Your Letter of Support to Immigration - Guidance Checklist and Sample Content

Sep 15, 2026

Uploaded by Lute

A guide for writing a letter of support in an immigration case pending, explaining how the letter helps an adjudicating officer understand why an applicant deserves to remain in the U.S. It outlines who may write the letter, required personal and contact details, and how to describe relationships, knowledge of abuse, and the hardship removal would cause to the applicant and their family. It also covers home-country risk, rehabilitation, good moral character, future goals, and signature/perjury wording, including translation certification steps.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryLetters

FormatPDF

Pages3

Reading Time1 min

AccessFree to download

Writing a Letter of Support to Immigration

Required content and structure

Signature, perjury language, and translation steps

Submission instructions and mailing details

Your Letter of Support to Immigration Letters of support from family, friends and community members are important for an applicant with an immigration case pending. The purpose of the letter is to show the immigration officer why the person deserves to be in the U.S. and what the hardship would be on the applicant and to the spouse, children or parents, along with the community, if that person was removed from the U.S. Letter writers can be anyone, including non-abusive spouse/partner, adult child, parent, coworker, employer, community member, teacher or any person who can explain their support for the applicant. Below are the general areas you want to include in your letter: | o Introduction: Address the letter to “Dear Adjudicating Officer” or “Honorable Immigration Judge.” | | --- | | o Background: What is your full name, age, occupation and relationship to the immigrant applicant? | | o Contact information: What is your current address or phone number for contact? | | o Immigration status: Are you a United States citizen or lawful permanent resident?
** if you are undocumented, DO NOT submit a letter and make authorities aware of your presence | | o Connection to applicant: How long have you known and how did you come to know the applicant? | | o Knowledge of abuse: Did the applicant tell you about any past experiences of abuse or violence they suffered? How have you seen them survive? Were you acquainted with the applicant’s abuser? | | o Hardship: How would the applicant and applicant’s family be affected if the applicant is removed from the U.S? Is the applicant primarily responsible for the family’s rent, food, bills, care or other support? | | o Home country experience: If you are from the applicant’s home country, how would the applicant be treated if removed from the U.S.? What would their life be like back in their home country? | | o Rehabilitation: If the applicant has any negative history (arrest, substance abuse, etc. ), do you knowhow they have changed since then? Do you think they will be able to keep out of trouble in the U.S.? | | o Good moral character: Has the applicant given back to the community (volunteer, church, school)? | | o Future in the U.S.: Do you know of the applicant’s goals/aspirations? How would their removal from the U.S. affect you and your community? Any other reasons you know the applicant should stay? | | o Signature: Sign and date in blue ink with perjury language at the end of letter: I declare under penalty of perjury, that the information contained in this document is true to the best of my knowledge.
** if you are writing outside the U.S., please have your signature notarized/verified | | Provide details in your letter, specific examples about the applicant, that gives the immigration officer/judge a fuller picture of the kind of person the applicant is and why they are deserving of being granted their application to remain in the U.S. The more detailed, the better. Use your own words.
Type or print your letter, but typing makes it easier to read. It can be any length though most letters are between 1-2 pages. Do not forget to include the perjury language and your signature at the end.
Limited English writers can write in your own preferred language. Be sure that either you or the applicant gets someone to translate the letter into English and sign a certificate of translation: | | Certificate of Translation
I, (name of translator), certify that I am competent to translate this document and the translation is true and accurate to the best of my abilities.
Translator’s signature, Date | Both your original letter and English translation should be submitted. For detained applicants: Make 3 copies of the original and the translated letter (if translated) and mail them to the person detained. When mailing, include the person’s first name and last name, their nine digit A-number (alien registration \# or immigration file \#) and the address of the detention c

FAQs

Who can write an immigration support letter, and who should the letter be addressed to?

Support letters can be written by family, friends, community members, employers, coworkers, teachers, and other people who can explain support for the applicant. The letter should be addressed to “Dear Adjudicating Officer” or “Honorable Immigration Judge.”

What key topics should the writer include in the letter?

The letter should include personal background, contact information, immigration status details, the writer’s connection to the applicant, knowledge of any past abuse or violence, and the hardship removal would cause to the applicant and their family. It should also address home-country experience, rehabilitation, good moral character, and the applicant’s future goals in the U.S.

What are the requirements for signatures and translations?

The writer must sign and date in blue ink with the perjury language at the end of the letter. If the writer is outside the U.S., the signature should be notarized/verified. If translation is needed, both the original letter and English translation must be submitted, along with a certificate of translation signed by the translator.

Sep 15, 2026

Uploaded by Lute