What Is an Immigration Recommendation Letter?
Immigration recommendation letters can be an important part of an applicant’s file. However, not every letter is beneficial, and some of our clients don’t need them at all. Instead of trying to obtain letters on your own, work with an established law firm. Our legal team knows when letters can help and how to write them. Call The Law Office of Jason M. Sullivan, PLLC, today for more information.
How We Use These Letters
At its most basic, an immigration letter is written by a third party to provide context or additional information about you. Typically, we use letters when trying to introduce evidence or information to USCIS that isn’t contained in other official documents. For example, you wouldn’t use a letter solely to establish the day and location of your birth, since an official birth certificate provides that information.
We often use letters for the following reasons:
To Support Your Character
Many immigration benefits are discretionary. The official responsible for your case can choose whether to award the benefit or not. A key consideration is your character. We might use immigration recommendation letters to bolster claims you have a strong moral character. We might ask an employer, friend, neighbor, or religion official to write a letter on your behalf.
To Explain Your Achievements
If you are applying for an extraordinary achievement visa, then a letter can provide expert opinion about your professional career. For example, a writer who is seeking to move to the United States could have academics or other specialists explain the full scope of your career and your reputation. These are essentially opinion letters, but they provide crucial information USCIS probably does not have on its own.
To Provide Context for Criminal Convictions
A criminal conviction can negatively impact your case. We might use letters to help explain:
- Circumstances surrounding the crime. For example, you might not have been a major player in a criminal conspiracy.
- Cooperation with law enforcement. You might have helped law enforcement investigate or prosecute the crime.
- You can use letters to prove that you have been rehabilitated and convince USCIS not to use your criminal history against you.
There are many ways that these letters can help put a criminal conviction in perspective.
Elements of an Effective Letter
Regardless of why we are using the letter, there are certain characteristics a good letter has. For example, it should be well written and easy to read. That could be a challenge if your recommender does not speak English as a first language.
A good letter should also be detailed and avoid generic statements. Detail builds credibility with the reader and convinces them that the recommender really knows you.
A strong letter should avoid legal conclusions or simply repeat legal language. There should be a believable human voice behind the letter.
Call Our Office for Assistance
Letters often make the difference in a wide range of immigration cases, from requests to adjust status to visa applications. A Portsmouth, New Hampshire or Miami, Florida immigration lawyer at The Law Office of Jason M. Sullivan, PLLC can help you find appropriate recommendation letters. Call to schedule a consultation with our office.