Creating a Support Letter for Your Friend’s Marriage

Your friends are married and now want to live together without distance. They are preparing to apply for a Green Card but have a challenge to overcome, "bona fide marriage." What does it mean?

"Bona fides" is a Latin word meaning "good faith," It is generally used in a legal context to describe something as being valid. So, for your friends, bona fide marriage implies that in every case where the couple applies for a green card through marriage, they must prove that their marriage is genuine and that they are not using it to bypass immigration law. Sometimes, proving bona fide can be challenging for their pathway to a Green Card, whether preparing documentation or at the interview step. To overcome this challenge, they can prepare some evidence, for example, joint bank statements showing that they have pooled their financial resources, joint accounts, joint insurance policies, photos of their activities together, wedding photos, and birth certificates if they have children together, rental agreements with both their names on them.

In addition to all this, they can also strengthen their case by asking for affidavits from people like you who know them well and know about their marriage, and this means they will need your help. If they fail to prove a bona fide marriage, their application could be denied, and they may face serious consequences, including deportation. So, let's talk about the affidavit you should write to support them.

1. Introduction: How should I start the Affidavit?

We understand that the first sentence is always the hardest. Let's start!

First, take this affidavit letter seriously and ensure it looks professional. Begin by writing your name and address on the upper left-hand side of your paper, followed by your telephone and email address. On the right-hand side, include the date.

Next, state the purpose of your letter and address it to the intended recipient, using "to whom it may concern," "dear madam or sir," or both.

2. Description: Who am I for the couple?

Now, let's start to create a body of your letter, including your affidavit.

First, we need an introductory paragraph.

In this paragraph, start by introducing yourself with your credentials: name, surname, place of birth, date of birth, country of citizenship, country of residence, and occupation.

Then, describe your relationship with the couple. How did you first meet, and how has your relationship evolved? Do you have regular, consistent interactions that provide you with a clear and comprehensive understanding of their family life? Did you attend their wedding ceremony or the other special days such as baby showers or birthday parties? Have you ever planned a holiday or trip together? You can increase the number of these questions; of course, you will answer them clearly and truthfully.

Your meetings with the couple could take place in person, over the phone, or through other means of communication. The objective is to demonstrate the depth of your relationship and the frequency of your contact. This section will determine how close you are to the couple and help the authorities decide how much weight to give to your statements.

3. Explanation: How is the Couple’s Wedding?

At this stage, you must describe the situations you have witnessed to show that the couple's marriage was in good faith. We can vary our examples here depending on whether the couple is both in the USA or one of them is far away.

Let's start with the scenario where the couple is in the USA.

• After marriage, they may have rented or bought a house together and started living together; they may have started to make savings together in the bank.
• They may attend mosques, churches, places of worship, synagogues, foundations, and associations or take courses together as a couple, and you may see them there.
• They may tell their friends about their marriage and introduce their spouses; they may meet their friends together.
• They may have a child, want to have a child, seek treatment, in vitro fertilization, etc.

And let's go on the scenario where one of them is far away:

• They can meet often, plan vacations and trips to visit each other,
• Both of them can meet the other's family and friends and inform them about the marriage
• To come together, they can take steps

These examples can be adapted for each unique case, as each application is as unique as the couple it represents. The critical point here is that the couple's actions are crucial in proving the authenticity of their marriage

4. Conclusion: Finishing Your Letter

It is essential to end the letter with a nice and polite conclusion. For example:

"I understand the significance of the bona fide of the marriage for the application, and I have written this affidavit to support their application. I have endeavored to explain this as clearly as possible. Please understand my effort and consider my statement to support the application.

Sincerely."

The letter doesn't have to be approved by a notary, but it's important to include a written statement that confirms “I swear, under penalty of perjury, that the foregoing is true and correct to the best of my knowledge.”

Finally, write your name at the bottom of the letter and sign your name above it with a pen.

5. Support

You have finally created and finalized your supporting letter, including your affidavit. Now, you need to support it with documents.

First of all, attach your government-issued photo ID, such as a driver's license or a passport, that is still valid.

Then, you can attach photographs of you and the couple related to the events you mentioned. Organizing these documents in a logical order, such as chronological or by event, is advisable to make it easier for the reader to follow your narrative.

The key point is that the events you describe must be real. A single verifiable event can confirm the bona of the marriage, while unverifiable events can seriously harm the application.

6. Need Further Assistance?

Immigration processes are intricate and time-consuming, but you are not alone in this journey. Each individual's case is unique, and we are here to provide the guidance and support you need. For additional help, feel free to contact us. We are committed to helping you navigate this process with confidence and ease.