Proper format for letters by family/friends etc??

[imisshimmuch]

So I'm thinking I'm going to ask a few family members and close friends to write letter for my waiver packet. Is there a format to follow ?? Is there info that you suggest NOT be included ? Also- is it better that the letters be typed or hand written ?
Any help or ideas are welcome because i have no idea :rolleyes:

[corazoncita]

These are very good questions... I was wondering the same thing myself!

[imisshimmuch]

yeah it seems like it's a given how to write a letter but we have to be so careful with everything, at least thats my thinking :wink:
also i know when i ask my family / friends to write a letter, they're gonna be like "wha?" lol they won't know how to start it, and i don't blame them ! it'd be good to have some sort of format or rules to follow :cool:

[kenaly]

My letters were just very straightforward, no "format." It was addressed to "whom it may concern," and it was similar to a business letter in tone. We had 6 letters from outsiders, and I did not give them any guidelines, they just wrote what they felt was important.

[shannon]

There isn't a format, but I think the letters should concentrate on the hardship to the USC if the alien does not get the visa.

[allousa]

We had several friends and family write letters on our behalf. No format, but they all described what a hardship it would be if my husband weren't allowed to re-enter the country to help me with raising our son as well as what a financial hardship it would be. The letters were handwritten and then I typed them and had each person sign the letters and then had them notarized as well.

[Sabrina022203]

This is what I did :


I am Name. I am an American Citizen born in City, State at Hospital. I was born on Month, day, year. My current address is .... I am related to ...your or your husband's name or if it is a friend they can state that.

I had 7 people write letters for us and they all pretty much started the same way stating who they were and what there were to us. I also had them get notarized.

[imisshimmuch]

Maybe "format" was the wrong word to use :shy: maybe tips ??
So from what I've read, you send in the letters TYPED, not handwritten, and have them signed, dated, and notarized, correct ??
The people writing them should state their birth date and birth place as well as their legal status ??
THANKS !!! :thumbup:
In terms of length, I'm assuming they're no longer then a page ????

[imisshimmuch]

bump

[cherrycandy001]

I just asked them to state the relationship between the applicant and themselves. I did not get the letters notarized. They were dated and signed though. I got a letter from my husbands grandmother notarized however since I could not get doctors notes from her diagnoses. She basically said I have this and this wrong with me and you can reach my doctor at so and so place.

[shannon]

my lawyer said the letter should include the person's name, address, phone number, their relationship to me, their legal status (USC or whatever), and then write about why a refusal of the waiver would be an extreme hardship primarily to me, but also to my family (different writers may have various perspectives on this). They don't have to be notarized but they contain a statement at the bottom about the letter being the truth under the penalty of perjury. I may have them notarized anyway since it would not be hard to do.

[kenaly]

We dis notarize any letters nor did we add any statement about being the truth. Only the main hardship letter had that statement. The letters were typed and handwritten, all with phone numbers and addresses.

[DaveH]

Example of what to do

http://immigrate2us.net/forum/showthread.php?t=22

Examples of what NOT to do

http://immigrate2us.net/forum/showthread.php?t=29

General guidlines

http://immigrate2us.net/forum/showthread.php?t=83

One theme to bear in mind is the hardship description may only apply to the USC. Regardless of how much it impacts the immigrant it is irrelevant to the argument.

[kenaly]

Also..more approved HSL letters here from countries other than Mexico:
http://immigrate2us.net/forum/showthread.php?t=59

[imisshimmuch]

thanks everyone.
as far as the examples though, aren't the HSL letter different then the letters from family or friends ?:innocent:

[kmanch421]

I used these types of letters as character statements for my husband. I asked that they type the letter and use a business formal format of letter. None of mine were notarized, but each had their full name, address, and phone number(s), and signature.

I had each of them send me an electronic copy which I saved in a desktop folder along with my letter and all the USCIS forms that we needed. I then copied that folder to a flash drive and took it with me--just in case a dog ate the originals...

[imisshimmuch]

how long do you suggest family/friend/co-worker letters be ???? my gut says no longer the one page , so the person doesn't get po'ed at reading long long letters........????

[kenaly]

All of ours were one paragraph, very short and to the point.

[fletchand]

kenaly

I am having trouble finding your Hardship
letter---is in the I-160 other country
forum
Fletchand

[shannon]

yes, they should not be too long, no more than a page. Some of mine were only a paragraph or two. Yes they are different than the hardship letter (which is written by USC). They should support what is said in the HSL. It's good to have different viewpoints - if possible the letters might address different aspects of the hardship as viewed by various family members or friends.

[Paul & Kerri]

I believe all of our letters were typed and hand signed by the family member or friend that wrote them. We didn't have them notorized, though it's not a bad idea to do that. They stated either the hardships that I (USC) would incur if I had to move to my husbands country and also they included the type of character my husband was. My mom's letter also included her health problems (which backed up what I wrote in my hardship letter) and how it would effect her if I were to move to another country. I think it don't hurt if they mention the hardships on themselves with the seperation of their child and alien spouse. We also included letters from my doctor and my childrens doctors to back up some minor health issues we had.