Letter From Parents

[JAPrincess 27]

I was reading somewhere that it can be helpful to have a letter from your family members supporting and acknowledging your relationship.

Is there perhaps a sample letter for this? If not, what specific information should such a letter include?

Thanks in advance for any information or ideas.

[scandal 951]

I was reading somewhere that it can be helpful to have a letter from your family members supporting and acknowledging your relationship.

Is there perhaps a sample letter for this? If not, what specific information should such a letter include?

Thanks in advance for any information or ideas.

You were reading "somewhere". Where? On this site? I've never seen such a thing.

Then again, perhaps it could be helpful if we knew what you wanted to achieve.

You don't indicate what visa you are trying to get, or if you are adjusting status or removing conditions, or what???

You have no timeline. You don't indicate anything about yourself or your goals, only a very vague question.

Assuming that what you want is to demonstrate proof of bona fide relationship in the quest for a relationship based visa petition or AOS, then I've never heard of an outsider's letter (parent, boss, teacher, priest, whatever) as being relevant. I don't think it can hurt, but that's about all that can be said.

Rather than waste time on that, read the Guides, and follow the instructions therein.

[TruLuv 0]

I was reading somewhere that it can be helpful to have a letter from your family members supporting and acknowledging your relationship.

Is there perhaps a sample letter for this? If not, what specific information should such a letter include?

Thanks in advance for any information or ideas.

I had both my parents write a letter of intent as well. My friend who is also an immigration attorney thought it would be a good idea because of 2 reasons. 1st I have known my fiance for less than 1 year and 2nd because we have no idea when we will receive the visa we don't have any concrete wedding plans yet. The letters were very simple. They stated their knowledge of our future marriage. We had them notarized as well. I would say to go ahead and do it because it wouldn't hurt.

Good luck.

[JAPrincess 27]

I was reading somewhere that it can be helpful to have a letter from your family members supporting and acknowledging your relationship.

Is there perhaps a sample letter for this? If not, what specific information should such a letter include?

Thanks in advance for any information or ideas.

You were reading "somewhere". Where? On this site? I've never seen such a thing.

Then again, perhaps it could be helpful if we knew what you wanted to achieve.

You don't indicate what visa you are trying to get, or if you are adjusting status or removing conditions, or what???

You have no timeline. You don't indicate anything about yourself or your goals, only a very vague question.

Assuming that what you want is to demonstrate proof of bona fide relationship in the quest for a relationship based visa petition or AOS, then I've never heard of an outsider's letter (parent, boss, teacher, priest, whatever) as being relevant. I don't think it can hurt, but that's about all that can be said.

Rather than waste time on that, read the Guides, and follow the instructions therein.

alrighty then

I am filing for a K1 Visa, I thought I was posting under the K1 Visa area?

I have read the guides throughly. I am in the process of completing the I-129F.

I have no timeline because I have not filed yet.

I have seen on a few sites that a letter from a relative could be helpful... here is one of them: http://www.***removed***/visas/kvisa/fiance...a-petition.html

It does not give an example letter or any information on what the letter should include, so I thought I would ask the helpful people of VJ

I understand it is not necessary, however I believe it could be helpful.

[JAPrincess 27]

I was reading somewhere that it can be helpful to have a letter from your family members supporting and acknowledging your relationship.

Is there perhaps a sample letter for this? If not, what specific information should such a letter include?

Thanks in advance for any information or ideas.

I had both my parents write a letter of intent as well. My friend who is also an immigration attorney thought it would be a good idea because of 2 reasons. 1st I have known my fiance for less than 1 year and 2nd because we have no idea when we will receive the visa we don't have any concrete wedding plans yet. The letters were very simple. They stated their knowledge of our future marriage. We had them notarized as well. I would say to go ahead and do it because it wouldn't hurt.

Good luck.

Thanks Funke

[mr and mrs 187]

I was reading somewhere that it can be helpful to have a letter from your family members supporting and acknowledging your relationship.

Is there perhaps a sample letter for this? If not, what specific information should such a letter include?

Thanks in advance for any information or ideas.

You were reading "somewhere". Where? On this site? I've never seen such a thing.

Then again, perhaps it could be helpful if we knew what you wanted to achieve.

You don't indicate what visa you are trying to get, or if you are adjusting status or removing conditions, or what???

You have no timeline. You don't indicate anything about yourself or your goals, only a very vague question.

Assuming that what you want is to demonstrate proof of bona fide relationship in the quest for a relationship based visa petition or AOS, then I've never heard of an outsider's letter (parent, boss, teacher, priest, whatever) as being relevant. I don't think it can hurt, but that's about all that can be said.

Rather than waste time on that, read the Guides, and follow the instructions therein.

alrighty then

I am filing for a K1 Visa, I thought I was posting under the K1 Visa area?

I have read the guides throughly. I am in the process of completing the I-129F.

I have no timeline because I have not filed yet.

I have seen on a few sites that a letter from a relative could be helpful... here is one of them: http://www.***removed***/visas/kvisa/fiance...a-petition.html

It does not give an example letter or any information on what the letter should include, so I thought I would ask the helpful people of VJ

I understand it is not necessary, however I believe it could be helpful.

OHH! snap! : D

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

I was reading somewhere that it can be helpful to have a letter from your family members supporting and acknowledging your relationship.

Is there perhaps a sample letter for this? If not, what specific information should such a letter include?

Thanks in advance for any information or ideas.

Any sort of evidence is not a bad thing, I suppose. I never heard of this for a K-1 interview. Why not? Since it is not required, it can say whatever you want it to say.

[scandal 951]

I was reading somewhere that it can be helpful to have a letter from your family members supporting and acknowledging your relationship.

Is there perhaps a sample letter for this? If not, what specific information should such a letter include?

Thanks in advance for any information or ideas.

You were reading "somewhere". Where? On this site? I've never seen such a thing.

Then again, perhaps it could be helpful if we knew what you wanted to achieve.

You don't indicate what visa you are trying to get, or if you are adjusting status or removing conditions, or what???

You have no timeline. You don't indicate anything about yourself or your goals, only a very vague question.

Assuming that what you want is to demonstrate proof of bona fide relationship in the quest for a relationship based visa petition or AOS, then I've never heard of an outsider's letter (parent, boss, teacher, priest, whatever) as being relevant. I don't think it can hurt, but that's about all that can be said.

Rather than waste time on that, read the Guides, and follow the instructions therein.

alrighty then

I am filing for a K1 Visa, I thought I was posting under the K1 Visa area?

I have read the guides throughly. I am in the process of completing the I-129F.

I have no timeline because I have not filed yet.

I have seen on a few sites that a letter from a relative could be helpful... here is one of them: http://www.***removed***/visas/kvisa/fiance...a-petition.html

It does not give an example letter or any information on what the letter should include, so I thought I would ask the helpful people of VJ

I understand it is not necessary, however I believe it could be helpful.

Ok, fair enough. When I'm looking at a post I generally expect it to be self-contained with all the information needed to reply in the body. If not, I glance to the left at the hints in the poster's info section.

From the website you reference, you can see that they consider the "letters from parents/priest" to be pretty much an afterthought, well down below the vital (imho) items such as passport stamps, photos, boarding passes, etc. that establish that you have met.

The burden of proof you are trying to establish is that you have MET your fiance, in person, within the last two years. No more - no less.

You are not trying to prove that you are in love, that you have common interests, that others think highly of you. None of those things are bad. In fact, all are consistent with your intention to marry your fiance. But that's not the standard you are aiming for.

Good luck!

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

I was reading somewhere that it can be helpful to have a letter from your family members supporting and acknowledging your relationship.

Is there perhaps a sample letter for this? If not, what specific information should such a letter include?

Thanks in advance for any information or ideas.

You were reading "somewhere". Where? On this site? I've never seen such a thing.

Then again, perhaps it could be helpful if we knew what you wanted to achieve.

You don't indicate what visa you are trying to get, or if you are adjusting status or removing conditions, or what???

You have no timeline. You don't indicate anything about yourself or your goals, only a very vague question.

Assuming that what you want is to demonstrate proof of bona fide relationship in the quest for a relationship based visa petition or AOS, then I've never heard of an outsider's letter (parent, boss, teacher, priest, whatever) as being relevant. I don't think it can hurt, but that's about all that can be said.

Rather than waste time on that, read the Guides, and follow the instructions therein.

alrighty then

I am filing for a K1 Visa, I thought I was posting under the K1 Visa area?

I have read the guides throughly. I am in the process of completing the I-129F.

I have no timeline because I have not filed yet.

I have seen on a few sites that a letter from a relative could be helpful... here is one of them: http://www.***removed***/visas/kvisa/fiance...a-petition.html

It does not give an example letter or any information on what the letter should include, so I thought I would ask the helpful people of VJ

I understand it is not necessary, however I believe it could be helpful.

At the interview they will want to see "evidence of ongoing relationship of a type that leads to marriage". Letters from parents and family are not "evidence". Phone records, letters, emails, travel documents are "evidence" Letters from family will generally be disregarded unless they are supported by other evidence, in which case they are not needed. But, they are free and easy to do, so why not? I hope you are keeping copies of other evidence your realtionship generates, that is what you will really need.

[JAPrincess 27]

I was reading somewhere that it can be helpful to have a letter from your family members supporting and acknowledging your relationship.

Is there perhaps a sample letter for this? If not, what specific information should such a letter include?

Thanks in advance for any information or ideas.

You were reading "somewhere". Where? On this site? I've never seen such a thing.

Then again, perhaps it could be helpful if we knew what you wanted to achieve.

You don't indicate what visa you are trying to get, or if you are adjusting status or removing conditions, or what???

You have no timeline. You don't indicate anything about yourself or your goals, only a very vague question.

Assuming that what you want is to demonstrate proof of bona fide relationship in the quest for a relationship based visa petition or AOS, then I've never heard of an outsider's letter (parent, boss, teacher, priest, whatever) as being relevant. I don't think it can hurt, but that's about all that can be said.

Rather than waste time on that, read the Guides, and follow the instructions therein.

alrighty then

I am filing for a K1 Visa, I thought I was posting under the K1 Visa area?

I have read the guides throughly. I am in the process of completing the I-129F.

I have no timeline because I have not filed yet.

I have seen on a few sites that a letter from a relative could be helpful... here is one of them: http://www.***removed***/visas/kvisa/fiance...a-petition.html

It does not give an example letter or any information on what the letter should include, so I thought I would ask the helpful people of VJ

I understand it is not necessary, however I believe it could be helpful.

At the interview they will want to see "evidence of ongoing relationship of a type that leads to marriage". Letters from parents and family are not "evidence". Phone records, letters, emails, travel documents are "evidence" Letters from family will generally be disregarded unless they are supported by other evidence, in which case they are not needed. But, they are free and easy to do, so why not? I hope you are keeping copies of other evidence your realtionship generates, that is what you will really need.

yes I have a stack of evidence, and I am about to go make some more in 6 days!

Thanks Gary and Alla

[TBoneTX 43,519]

You were reading "somewhere". Where? On this site? I've never seen such a thing.

Search my posts, several of which mention the advisability of procuring these letters.

I've never heard of an outsider's letter (parent, boss, teacher, priest, whatever) as being relevant. [...] Rather than waste time on that [...]

OP, your question is excellent. The responses in this thread so far are uninformed or, at best, rather weak.

The name partner of the largest immigration-law firm in Houston -- along with a different immigration attorney who had years of consular service -- stated to me (upon my question) that letters from others are "an excellent idea." I wish to high heaven that I had included some in my K-1 filing, because it could have averted serious trouble at interview time.

The U.S. petitioner can collect several letters (more than a few, less than a lot) from his or her own people: parents, relatives, friends, employers, or anyone with credibility. The writers should state, in their own words, who they are (briefly), how they know you (briefly), verification that your relationship is valid (in detail), and complete contact information for themselves. The writers should have no guidance or bedbug language from you except a reminder of when you and your SO began your relationship, and the correct spelling of your SO's name. The letters should ideally be hard copies with signatures, or at least e-mails (optimally with digital signatures, but this isn't always possible), and not exceed one typed page. They need not be notarized, but don't stop anyone who wants to. If the writer has some credibility (military or ex-military, current or retired corporate executive, etc.), so much the better.

The foreign fiance(e) should have absolutely no more than two or three letters from his or her people. These letters should be in formal language, stating the above information but very factually ("I interacted with this couple [saw them together] on [dates] in [these situations]. Their relationship is genuine."). Nothing flowery. If possible, get a stamp or seal from the equivalent of a notary in the foreign country.

The reason for the restrictions on the number of letters from the foreign side, and on the language therein, is because too many or too "much" can raise a red flag in the mind of the consular officer at interview time -- that there is some ulterior motive behind the enthusiasm of the foreigner's family.

Whether USCIS "needs" such information beyond the primary evidence is completely beside the point. Every K-1 filer needs to keep it foremost in mind that the consular stage -- the interview -- is the primary hurdle to be faced. Consulates can refuse to accept evidence brought to an interview, and then accuse you of not having sufficient evidence. Conversely, if the information is in the package that the consulate receives from USCIS, the consulate cannot deny its existence.

If stumbles occur at the consular stage, it can -- at BEST -- take months and considerable financial/emotional expense to overcome... or, your dreams of being together in the U.S. could be over permanently. Please consider this before accepting dismissive responses from other posters.

Edited April 13, 2009 by TBoneTX

[Michael and Joyce 0]

I was reading somewhere that it can be helpful to have a letter from your family members supporting and acknowledging your relationship.

Is there perhaps a sample letter for this? If not, what specific information should such a letter include?

Thanks in advance for any information or ideas.

You were reading "somewhere". Where? On this site? I've never seen such a thing.

Then again, perhaps it could be helpful if we knew what you wanted to achieve.

You don't indicate what visa you are trying to get, or if you are adjusting status or removing conditions, or what???

You have no timeline. You don't indicate anything about yourself or your goals, only a very vague question.

Assuming that what you want is to demonstrate proof of bona fide relationship in the quest for a relationship based visa petition or AOS, then I've never heard of an outsider's letter (parent, boss, teacher, priest, whatever) as being relevant. I don't think it can hurt, but that's about all that can be said.

Rather than waste time on that, read the Guides, and follow the instructions therein.

alrighty then

I am filing for a K1 Visa, I thought I was posting under the K1 Visa area?

I have read the guides throughly. I am in the process of completing the I-129F.

I have no timeline because I have not filed yet.

I have seen on a few sites that a letter from a relative could be helpful... here is one of them: http://www.***removed***/visas/kvisa/fiance...a-petition.html

It does not give an example letter or any information on what the letter should include, so I thought I would ask the helpful people of VJ

I understand it is not necessary, however I believe it could be helpful.

Yes, it may not be necessary but can be very helpful. This might be a possible proof of ongoing relationship. It doesnt hurt to exert a little effort. Good luck!

[IrieCat 2]

My husband included a couple e-mails my mother and aunt had written to him. They had been to St Lucia to visit him when I was living there. The e-mails did come in handy... when he went for the interview they asked if I had met his family and vice versa... he had the e-mails from my family saying how they were looking forward to seeing him here in the US and were excited about him being part of the family.

The interviewer was happy that we had met each other's family....

Good luck to you... and have fun in Jamaica!! Lucky you!

....Irie

[Donald-n-Analyn 6]

Just for clarification:

The site that you saw this on, and quoted,

http://www.***removed***/visas/kvisa/fiance...a-petition.html

lists the letters from others in the OR section for your evidence of having met in person. If you have met in person, you need to show proof of such. If you have not met in person, and are asking for a waiver of that condition based on cultural or hardship issues, then it lists the letters from parents as possible contributory evidence.

I am assuming that you have met in person. If so, send plenty of proof to USCIS that you have met in person in the past 2 years.

Excellent proof would be your passport stamps showing that you were in the same country at the same time. A few photographs together, labeled as to the date, place, and who is in the picture. Copies of any receipts or boarding passes that you may have, that can help prove that you were both in the same plane, hotel, resort, etc.

I agree that letters from your parents MAY help at the interview, to prove that you have a genuine relationship, but the USCIS is really only interested in you meeting their requirements as to having met, and your intent to marry. The "genuine ongoing relationship" issues will be addressed during the embassy interview.

Good Luck!

Alrighty then

I am filing for a K1 Visa, I thought I was posting under the K1 Visa area?

I have read the guides throughly. I am in the process of completing the I-129F.

I have no timeline because I have not filed yet.

I have seen on a few sites that a letter from a relative could be helpful... here is one of them: http://www.***removed***/visas/kvisa/fiance...a-petition.html

It does not give an example letter or any information on what the letter should include, so I thought I would ask the helpful people of VJ

I understand it is not necessary, however I believe it could be helpful.

[NatPatBen 3]

I was reading somewhere that it can be helpful to have a letter from your family members supporting and acknowledging your relationship.

Is there perhaps a sample letter for this? If not, what specific information should such a letter include?

Thanks in advance for any information or ideas.

I had both my parents write a letter of intent as well. My friend who is also an immigration attorney thought it would be a good idea because of 2 reasons. 1st I have known my fiance for less than 1 year and 2nd because we have no idea when we will receive the visa we don't have any concrete wedding plans yet. The letters were very simple. They stated their knowledge of our future marriage. We had them notarized as well. I would say to go ahead and do it because it wouldn't hurt.

Good luck.

An immigration attorney recommended this to someone I know, so I had a friend and a family member write letters indicating that they have witnessed our relationship. In retrospect, I'd have saved them for the interview instead of sending them with the I-129F...