Question: Should I write a letter for my marriage green card application?

Answer: Yes, you should write a letter in support of your marriage green card application. To prove that your marriage is bona fide, you should provide as much evidence to USCIS as possible demonstrating that you and your spouse have a genuine marital relationship. An effective way to do this is by providing a letter along with your marriage green card application. 

Issues to Address in a Marriage Green Card Application Letter

Submitting a letter along with your marriage green card application gives you an opportunity to tell your story to United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). It gives the USCIS officer who reviews your application an opportunity to learn more about you than the basic information that appears on your application forms. In other words, it adds a personal touch to your application. As a rule, you should write this letter yourself and avoid using a template. Your letter should answer questions that a USCIS officer will ask you during your interview, including: 

• How and when did you first meet?
• How did you get to know each other?
• When did you decide to get married?
• Who proposed to whom? 
• Where and how did the proposal occur? 
• What kind of marriage ceremony did you have?
• Who attended your marriage ceremony?
• Do you live together? If so, which one of you moved in with the other?  
• Have you met each other’s friends? If so, describe who, when, and where. 
• Have you met each other’s family members? If so, describe who, when, and where.
• What activities have you participated in together?
• Have you taken any trips together?
• What are your future plans?

Why is it important to write a letter with your marriage green card application?

When processing marriage green card applications, one of the primary objectives of the USCIS is to determine which applications are genuine and which are fraudulent. In other words, when you apply for a marriage green card, you are “guilty until proven innocent.” As a marriage green card applicant, you have the burden of proving that you are entering into a bona fide marriage. A bona fide marriage is a marriage in which the two people entering the marriage intend to establish a life together as spouses—not a marriage entered for the primary purpose of obtaining a green card. To ensure your application process goes smoothly, you should provide as much evidence as you can of the bona fides of your marital relationship, including a letter from you and your spouse.