RFE Personal Letter Requirements

[praisejourney 25]

If you are requested to write personal letters relating to an RFE item, does everything in the personal letter have to be verified with supporting documents? For example, if you say "my friends say I am a terrific guy", do you have to supply proof of that? If not, is there a preferred declaration that should be made on it like, "I certify that the personal letter is true to the best of my knowledge?"  Or is a personal letter just that, an informal letter where truth is implied?  Thank you so much!

 

 

Edited December 6, 2019 by praisejourney

[billding 59]

19 minutes ago, praisejourney said:

If you are requested to write personal letters relating to an RFE item, does everything in the personal letter have to be verified with supporting documents? For example, if you say "my friends say I am a terrific guy", do you have to supply proof of that? If not, is there a preferred declaration that should be made on it like, "I certify that the personal letter is true to the best of my knowledge?"  Or is a personal letter just that, an informal letter where truth is implied?  Thank you so much!

 

 

It'd be helpful if you post the rfe letter itself. Personal statements/affidavits are not the best evidence. We'd be able to advise you better if we know what USCIS is asking for exactly.

[geowrian 22,337]

It's hard to say much without knowing what they are actually asking for in the RFE.

 

generally, it is suggested to provide any relevant supporting evidence when available. Affidavits carry very little weight.

With your example, somebody saying you're a terrific guy is not something that is material to the petition. Whether somebody is a proud racist or a distinguished saint does not impact the petition. As such, no supporting evidence of that claim is relevant.

 

If there was another example like the RFE asking for evidence of meeting in person within the past 2 years, a friend providing an affidavit that they met with you and your fiance/fiancee at xyz on x/y/zzzz may have more weight than the above (which would have 0 weight). I would still call the affidavit itself pretty weak, but supporting evidence like hotel receipt(s) at xyz on that date is at least relevant to the claim. I'd still say to focus on the evidence and not a letter/affidavit, though.

[praisejourney 25]

4 hours ago, billding said:

It'd be helpful if you post the rfe letter itself. Personal statements/affidavits are not the best evidence. We'd be able to advise you better if we know what USCIS is asking for exactly.

All the RFE says is, "

• Personal Letters regarding the separation"
• Affidavits from friends and relatives

Thank  you so much for your help.

[praisejourney 25]

4 hours ago, geowrian said:

It's hard to say much without knowing what they are actually asking for in the RFE.

 

generally, it is suggested to provide any relevant supporting evidence when available. Affidavits carry very little weight.

With your example, somebody saying you're a terrific guy is not something that is material to the petition. Whether somebody is a proud racist or a distinguished saint does not impact the petition. As such, no supporting evidence of that claim is relevant.

 

If there was another example like the RFE asking for evidence of meeting in person within the past 2 years, a friend providing an affidavit that they met with you and your fiance/fiancee at xyz on x/y/zzzz may have more weight than the above (which would have 0 weight). I would still call the affidavit itself pretty weak, but supporting evidence like hotel receipt(s) at xyz on that date is at least relevant to the claim. I'd still say to focus on the evidence and not a letter/affidavit, though.

 

All the RFE says is, "

• Personal Letters regarding the separation"
• Affidavits from friends and relatives

Any advice?

[praisejourney 25]

So in regards to the personal letter. Is this just a personal account of what happened?

[NikLR 13,227]

What separation? This is the K1 visa forum and both your timeline and profile suggest this.  

It's much simplier to post the ENTIRE RFE with just your private information redacted. 

[praisejourney 25]

18 minutes ago, NikLR said:

What separation? This is the K1 visa forum and both your timeline and profile suggest this.  

It's much simplier to post the ENTIRE RFE with just your private information redacted. 

They need a personal letter talking about why we separated for a general waiver request for multiple filings.

[carmel34 3,594]

24 minutes ago, praisejourney said:

They need a personal letter talking about why we separated for a general waiver request for multiple filings.

Write a letter explaining what happened, add a sentence at the end of the letter that everything you say is truthful, under penalty of perjury, and sign it.  Get friends and relatives to write letters, ending with the same statement, verifying that your relationship is genuine and that they have first-hand knowledge of it, or first-hand knowledge of your prior separation that seems to be the focus of the waiver you need to move forward.  These signed letters with the statement at the end are affidavits.  Send them exactly what they are asking for as soon as possible.  Good luck!

[praisejourney 25]

2 minutes ago, carmel34 said:

Write a letter explaining what happened, add a sentence at the end of the letter that everything you say is truthful, under penalty of perjury, and sign it.  Get friends and relatives to write letters, ending with the same statement, verifying that your relationship is genuine and that they have first-hand knowledge of it, or first-hand knowledge of your prior separation that seems to be the focus of the waiver you need to move forward.  These signed letters with the statement at the end are affidavits.  Send them exactly what they are asking for as soon as possible.  Good luck!

Thanks Carmel. That is awesome! Is it ok to say, "everything is truthful to the best of my knowledge, under penalty of perjury.

[SalishSea 17,577]

18 hours ago, praisejourney said:

For example, if you say "my friends say I am a terrific guy", do you have to supply proof of that?

"Proof" isn't a word that can be used in this context.  It is a subjective judgement.

[flfreddy 92]

I would get signed affidavits from witnesses or friends.  If ex spouse is cooperative, get leases, or closing of accounts like bank etc to build a case of separation.

[JFH 12,189]

*~*~*procedural question moved from “progress reports” to “process and procedures”*~*~*

[geowrian 22,337]

For the multiple filer waiver, they are pretty much just looking for a letter describing the circumstances. The affidavits and such are all secondary, and supporting evidence isn't a significant factor. The main thing is a description of the past filings, what happened, and actually requesting the waiver.

Best wishes.