cite as: USAnaru™ — https://usanaru.com/documents/guardian-appointment-letter