If you find yourself in immigration removal proceedings, or if you require supporting evidence of good moral character to advance an application for naturalization, provide evidence of a spousal relationship, or support some other immigration benefit, character reference letters written on your behalf by persons who know you well can provide crucial information to the reviewing officer, immigration judge or government attorney in your case.  Here are basic guidelines for character reference letters written on your behalf.

The following are nine essential elements of such letters.  The blue sentences below are merely sample sentences – obviously, the writer should provide their own facts. 

Beyond these minimum elements, the writer is free to (and should) use their own writing style and sharing of information and facts about you based on their personal knowledge of you.  But the letter should contain at least these elements.  If a particular letter is missing any of these elements, you should request that the writer re-write the letter, including the missing element.  (‘You’ refers to the subject of the letter, i.e., the person in removal proceedings or applying for the immigration benefit and about whom the letter is written – in the below examples, the fictional Anthony Kalabua).

To Whom It May Concern (the proper salutation):