Letters of Support Requirements?

[froglover]

Hi! I'd really appreciate help with this - do proof of relationship letters from family and friends in support of a spousal sponsorship application need to include a signed photocopy of the letter writer's I.D.? Do they need to be notarized? Are there other requirements beyond that the letters be dated, signed, and include the writer's contact info?

My wife saw some references online to requirements of this kind for support letters. I suspect it might be that these are requirements for support letters in a different kind of application and therefore not relevant to us (in cases of common-law marriage maybe?) but I'm having no luck finding definitve information either way about it by reading through guides etc.

 

[DimT44]

Hi! I'd really appreciate help with this - do proof of relationship letters from family and friends in support of a spousal sponsorship application need to include a signed photocopy of the letter writer's I.D.? Do they need to be notarized? Are there other requirements beyond that the letters be dated, signed, and include the writer's contact info?

My wife saw some references online to requirements of this kind for support letters. I suspect it might be that these are requirements for support letters in a different kind of application and therefore not relevant to us (in cases of common-law marriage maybe?) but I'm having no luck finding definitve information either way about it by reading through guides etc.

These letters are not requirements by any means. The required documents are on the checklist, if with these alone you have a strong application then you can skip those letters from family and friends. I believe that providing other proof that your relationship is recognized by family and friends will be better (here are some ideas: pictures together with them, gifts/cards they sent you, or comments from family and friends on social media).

 

[armoured]

If you think they'll help, go ahead.

Signed, dated , contact details (eg email and phone) should be enough.

Don't listen to anyone who says they need to be formal affidavits or notarized unless the content has some formal legal meaning.

 

[froglover]

These letters are not requirements by any means. The required documents are on the checklist, if with these alone you have a strong application then you can skip those letters from family and friends. I believe that providing other proof that your relationship is recognized by family and friends will be better (here are some ideas: pictures together with them, gifts/cards they sent you, or comments from family and friends on social media).

I can immediately see that I worded this badly lol, I only meant to ask whether the things I mentioned were requirements for letters of support - not whether letters of support were required. Sorry for the confusion and thank you regardless!

 

[froglover]

If you think they'll help, go ahead.

Signed, dated , contact details (eg email and phone) should be enough.

Don't listen to anyone who says they need to be formal affidavits or notarized unless the content has some formal legal meaning.

Thank you very much for your help! I appreciate it.