Removing conditions on residence

I-751 affidavit sample letter

Last updated 2026-10-01

An I-751 affidavit is a signed statement from someone who personally knows your marriage. The Form I-751 instructions ask for at least two, from people who have known both of you since conditional residence was granted, and each must state the writer’s full name and address, date and place of birth, relationship to you, and exactly how they know about your marriage.

What the I-751 instructions actually require

Third-party affidavits are one of the kinds of evidence listed in the Form I-751 instructions (and in the regulation at 8 CFR 216.4(a)(5)) to show that your marriage was entered in good faith. They are optional supporting evidence, not a required form — but when you include them, the instructions spell out what each one must contain:

• Sworn or affirmed by the writer (see the signing section below).
• From people who have known both of you since your conditional residence was granted and have personal knowledge of your marriage and relationship.
• The writer’s full name and address.
• The writer’s date and place of birth.
• The writer’s relationship to you or your spouse, if any.
• Full information and complete details explaining how the writer acquired their knowledge of your marriage.

The instructions also warn that writers may be asked to testify before an immigration officer about what they wrote, that the original affidavit must be submitted, and that affidavits must be supported by other evidence — joint leases, bank statements, insurance, children’s birth certificates and so on. Affidavits help, but they never replace documents.

Most rejected-looking letters fail on the last point: “how the writer acquired their knowledge.” A letter that says “they are a loving couple” tells the officer nothing. A letter that says “I have had dinner at their apartment on Elm Street most Sundays since 2023” does.

Full I-751 affidavit sample (from a friend)

This sample is written by a friend of the couple. Every name, date and place is fictional — replace all of it with real facts the writer personally knows. Do not copy the story.

Why this sample works

1. The identity block comes first. Name, address, date and place of birth, relationship and contact details are all there, matching the list in the instructions.
2. It explains how the writer knows. Coworker since 2019, met Sofia in 2021, lives two floors above them.
3. It covers the right period. For I-751, officers care about the marriage since conditional residence was granted, so the writer anchors events after May 2024.
4. It is specific and checkable. A move date, an airport trip, a surgery — events that line up with the couple’s other evidence.
5. It separates seen from heard. The writer states that everything is first-hand. If something was only told to them, they should say “Ethan told me…” rather than claim it as their own observation.
6. It does not argue the law. No “they deserve a green card” or “this marriage is bona fide under the regulations.” That is the officer’s job.

How many affidavits, and from whom?

The I-751 instructions mention affidavits from at least two people. In practice, couples commonly submit two to four. A mix tends to read best: one or two friends who see you regularly, plus a relative or neighbor. Choose people who have actually spent time with both of you since your conditional green card was issued — a cousin you have not seen in five years adds little, however much they love you.

Each letter should sound like the person who signs it. Four letters with identical structure and phrasing look coordinated and can hurt more than help. See also our sample written by a parent and sample from a friend for different voices.

Does an I-751 affidavit need to be notarized?

The instructions say affidavits should be “sworn to or affirmed.” There are two common ways to do that. The traditional way is to sign in front of a notary public. The other is an unsworn declaration under 28 U.S.C. § 1746, which lets a statement signed “under penalty of perjury” and dated stand in for a sworn affidavit in federal matters. Many people and attorneys use the § 1746 wording shown in the sample above. If your attorney prefers notarization, or you want to remove any doubt, have the writer sign in front of a notary — it usually costs little or nothing at a bank or shipping store. Our notarization guide walks through both options.

Common mistakes

• Leaving out the date and place of birth or the full address — both are listed in the instructions.
• Describing the couple with adjectives (“devoted,” “perfect,” “inseparable”) instead of events.
• Writing about things the writer could not have seen, like the couple’s finances or private conversations.
• Using the same template for every writer, so all letters share sentences.
• Forgetting to sign and date by hand, or sending only a photo of the signed page when filing on paper (the instructions ask for the original).
• Dates that conflict with your other evidence, such as a move-in date that does not match the lease.

Putting the full I-751 package together? Our I-751 cover letter guide shows how to list affidavits alongside your other evidence.