Scanned letter of support? Or do we need an original?

[Tee and Megan 10]

Hello again;

So, I know letters from friends aren't great proof of a relationship or an on-going relationship; but our friends are willing to write them, and I figure they must be better than no proof, right?

Here is my question: Some of our friends are in faraway places like Hong Kong (one letter excellent letter we expect to receive is from the President of the Seminary in HK where we met). Thus it takes a very long time for an original copy of a letter to arrive.

If they print, sign and scan a copy to me, is that okay?? (sorry, I know this is a REALLY elementary question, but I couldn't find it answered in other conversations)

Thanks everyone!

[Boggy1974 124]

Are you talking about a sworn affidavit(s) from friends acknowledging your relationship? If that's the case, then have them notarize the affidavit.

A scanned copy will do just fine. Besides, you submit copies only at the petition stage with uscis anyway. But just to reiterate the point; affidavits from friends & family are secondary evidence and also carry little weight.

Hello again;

So, I know letters from friends aren't great proof of a relationship or an on-going relationship; but our friends are willing to write them, and I figure they must be better than no proof, right?

Here is my question: Some of our friends are in faraway places like Hong Kong (one letter excellent letter we expect to receive is from the President of the Seminary in HK where we met). Thus it takes a very long time for an original copy of a letter to arrive.

If they print, sign and scan a copy to me, is that okay?? (sorry, I know this is a REALLY elementary question, but I couldn't find it answered in other conversations)

Thanks everyone!

[Tee and Megan 10]

Oh dear! They need to be notarized? I told most of our friends just to send them to me. Also, I am not sure our friends from Cambodia have that kind of ability.

[EndlessStory 53]

We didn't get mine notarized and we are approved with no RFE. I think you should be ok without getting them notarized since it's not primary evidence

[JRF 117]

These do not carry much weight - I decided the cost and effort was not worth the trouble - but like you I had letters and people offering to provide them. I wanted to get all the evidence I could possibly muster.

As long as you can document visits with passport stamps, boarding passes, pictures, etc. these letters are of relatively little use. If you think about it, why would the USG place much weight on a statement from a non-official person, especially if they are not a US citizen?

I've seen people say notarizing is necessary, and others say it is not. I am sure someone in Cambodia could notarize, all it would likely take is paying a fee and applying a stamp. But you'd need to translate it...

Lot of trouble...but your call. Best of luck!

[Tee and Megan 10]

I know as an adult I should understand what notarization is, but I am still a bit foggy about it

Can anyone explain how the process works? Does the party that wrote it need to be present? Or could I vouch for them?

I think, in light of how many letters we may receive and at the risk of asking people in Cambodia and HK who don't have much money to begin with paying a notarization fee, I may need to forgo this, but we'll see. (thanks for the advice everyone!)