Friend affidavit of personal knowledge of marriage and relationship sample

I have a lot of clients that come to me with the same concern: they don’t have bona fides or “proof” that they are a married couple. USCIS requires that when you file an I-130 based on your marriage to a U.S. Citizen or green card holder that you must provide evidence that you are a married couple. The most popular proof of marriage are the following:

• Children born of the marriage
• Property held in both parties names
• Joint bank account
• Lease in the names of both parties

Frankly, a lot of people don’t have the above evidence. I know a number of married people who don’t have kids or a joint bank account. Because of this reality, the immigration service (USCIS) allows you to provide affidavits from people who know you and your spouse.

If you need assistance in drafting your affidavit, please feel free to contact Casseus Law.

To assist all of you in getting affidavits from your friends and family, please use this Sample I-130 Affidavit below to get started. Should your friends and family not have the ability to draft their own letter, Attorney Rachel Casseus and her team would be happy to assist you in drafting your letters.

Love has no boundaries and international marriages are no longer nonsense. More paperwork may be needed to document such a relationship, for instance, a good faith marriage affidavit letter. In this article, we will tell you why you need this printable affidavit form, who can fill it out, what parts it should contain, and also will give you practical advice.

What Is I-751 Affidavit of Support?

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) requires Form I-751 (you can find instructions for it here), and as support for this form, you can provide an immigration letter of support. In fact, this is a written statement of people who know the couple about the sincerity of the connection within this marriage. Sometimes international marriages are concluded for the purpose of obtaining citizenship, and this is what USCIS wants to suppress. Affidavit of bona fide marriage is not a required record, but many attorneys will advise you to fill it out as it serves as an additional point in your favor.

It is critical to remember that these letters are not proof of good faith marriage. Rather, they are testimonies. The best proof will be the presence of children in marriage or a joint bank account. Nevertheless, a good faith marriage affidavit letter is a good midpoint to avoid interviewing by USCIS and making the process less painful.

Pros of Having a Letter of Support

While the submission of this paper is completely voluntary, many attorneys highly recommend that it be included in the USCIS package.

The letter will be especially helpful if other certificates of good faith in the marriage are not very convincing for the Service. While the best examples of an honest marriage are joint retirement plans, insurances, bank accounts, and, of course, having children, well-drafted affidavits also carry weight.

For many pairs, it will also be a plus that most often, the Service does not invite those who have submitted a letter in support of I-751 for an interview.

Who Should Write This Letter?

The author of this type of document is called affiant. There is only one requirement for the person drafting this letter. They should know the pair well and be aware of the details of their relationship. Typically, these people are:

• Relatives
• Friends
• Neighbors
• Religious leaders

There is not even a requirement that the author must be a US citizen. Although living close to the couple and frequent meetings with them will be a plus since this indicates closer and more frequent meetings.

It is good if the writer knew the couple before the wedding and saw the development of their relationship. In the letter, the affiant will need to share their observations and opinions on why they think that a sincere relationship takes place in this marriage.

As a reminder, perjury is prohibited. Immigration Services can also call the author of the letter for an interview, so they should be extremely honest in their testimony.

Everyone understands that one cannot say that someone’s love will last forever, but it is crucial to point out that spouses are in love and have intentions to stay in a couple. Of course, all of this should only be based on personal observation.

What to Include in the Letter?

Affidavit of bona fide marriage does not have a strictly binding form. The testimony must be recorded in writing and be in English (or a certified translation into English).

Notarization is also not required but recommended. If possible, it is better to certify the authenticity of the document. And be sure to verify the authenticity of the words by inserting a sworn statement (“I swear, under penalty of perjury, that the foregoing is true and correct to the best of my knowledge”).

A competent letter that the service can accept for consideration should contain:

• Affiant’s details – full name, address, contact number, birth’s place, and date
• Courtesy to USCIS
• Relationship status with the I-751 applicant and their spouse (friend, relative, etc.)
• An explanation of your relationship
• Opinion about their relationship and examples
• Date and signature

Writing Tips

You should indicate how you met the couple, how long you have known them, how often you spend time together, and how many common friends you have. That is everything that will show that you are closely acquainted and can know about the relationship within the couple. If your family goes to barbecues every Sunday, be sure to mention this.

The more personal the letter, the better. Specific examples should be given in which relationships within this family are visible. Some limit themselves to writing that they have known the couple for a long time and believe in their love. This is not enough. This will not provide any further information for the immigration office. They should see through concrete examples that the couple has a common life and plans together. They do love detailed stories about meetings with a couple or about their vacation. If you have such details, be sure to include them in the letter.

How to Use a Letter When Filing with a Waiver

Not all marriages are permanent. Even if the couple had sincere love, the relationship is work, and not everyone succeeds in it. If the couple was married with the best of intentions, but later the marriage was dissolved, the resident must file I-751 with a waiver regardless of whether there was a divorce or the death of a spouse.

But even in the event of a breakup, you can also file a USCIS affidavit. This will confirm the good intentions of the marriage, although it did not end happily. It might be a little more difficult to do this. It is necessary to show in the letter that between the couple, there were real feelings and a desire to spend life together, and not a desire to receive a green card.

It is worth mentioning that in such circumstances, it is best to contact an attorney for advice. USCIS checks letters and documents submitted in such situations more scrupulously and thoroughly.

To Sum Up

Love has no boundaries, but it must have a documentary basis. A letter of support for Form I-751 will help you prove the good intentions and honesty of your relationship. Find someone who knows you and your spouse well and ask them to write this letter. We are sure you will not be denied.

One should not be afraid to include “trivial” things like describing a couple going to the local Sunday market to shop. Our life consists of such small details and moments and these parts best show us the real story. And USCIS just needs to make sure that your marriage is “real.”

Providing such a letter can save you a lot of time, nerves and even money. Indeed, in its absence, the service will call you for interviews, which do not always pass quickly.

If you need further advice, we strongly recommend contacting the attorney.

Published: Jul 6, 2022

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