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i-751 questions - letters of support


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1 - I was under the impression that these letters just needed to be signed and notarized, but one of my friends who is writing one brought it to my attention that it says, "Affidavits sworn to or affirmed by..." which is apparently a different thing entirely, requiring different language in the letter itself and swearing to God with one hand on the bible... My mother is a Notary, and she said there is a difference between a notarized signature and a notarized sworn affidavit.

I already have two notarized letters? Can anyone tell me if I need to have them redo the letters as sworn affidavits instead??




2 - I notice that the intructions call for "The original affidavit must be submitted..." so I assume this is one of those exceptions where the want the originals over copies..??


Thanks in advance for your help!

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1) In our case we simply had two friends write letters stating knowing us as a married couple for some time, and they got them notarized. Nothing complex.

 

One of the persons making a statement is a Notary, he had to go to another notary to get his statement notarized..

 

Used these as templates:

 

http://www.visajourney.com/examples/USCIS_I751_Affidavit.doc

http://www.visajourney.com/examples/I-751_support.doc

 

2) Yep, make a copy of it before sending the original to USCIS.

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1) In our case we simply had two friends write letters stating knowing us as a married couple for some time, and they got them notarized. Nothing complex.

 

One of the persons making a statement is a Notary, he had to go to another notary to get his statement notarized..

 

Used these as templates:

 

http://www.visajourney.com/examples/USCIS_I751_Affidavit.doc

http://www.visajourney.com/examples/I-751_support.doc

 

 

That is my concern. You template uses the language:

 

"AFFIDAVIT OF BUDDY O¡¯MINE

BEFORE ME, the undersigned authority, personally appeared BUDDY O¡¯MINE who, after being first duly sworn and cautioned upon his oath, deposes and states:

 

[Letter of testimony here]

 

FURTHER AFFIANT SAYETH NAUGHT _________________________________________

BUDDY O¡¯MINE

STATE OF _____________ )

) ss.:

COUNTY OF ____________ )

 

Sworn to and subscribed before me this _____ day of _________, 2007, by BUDDY O¡¯MINE, who personally appeared before me, is personally known to me or produced _____________________________ as identification, and did take an oath.

 

 

The two ltters I have do not have this language. They are just letters written saying they know me and my wife, how long, how well, that we are a real and happy couple. And they included their contact info, DOB and current address.

 

Do I need to have them redone?

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Not nessasary to redo, our two letters did not have all that formal wording, they were simple letters, that were signed in-front of a notary.

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Ours were not that formal either. It was simply a letter that was notarized at the bank for free (a US bank). The Beijing embassy took them when I filed out I-130 petition. There were no problems.

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Hard to beleive you are at the stage of removing conditions.

 

Your's should be a slam dunk, showing that you have a passionate Tai-Chi business together, from what I see this common interest is THE glue in your relationship.

 

You ever hook up with Kyle who posted in this thread? You both are practically neighbors.

Edited by dnoblett (see edit history)
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The letters are just one of the options you can use for evidence. They need not be notarized. My wife and I simply had two other couples that know us write a letter saying they know us and our relationship is real. The evidence can be anything that shows a continuing relationship. Bank statements from the beginning of the relationship to present, post marked envelopes showing you both still live at the same address, credit card statements, etc etc etc.

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Carl, yes it is just one piece of the picture, however as per I-751 directions it is recommended that they be Sworn Affidavits.

 

http://i949.photobucket.com/albums/ad334/dnoblett/Immigration%20Stuff/I-751SwornAffidavits.jpg

 

Came up last week:

 

http://candleforlove.com/forums/index.php?/topic/43463-i-751-form/page__view__findpost__p__576348

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It doesn't say anywhere that it needs to be notarized. A signature with name and date and birth date etc should be good enough.

 

Here is my take on this, I-751 statement clearly says Sworn Affidavit.

 

Here is what I find on line with regard to "Sworn Affidavits"

 

An affidavit is a formal sworn statement of fact, signed by the author, who is called the affiant or deponent, and witnessed as to the authenticity of the affiant's signature by a taker of oaths, such as a notary public or commissioner of oaths.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Affidavit

 

http://rfptemplates.technologyevaluation.com/free-sample-affidavit-form.html

 

I-751 says Sworn Affidavit, it does not say Sworn Declaration.

 

A sworn declaration (also called a sworn statement or a statement under penalty of perjury) is a document that recites facts pertinent to a legal proceeding. It is very similar to an affidavit, but unlike an affidavit, it is not witnessed and sealed by an official such as a notary public. Instead, the person making the declaration signs a separate endorsement paragraph at the end of the document, stating that the declaration is made under penalty of perjury.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sworn_declaration
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Perhaps Dan but I have never once heard of one being rejected for lack of notary or signed by a commissioner of oaths. As I said before it is just one of several options for showing ongoing relationship and IMO not all that strong of one.

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Excellent. Thanks everyone! I think my current letter will be fine. They cover the needed info about knowing us, etc. and they are both signed AND notarized. So based upon what I'm hearing from all your experiences, they will work fine.

 

Here's what we're sending as proof:

 

• Copy of our certified marriage license.

• Copy of the permanent resident card (front and back) for my wife

• Two original letters written by U.S. citizen friends, attesting to our relationship and marriage (signed AND notarized).

• Copies of two banks statements for 2010 and 2011, which we received from our joint account at our first bank.

• Copies of two banks statements for 2010 and 2011, which we received from our joint account at our second bank.

• Copy of a Balance Statement we received from our jointly held Certificate of Deposit at our second bank.

• Copy of the Articles of Organization from the State of Kansas for the Limited Liability Company we own together.

• Copy of the Operating Agreement from the Limited Liability Company we own together, showing we are both Owning Partners of the business.

• Copies of our 2009 and 2010 joint US tax returns transcripts.

• Copy of Simple IRA paperwork showing my wife as beneficiary.

• Copy of photos of us together and with friends and family since our marriage (7 pages, two photos per page).

• Copy of an article written about us and our relationship in the local Kansas City Star newspaper.

 

 

I think that should be good..... don't you?

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