A character reference letter is a written statement from someone who knows you personally and can speak to your good moral character, family relationships, community involvement, and positive qualities. These letters help immigration judges understand who you are beyond the legal documents.
Why Are They Important?
Character letters can demonstrate that you are not a flight risk and have strong community ties, potentially leading to lower bond amounts or release.
Letters can corroborate your story and demonstrate your credibility and good character to the immigration judge.
Strong character letters showing your positive impact on family and community can be crucial for demonstrating exceptional hardship.
When judges have discretion, character letters help paint a complete picture of who you are and why you deserve relief.
Who Should Write a Letter?
The best character reference letters come from people who know you well and can provide specific examples of your character:
How It Works — 3 Simple Steps
No account needed. Anyone can write and submit a letter directly on our website.
Our guided form asks you 6 easy questions about the person — their character, family, community involvement, and why they should stay. Just answer in your own words.
Your answers are automatically assembled into a professional character reference letter. You can preview it before submitting to make sure it looks right.
Draw your signature on screen, and your letter is submitted directly to our legal team. A PDF copy is generated for the court file.
- Be specific — Include real examples and stories, not just general praise
- Be honest — Only include truthful information; the letter is signed under penalty of perjury
- Be personal — Explain your relationship and how you met the person
- Be detailed — Describe how long you've known them and how often you see them
- Be relevant — Focus on character traits important to the case (family, community, work ethic)
- Answer at least 3 of the 6 questions — The more you answer, the stronger the letter