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How to Write a Parole in Place (PIP) Personal Statement

Learn how to structure and write a compelling personal statement for your pip application, in this guide.

• Parole in Place (PIP) Personal Statement
• Benefits of a Parole in Place Personal Statement
• Personal Statement Structure
• Sample Parole in Place Personal Statement
• Related Information

Important Update:

A federal judge has temporarily halted the Parole in Place (PIP) program for undocumented spouses and stepchildren of U.S. citizens. You can still apply for PIP but the government cannot approve applications during this time. It’s a good idea to still get your application in sooner rather than later.

When applying for Parole in Place (PIP) using Form I-131F , you will need to submit a personal statement explaining why you are applying. A well-crafted personal statement highlights the personal and compelling reasons for your request. Below is a step-by-step guide on how to write a winning personal statement for PIP.

Your personal statement must be a minimum of 750 words and must not exceed 2000 words.

Boundless can help you adjust your status after your Parole in Place is approved.

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A personal statement for Parole in Place (PIP) has several benefits, including:

• Explains unique circumstances and reasons for PIP.
• Summarizes crucial points of the application.
• Draws attention to supporting documents.
• Explains the relationship between the applicant and the military member or U.S. citizen spouse or stepparent.
• Outlines hardships faced if the applicant were deported.

Your personal statement is an opportunity to explain your situation. Here’s a template to help you structure it:

• Your name and relationship to your U.S. citizen spouse or stepparent
• Brief statement of why you’re applying for PIP
• When and how you came to the U.S.
• Your ties to the community (work, volunteer activities, etc.)
• Information about your spouse or stepparent and any children
• How your family would be affected if you had to leave the U.S.
• Your work history
• Any community service or volunteer work
• Your goals and aspirations in the U.S.
• Restate your request for PIP
• Thank the reader for their consideration

You will submit your personal statement online as part of your PIP application. Below is what the section looks like where you will copy and paste your personal statement:

Start preparing now with Boundless’ comprehensive parole-in-place workbook, then continue your journey with us to a marriage green card.  Get started now.

Below you will find a sample personal statement written as the undocumented spouse of a U.S. citizen, followed by a sample personal statement written as the undocumented stepchild of a U.S. citizen.

Personal Statement: Undocumented Spouse

I, [Your Full Name], am writing this personal statement to request Parole in Place (PIP) as the undocumented spouse of a U.S. citizen, [Spouse’s Full Name]. I understand the significance of this process, and I respectfully submit this statement to explain my situation, my relationship with my spouse, and the reasons why I believe Parole in Place is essential for my family.

I was born in [Country of Birth] on [Date of Birth]. I entered the United States on [Date of Entry], and have been residing here continuously since then. My decision to remain in the United States was driven by a desire for a better life, and the opportunity to create a stable and supportive environment for myself and my future family. Unfortunately, due to the circumstances of my entry, I find myself in an undocumented status. However, since arriving in the United States, I have committed myself to building a lawful and productive life.

My Relationship with My U.S. Citizen Spouse

I met my spouse, [Spouse’s Full Name], in [Year You Met], and we quickly developed a deep and loving relationship. [Spouse’s Full Name] is a U.S. citizen, born in [City and State of Birth]. We were married on [Date of Marriage] in [Location of Marriage]. Our marriage is based on genuine love, respect, and shared values. We have built a life together that we cherish and have made plans for our future as a family.

Family and Community Ties

Our marriage has also strengthened our ties to the community. We are actively involved in [Describe Any Community Involvement, Such as Church, Volunteer Work, etc.]. We have developed close relationships with our neighbors, friends, and family members, all of whom have been supportive of our marriage and our desire to remain together in the United States.

My spouse and I have made long-term plans to start a family, build a home, and contribute to our community. We dream of raising our children in a safe and nurturing environment, surrounded by the love and support of our friends and family. These dreams can only be realized if I am granted Parole in Place, allowing me to remain in the United States with my spouse.

My Contribution to Society

Since arriving in the United States, I have made every effort to contribute positively to society. I have [Describe Any Work Experience, Education, or Volunteer Activities]. My goal has always been to give back to the community that has welcomed me and to build a future for myself and my family that we can all be proud of.

I am committed to upholding the values of hard work, integrity, and respect for the law. I understand the importance of following the legal process, and I am fully prepared to comply with all the requirements necessary to obtain Parole in Place and eventually adjust my status to that of a lawful permanent resident.

Hardship and Consequences of Denial

The denial of my Parole in Place request would have devastating consequences for my family. My spouse and I are deeply in love, and the thought of being separated is unbearable. If I were forced to leave the United States, my spouse would suffer emotionally, financially, and psychologically. Our plans for the future would be shattered, and we would be left with the difficult choice of living apart or uprooting our lives to live in another country where my spouse has no ties or connections.

Furthermore, my departure would cause extreme hardship to my spouse, who relies on me for emotional support and companionship. We have built a life together, and separating us would disrupt the stability and security we have worked so hard to achieve. My spouse’s health and well-being would be at risk, and the emotional toll of such a separation would be severe.

Reasons for Parole in Place

I respectfully request Parole in Place because it is the only way to preserve our family unity and protect the well-being of my spouse. My spouse and I are committed to each other and to building a future together in the United States. Granting me Parole in Place would allow us to continue our lives together, contribute to society, and eventually pursue lawful permanent residency.

My request is made with a sincere desire to comply with the law and to demonstrate my commitment to this country. I understand the seriousness of my situation, and I assure you that I will make every effort to fulfill the requirements and responsibilities associated with Parole in Place.

In conclusion, I ask that you please consider my request for Parole in Place with compassion and understanding. My spouse and I are devoted to each other and to building a life together in the United States. We have faced many challenges, but our love and commitment have remained strong. Granting me Parole in Place would allow us to continue our journey together, without fear of separation or hardship.

Thank you for your time and consideration. I sincerely hope that you will grant my request and allow me to remain in the United States with my spouse.

Sincerely, [Your Full Name]

Personal Statement: Undocumented Stepchild

I, [Your Full Name], am writing this personal statement to request Parole in Place (PIP) as the undocumented stepchild of a U.S. citizen, [Stepparent’s Full Name]. I deeply understand the importance of this process and respectfully submit this statement to provide details about my situation, my relationship with my stepparent, and why Parole in Place is crucial for our family.

I was born in [Country of Birth] on [Date of Birth]. I entered the United States on [Date of Entry] with my [Mother/Father], who is also undocumented. Since our arrival, we have lived here continuously, hoping to build a better future for ourselves. The decision to stay in the United States was driven by the desire to escape difficult circumstances in our home country and to create a stable, safe, and loving environment.

Since coming to the United States, I have been committed to making the most of the opportunities available to me, despite the challenges posed by my undocumented status. I have worked hard in school, participated in community activities, and tried to be a positive and contributing member of society.

My Relationship with My U.S. Citizen Stepparent

My life changed when my [Mother/Father] met and married [Stepparent’s Full Name], a U.S. citizen. They were married on [Date of Marriage] in [Location of Marriage]. Since then, my stepparent has been a source of love, support, and stability for me. Our relationship is built on mutual respect, care, and a shared commitment to our family.

[Stepparent’s Full Name] has treated me as their own child, providing emotional and financial support and guiding me through important stages of my life. They have encouraged me to pursue my education, supported me in my extracurricular activities, and helped me integrate into the community. My stepparent has become a central figure in my life, and I cannot imagine our family without their presence.

Our family is strongly connected to the community. We are actively involved in [Describe Any Community Involvement, Such as Church, Volunteer Work, etc.]. We have developed close relationships with our neighbors, friends, and extended family members. These relationships have provided us with a sense of belonging and have strengthened our desire to remain in the United States as a united family.

My [Mother/Father] and I have made long-term plans to continue our education, build careers, and contribute to our community. We dream of living a life where we are free from the fear of separation, and where we can fully participate in and contribute to the society that has welcomed us. These dreams can only be realized if I am granted Parole in Place, allowing me to remain in the United States with my stepparent and [Mother/Father].

Since arriving in the United States, I have made every effort to contribute positively to my community. I have excelled in school, participated in [Mention Any Extracurricular Activities or Volunteer Work], and have tried to be a responsible and active member of society. I am determined to continue my education and to pursue a career that will allow me to give back to the community that has given me so much.

I am committed to living a life of integrity, hard work, and respect for others. I understand the importance of following the legal process, and I am fully prepared to comply with all the requirements necessary to obtain Parole in Place and eventually adjust my status to that of a lawful permanent resident.

The denial of my Parole in Place request would have devastating consequences for my family. My stepparent has become an integral part of my life, and the thought of being separated from them is overwhelming. If I were forced to leave the United States, it would cause severe emotional, financial, and psychological hardship for my [Mother/Father] and stepparent.

My departure would also disrupt my education and future plans. I have worked hard to build a life here, and being forced to leave would shatter my dreams and aspirations. The separation from my stepparent and the community I have grown to love would be deeply traumatic and would negatively impact my overall well-being.

I respectfully request Parole in Place because it is the only way to ensure the unity and stability of our family. My stepparent, [Mother/Father], and I are deeply committed to each other and to building a life together in the United States. Granting me Parole in Place would allow us to continue our lives together, contribute to society, and eventually pursue lawful permanent residency.

In conclusion, I ask that you please consider my request for Parole in Place with compassion and understanding. My stepparent, [Mother/Father], and I are devoted to each other and to building a life together in the United States. We have faced many challenges, but our love and commitment have remained strong. Granting me Parole in Place would allow us to continue our journey together, without fear of separation or hardship.

Thank you for your time and consideration. I sincerely hope that you will grant my request and allow me to remain in the United States with my family.

• Be Clear and Concise: Ensure your personal statement is easy to read and to the point.
• Be Honest and Personal: Share your story sincerely, but avoid overly emotional language.
• Proofread: Check for spelling and grammatical errors.
• Seek Legal Advice: If possible, consult with an immigration attorney to review your personal statement and application.

No time for research? We provide an easy, guided application experience, with 4 anti-rejection checks and a lawyer review. Get started for free .

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Accepted Admissions Blog

Everything you need to know to get Accepted

July 27, 2022

5 Tips on Writing About the Immigrant Experience for Law School

Many applicants are recent immigrants or have parents who are immigrants and plan to write about this aspect of their life in a personal statement or diversity statement . Certainly, having this life experience makes you distinctive and can add to your appeal at any school . But, often these essays fall flat. 

First, you must decide if you are going to write your immigrant narrative in the personal statement or diversity statement or both. How do you decide? The personal statement is the opportunity to answer the questions, why law school and why now. If your immigrant story is part of the answer, then introduce the narrative here. If you hope to become a tax attorney, your immigrant story may be best told in your diversity statement. Each statement should stand alone. They should complement each other and not duplicate each other. For those applicants using both opportunities to tell aspects of your family history, don’t repeat. Tell unique stories and provide unique insight in each essay.

Here are 5 tips to help you improve:

• Show. Don’t Tell . Just telling the reader that you and/or your family assimilated or learned English isn’t always enough. You need to show the admissions committee – paint a scene . Give a specific example. You need an arresting image to get their attention. Did you learn English watching cartoons? Immersed in an elementary school classroom? Are you still maintaining cultural aspects of your country of origin, and if so what are they and why? How do they impact your law school decisions or how will they impact the law school community?
• Show grit. In your essays, focus on how you solved the problem rather than the problem itself. For example, if you moved to the U.S. and didn’t speak any English, what did you do? How did you learn the language? How did you make friends, form a new community? Are you still observing certain holidays or traditions from your native country? If so, what are they and why? How do they influence you today?
• Avoid clich é s . “Fish out of water.” “Cultural differences.” “Breaking down barriers.” “Pulled up by their bootstraps.” These are phrases that are repeated often. That repetition has made them, well, cliched. You are trying to set yourself apart from the applicant pool; don’t employ overused phrases that cause you to blend in. You are better off explaining your situation with specificity than turning to hackneyed, overused, boring clichés.
• Don’t make Mom the focus. Often, applicants write about people they admire – usually a parent or grandparent. It’s great to love your family, but don’t make them the focus of your essay. You need to show the admissions committee that you are a good fit , not your father, mother, or other relative. Set a scene, but make yourself the lead character.
• Make a point. Going through an experience – good or bad – means nothing if you haven’t gained insight into yourself. Law schools want people who can think critically and examine the world around them. Your essay needs to show what you learned and how you can apply that skill to your studies and work. How have you grown from this experience? How does your experience help other people?

Remember that most basic failures of imagination in essay writing occur because applicants don’t want to spend time brainstorming, thinking, and writing . All that preparation is an important part of the process that will produce a quality finished product worthy of pride.

Work one-on-one with an Accepted advisor to devise an admissions strategy that will help you present a compelling story and produce an application that will stand out and get you accepted. Check out our  Law School Admissions Consulting Services  for more information. 

Related Resources:

• 5 Summer Experiences That Could Enhance Your Law School Profile
• The Paul & Daisy Soros Fellowships for New Americans Application Essay Tips
• 7 Simple Steps to Writing an Excellent Diversity Essay

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My Immigrant Personal Statement

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My Life As An Undocumented Immigrant Essay

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Personal Narrative: My First Generation Immigrants

First generation immigrants sacrifice their adulthood in search of a better life for their family and for future generations to come. My father came from Peru to support his family. He was the first person in his family to come to America. He works in road construction from morning until night so that my family is supported. The desire to repay both of my parents is the belief that guides my life.

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As a teenager moving to a new country with a different culture, different language, and being thousands of miles away from everyone I grew up with was not an easy change, however, that was precisely what I did in January of 2013 when I came to the United States with my father. My whole world changed since, and shaped my way of thinking. From learning English, adjusting to a new culture, experiencing my first snow and finding my way in my new country, my life has been an exciting adventure. My parents brought me to America almost 5 years ago to have a better life, and to get a better education.

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We were given the opportunity to come to the United States by an organization called The International Organization for Migration (IOM) and we took it without a second thought. There are many kids in Nepal and all over the world who are not even be fortunate enough to go to school and I am going to school in the United States of America. My parents are my inspiration to become a pharmacist because I know that they have gone through very hard times to make sure that my siblings and I don’t go through the same problems. The refugee camp I grew up in is also inspired me to become a pharmacist and contribute to the people that are in

More about My Immigrant Personal Statement

How To Write Your Asylum Story

Your asylum application will ask for a personal statement⁠—also called your asylum story. In your personal statement, you explain why are you are applying for asylum. Check out our guide about how to write your asylum story effectively. If you have any questions about how to write your asylum story, please email us at [email protected] .

I want to apply for asylum, but I don’t know how to tell my story. How do I create the most compelling personal statement in an asylum application?

A few things to keep in mind

Before you get started on your personal statement, please keep a few things in mind.

First, asylum is a complicated area of law, and it is strongly recommended that you seek assistance from an immigration lawyer if you are thinking about applying. If cost is an issue, there are many organizations that offer free, high quality legal help to those seeking asylum but are unable to pay, including Human Rights First , the National Immigrant Justice Center , and HIAS . It is almost always worth the effort to seek professional legal assistance with your asylum application.

Second, the events that cause someone to seek asylum can be some of the most emotionally and physically difficult events imaginable. Not only that, a strong personal statement will describe these events with complete honesty and very specific details. Writing about them can be extremely difficult. It is okay to take breaks from writing to give yourself a rest. It is also okay to ask a friend, loved one, or someone you trust for help. If you feel like you have no one to talk with, several good, free, and confidential services are available, like the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Helpline (1-800-950-6264) or the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (1-800-273-8255).

What should I know about asylum before starting my personal statement?

Before starting your personal statement, it is helpful have a basic understanding of what asylum is and, in particular, what it does and does not protect against. Importantly, asylum does not offer protection against all forms of persecution that someone fears or has experienced. Instead, asylum only provides protection to people who fear or have experienced persecution that is motivated by certain specific reasons, or “grounds.” The persecution must be motivated by the victim’s race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or their “membership in a particular social group.” For more details on these grounds and asylum generally, see our blog post here .

It is also helpful to know how your personal statement fits within the larger asylum application. In short, the personal statement is the center of the asylum application – all other parts of the application stem from it. The personal statement is the key part of the application that explains to the government why you should be granted protection in the United States. It has the power to determine whether your application is granted or denied. In short, time spent pouring your attention and effort into your personal statement is time well spent.

I’m ready to start writing my personal statement. What should I know about the government officer who will be reading my personal statement?

It is always good to know your audience. Unfortunately, you will probably know little or nothing about the specific government officer who will be reading your personal statement. However, there are certain things you can safely assume about your reader that will result in a stronger personal statement.

First, you can assume that the government officer reading your personal statement knows nothing about you and your home country. Even if this turns out not to be true (government officers do tend to have at least a general sense of the events in a variety of countries), it is always good to explain everything to the reader to ensure that they understand and are able to follow your story.

Second, assume that the reader is skeptical of your story and needs to be persuaded. Here, it is important to emphasize that you must always tell the truth and avoid exaggeration. The government officer is on the lookout for dishonesty and will pick up on any hint of it.

How should I go about writing my personal statement?

There is one question that is at the heart of your personal statement: What persecution did you experience or are you afraid of experiencing if you were to return to your country, and by whom? The entire reason for you writing your personal statement is to answer this one, key question. In general, the more thoroughly and directly you can answer this question, the stronger your personal statement. You might even want to write this question down and regularly look at it as you write your personal statement – if you notice that you are writing something that does not go toward answering this question, you might want to shift your focus back to answering this question.

While keeping this key question in mind, write your personal statement to address the two assumptions we made about our reader earlier: that she knows nothing about you and your home country, and that she is skeptical of your story and needs to be persuaded.

Assume the reader knows nothing about you and your home country. Imagine that your reader is twelve years old and has never traveled outside the United States. Explain everything to the reader to ensure that they understand and are able to follow your story. Even if your home country is in the news, feel free to start by explaining what continent your country is on, or if it is on an ocean. If it is relevant to your story, explain a little about your country’s history, and how it is connected to the persecution you faced.

Assume that the reader is skeptical of your story and needs to be persuaded. Persuading the reader means being absolutely honest and avoiding exaggeration while you “hold your reader’s hand.” Put differently, you are your reader’s guide, and you need her to accompany you to the places and events that led to you leave your country and seek protection in the United States. Imagine how you could best convince the reader of your story – if it were possible, you would probably invite the reader to the place where the events actually happened, so that she could hear the sounds, smell the smells, see the sights, and feel the things you experienced. This is exactly the experience you are trying to create for the reader with your personal statement. It is difficult to include too many details from your memories as they relate to you leaving your home country. For example, during a particularly frightening moment, do you remember the sound of a dog barking outside? Write about it. Do you remember how the room smelled like sweat and body odor? Describe it.

And always remember not to lose sight of the key question you’re answering with your personal statement: What persecution did you experience or are you afraid of experiencing if you were to return to your country, and by whom?

I’ve finished writing my personal statement. What more can I do to strengthen my application?

There are many ways that you can strengthen the power of your personal statement. Many asylum applications – particularly if prepared by a lawyer – will include research on conditions in your country in order to show that the persecution you faced is recognized and substantiated. Articles from local newspapers can also serve a similar purpose. You may be in a good position to find those articles, particularly if the official language in your country is not English.

Another way in which you can strengthen the power of your personal statement is to help the reader visualize it beyond using your words. Things such as maps, images, and screenshots from videos can be included in your application. With online tools like Youtube and Google Maps, such materials are more accessible than ever before. Going back to the idea that you are your reader’s guide, think creatively about how images can take your reader to the places and events you experienced.

To share one example, an individual from a country in the Middle East was seeking asylum on account of her political opinion. She was targeted because she was perceived to be active in an opposition political party. Her personal statement described her background, her political activities, and how she was targeted as a result. Her statement also described how she lived in an area where other opposition leaders lived. Reading this last piece of information, it probably did not jump out at you, and it probably would not jump out to the government officer reading the statement either – reading that someone lived near other opposition leaders does not immediately seem especially persuasive. However, using Google Maps, she included in her asylum application a map that showed each home within a few hundred feet of her own, and for each home she placed a label with the name of the resident and their title in the opposition party. Suddenly it became clear that this woman was literally surrounded by and living among influential opposition leaders, and it would be no surprise that someone targeting members of the opposition party would also target her. By including the map, she held the readers hand, took them to the place she fled, and explained why she could not go back.

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What do i need to know about the personal statement and corroboration included in my application.

• What is VAWA? What is a VAWA self-petition?
• What do I have to prove to be able to file for a VAWA self-petition?
• Can I get lawful permanent residence through VAWA self-petitioning?
• Can I work legally if I file a VAWA self-petition?
• Can family members be included in my self-petition?
• Can men qualify for VAWA self-petitioning?
• If I don't qualify for a VAWA self-petition, are there other options?
• If my self-petition is approved, what do I get?
• What relationships could qualify me for a VAWA self-petition?
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• How can I prove that I got married in good faith?
• Does a common law marriage count as being “married to” the abuser?
• If I am married, can I still qualify as an “abused child”?
• If I am the child or step-child of an abuser, do I qualify?
• If I am the parent or step-parent of an abuser, do I qualify?
• What type of abuse can qualify me for a self-petition?
• What other requirements related to the abuse must I prove?
• What does it mean to have good moral character?
• What will I need in order to apply for a VAWA self-petition?
• Can I file for a VAWA self-petition if I am in another country?
• Will I have to testify about the abuse or be interviewed by the government?
• How long will it take for my VAWA self-petition to be decided?
• What happens after my lawyer files my self-petition?
• Am I protected from deportation while my VAWA self-petition is pending?
• If I have been the victim of trafficking, should I apply for VAWA or for a T visa?
• What are the "grounds of inadmissibility" and how can they affect my chances of getting lawful permanent residence?
• If my self-petition is approved, when can I apply for lawful permanent residence (green card)?
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• What is "conditional permanent residence"?
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• When do I apply for a battered spouse or child waiver?
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• Aside from filing for my child as a derivative, what other immigration options may be available for my child?
• What needs to be included in my U visa petition?
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• How do I show that I suffered “substantial harm”?
• How do I show that I was helpful to law enforcement?
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• What can I do if law enforcement refuses to sign the certification?
• If my U.S. citizen child is a victim of a crime, can I (the undocumented parent) qualify for a U visa?
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• What legal status do I have while I am waiting for the government to review my U visa petition?
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• If my U visa petition gets denied, will I be deported?
• What are the grounds of inadmissibility? How can they affect me?
• If I didn't include my family members on my U visa petition, can I include them when I apply for lawful permanent residence?
• Can I apply for a U visa from another country? What are the obstacles?
• I think I may be eligible. Should I go to my local USCIS (Immigration) office?
• Can I travel outside of the U.S. if my U visa petition is approved?
• Can I get a U visa based on domestic violence? Does it matter if the abuser is undocumented or if we are not married?
• If I have been the victim of domestic violence, should I apply for VAWA or for a U visa? What about a T visa?
• I got U visa status based on a crime committed against me by my spouse but now we have gotten back together. Can I apply for a U visa for my spouse?
• If I receive public benefits for myself or for my child, can I still get a U visa?
• What is trafficking and how does it relate to T visas?
• Will I be deported if my T visa application is denied?
• If I get put into deportation proceedings, can the judge grant me T visa status to allow me to stay in the U.S.?
• How does USCIS determine if I am a victim of a "severe form of human trafficking"?
• What does it mean to have “continued presence”? Is it the same as having T visa status?
• What is Labor-Based Deferred Action? Is it the same as having T visa status?
• What is a bona fide determination? At what point in the T visa application process does it happen?
• If I receive a positive bona fide determination, does that mean my T visa application will be approved?
• If I think I am a victim of severe human trafficking, how do I contact law enforcement for help?
• How do I prove that I contacted law enforcement?
• What must I prove to be eligible for T visa status?
• I think I am eligible for a T visa. Will I definitely get one if I apply?
• If I have been the victim of trafficking by an intimate partner or relative, should I apply for VAWA or for a T visa?
• Requirement 1: You are or have been the victim of a "severe form of trafficking"
• Requirement 2: You have cooperated with or are excused from cooperating with reasonable requests from legal authorities.
• Requirement 3: You are in the United States, a U.S. territory, American Samoa, or a port of entry of any of these because of human trafficking.
• Requirement 4: You would suffer "extreme hardship involving unusual and severe harm" if removed or forced to leave.
• After I apply for a T visa, what are the first documents that I will receive?
• What needs to be included in my T visa application?
• What do I need to know about the law enforcement agency (LEA) declaration?
• What do I need to know about the other forms and requirements for my application?
• How much does it cost to apply for a T visa?
• When I apply for a T visa, can I include my family members?
• Do I need a lawyer to apply for a T visa or can I find the forms online?
• Where do I send my T visa application?
• How long does my T visa status last and what happens when it expires?
• I have T visa status. Can I work legally in the U.S.?
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• Can I apply for refugee status while I am in the U.S.?
• What are "grounds of inadmissibility"?
• What are the benefits of having refugee status?
• How can my family members benefit from my refugee status?
• How can I apply for lawful permanent residence once I am a refugee?

The personal statement is very important. Because there is no court hearing or interview involved in a T visa application, the written personal statement is the  only  opportunity you have to tell your story in your own words and for USCIS to hear your “voice.” Your attorney or a crime victim advocate can help you organize your story but it should be in your own words. If you can’t get a  law enforcement declaration , you must explain in your statement how you tried to be helpful and what response, if any, you got back from law enforcement. You should also use your statement to explain why you meet the other  eligibility requirements , especially if you don’t have a lot of other documents to support your case.

Similarly, if you are seeing a mental health therapist or other counselor to deal with the consequences of the trafficking, a statement from that therapist or counselor may be very helpful. This person can describe both the facts of the trafficking, as you told them to him/her, and how the trafficking affected you. You may not be able to, or may not want to, explain all of this again in your personal statement and so having the therapist or counselor to do that for you may be easier. Trafficking victims are often raped or tortured, and it is reasonable for victims to prefer to supply details of that experience through their therapist or counselor. The goal of the law is to help trafficking victims, not re-traumatize them.

Other evidence that may support your case (“corroboration”) includes any documents or evidence from medical, legal, or social service systems that support your own story and show that you meet the T visa requirements. USCIS likes evidence from other “systems” because those systems have expertise in their areas. USCIS will, however, look at evidence from other sources too, especially if you and your lawyer explain why a source such as your counselor or therapist is believable, trustworthy and knowledgeable.

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The Law School Personal Statement: Tips and Templates

Photo by Alejandro Escamilla on Unsplash

Published February 28, 2024

Editor's Note: This post was originally published in July 2019 and has been updated for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

The stress of cramming for the LSAT (or GRE) is behind you, and you survived the intolerably long wait for your score. You have researched schools, requested transcripts, secured recommendation letters, and updated your resume. Now only the dreadful personal statement is preventing you from hitting the submit button.

So, you might ask:  Does anyone even read the personal statement?  Yes .  Could it be a make or break deciding factor?   Definitely . 

While your standardized test score(s) and GPA are good law school success predictors, non-numerical factors such as your resume, recommendation letters and the personal statement give the Admissions Committee an idea of your individuality and how you might uniquely contribute to the law school. Most importantly, your personal statement is a sample of your writing, and strong writing skills are critically important to success throughout law school and in legal practice. 

If the thought of writing about yourself makes you cringe, adhere to these 5 tips to avoid disaster. 

BONUS :  Scroll down to review 5 law school personal statement samples. 

1. Make it personal

The Admissions Committee will have access to your transcripts and recommendation letters, and your resume will provide insight into your outside-the-classroom experiences, past and current job responsibilities, and other various accomplishments. So, the personal statement is your best opportunity to share something personal they don’t already know. Be sure to provide insight into who you are, your background and how it’s shaped the person you are today, and finally, who you hope to be in the future.

2. Be genuine

If you haven’t faced adversity or overcome major life obstacles, it’s okay. Write honestly about your experiences and interests. And whatever you do, don’t fabricate, or exaggerate—the reader can often see through this. Find your unique angle and remember that a truthful and authentic essay is always your best approach.

Tip: Don’t use big words you don’t understand. This will certainly do more harm than good.

3. Tackle the “Why?”

Get creative but remember to home in on the why . Unless the personal statement prompt has specific requirements, it is recommended you include what influenced you to pursue a legal education. Consider including what impact you hope to make in the world post-graduation.

4. Keep it interesting & professional

The last thing you want to do is bore the reader, so keep it interesting, personable, and engaging. A touch of humor is okay, but keep in mind that wit and sarcasm can be easily misinterpreted. Demonstrate maturity, good judgment and tact and you won’t end up offending the reader.

5. Edit & proofread

The importance of enrolling and graduating strong writers cannot be stressed enough, so don’t forget the basics! Include an introduction, supporting paragraphs and a closing. Write clearly, concisely, and persuasively. Take time to edit, proofread--walk away from it--then edit and proofread again before submitting. 

Tip :   Consider consulting a Pre-Law Advisor or mentor to help you proofread and edit. Sound easy enough? It is if you take it seriously. Don’t think you have to craft the “best” or most competitive personal statement, just the most “genuine” personal statement. Remember, there is nobody with your exact set of life experiences, background, or point of view. Just do you.

Guest blogger  Lindsay Gladney  is the Vice Dean for Admissions at UB School of Law. 

Office of Admissions University at Buffalo School of Law 408 O'Brian Hall, Buffalo, NY 14260 716-645-2907 [email protected]

Learn more about the law school admissions process and School of Law community through an individual meeting with one of our staff members.

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Submit this form to receive an application fee waiver.

Additional Resources:   

• Law School Application Checklist: Everything You Need To Know
• Law School Application Advice to Ignore
• When Should I Submit My Law School Application: Timeline & Tips
• 5 Benefits of Attending a State Law School

Bonus: 5 Law School Personal Statement Samples

1. this applicant writes about their experience hiking a mountain peak, what it taught them, and how it reaffirmed their affinity for the natural environment..

As I trudged my way up the path, only about a mile from the peak, I could not escape the creeping sense of self-doubt entering my mind. That day I had willingly accompanied my best friend on a hike up a “fourteener” (a mountain peak in Colorado with at least 14,000 feet of elevation). With a false sense of bravado, I jumped at the idea because I considered myself to be an avid hiker and in decent physical condition despite my inexperience at that altitude. Nearingthe top, with my head pounding and my knees weakening, my confidence had been shaken by the altitude sickness that started to take hold of me. I began asking myself questions like, “Will I finish?”, “Why did I even agree to this?”, and “Is this even worth it?”. However, as I took a sip of my water to rest and collect myself, it registered that the opportunity to encounter such natural wonder might not strike again. I knew that if I turned back, I would regret it and possibly never have the chance again. Accordingly, I decided to do my best to finish the trek.

Even though I was still in considerable discomfort, that sensation seemed to fade away when I finally reached the peak. I became enamored with the magnificence of the surrounding mountain range and the epic view it had to offer. The peaks extended out forever, some stretching high enough to look as though one could reach up and touch the clouds themselves. Crisp green alpine forests totally engulfed the surrounding valleys and eventually led down into the crystal blue water of the lakes and rivers below. Cliché though it may be words truly cannot do justice to such a surreal experience.

As I reflect on the experience, I am proud to have accomplished such a physically challenging adventure, but perhaps more grateful for what the hike taught me about myself. First, I gained a sense of confidence in my ability to persevere despite difficult circumstances and especially when faced with self-doubt. Indeed, I have drawn from the experience on numerous occasions to remind myself that I am capable of enduring whatever challenges life may throw at me. Secondly, I believe this hike to have been a defining moment that reaffirmed and strengthened my affinity for the natural environment. I developed this fondness from an early age where much of my childhood was spent outdoors, whether it was fishing and camping with my father or hiking and playing sports with my friends. However, the wonder I felt on that peak in the Rockies was something I seldom experienced growing up in Buffalo, New York. It is a feeling that I hope all can feel at some point in their lives and partly why I believe it to be so important that we do all we can to protect and preserve the environment. The importance of conservation is greater now than ever amid the challenges posed by issues such as pollution and global climate change.

During my undergraduate coursework, I was able to take a class in Environmental Law, where I learned about state and federal statutes that regulate water, soil, air pollution, resource conservation and recovery, and actions of the Environmental Protection Agency. For example, we studied the Clean Air Act and how it is applied during legal disputes to enforce national air quality standards. Participating in this course showed me that there is an opportunity to apply my enthusiasm for the environment into the legal profession as it is my eventual goal to represent those damaged by pollution. I believe studying at the University of Buffalo School of Law will allow me to pursue my goals and make a positive contribution towards environmental problems by serving those who have been affected in the local and global community. Although the experience will be challenging, I am excited for the opportunity, motivated by a passion for the environment and knowing that I possess the ability to persevere in the face of doubt.

2. How one applicant’s experience interviewing incarcerated individuals shaped their understanding of our justice system and influenced them to pursue policy work.

Above me, in a giant watchtower, stood a large man holding a semi-automatic rifle while staring down at me. I heard the echoing clink of a prison lock, allowing me to pass through a massive barbed-wire fence. Although I begged and pleaded for the opportunity to interview an inmate at a maximum-security prison, I have never felt more intimidated than I did in this moment. I was only seventeen years old, sitting in a visitation room filled with orange-suited men. An overwhelming sense of fear crowded my thoughts. In fact, I was nearly paralyzed by the environment I had found myself in. I could hardly conduct an interview, but thankfully, my interviewee, Mr. Thomas Gant, had about twenty years of stories to tell. He ambitiously shared

first-hand accounts of prison fights, housing raids, gang activity, and injustices that he has endured during his sentence of twenty-five years to life. His stories were captivating and filled with raw emotion. It was evident that he too, felt a similar sense of fear each and every day.

Fast forward to my last semester of undergrad, where I spent four months at the Ingham County Jail working with incarcerated men and women to prepare them to transition into our communities. I interviewed dozens of orange-suited men each week and loved every second of it.

I was eager to contribute to a program that helped break the vicious cycle of incarceration and confront the plethora of barriers to reentry. I often think about Mr. Gant and how his stories ignited a passion within me that still drives my ambition to this day. If I had the chance, I would thank him for inspiring me to pursue every opportunity to help incarcerated men and women, such as those at the Ingham County Jail. I would share with him the knowledge from my academic and professional experiences, in hopes of keeping his life on track upon release, and most of all, in hopes of protecting him from the fear we shared on the day I met him.

My variety of field experiences and my success with academic rigor has surely prepared me for law school. I have completed several other justice-related internships which have provided me with a comprehensive understanding of how our justice system operates in practice, which often deviates from how our justice system operates in textbooks. These field experiences led me to pursue a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice, where my classes focused on the history of corrections and how other countries are utilizing confinement to successfully rehabilitate offenders. Academia quickly taught me that the majority of people simply accept our prison system for what it is, and very few question its punitive and unjust nature. Fortunately, my bachelor’s degree in social relations and policy allowed me to challenge conventional wisdom and confront policy issues as they relate to factors of class, race, ethnicity, gender, and religion – all of which exist in our prison system. My professors constantly pushed me to find ways that the American corrections system could change the course of its future. I spent countless hours researching the topic of injustice behind bars, writing numerous analytical essays and policy proposals, and presenting interdisciplinary conclusions to rooms filled with aspiring politicians. I look forward to perfecting these skills, sharing my experiences to enhance classroom discussions, and engaging in additional field experiences and clinics while in law school.

Ultimately, I am confident that my career fulfilment will lie in policy making and advocacy for those who have faced injustice within our prison system and in the free world. My interest in studying law and my decision to apply to University at Buffalo School of Law are a result of my longstanding enthusiasm to advocate for and to improve the lives of people impacted by incarceration. The University at Buffalo will provide me with both the necessary education as well as the hands-on experience to ensure that I will confidently enter the legal world prepared to contest the many issues of justice reform.  

3. How one applicant found their voice, and why a stale piece of toast is displayed alongside their college diploma.

Growing up, I was nonplussed by the idea of awards. While other friends entered cut-throat competitions over grades and the attention of our coaches, I cared more about preserving my friendships with people than beating them on any field or test. Whenever I found myself winning, I tended to remain quiet about my victories. Most of the time.

In the waning weeks of my junior year of high school, my tireless U.S. History teacher – Mr. Welgoss– kept us showing up to class each day by breaking us into debate teams and having individuals from each side square off against each other around designated topics. The winner would take away a most delicious reward: A single slice of white bread toast. Pun intended. This was when I learned that I was to define the best Supreme Court Cases in U.S. History and then defend my stance in front of the entire class. Alone. I was completely terrified.

This is the perfect place to share just a bit about high school me. You likely knew me well. I was that kid curled into a corner at the back of the classroom in an effort to make myself smaller. During the first week of each school year, I sized up my teachers, figured out which of them was into cold calling on students, and positioned myself within the room accordingly. While I was a dedicated student and history geek who loved to read, I was not a particularly extroverted one. There was no part of this assignment that I was excited about.

To make matters worse, I was assigned Marbury v. Madison, perhaps one of the most boring cases in the eyes of a bunch of fresh faced politically active 16-year-olds who had just spent an entire year learning about the societal gravity of cases like Brown v. Board of Education and Roe v. Wade. Still, I did careful research. I composed a meticulous claim. I didn’t want to embarrass myself, so I did the work that I needed to.

Along the way, I fell in love with the assignment. This was the first time I experienced that rare moment as a researcher when everything seems to click. I’d never had that moment as a research and argument writer before, and I have been chasing that feeling since. I love leaning into knotty problems, following research, and learning processes that help me untie them, and then, showing others how to unscramble crossed lines themselves, when they need to.

So, you likely know how this story ends. I won the debate. That piece of toast, miraculously mold free after six years, sits on my bookshelf alongside my college diploma, reminding me of the moment I not only found my passion, but my voice.

Since the moment I won that single slice of super processed food that still looks as fresh as the day I brought it home, there have been other moments that solidified my decision to study law. As a freshman at Nazareth University, my newfound interest in the law inspired my decision-making as I chose my major and began coursework that I inevitably fell in love with. When I started my internship at a local non-profit during undergraduate, I saw how my research and application of the law could help me to advocate for marginalized communities. My desire to

practice law was again upheld when I began paralegal work for Berardi Immigration Law the day after I earned my degree. My dedication to this work has taught me that there are often a variety of solutions for complicated problems. Many assume that creativity is something you’re born with. Experience has taught me it's not quite this simple, though. Constraint often inspires creativity, and to me, this is what makes the law the most wonderful muse.

I’m the daughter of a writer and the sister of a designer. My great grandfather owned a hobby shop. I never enjoyed most of these things, and try as I might, any attempt to practice arts and crafts always ended badly and left me feeling like the least creative bird on my family tree. Imagine my surprise then, as the last few years of learning, work, and a piece of toast began revealing the creative nature of the law to me. Imagine my delight when I realized that I have certain strengths here, too.   

4. This applicant writes about their never-ending pursuit of knowledge and how pursuing law provides a practical outlet for their curiosity.

There are very few things in life that are more important to me than learning. I have been driven by curiosity, and the never-ending pursuit of knowledge has always been a great source of joy for me, both inside and outside of the classroom. I finished my undergraduate studies in December of 2019, with plans to work in France as a teacher that coming fall. I was beyond excited that I had been afforded an opportunity to pursue such a dear intellectual passion. The intervening pandemic meant that I had to make difficult decisions about the direction my future would take, and ultimately this meant setting aside some of my own ambitions in order to take care of my loved ones.

While my immediate post-graduation plans did not work out, I have never set aside my curiosity. If anything, the challenges of post-collegiate life have reaffirmed to me the vital importance of learning as a constant and on-going part of living. As a student of history and languages, many of my college peers nurtured plans of attending law school, and the idea of studying law has long interested me.

In June of 2022 I began working as a legal assistant at a small law firm in Queens. I hoped that job would give me a chance to learn about the legal field, while pushing me to grow as a professional. Being confronted with the vast complexity of the law has been a humbling experience, but also an endlessly intriguing one. At work, I relish any opportunity to learn more about the law, and I have found that the field is perfectly suited to the academic skills that I have spent my entire life building.

What is perhaps most exciting to me about the prospect of studying law is the idea of having a practical, real-world outlet for all the curiosity and scholarly instincts that I have nurtured throughout my life. Studying case law, building arguments based on evidence and legal research, using language itself as a tool; all these skills that I have seen to be so vital to the successful practice of law feel like natural extensions of the skills that I’ve developed across my life. Performing research was of course integral to my studying history, and combing through Westlaw as a legal assistant has often reminded me of the time I would spend searching through university archives as a student, looking for information to help me build my arguments. Having studied both History and French, I am very comfortable with interpreting language that feels unfamiliar or archaic, which is certainly a necessary skill to have when studying and practicing law.

The challenges of post-graduation life have led me to do a great deal of reflecting. I’ve been forced to ask myself what makes me feel fulfilled, and at the same time have had to evaluate my own strengths and weaknesses. I’ve found that there are no simple answers, but I can affirmatively say that I have the self-confidence, motivation, and ability to be an excellent law student.

5. How a Unified Basketball program inspired this applicant to pursue education law.

I never realized how great of an impact one policy could have on so many people until I was in high school. I knew how far-reaching the law was, but it became so much more apparent and personal when it began to impact the lives of my friends and classmates in the Unified program.

When I began high school, I was still a little shy, but I was sure that I wanted to get involved in things that made a difference in other people’s lives. It was through my involvement in Student Council that I was asked by the athletic director to help start up a program called Unified Basketball. I remember being called down to the Athletic Office one day out of the blue. I felt extremely confused. I had not previously played any school sports and I never would have expected to be asked to speak with the athletic director. I also wouldn’t have expected a meeting that lasted maybe fifteen minutes to serve as a great turning point in my life.

The Unified Basketball program is a cooperative team combining students with and without intellectual disabilities, run by the Special Olympics and New York state high school sports. From that first season, the Unified program quickly grew to become one of the best experiences of my life and it continues to shape me every day. In the second year of the program, we added a Unified Bowling team, and I helped create a Unified Club so that those who might also have physical limitations that would keep them from playing sports, could still benefit from the family created in the program.

Through this program I created connections with the members of the team and our coaches, and we effectively created a family and a community greater than ourselves. Because of these friendships which I had grown to value so much, it only hurt that much more when I learned from my coach that New York’s eligibility rules for high school sports would cause some of my teammates to be ineligible to play. Although they could remain in school until the age of twenty-one, they would not be able to play after they reached a certain age or had played for a certain amount of time. One of my friends was the first on our team to age out due to these guidelines and as a team we were devastated. These policies did not line up and although the original guidelines were intended to prevent unfair advantages in competition, this really wasn’t an issue with the Unified program. Thankfully, this policy was eventually changed by the state Board of Regents to allow my teammates to play once again.

There have been two indelible legacies created through the Unified program. First, I have been able to see the impact that the program has had on students in our district’s special education program. I saw this happen for one of my teammates, who was first introduced to me by his aide as being nonverbal. He was initially very shy but as he grew more comfortable with the game and his teammates, he came out of his shell. From that first season on his confidence grew and even when I see him now, over five years later, he will rush over to give me a high-five or a fist-bump and say “Hi!” Second, is the impact the program has on my district and the community at large. During my junior year of high school, our team performed the dance “The Wobble” at our pep rally, marking the first time that our special education students were included in the homecoming event. Even years later, this tradition has continued and the response from the school and community has been extraordinary.  

This experience shaped me as a person and shifted my interests in terms of career goals. I have had an interest in education and the social sciences since I was little, but being involved in the Unified program allowed me to better understand how these interests could connect and how I can make an impact. I want to pursue a law school education and become an attorney so that I can practice education law. I want to support students, faculty, and staff to create the best possible educational environments for our future generations.

Immigrants. Make. America.

What should I write in my VAWA personal statement?

Question: I am applying for a green card through VAWA based on the abuse I suffered from my U.S. citizen spouse. I know I need to write a personal statement, but I do not know where to begin. What information should I include in my personal statement?

Answer: Having to remember the details about each incident of abuse that occurred can be difficult, but it will help USCIS make a positive final determination on your VAWA petition.

First, you should provide sufficient information for USCIS to determine that you entered into your marriage with your spouse in good faith. The details you provide should show that you married your spouse for love and not to receive a green card. Your letter should answer the following questions:

• How and when did you first meet?
• How did you get to know each other?
• When did you decide to get married?
• Describe the marriage proposal.
• What kind of marriage ceremony did you have?
• Who attended your marriage ceremony?
• When did you start living together?
• Who moved in with whom?
• Did you meet each other’s friends?
• Did you meet each other’s family members? 
• Did you take any trips together as a couple?
• What were your plans for the future?
• When and where did you live together with your spouse?

Next, you must describe the battery or extreme cruelty you suffered. USCIS will make a decision on your Form I-360 VAWA petition without an interview. Often, victims of domestic violence are unable to provide extensive documentation of the abuse they suffered. Therefore, your personal statement should provide as much detail as possible to allow USCIS to make a decision. Your letter should answer the following questions: 

• The date of each occurrence,
• The location of each occurrence,
• What happened? What did the abuser do? What did the abuser say?
• Did you call the police? If not, why not? 
• Did you suffer physical injuries?
• Do you have photos of the injuries you suffered? If not, why not?
• Were there any witnesses to the abuse? 
• Did you go to the hospital?
• Did you file for a Temporary Protection Order (TPO)?
• Did you have to leave your home and stay somewhere else?
• How did this abuse affect your life? Did it affect your eating, sleeping, going to work, socializing, etc.?
• Have you obtained therapy from a psychologist or therapist?
• Does your abuser continue to threaten you?

Finally, you should describe how you are a person of good moral character. Your letter should answer the following questions:

• Have you ever been arrested? If yes, for what, how long ago and what was the outcome?  
• Do you volunteer anywhere? 
• Do you lend a hand to those in need, such as your neighbors? 

Your personal statement should provide as much detailed information as possible. Your affidavit must be signed, dated, and notarized.

ImmiFree.Law is The Harrison Law Firm P.C.’s online platform to make the family immigration and naturalization process more efficient, accurate, and affordable. Baya Harrison, Esq. is an attorney licensed in New York, Florida, and California. Attorney Harrison has helped numerous individuals and families navigate the U.S. immigration process, specifically family-based petitions and naturalization.

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WTO / Letters and Emails / Reference / Good Moral Character Reference Letters for Immigration – Samples

Good Moral Character Reference Letters for Immigration – Samples

A document attesting to someone’s good character is a reference letter written for a friend, colleague, or employee seeking naturalization in which the writer speaks positively about the subject’s qualities and personality.

The reference provider must be sufficiently familiar with the applicant in order for the letter to serve its intended purpose.

Applying to become a citizen of a new country can be a tedious process, requiring extensive paperwork and interviews. For applicants in the United States, an important part of this process is demonstrating in their application that they have been good and upright residents during the period they have been in the country as visa holders or legal permanent residents.

As stated in the USCIS Policy Manual (Part F), for use as part of the naturalization process, “good moral character” implies that an individual’s behavior “measures up to the standards of average citizens of the community in which the applicant resides.”

For a person to be considered law-abiding and moral, it is necessary that they have not committed any severe crimes. Severe crimes, like crimes of moral turpitude, will almost certainly disqualify a person from having good character. Ideally, this condition has a statutory period of five years. This means that the USCIS will thoroughly take into consideration any contravention of the GMC requirement within the last five years before the citizenship application.

However, the USCIS can also consider any period before the five-year statutory period based on its discretion.

What is a Good Moral Character?

The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) handles the naturalization process in the United States. They are in charge of assessing all elements of the application. As part of the requirements, applicants must prove that they are of good character before the agency can grant their naturalization request.

For an individual to qualify as having a good moral character, they must have maintained and shown sufficient belief that they will continue to meet the requirements of being a law-abiding member of society. The expectation is not that the applicant should be without sin; the basic requirement is that their character and behavior must meet the standards of the general public in their community.

Typically, a person is considered to have good character if they are trustworthy, respectable, and abide by state and federal laws. The USCIS decides the requirement on a case-by-case basis.

Letter Examples

Need for Letter of Good Character for Immigration

Some immigration categories do not explicitly require the demonstration of good conduct; however, the immigration officer will still consider it during the evaluation of the application. In applications for immigrant or non-immigrant visas, for instance, specific applicant information—like prior crimes or immigration violations—that constitute grounds for inadmissibility can also be used to assess a candidate’s moral character.

On the other hand, certain situations specifically require that applicants present a letter of good conduct.

These situations are discussed below:

For lawful permanent residents (LPRs)

The USCIS requires all lawful permanent residents (LPRs) who wish to submit applications for naturalization to provide proof of good character during their time as LPRs in the United States. The requirement means a clean record for the five years (three years if applying as the spouse of a U.S. citizen) preceding the application. Falsifying records can lead to grave consequences, like having entry denied after a trip abroad.

For USCIS immigration applications

If an applicant is applying for a U.S. visa due to being a victim of crime or abuse or as a person who has been unlawfully present in the United States and is requesting a waiver of inadmissibility to become eligible for entry again, then it is a requirement to provide proof of good conduct before their application can be approved.

Immigration cases in court

In circumstances where deportation or removal from the U.S. is imminent, the individual has several reasons to request that they not be deported. Such applicants may use evidence of their compliance with the law as a form of defense. This proof will help strengthen their case and can help convince the immigration judge to cancel or suspend the order for removal or deportation.

The judge can convert the deportation order to a voluntary return, which can be a better situation than a forced removal. A deportation order may prevent someone from coming to the U.S. for up to ten years or make them ineligible for certain immigration benefits . In the event of a voluntary departure, they may be able to return to the U.S. much sooner.

When is a Certificate of Good Conduct not Needed

As surprising as it may seem, not only do certain situations not require a character certificate, but providing such proof in these situations can be detrimental to the application for naturalization.

If an individual’s application for naturalization is based on major mental abuse or trauma, presenting evidence of significant accomplishments during the period of abuse can damage the applicant’s case.

A person who applies for asylum after failing to do so within a year of arriving in the country would further weaken their case if they provided evidence of other commitments made during their stay in the country. In these instances, putting more emphasis on the obstacles and traumas they have faced and explaining why they must continue to live in the United States will be more beneficial.

When seeking asylum in the United States, it is not necessary to prove good character. Rather than wasting time trying to prove this, an applicant should focus more on gathering other evidence that would specifically help the asylum request.

Whether or not the applicant must provide a certificate of good conduct depends on the category of the immigration application. Preparing this document requires effort and resources. That is why it is highly advised that the applicant find out the requirements for their immigration application before devoting their resources to obtaining this document.

Obstacles to Qualifying as a Person of Good Moral Character

A criminal history and involvement in particular undesirable activities can be barriers to a person’s application for citizenship. Depending on the gravity of the crime, these roadblocks can cause a delay or a permanent ineligibility of the applicant’s request for naturalization and can even be enough grounds for deportation. These crimes are mostly crimes of turpitude, i.e., crimes that indicate depravity or a willful lack of morality.

USCIS cites the following behaviors as examples of those that could be barriers to being unable to prove good character:

• Aggravated felony conviction
• Chronic drunkenness
• Contravention of Controlled Substance Act
• Crimes against a human with intent to harm
• Defaulting on court-mandated child support or alimony payments
• Duplicitous green card activity or falsification of evidence to obtain an immigration benefit
• Failure to enlist with the U.S. Selected Service System when required
• Gambling offenses
• Pending probation, parole, or suspended sentence
• Prostitution
• Shoplifting or pilfering
• Trafficking aliens into the United States
• Jail sentence of up to 180 days during the past five years
• Individuals with a murder conviction can never become citizens of the United States. In addition, persons convicted of aggravated felonies like armed robbery, drug trafficking, child pornography, bribery, etc., are also permanently barred from becoming U.S. citizens.

How to Demonstrate Good Conduct for Immigration Purposes

If the immigration application requires proof of good character, the burden is on the applicant to overcome any obstacles that may cause a delay in the process. An applicant with a minor crime on their record may consider waiting until the five-year statutory period is over. In addition to the statutory period, the individual must also demonstrate improved behavior.

He can do that through the following means:

• A personal statement from the applicant describing their life, work, family, and volunteer activities
• Letter from the applicant’s religious organization describing their participation and importance for the community
• Reference letter from employer attesting to their work ethic
• Reference letter from places where the applicant has volunteered

These documents should provide detailed examples of the applicant’s good conduct and contribution to society.

In addition to the above, being completely honest and thorough during the application process and the interview with USCIS personnel is also important for the immigration application. On the other hand, not telling the truth can cause additional problems, and will most definitely indicate a lack of morality.

How to Write a Letter of Good Moral Character for Immigration Purposes

You might find yourself faced with the important task of writing a letter for a friend, an associate, or a family member to support their immigration application. The writer must compose a detailed and convincing document to attest to the applicant’s good character.

The guide below provides valuable instructions on how to write it:

Give appropriate introduction

The writer should indicate the date they wrote it to help give the recipient an idea of how recent the document is. An appropriate appellation should appear at the start of the letter. The first paragraph should include a brief background about the writer, how long they have known the applicant and their relationship.

Mention the applicant’s good conduct

The writer can dedicate the next one or two paragraphs to describing the applicant’s personality and the remarkable qualities they possess. The descriptions need to be specific, and examples should be included if necessary.

How the applicant has helped the writer in some way—their helpful nature, volunteer activities, etc.

The examples should serve to convince the recipient of the goodness of the applicant.

Include other aspects

Family ties are highly regarded in the United States, and it is often because of this reason that many individuals seek citizenship. Depending on the applicant’s personal situation, the writer may describe their family and the close bond they share with their spouse and children.

Describe the nature of the relationship

A description of the relationship with the applicant can also be provided. This can help provide more credibility and reassure the immigration officer that the writer indeed knows the applicant very well.

If the writer is an employer of the applicant or if the applicant had worked for them in the past, then they can discuss the working relationship, details of the employment, the responsibilities of their position, their skills, work ethic, integrity, etc.

Conclude by complimenting the applicant

In conclusion, the applicant should be complimented and their eligibility for citizenship should be reiterated. It should express gratitude to the recipient for the consideration of the application, followed by a statement indicating the willingness and availability to provide more information if needed.

The sender’s full name and contact information must also be provided. Though not required, it is a good idea to notarize the letter . This serves to further verify the identity and signature of the writer.

Letter of Good Moral Character Template

[Your Name]

[Your Address]

[City, State, Zip Code]

[Phone Number]

[Email Address]

[Recipient’s Name]

[Recipient’s Title/Position]

[Organization’s Name]

[Organization’s Address]

Subject: Letter of Good Moral Character for [Name of the Person]

Dear [Recipient’s Name],

I am writing to you in my capacity as [Your Position/Relationship to the Person] to vouch for the good moral character of [Name of the Person], whom I have known for [Number of Years/Months]. My association with [Name of the Person] in various capacities has provided me with ample opportunities to observe and evaluate their moral and ethical standards.

Throughout the time I have known [Name of the Person], they have consistently demonstrated qualities and behaviors that epitomize good moral character, including honesty, integrity, responsibility, and empathy towards others. [Name of the Person]’s actions and decisions are always guided by a strong moral compass, and they consistently show respect for individuals from all walks of life.

[Provide specific examples or anecdotes that demonstrate the person’s moral character. These should be tangible instances that highlight their integrity, community involvement, or positive impact on others.]

[Name of the Person] has also been actively involved in [mention any community service, volunteer work, or other activities], further showcasing their commitment to making a positive contribution to their community and helping those in need.

It is my firm belief that [Name of the Person]’s moral character is of the highest caliber. Their ethical standards and personal integrity make them an exemplary individual, one whom I can recommend without any reservations. [Name of the Person] would be a valuable addition to any organization, community, or situation that requires a person of good moral character.

Please feel free to contact me at [Your Contact Information] should you require any further information or clarification regarding [Name of the Person]’s character and qualifications.

Thank you for considering my letter of recommendation. I am confident that [Name of the Person] will continue to demonstrate the same exemplary qualities and moral integrity in all their future endeavors.

[Your Signature (if sending a hard copy)]

[Your Position/Relationship to the Person]

Sample Letters

Subject: Letter of Good Moral Character for John Doe

Dear Sir/Madam,

I am writing to support the application for the naturalization of Mr. John Doe, whom I have had the pleasure of knowing for the past five years as a close family friend and community member. It is with great respect and admiration that I vouch for John’s moral character and his suitability to be granted citizenship in the United States.

John has been an exemplary figure in both our local community and in his professional endeavors. His integrity, honesty, and respect for others stand out as his most commendable qualities. I have witnessed John go out of his way to assist neighbors, participate in community clean-ups, and volunteer at local food banks. His commitment to contributing positively to our community is a testament to his good character and values.

Moreover, John has demonstrated a profound respect for the laws and customs of the United States since his arrival. He has taken every opportunity to immerse himself in American culture, while also sharing aspects of his own heritage, fostering a sense of multicultural understanding and respect among his peers. John’s dedication to learning about and adhering to the principles that define this country is truly admirable.

His work ethic is unparalleled, consistently demonstrating responsibility and professionalism in his job as a software engineer . John’s employers and colleagues speak highly of his contributions, not only in terms of his technical skills but also his ability to collaborate, mentor, and contribute to a positive work environment .

John’s moral compass, combined with his dedication to family, friends, and community, make him an ideal candidate for U.S. citizenship. His actions continually reflect a deep-seated belief in the core values and responsibilities that come with being a citizen of this great nation.

I am confident that John Doe will uphold the duties and responsibilities of U.S. citizenship with the utmost respect and integrity. I wholeheartedly support his application and look forward to the positive contributions he will continue to make as an American citizen.

Please do not hesitate to contact me if you require further information or clarification regarding my recommendation of John Doe.

Thank you for considering my letter of support.

Maria Gonzalez

Subject: Letter of Good Moral Character for Elena Rodriguez

To Whom It May Concern,

I am writing on behalf of Ms. Elena Rodriguez, with whom I have had the distinct pleasure of working over the past seven years at Harbor Community Center in San Diego, California. As the Director of the center, I have witnessed first-hand the positive impact Elena has had on our community and the dedication she has shown towards making a difference in the lives of those around her.

Elena’s involvement in our community outreach programs, especially those aimed at supporting underprivileged families and immigrants, speaks volumes of her character and moral standing. Her commitment to these causes has been unwavering, demonstrating a deep sense of empathy, responsibility, and a strong ethical compass. Elena has not only contributed her time but has also played a pivotal role in planning and executing various initiatives that have benefited hundreds of individuals and families.

Moreover, Elena’s conduct has always been exemplary. She has shown great respect for cultural diversity, legal norms, and the principles that guide our society. Her interactions with others are marked by kindness, respect, and an understanding demeanor, making her a role model for many in our community.

In light of her application for re-entry, it is important to highlight Elena’s genuine remorse and learning from past mistakes. Since the incident that led to her departure, Elena has taken conscious steps towards personal and professional growth. She has actively sought out educational opportunities, participated in community service , and has become an advocate for positive change. Her actions consistently demonstrate a commitment to living by the highest moral and ethical standards.

I firmly believe that Elena Rodriguez is more than deserving of the opportunity to re-enter and contribute to our community in a meaningful way. Her moral character, combined with her dedication to service and personal growth, underscores her readiness to be a positive and contributing member of society once again.

Should you require any further information or wish to discuss Elena’s character and contributions in more detail, please do not hesitate to contact me at the number or email provided above.

Thank you for considering this letter in support of Ms. Elena Rodriguez’s eligibility for re-entry. I am confident that she will continue to uphold the values and standards that define our community and nation.

Thomas Elliot

Director, Harbor Community Center

Subject: Letter of Good Moral Character for Carlos Rivera

Honorable Judge Malik,

I am writing this letter in support of Mr. Carlos Rivera, whose immigration case is currently under your esteemed jurisdiction. My name is Jessica Patel, and I am a community organizer at the Lincoln Park Community Services in Chicago, where I have had the privilege of working alongside Carlos for the past three years.

Carlos has been an integral part of our team, dedicating his time and efforts to various community outreach programs. His commitment to serving those in need, particularly in projects focused on homelessness and youth mentorship, has been nothing short of exemplary. Carlos consistently demonstrates compassion, integrity, and a deep sense of responsibility in all his endeavors.

Beyond his contributions to community service, Carlos embodies the qualities of a person of good moral character in his daily life. He is respectful, honest, and consistently upholds the values of fairness and kindness in his interactions with others. Carlos has shown a profound respect for the law and the principles of justice, guiding his actions with a strong ethical compass.

I have witnessed Carlos’s positive impact not only on the community we serve but also on the people around him. He is a role model to many, inspiring others with his dedication and moral integrity. His efforts have not only provided tangible aid to those in need but have also fostered a sense of hope and community solidarity.

Carlos’s situation is undoubtedly challenging, but I firmly believe that his character and actions reflect those of a person who is an asset to our community and society at large. His dedication to making a positive difference, his respect for the law, and his unwavering moral values are qualities that speak volumes of his character.

I respectfully request that Carlos’s contributions, character, and the positive impact he has had on our community be taken into consideration in your evaluation of his case. It is my sincere belief that Carlos Rivera is deserving of a favorable outcome, allowing him to continue his valuable work and life here in the United States.

Should you require any further information or wish to discuss Carlos’s character and contributions in more detail, please feel free to contact me at the number or email provided above.

Thank you for considering my letter in support of Mr. Carlos Rivera. I am confident that his continued presence in our community will only bring about further positive change and contributions.

Jessica Patel

Community Organizer, Lincoln Park Community Services

Key Takeaways

These sample letters are well-written and effective for several reasons:

Clear Structure: Each letter follows a clear and professional structure, including a subject line, salutation, body paragraphs, and a closing statement. This organization ensures that the information is presented in a logical and coherent manner, making it easy for the reader to follow.

Specific Details: The writers provide specific examples and details to support their claims about the individual’s character and contributions. These examples add credibility to the letters and help paint a vivid picture of the person being recommended.

Professional Tone: The tone of the letters is formal, respectful, and courteous throughout. This professionalism enhances the credibility of the writers and reflects positively on the individuals they are recommending.

Relevance to the Purpose: Each letter directly addresses the purpose for which it is written, whether it’s supporting an application for naturalization, re-entry, or an immigration case. This ensures that the content remains focused and relevant to the reader’s needs.

Personal Connection: The writers establish a personal connection with the subject of the letter, highlighting their relationship and familiarity with the individual’s character and actions. This personal touch adds sincerity and authenticity to the recommendations.

Positive Outlook: Despite addressing potentially sensitive matters, such as past mistakes or legal proceedings, the letters maintain a positive outlook. They focus on the individual’s strengths, contributions, and potential for positive impact, rather than dwelling on past shortcomings.

Overall, these letters effectively convey the writers’ support and endorsement of the individuals in question, making compelling cases for their character and suitability for the intended purpose.

Free Templates

Final Thoughts

The demonstration of good moral character is an essential component of a citizenship application. A letter of good conduct written with clarity, precise details, and examples is more likely to get the desired result. It can tremendously help a friend, employee, or colleague with their application. Additionally, since demonstrating good conduct is a lengthy process that requires deliberate planning and execution, it is crucial that prospective citizens carefully review the requirements for naturalization and begin working toward them.

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What Is The Personal Statement In An Asylum Application?

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While asylum applications are somewhat lengthy and require certain types of information and documentation from the applicant, one of the most key pieces of the application is the personal statement. When 

, you write a personal statement and sign it under oath. The personal statement not only gives the applicant the chance to present certain information, but it also allows the applicant to put a human face on the application. The first portion of the personal statement should contain certain biographical information, including full name, birthdate, and birthplace. In this section, you also should describe what family members you have, such as their relationship to you, where they live, the kind and frequency of contact that you have with them, and their immigration statuses. Next, you must describe all of your immigration history in great detail, taking care not to omit any portion of your history. You should document every time you left your native country and entered the U.S., as well as the outcome of each entry into the U.S. Your personal statement also should include a detailed criminal history, including the dates that you were arrested, the name and location of the courts in which your cases were heard, and the charges that you faced. If you were convicted of any crime, you should document the date of your conviction, the penalties that you received as a result of your conviction, and any rehabilitation that you underwent following your conviction. Next, you should give detailed information about any military service that you had in your native country, including the dates of service, the type of service, the rank that you held, any training that you had, and any combat involvement. You also should document your entire employment history, including whether your employment was lawful. You also should describe your ties to your current community in great detail, such as involvement in sports clubs, community organizations, volunteer work, and churches. Additionally, you should include any schooling that you have undertaken and any academic degrees that you hold. Finally, you should write a detailed account about your life in your native country and the reasons that you fear persecution if you were returned to that country. You will need to explain whether you actually experienced persecution in the past, who persecuted you, and when the persecution occurred. You also should describe the type of persecution that you experienced, as well as the underlying reasons for your prosecution. Immigrants already in the U.S. may have a valid asylum claim based on their fear of persecution if deported to their home countries. At Landerholm Immigration, A.P.C., we care about you and your family, and want to help you preserve your home in the United States. However, if you are in danger of deportation, you need legal representation right away. We focus our law practice solely on deportation defense cases, which allows us to expend all of our efforts in standing up for the rights of those who are facing potential deportation, including those who are seeking asylum. Our California deportation defense lawyers know how to gather persuasive evidence to support your case and we know all of the procedural ins and outs of the U.S. deportation system. Allow us to handle your deportation case by contacting us today to schedule your consultation.

• July 08, 2024 What to Do If Your Asylum Case Is Weak Read More
• May 03, 2024 Streamlining Asylum Cases: The Benefits of CBP One for Applicants Read More
• March 11, 2021 TPS As A Win For Venezuelan Asylum Seekers! Read More

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Writers Teaching Writers

Behind the Personal Statements of Immigrants, Refugees, and Foreign Students

By Poupeh Missaghi

Personal statements highlight what CVs cannot about students: their character; their approaches to facing challenges, both personal and professional; their strengths; and their knowledge of and their ability to express themselves as individuals. For immigrants, refugees, and foreign students, oftentimes stories of immigration and relocation become central to their statements, so much so that a lot of them feel that these narratives are the only way to stand out in their audience’s eyes.

I have often worked with students and talked with friends who offhandedly and willingly amplify or embellish the issues in their home countries, the difficulties of their immigration journeys, or challenges of their personal and professional lives in between two cultures and languages, all because they have heard and learnt that “this is the story that sells.” This to me has always been problematic and saddening; it is similar to books written to fit the larger political narratives of the times and the publishing market’s demands for certain narratives of non-white people and far-away places.

I had, however, never really thought about how the mere inclusion of such stories, regardless of the level of detail or exaggeration, is really complicated and political. I only recently realized this when working with a friend who completely resisted the inclusion of such stories in his statement of purpose. I was explaining to him that sharing his recent immigration story will provide him with an opportunity to show how he overcomes challenges and grows through them, while also pointing to his multilingualism and multiculturalism. He stopped me short and firmly told me, “No, I won’t do that!” His reaction gave me pause, but I tried to make him see things through the lens of the purpose of the piece and his readers’ demands. He then continued in a sad tone, “No. Why does that need to be part of it? What if that is something about me that I don’t want to reveal? Why should my being “a recent immigrant” always be part of the conversation? What does it even matter that I am an immigrant?” He felt it offensive that in various situations he had to constantly tag himself as an “other” in the U.S., as an “outsider,” and be treated as if none of his capabilities and his accomplishments other than those related to his immigration counted, that he could only be “an immigrant” and nothing else.

His explanation and the conversation that followed were really eye-opening for me. They made me realize how I need to be careful when providing such advice to my students, and how I need to be more aware of all the layers of complexity in personal statements. Both the exaggeration of details and this resistance to telling the story reveal how the need for these “immigration” stories in statements of purpose is not simply about writing to the demands of the genre and the audience, but a sign of a larger problematic political narrative of “othering,” which could actually work against the diversification that we hope for.

Interestingly, a few days later, I came upon this essay on the same subject, which beautifully lays out the issue in more depth: How Applying to Grad School Becomes a Display of Trauma for People of Color  by Deena ElGenaidi in Electric Lit  (April 17 th , 2018). Don’t miss reading it.

Published May 16, 2018

Proving "Extreme Hardship" to a U.S. Relative for Immigration Purposes

What the u.s. government recognizes as "extreme hardship" for waiver purposes, and how to prove it when applying for a u.s. visa or green card..

If you are attempting to get a visa or green card in the U.S., but are blocked because you match one of the grounds of inadmissibility found in U.S. immigration law (mostly crimes, immigration violations, and health problems), you might be able to overcome this be requesting what's called a "waiver." Your eligibility to apply for one, however, in most cases depends on whether you have a qualified U.S. relative who would experience extreme hardship if you were not admitted to the United States. Such a waiver request is typically done using USCIS Form I-601 or I-601A .

According to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) policy , the U.S. government will approve such a waiver if applicants provide strong evidence that their U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident relative will experience either:

• extreme hardship in the U.S. if the non-citizen were not allowed to come to or stay in the U.S. and be with them, or
• extreme hardship in the home country, if the U.S. relative were to join or follow them there.

You can, if it's fitting, try to show that your U.S. relative would experience extreme hardship in both of these potential situations. But if only one situation would cause your relative extreme hardship (i.e. separation in two different countries would lead to extreme hardship, but having the U.S. relative move abroad wouldn't be so bad), be prepared to prove that that the one situation leading to extreme hardship is also the plan you and your U.S. relative would choose to pursue, and to explain why.

Also keep in mind that the qualifying U.S. relative does NOT have to be the same one who petitioned for you to immigrate, as illustrated in the following example.

EXAMPLE: Sara, who came to the U.S. from Australia on an F-1 student visa, would like to immigrate to the U.S. based on marriage to a U.S. citizen. However, she is inadmissible, having stayed in the U.S. for two years after dropping out of college. Her husband earns a good income in a tech company and can work remotely from anywhere in the world. So it will be hard to argue that the hardship he would suffer will be extreme if he had to move to Australia, or even if Sara couldn't be with him in the United States. Yes, he'd be sad, but so would every spouse separated from a loved one. Sara could, however, potentially apply for the waiver of inadmissibility based on hardship that her U.S. citizen mother would face if Sara were denied the green card; particularly if, for example, her mother has a severe health issue and has been relying on Sara's care and in-person emotional support.

What Does "Extreme Hardship" Mean Under U.S. Immigration Law?

• Arguments for Extreme Hardship If U.S. Relative Stays in the United States and Immigrant Is Abroad
• Arguments for Extreme Hardship If U.S. Relative Joins You Abroad
• Providing Evidence of Extreme Hardship With Your Waiver Application
• How Extreme Hardship to Children Factors In
• Seeking Legal Advice

Extreme hardship has been defined by U.S. immigration agencies and the courts to mean hardship that is greater than what the U.S. relative would experience under normal circumstances if the would-be immigrant were not allowed to come to or stay in the United States. There has to be something extra at play. It would be not enough, therefore, to show that your U.S. relative will miss you, because this would be expected under any type of separation.

There is no specific law or regulation defining what constitutes "normal" versus "extreme" hardship, which means that the evidence for each waiver application will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

Some of the more common arguments for extreme hardship when the U.S. relative continues living the United States but the non-citizen remains abroad (or is deported there) include, but are not limited to:

• The U.S. relative has a medical condition and depends on the foreign-born person for care.
• The U.S. relative is financially dependent on the foreign-born one and it will not be possible to provide adequate support from abroad.
• The U.S. relative has financial debts in the United States and cannot pay them without support from the foreign-born relative.
• The U.S. relative has a sick family member and will be unable to care for that person without support from the foreign-born relative.
• The U.S. relative is the caregiver for children and cannot afford childcare in the absence of the foreign-born relative.
• The U.S. relative is experiencing clinical depression as a result of this immigration situation.

A lawyer can help evaluate your personal situation and come up with other convincing reasons.

Some of the more common arguments for extreme hardship in a situation when a U.S. relative accompanies the immigrant to the home country include, but are not limited to:

• The home country is enmeshed in or on the verge of war and/or political upheaval.
• The U.S. relative has a serious medical condition that cannot be adequately treated in the home country.
• The U.S. relative will be discriminated against in the home country.
• The U.S. relative does not know the language of the home country.
• The U.S. relative is a primary caretaker for a sick family member in the United States.
• The U.S. relative will be unable to secure gainful employment in the home country.
• The U.S. relative's educational progress will come to a halt.
• The U.S. relative has children from a previous relationship who will not be allowed to live or visit the home country due to custody issues.
• The home country has a high rate of violence.
• The U.S. relative has financial debt in the U.S. that cannot be paid from your home country.

Again, you'll want to consider personally unique issues that are not on this list.

The evidence you will need to submit with your waiver application should start with your qualifying U.S. relative's personal statement. Your relative should describe all the types of extreme hardship that living outside the United States would cause; or alternatively (or additionally) that living in the U.S. without you would cause.

You, the foreign-born person, might also want to submit a personal statement to support the arguments made by your qualifying U.S. relative and to shed more light on conditions in your home country. But remember, this isn't about hardship to you; it's about how the situation will affect your qualifying U.S. relative.

Every argument made in either of these statements should be supported by documents from independent sources. These might include, but are not limited to:

• Country reports issued by the U.S. Department of State , or other governmental or human rights organizations, outlining the human rights or other difficult conditions of your home country that will lead to extreme hardship to the U.S. relative.
• Letters from medical professionals, as evidence of physical and/or emotional conditions that will lead to extreme hardship to the U.S. relative.
• Copies of tax returns and/or pay statements as evidence of your household income.
• Copies of statements showing any debts that need to be settled in the United States.
• Copies of the qualifying U.S. relative's professional and/or educational credentials.
• News articles reporting on new events in your home country that will lead to extreme hardship to the U.S. relative.
• Letters from relatives, professionals, and/or friends who are in a position to validate certain arguments for extreme hardship.

It's a good idea to reference each piece of evidence in the personal statements as an exhibit. This will help you organize your application, which will make it easier for the USCIS officer to review it.

There are some categories of inadmissibility that do not designate a U.S. citizen or permanent resident child as a qualifying relative for the extreme hardship waiver. Many applicants make the mistake of focusing primarily on the children when they do not qualify, resulting in a challenge or denial of their application.

If your child is not a qualifying relative, you can provide evidence of extreme hardship to the child only if it will result in extreme hardship to your qualifying relative. Nevertheless, that can be an important part of your argument. If, for example, adequate medical care for a child with special needs is not available in the home country and the U.S. spouse would have to stop working and give up a rewarding career, this can be styled as extreme hardship to the U.S. spouse.

It is always a good idea to consult with an immigration attorney when you prepare a waiver request based on extreme hardship to a qualifying U.S. relative. An attorney can assist in collecting the best evidence to support your arguments. An attorney can also prepare a legal summary to support your case and to serve as a guide for the adjudicating officer.

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I-918, Petition for U Nonimmigrant Status

ALERT: As of July 22, 2024, we met the fiscal year 2024 statutory cap of 10,000 individuals who can be issued U-1 nonimmigrant visas or granted U-1 nonimmigrant status per fiscal year. We adjudicated petitions to meet the statutory cap based on filing date, with the oldest petitions receiving highest priority. We have met this cap every year since fiscal year 2010. When the new fiscal year begins on Oct. 1, 2024, we will resume approving principal petitions for U-1 nonimmigrant status starting with petitions filed on or before Nov. 30, 2016, prioritizing the oldest petitions.

While USCIS has reached the cap for fiscal year 2024, we will continue to conduct bona fide determination reviews and, where applicable, consider petitions for placement on the waiting list.

ALERT:  Submit  Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization , at the same time you submit your Form I-918 or Form I-918A.

Submit  Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization , at the same time you submit your Form I-918 or Form I-918A. This will enable us to more efficiently consider your case under the bona fide determination process. Please note that there is no fee for an initial bona fide determination Employment Authorization Document (EAD).

If you have a pending Form I-918 or Form I-918A and have not already submitted Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization , please submit Form I-765 now to the appropriate address in the “Where to File” section.

Note:  We will not determine whether a qualifying family member’s petition is bona fide until after the principal petitioner receives a bona fide determination.

If you are a noncitizen and are a victim of a qualifying criminal activity, use this form to petition for temporary immigration benefits for yourself and your qualifying family members, as appropriate.

Q1. What is the bona fide determination process?

A1.  By statute, USCIS has discretion to provide employment authorization to noncitizens with pending, bona fide U nonimmigrant status petitions. In June 2021, we implemented the bona fide determination process with the goal of conducting initial reviews of U nonimmigrant status petitions more efficiently and providing eligible victims of qualifying crimes with employment authorization and deferred action while they wait for final adjudication of their petition for U nonimmigrant status under the annual statutory cap. This will provide victims with stability and better equip them to cooperate with and assist law enforcement.

Q2. Who does the bona fide determination process apply to?

A2.  This policy applies to all Form I-918 petitions and all Form I-918A petitions pending as of June 14, 2021, filed by principal petitioners and qualifying family members living in the United States, as well as Form I-918 petitions filed on or after this date by principal petitioners and their qualifying family members living in the United States. We do not consider principal petitioners and qualifying family members living outside of the United States for a bona fide determination because we cannot provide deferred action or employment authorization to petitioners outside the United States.

Q3. When did USCIS begin implementing the bona fide determination process?

A3.  We published the new bona fide determination process in the  USCIS Policy Manual  on June 14, 2021, and began adjudicating and issuing Employment Authorization Documents (EADs) shortly thereafter.

Q4. In what order will USCIS adjudicate cases for a bona fide determination?

A4.  We will generally adjudicate cases for bona fide determinations in receipt date order, starting with the oldest pending petitions that have not already gone through a waiting list adjudication as of June 14, 2021.

Q5. I filed a petition for U nonimmigrant status several years ago. Will my petition now go through 3 different adjudications: bona fide determination, waiting list, and final adjudication? What happens if I was already placed on the waiting list before this policy was issued?

A5.  Principal petitioners and qualifying family members will not all go through 3 different adjudications. As of June 14, 2021, we began adjudicating pending, non-waitlisted petitions filed by noncitizens living in the United States in receipt date order for bona fide determinations.

If a principal petitioner has a bona fide petition, merits a favorable exercise of discretion, and has filed their Form I-765, we will issue the principal petitioner a bona fide determination EAD and deferred action. We will place their petition in the queue in receipt date order to wait for final adjudication for U nonimmigrant status. These petitioners will not have to go through a waiting list adjudication unless new, adverse information impacts their ability to maintain a bona fide determination EAD.

Principal petitioners who we determine will not receive a bona fide determination EAD and deferred action will receive waiting list adjudication. If a principal petitioner receives waiting list adjudication, qualifying family members will also receive waiting list adjudication.

Principal petitioners and their qualifying family members placed on the waiting list before June 14, 2021, do not need to go through the bona fide determination process because they already can receive an EAD and deferred action. Petitioners placed on the waiting list before June 14, 2021, will be adjudicated for U nonimmigrant status in receipt date order at the same time as petitioners who received bona fide determination EADs and deferred action.

Q6. How are bona fide determinations for principal petitioners different from qualifying family members?

A6. A qualifying family member will not have access to a bona fide determination review unless and until the principal petitioner receives a bona fide determination. We will first determine whether a principal petitioner living in the United States may receive a bona fide determination before we make a bona fide determination for any associated qualifying family member living in the United States. A principal petition is bona fide if:

• The principal petitioner properly filed  Form I-918 ;
• The principal petitioner included a properly completed law enforcement certification ( Form I-918 Supplement B, U Nonimmigrant Status Certification );
• The principal petitioner included a personal statement describing the facts of the victimization; and
• We received the results of the principal petitioner’s background and security checks based on biometrics.

We then assess the principal petitioner’s eligibility for a bona fide determination by considering whether they merit a positive exercise of discretion, including consideration of national security or public safety risks.

After the principal petitioner receives a bona fide determination , we will evaluate the petitions of any qualifying family members living in the United States to assess whether they are eligible to receive a bona fide determination.

If the principal petitioner receives a bona fide determination, this does not guarantee a qualifying family member living in the United States will receive a bona fide determination . The record must independently demonstrate the qualifying family member’s  Form I-918, Supplement A, Petition for Qualifying Family Member of U-1 Recipient , is bona fide. A  qualifying family member’s petition is bona fide if:

• The principal petitioner receives a bona fide determination;
• The petitioner has properly filed  Form I-918, Supplement A ;
• The petition includes credible evidence of the qualifying family relationship; and
• We receive the results of the qualifying family member’s background and security checks based on biometrics.

As with principal petitioners, we then consider whether the qualifying family member living in the United States merits a favorable exercise of discretion to receive a bona fide determination.

For more information on the bona fide determination process for principal petitioners, please see the USCIS Policy Manual Appendix:  Bona Fide Determination Process Flowchart (PDF, 95.1 KB) . For more information on the bona fide determination process for qualifying family members, please see  Chapter 5: Bona Fide Determination, A. Bona Fide Determination, 2. Qualifying Family Members .

Q7. What do I need to file to receive a bona fide determination EAD?

A7.  We will initiate bona fide determination adjudication of pending petitions not already placed on the waiting list. Principal petitioners, qualifying family members, and counsel do not need to take any action.

We are reviewing pending petitions filed by petitioners living in the United States in receipt date order. Petitioners will not need to submit an additional request. We will send petitioners a notice to file a Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization , if they have not done so already.

Q8. I did not previously file Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization, with my U visa petition. What should I do?

A8. We encourage petitioners to submit a  Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization , concurrently with their Form I-918 or Form I-918A. This will enable us to act efficiently on their case when it is current for consideration under the bona fide determination process. Please note that there is no fee for an initial bona fide determination EAD.

If you have a pending Form I-918 or Form I-918A and have not already submitted a  Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization , please submit Form I-765 now to the appropriate address in the “Where to File” section on the Form I-918 webpage.

If a petitioner has already filed Form I-765 under  8 CFR 274a.12(a)(19), (a)(20) or (c)(14)  and we determined they will receive a bona fide determination EAD and deferred action, they will not need to submit another Form I-765. For additional information, please see  Chapter 5: Bona Fide Determination, C. Adjudicative Process, 2. Previously Filed Form I-765 for Bona Fide Determination Process . Q9. Can petitioners still file Forms I-918 and I-765 together, or should we wait until USCIS issues a bona fide determination notice?

A9.  We recommend that principal petitioners and their qualifying family members file Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization with their initial filings. Principal petitioners and qualifying family members may file a Form I-765 under a (c)(14) category for a bona fide determination EAD or if their petition is placed on the waiting list.

Q10. I am a new petitioner. Do I need to submit a fee or a fee waiver with my Form I-765 for the waiting list (under 8 CFR (c)(14))? Do I need to submit a fee or a fee waiver for the bona fide determination EAD?

A10.  Generally, we do not charge a fee to file certain victim-based and humanitarian benefit requests, including  Form I-918 , and the initial  Form I-765  associated with this form.

If a petitioner (principal petitioner or qualifying family member) does not file their Form I-765 concurrently with their Form I-918 and we determine they may receive a bona fide determination EAD, we will issue a notice indicating that they have received a bona fide determination, merit a favorable exercise of discretion, and may receive a bona fide determination EAD if they file Form I-765.

Petitioners do not need to submit a filing fee for the initial  Form I-765  associated with the bona fide determination EAD. While we do not charge a filing fee for the initial Form I-765 requesting a bona fide determination EAD, a petitioner will need to submit the appropriate fee or fee waiver request if they choose to renew their bona fide determination EAD.

Petitioners do not need to submit a filing fee for the initial Form I-765 associated with waiting list placement. Petitioners do need to submit the appropriate fee or fee waiver if they choose to renew their waiting list placement EAD.

Q11. Do I need to submit proof of economic necessity or file a Form I-765 worksheet?

A11.  No, principal petitioners and their qualifying family members do not need to submit proof of economic necessity or file a Form I-765 worksheet to receive a bona fide determination EAD.

Q12. I received a bona fide determination notice from the Vermont Service Center, but I live in California and the website says I should send my Form I-765 to Nebraska. What should I do? A12.  Please follow the directions included in the bona fide determination notice. For example, if you received a bona fide determination notice from the Vermont Service Center, send your Form I-765 to the Vermont Service Center.

Q13. Will you refund my filing fee if my Form I-765 under 8 CFR (a)(20) or (c)(14) is converted to a bona fide determination EAD?

A13.  We cannot refund the filing fee for a previously submitted Form I-765 filed under 8 CFR (a)(20) and (c)(14). Petitioners do not need to submit a filing fee for the initial Form I-765 associated with a bona fide determination EAD or EAD based on waiting list placement. Petitioners do need to submit the appropriate fee or fee waiver if they choose to renew their bona fide determination EAD or waiting list placement EAD.

Q14. Will I have an opportunity to submit additional information so I can receive a bona fide determination EAD?

A14.  When we determine a principal petitioner will not be granted a bona fide determination EAD and deferred action, we will issue a Request for Evidence (RFE) stating that we will not grant a bona fide determination EAD and deferred action and request the additional evidence we need for the waiting list adjudication.

Consequently, a principal petitioner who does not receive a bona fide determination EAD and deferred action still is able to obtain employment authorization and a grant of deferred action through waiting list placement, if they are found eligible for U nonimmigrant status but for the annual statutory cap. If we determine that the principal petitioner can be placed on the waiting list, that decision generally does not affect the timeline in which we adjudicate the petition for final determination of U nonimmigrant status. A determination that a petitioner (principal petitioner or qualifying family member) will not receive a bona fide determination EAD and deferred action is not a denial of Form I-918 (or Form I-918A) or the initial Form I-765.

Q15. My family member was living outside of the United States when I filed my Form I-918. Does that mean my family member will not receive a bona fide determination? Do I need to request the bona fide determination and submit Form I-765 now that they are in the United States?

A15.  The bona fide determination process is for principal petitioners and their qualifying family members living in the United States. We will generally adjudicate cases for bona fide determinations in receipt date order, starting with the oldest pending petitions that did not already go through a waiting list adjudication as of June 14, 2021.

We will initiate bona fide determination adjudications for pending petitions that are not already on the waiting list without any action required by principal petitioners, qualifying family members, or counsel. We first determine whether the principal petitioner may receive a bona fide determination. After the principal petitioner receives a bona fide determination, we then determine if the qualifying family member living in the United States may receive a bona fide determination.

The goal of the bona fide determination process is to address the significant increases in the volume of U nonimmigrant petitions and the backlog of petitions awaiting placement on the waiting list or final adjudication. All principal petitioners residing in the United States are considered for bona fide determination review, as this review saves limited agency resources and provides interim benefits to the greatest number of petitioners in a more efficient time frame. USCIS encourages the use of lawful, safe, and orderly processes for entering the United States.

If the qualifying family member has updated their current address with USCIS to show they are residing in the United States, we will review their petition for a bona fide determination EAD and no further action will be necessary. If a qualifying family member updates their current address with USCIS to show they are residing in the United States after the principal petitioner receives a bona fide determination, then there may be delays in the bona fide determination review process for the qualifying family member given workload and resource priorities. If the principal petitioner does not live in the United States when we review their petition, we will perform a waiting list adjudication.

Follow the instructions at the How to Change Your Address webpage to update your address for Form I-918 or Form I-918A.

Q16. How long will it take to receive my bona fide determination EAD?

A16.  We are committed to adjudicating petitions in a timely and efficient manner. You can find current processing time information at the Check Case Processing Times webpage. The time range reflects the time from receipt to when we issue either a bona fide determination notice or a notice that we will consider the petition for waiting list placement. It does not reflect the current processing times from initial receipt to the final issuance of U nonimmigrant status.

Q17. How does the bona fide determination process affect certifying officials?

A17.  The bona fide determination process does not change the role of certifying officials who complete the law enforcement certification. We evaluate whether their Form I-918, Supplement B, meets initial evidence requirements during the bona fide determination process. We then consider whether their Form I-918, Supplement B, as well as the other evidence in the record, establishes eligibility during the final adjudication of Form I-918 when visas are available under the statutory cap. A complete and properly filed Form I-918, Supplement B, is a requirement for both the bona fide determination EAD and the final adjudication of Form I-918, so we encourage certifying officials to answer all questions on the form as fully as possible.

Q18. Can I renew my bona fide determination EAD and grant of deferred action?

A18.  Generally, yes. If we do not adjudicate a principal petitioner or qualifying family member’s petition for U nonimmigrant status before the 4-year validity period of the EAD and deferred action ends, the noncitizen may apply for renewal according to the Form I-765 Instructions. If granted, the noncitizen would receive a bona fide determination EAD and grant of deferred action for another 4-year validity period.

At any point during the validity period, we have the right to revoke a bona fide determination EAD and terminate the grant of deferred action if we determine that the bona fide determination EAD and deferred action are no longer warranted, or if we issued the prior bona fide determination EAD in error. For example, we may revoke the bona fide determination EAD and terminate the grant of deferred action if the Form I-918 Supplement B is withdrawn, or if, within our discretion, we determine a national security or public safety concern is present.

For more information, please see  Chapter 5: Bona Fide Determination, A. Bona Fide Determination, 6. Request to Renew Bona Fide Determination Employment Authorization Document and Deferred Action .

Q19. How long will my bona fide determination EAD and grant of deferred action be valid?

A19.  An initial bona fide determination EAD and grant of deferred action will be valid for 4 years. The grant of deferred action will begin on the issuance date listed on your EAD. The bona fide determination process provides both a bona fide determination EAD and a grant of deferred action to petitioners who meet the criteria; you cannot get either alone.

Petitioners who do not receive a bona fide determination EAD and grant of deferred action, but who eventually receive waiting list placement, if eligible, will also receive an EAD and grant of deferred action for 4 years to promote consistency and fairness in the U program.

Q20. How does the bona fide determination process impact petitioners who are in removal proceedings?

A20.  The bona fide determination process satisfies the prima facie standard that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) previously requested in specific circumstances. The steps taken to determine whether a petition is bona fide and whether a petitioner receives a bona fide determination rely on the initial evidence submitted with a petition for U nonimmigrant status, as well as the results of background checks. We will continue to coordinate with ICE on individual cases as requested by ICE. See  Chapter 5: Bona Fide Determination, C. Adjudicative Process, 4. Prima Facie Approval .

Q21: I have seen information posted by USCIS on the Policy Manual webpage. Are there other materials that USCIS or DHS has released to the public about the bona fide determination process?

A21.  We have released the following materials:

• PM-V3-Part C: Bona Fide Determination Process
• PM-V3-Part C Appendix: Bona Fide Determination Process Flowchart (PDF, 95.1 KB)
• Victims of Criminal Activity: U Nonimmigrant Status
• USCIS Issues Policy Providing Further Protections for Victims of Crime News Release
• Twitter / Twitter-Spanish
• Facebook / Facebook-Spanish
• English/Spanish Stakeholder Message

Q22. Where else can I find more information about the bona fide determination process?

A22.  We introduced the bona fide determination process in the  USCIS Policy Manual  on June 14, 2021. You can find information on the process in  Volume 3, Part C, Chapter 5 , as well as the Special Instructions sections of our  Form I-765  and  Form I-918  pages. You can find a flowchart of the process for principal petitioners in the “appendices” tab in the USCIS Policy Manual.

Q23. How can I stay up to date on USCIS policies?

A23.  You can sign up to receive email notifications of new alerts from USCIS.

Forms and Document Downloads

Form I-918 (PDF, 665.9 KB)

Instructions for Form I-918 and Form I-918, Supplement A (PDF, 456.89 KB)

Form I-918, Supplement A, Petition for Qualifying Family Member of U-1 Recipient (PDF, 666.32 KB)

Form I-918, Supplement B, U Nonimmigrant Status Certification (PDF, 404.36 KB)

Instructions for Form I-918, Supplement B (PDF, 287.08 KB)

Form Details

04/01/24 . Starting June 3, 2024, we will accept only the 04/01/24 edition of Form I-918 and Form I-918, Supplement A. Until then, you can also use the 12/06/21 edition. Starting Nov. 12, 2024, we will only accept the 04/01/24 edition of Form I-918, Supplement B. Until then, you can also use the 12/06/21 edition. From June 3, 2024, to Nov. 11, 2024, we will accept the 04/01/24 edition of Form I-918 that is filed with either the 12/06/21 or the 04/01/24 edition of Form I-918, Supplement B.

Dates are listed in mm/dd/yy format.

If you complete and print this form to mail it, make sure that the form edition date and page numbers are visible at the bottom of all pages and that all pages are from the same form edition. If any of the form’s pages are missing or are from a different form edition, we may reject your form.

If you need help downloading and printing forms, read our instructions . 

You can find the filing fee for Form I-918 by visiting our Fee Schedule page.

Please do not submit this checklist with your Form I-918. The checklist is an optional tool to use as you prepare your form, but does not replace statutory, regulatory, and form instruction requirements. We recommend that you review these requirements before completing and submitting your form. Do not send original documents unless specifically requested in the form instructions or applicable regulations.

If you submit any documents (copies or original documents, if requested) in a foreign language, you must include a full English translation along with a certification from the translator verifying that the translation is complete and accurate, and that they are competent to translate from the foreign language into English.

Did you provide the following?

• Your completed Supplement B Certification;
• Evidence you are the victim of qualifying criminal activity;
• Evidence you have suffered substantial physical or mental abuse;
• Evidence you possess information concerning criminal activity, and that the criminal activity is qualifying and violated United States law or occurred in the United States;
• Evidence you have been, are being, or are likely to be helpful to a certifying official in the investigation or prosecution of qualifying criminal activity;
• A personal statement;
• If you are inadmissible, an application for a waiver of inadmissibility on Form I-192, Application for Advance Permission to Enter as a Nonimmigrant ; and
• Credible documentation of the claimed relationship;
• An explanation of why required documents are not available (if applicable); and
• If your qualifying family member is inadmissible, Form I-192.

Filing Tips:  Review our  Tips for Filing Forms by Mail  page for information on how to ensure we will accept your form.

Do not forget to sign your form. We will reject and return any unsigned form.

Principal U Nonimmigrants: You are authorized to work once we have approved your underlying petitions for U nonimmigrant status. We will automatically issue an Employment Authorization Document (EAD) when we approve your petition. You do not need to file a separate Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization , to receive an EAD related to the approval of your petition for nonimmigrant status.

Derivative U Nonimmigrants: If you reside inside the United States, you are authorized to work once we approve the derivative petition for U nonimmigrant status. However, you will not automatically receive an EAD. You must file Form I-765 to request an EAD related to the approval of your derivative petition.

We can only issue employment authorization for principal and derivative petitioners after we approve the underlying U nonimmigrant status petition, regardless of when you file Form I-765.

Statutory Cap: If the statutory cap is reached in a fiscal year, we will use the bona fide determination process and waiting list process as described below.

Bona Fide Determination:  If you live in the United States, you may receive employment authorization and deferred action if you have a pending bona fide petition and warrant a favorable exercise of discretion. If you have not yet filed Form I-918, you may submit your Form I-765 with your Form I-918 petition. If you have a pending Form I-918 or Form I-918A and have not already submitted Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization , please submit a Form I-765 now to the appropriate address in the “Where to File” section.

Waiting List:  If you do not receive employment authorization and deferred action through the bona fide determination process, we will review your petition for the waiting list under 8 CFR 214.14(d)(2). Petitioners for U nonimmigrant status and derivatives in the United States who are granted deferred action under this provision can apply for an EAD based on deferred action. We will only approve these EADs after DHS has deferred action in your case, regardless of when you file Form I-765.

• U Nonimmigrant Status Program Updates

How To Write a Cover Letter for Your Form I-130 (Petition for Alien Relative) Application

To get a family-based green card, you need to submit Form I-130 and supporting documents to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and pay the required fees. It’s a good idea to include a cover letter with your application as well. It can help keep everything organized and gives you a chance to highlight anything in your application that USCIS should know about. This article explains what a cover letter for a family-based green card application is and the elements it should include. It also includes a template you can use to write your own.

Written by Jonathan Petts .  Updated May 17, 2023

What Is a Form I-130 Cover Letter?

You’ll need to file Form I-130 : Petition for Alien Relative if you are a U.S. citizen or green card holder who wants your family member to obtain lawful permanent resident status. You may petition on behalf of an immediate relative, such as a spouse, sibling , or parent. You may file this petition for your relatives even if they are outside of the United States. If they are abroad when you file, you’ll need to use the direct consular filing process instead of the U.S.-based adjustment of status process .

Though not required, many immigrants, sponsors, and immigration lawyers choose to include cover letters to preface a USCIS application. A cover letter is a short letter where you may introduce yourself, describe your background, list your application components, and state the specific immigration status or benefit you, your relative, or your client is seeking.

As a sponsor completing Form I-130, you can write a cover letter to explain your relationship with the immigrant applicant. You can also address any questions or unusual circumstances about your relationship. Writing a cover letter can also help you double-check whether you’ve included everything you need in the application. By writing a complete list of the documents in your package, you’ll be able to see if there’s any application component you’re missing.

Is a Cover Letter Required for My Family Green Card Application?

USCIS does not require a cover letter to process the I-130 petition. However, a cover letter can be beneficial. When sponsoring your relative to adjust status, you can use a cover letter to explain you and your relative’s circumstances to USCIS. USCIS can better understand and evaluate your application given the greater context a cover letter provides.

If there is anything unusual about you and your relative’s relationship, a cover letter also gives you the space to address these concerns. For example, if you are estranged from or have not seen your relative in a long time, you may want to use part of the cover letter to explain your situation to USCIS. You can explain why you have not been in contact for a long time and how getting a green card for your relative would help rebuild your relationship. By giving them greater clarity on circumstances like this, you can make it easier for USCIS to process your application.

What Should My Form I-130 Application Cover Letter Include?

You should begin your Form I-130 cover letter with a heading and greeting. Your heading should provide USCIS officials with your mailing address, your name, and your foreign relative’s name. Your introduction should then explain your reasons for writing this cover letter. Use your introduction to give USCIS a basic overview of your relationship and tell them you are sponsoring your relative’s green card application.

Checklist of Information To Include in Form I-130 Cover Letter

USCIS will find it most helpful if you include the following information in your cover letter:

Your contact information

The USCIS address to which you’re sending this letter

Your full name as the petitioner

Your relative’s full name as the beneficiary

A note stating which form and status you are filing an application for

A list of all the supporting documents you’ve included in this package, in bullet points:

Your birth certificate

Your relative’s passport, which must be valid for at least six months beyond their intended date of entry into the United States.

Two passport-style photographs that meet Department of State requirements . You and your relative must take two photos each within 30 days of filing.

You and your relative should each provide supporting documents relating to your address and employment histories for the last five years.

Your relative should also provide their I-94 information if they are present in the United States. If USCIS has involved your relative in any previous immigration proceedings, you’ll also need to disclose this.

If petitioning for your spouse, you’ll need to provide your marriage certificate. You must also prove that any of your prior marriages are legally terminated. For example, you may provide a divorce decree or a deceased spouse’s death certificate. Be sure to provide the date of termination if applicable.

When petitioning for a spouse, you’ll also need to prove that you have a bona fide marriage , meaning that your marriage is genuine. You may prove this by providing documents that show you have shared liabilities, assets, insurance, tax filings, children together, or other shared commitments.

Your signature and the date

Finally, you should conclude your letter by thanking USCIS for their consideration of your relative’s case. Be sure to sign and date the letter before enclosing it in the application package.

Filing Fee and Address Information for the Form I-130 Application

You may either file Form I-130 and your cover letter online or through a direct filing address in the mail. When filing, you’ll also need to include the $535 filing fee for this form. You may pay this fee with a money order, personal check, or cashier’s check. You should make any checks payable to the “U.S. Department of Homeland Security.” 

When filing at a USCIS lockbox, you also have the option to pay by credit card. To pay with a credit card, you’ll need to file Form G-1450 : Authorization for Credit Card Transactions.

Note that if you are using the direct consular filing process, you’ll need to work with your local U.S. embassy or consulate to determine fees. Your embassy may also require different documentation when considering your application.

Form I-130 Cover Letter Template

You may use the following template for guidance when writing your USCIS Form I-130 cover letter. However, be sure to edit each field to reflect your own situation. The sample cover letter below is for a marriage green card. However, marriage green cards are not the only family-based green cards. You can also petition for other immediate relatives. To double-check whether you may petition for a certain relative, visit USCIS’s page on Form I-130 .

You should replace each [bracketed field] with personalized information. To access an editable version of the Form I-130 cover letter sample below, you can make a copy of this sample cover letter for Form I-130 .

Your immigrant relative will be known as the “beneficiary” in this visa petition. You, the U.S. citizen sponsoring your immigrant relative, are the “petitioner.” Note that you must be a U.S. citizen or green card holder to successfully sponsor your foreign relative’s immigrant visa application.

[Preparer Street Address]

[Preparer City, State  ZIP code]

[Relevant USCIS mailing address]

RE:[Marriage Green Card Application]

Beneficiary:[Immigrant’s Full Name]

Petitioner:[Sponsor’s Full Name]

To Whom It May Concern:

Enclosed, please find my [Marriage Green Card Application] for [Immigrant’s Full Name], the beneficiary, and [Sponsor’s Full Name], the petitioner and [U.S. citizen spouse] of the beneficiary. 

The following documents accompany and support this application:

Filing Fee Payments

Check for [Current Fee Amount] for Form I-130

Check for [Current Fee Amount] for Form I-485

Check for [Current Fee Amount] for Biometrics

Form G-1450 (credit card charge authorization if you completed one)

Form G-1145 (e-notice authorization if you requested them in our system)

Petitioner’s Form I-130

[List of supporting documents]

Beneficiary’s Form I-130A (if this application is for a Marriage Green Card)

Beneficiary’s Form I-485

Petitioner’s I-864 petition

Beneficiary’s Form I-944

Beneficiary’s Form I-693

Beneficiary’s Form I-765

Beneficiary’s Form I-131

If you have any questions or concerns, please call me at [(000) 000-0000].  Thank you very much for your prompt consideration of my [Marriage Green Card Application].

[Immigrant’s Full Name]

Tips for Writing Your Family Green Card Cover Letter

When writing your cover letter, be sure to write as clearly and concisely as possible. USCIS will find it more helpful for a letter to have a clear summary of your application materials than for a letter to be too detailed in unnecessary areas. Be sure to use bullet points when laying out your application contents in the supporting documents category.

Within your letter, be sure to mention that any documents you’ve provided are accurate and true. You should also note that these documents are acceptable for USCIS, meaning that they are unaltered, original documents or photocopies. If you need to include any certified translations in your application, you should also mention this and note that you’ve included both the original non-English and translated documents.

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10 Personal Statement Essay Examples That Worked

What’s covered:, what is a personal statement.

• Essay 1: Summer Program
• Essay 2: Being Bangladeshi-American
• Essay 3: Why Medicine
• Essay 4: Love of Writing
• Essay 5: Starting a Fire
• Essay 6: Dedicating a Track
• Essay 7: Body Image and Eating Disorders
• Essay 8: Becoming a Coach
• Essay 9: Eritrea
• Essay 10: Journaling
• Is Your Personal Statement Strong Enough?

Your personal statement is any essay that you must write for your main application, such as the Common App Essay , University of California Essays , or Coalition Application Essay . This type of essay focuses on your unique experiences, ideas, or beliefs that may not be discussed throughout the rest of your application. This essay should be an opportunity for the admissions officers to get to know you better and give them a glimpse into who you really are.

In this post, we will share 10 different personal statements that were all written by real students. We will also provide commentary on what each essay did well and where there is room for improvement, so you can make your personal statement as strong as possible!

Please note: Looking at examples of real essays students have submitted to colleges can be very beneficial to get inspiration for your essays. You should never copy or plagiarize from these examples when writing your own essays. Colleges can tell when an essay isn’t genuine and will not view students favorably if they plagiarized. 

Personal Statement Examples

Essay example #1: exchange program.

The twisting roads, ornate mosaics, and fragrant scent of freshly ground spices had been so foreign at first. Now in my fifth week of the SNYI-L summer exchange program in Morocco, I felt more comfortable in the city. With a bag full of pastries from the market, I navigated to a bus stop, paid the fare, and began the trip back to my host family’s house. It was hard to believe that only a few years earlier my mom was worried about letting me travel around my home city on my own, let alone a place that I had only lived in for a few weeks. While I had been on a journey towards self-sufficiency and independence for a few years now, it was Morocco that pushed me to become the confident, self-reflective person that I am today.

As a child, my parents pressured me to achieve perfect grades, master my swim strokes, and discover interesting hobbies like playing the oboe and learning to pick locks. I felt compelled to live my life according to their wishes. Of course, this pressure was not a wholly negative factor in my life –– you might even call it support. However, the constant presence of my parents’ hopes for me overcame my own sense of desire and led me to become quite dependent on them. I pushed myself to get straight A’s, complied with years of oboe lessons, and dutifully attended hours of swim practice after school. Despite all these achievements, I felt like I had no sense of self beyond my drive for success. I had always been expected to succeed on the path they had defined. However, this path was interrupted seven years after my parents’ divorce when my dad moved across the country to Oregon.

I missed my dad’s close presence, but I loved my new sense of freedom. My parents’ separation allowed me the space to explore my own strengths and interests as each of them became individually busier. As early as middle school, I was riding the light rail train by myself, reading maps to get myself home, and applying to special academic programs without urging from my parents. Even as I took more initiatives on my own, my parents both continued to see me as somewhat immature. All of that changed three years ago, when I applied and was accepted to the SNYI-L summer exchange program in Morocco. I would be studying Arabic and learning my way around the city of Marrakesh. Although I think my parents were a little surprised when I told them my news, the addition of a fully-funded scholarship convinced them to let me go.

I lived with a host family in Marrakesh and learned that they, too, had high expectations for me. I didn’t know a word of Arabic, and although my host parents and one brother spoke good English, they knew I was there to learn. If I messed up, they patiently corrected me but refused to let me fall into the easy pattern of speaking English just as I did at home. Just as I had when I was younger, I felt pressured and stressed about meeting their expectations. However, one day, as I strolled through the bustling market square after successfully bargaining with one of the street vendors, I realized my mistake. My host family wasn’t being unfair by making me fumble through Arabic. I had applied for this trip, and I had committed to the intensive language study. My host family’s rules about speaking Arabic at home had not been to fulfill their expectations for me, but to help me fulfill my expectations for myself. Similarly, the pressure my parents had put on me as a child had come out of love and their hopes for me, not out of a desire to crush my individuality.

As my bus drove through the still-bustling market square and past the medieval Ben-Youssef madrasa, I realized that becoming independent was a process, not an event. I thought that my parents’ separation when I was ten had been the one experience that would transform me into a self-motivated and autonomous person. It did, but that didn’t mean that I didn’t still have room to grow. Now, although I am even more self-sufficient than I was three years ago, I try to approach every experience with the expectation that it will change me. It’s still difficult, but I understand that just because growth can be uncomfortable doesn’t mean it’s not important.

What the Essay Did Well

This is a nice essay because it delves into particular character trait of the student and how it has been shaped and matured over time. Although it doesn’t focus the essay around a specific anecdote, the essay is still successful because it is centered around this student’s independence. This is a nice approach for a personal statement: highlight a particular trait of yours and explore how it has grown with you.

The ideas in this essay are universal to growing up—living up to parents’ expectations, yearning for freedom, and coming to terms with reality—but it feels unique to the student because of the inclusion of details specific to them. Including their oboe lessons, the experience of riding the light rail by themselves, and the negotiations with a street vendor helps show the reader what these common tropes of growing up looked like for them personally. 

Another strength of the essay is the level of self-reflection included throughout the piece. Since there is no central anecdote tying everything together, an essay about a character trait is only successful when you deeply reflect on how you felt, where you made mistakes, and how that trait impacts your life. The author includes reflection in sentences like “ I felt like I had no sense of self beyond my drive for success, ” and “ I understand that just because growth can be uncomfortable doesn’t mean it’s not important. ” These sentences help us see how the student was impacted and what their point of view is.

What Could Be Improved

The largest change this essay would benefit from is to show not tell. The platitude you have heard a million times no doubt, but for good reason. This essay heavily relies on telling the reader what occurred, making us less engaged as the entire reading experience feels more passive. If the student had shown us what happens though, it keeps the reader tied to the action and makes them feel like they are there with the student, making it much more enjoyable to read. 

For example, they tell us about the pressure to succeed their parents placed on them: “ I pushed myself to get straight A’s, complied with years of oboe lessons, and dutifully attended hours of swim practice after school.”  They could have shown us what that pressure looked like with a sentence like this: “ My stomach turned somersaults as my rattling knee thumped against the desk before every test, scared to get anything less than a 95. For five years the painful squawk of the oboe only reminded me of my parents’ claps and whistles at my concerts. I mastered the butterfly, backstroke, and freestyle, fighting against the anchor of their expectations threatening to pull me down.”

If the student had gone through their essay and applied this exercise of bringing more detail and colorful language to sentences that tell the reader what happened, the essay would be really great. 

Table of Contents

Essay Example #2: Being Bangladeshi-American

Life before was good: verdant forests, sumptuous curries, and a devoted family.

Then, my family abandoned our comfortable life in Bangladesh for a chance at the American dream in Los Angeles. Within our first year, my father was diagnosed with thyroid cancer. He lost his battle three weeks before my sixth birthday. Facing a new country without the steady presence of my father, we were vulnerable — prisoners of hardship in the land of the free. We resettled in the Bronx, in my uncle’s renovated basement. It was meant to be our refuge, but I felt more displaced than ever. Gone were the high-rise condos of West L.A.; instead, government projects towered over the neighborhood. Pedestrians no longer smiled and greeted me; the atmosphere was hostile, even toxic. Schoolkids were quick to pick on those they saw as weak or foreign, hurling harsh words I’d never heard before.

Meanwhile, my family began integrating into the local Bangladeshi community. I struggled to understand those who shared my heritage. Bangladeshi mothers stayed home while fathers drove cabs and sold fruit by the roadside — painful societal positions. Riding on crosstown buses or walking home from school, I began to internalize these disparities. During my fleeting encounters with affluent Upper East Siders, I saw kids my age with nannies, parents who wore suits to work, and luxurious apartments with spectacular views. Most took cabs to their destinations: cabs that Bangladeshis drove. I watched the mundane moments of their lives with longing, aching to plant myself in their shoes. Shame prickled down my spine. I distanced myself from my heritage, rejecting the traditional panjabis worn on Eid and refusing the torkari we ate for dinner every day. 

As I grappled with my relationship with the Bangladeshi community, I turned my attention to helping my Bronx community by pursuing an internship with Assemblyman Luis Sepulveda. I handled desk work and took calls, spending the bulk of my time actively listening to the hardships constituents faced — everything from a veteran stripped of his benefits to a grandmother unable to support her bedridden grandchild.

I’d never exposed myself to stories like these, and now I was the first to hear them. As an intern, I could only assist in what felt like the small ways — pointing out local job offerings, printing information on free ESL classes, reaching out to non-profits. But to a community facing an onslaught of intense struggles, I realized that something as small as these actions could have vast impacts. Seeing the immediate consequences of my actions inspired me. Throughout that summer, I internalized my community’s daily challenges in a new light. I began to stop seeing the prevalent underemployment and cramped living quarters less as sources of shame. Instead, I saw them as realities that had to be acknowledged, but could ultimately be remedied. I also realized the benefits of the Bangladeshi culture I had been so ashamed of. My Bangla language skills were an asset to the office, and my understanding of Bangladeshi etiquette allowed for smooth communication between office staff and its constituents. As I helped my neighbors navigate city services, I saw my heritage with pride — a perspective I never expected to have.

I can now appreciate the value of my unique culture and background, and of living with less. This perspective offers room for progress, community integration, and a future worth fighting for. My time with Assemblyman Sepulveda’s office taught me that I can be a change agent in enabling this progression. Far from being ashamed of my community, I want to someday return to local politics in the Bronx to continue helping others access the American Dream. I hope to help my community appreciate the opportunity to make progress together. By embracing reality, I learned to live it. Along the way, I discovered one thing: life is good, but we can make it better.

This student’s passion for social justice and civic duty shines through in this essay because of how honest it is. Sharing their personal experience with immigrating, moving around, being an outsider, and finding a community allows us to see the hardships this student has faced and builds empathy towards their situation. However, what really makes it strong is that they go beyond describing the difficulties they faced and explain the mental impact it had on them as a child: Shame prickled down my spine. I distanced myself from my heritage, rejecting the traditional panjabis worn on Eid and refusing the torkari we ate for dinner every day. 

The rejection of their culture presented at the beginning of the essay creates a nice juxtaposition with the student’s view in the latter half of the essay and helps demonstrate how they have matured. They use their experience interning as a way to delve into a change in their thought process about their culture and show how their passion for social justice began. Using this experience as a mechanism to explore their thoughts and feelings is an excellent example of how items that are included elsewhere on your application should be incorporated into your essay.

This essay prioritizes emotions and personal views over specific anecdotes. Although there are details and certain moments incorporated throughout to emphasize the author’s points, the main focus remains on the student and how they grapple with their culture and identity.  

One area for improvement is the conclusion. Although the forward-looking approach is a nice way to end an essay focused on social justice, it would be nice to include more details and imagery in the conclusion. How does the student want to help their community? What government position do they see themselves holding one day? 

A more impactful ending might look like the student walking into their office at the New York City Housing Authority in 15 years and looking at the plans to build a new development in the Bronx just blocks away from where the grew up that would provide quality housing to people in their Bangladeshi community. They would smile while thinking about how far they have come from that young kid who used to be ashamed of their culture. 

Essay Example #3: Why Medicine

I took my first trip to China to visit my cousin Anna in July of 2014. Distance had kept us apart, but when we were together, we fell into all of our old inside jokes and caught up on each other’s lives. Her sparkling personality and optimistic attitude always brought a smile to my face. This time, however, my heart broke when I saw the effects of her brain cancer; she had suffered from a stroke that paralyzed her left side. She was still herself in many ways, but I could see that the damage to her brain made things difficult for her. I stayed by her every day, providing the support she needed, whether assisting her with eating and drinking, reading to her, or just watching “Friends.” During my flight back home, sorrow and helplessness overwhelmed me. Would I ever see Anna again? Could I have done more to make Anna comfortable? I wished I could stay in China longer to care for her. As I deplaned, I wondered if I could transform my grief to help other children and teenagers in the US who suffered as Anna did.

The day after I got home, as jet lag dragged me awake a few minutes after midnight, I remembered hearing about the Family Reach Foundation (FRF) and its work with children going through treatments at the local hospital and their families. I began volunteering in the FRF’s Children’s Activity Room, where I play with children battling cancer. Volunteering has both made me appreciate my own health and also cherish the new relationships I build with the children and families. We play sports, make figures out of playdoh, and dress up. When they take on the roles of firefighters or fairies, we all get caught up in the game; for that time, they forget the sanitized, stark, impersonal walls of the pediatric oncology ward. Building close relationships with them and seeing them giggle and laugh is so rewarding — I love watching them grow and get better throughout their course of treatment.

Hearing from the parents about their children’s condition and seeing the children recover inspired me to consider medical research. To get started, I enrolled in a summer collegelevel course in Abnormal Psychology. There I worked with Catelyn, a rising college senior, on a data analysis project regarding Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID). Together, we examined the neurological etiology of DID by studying four fMRI and PET cases. I fell in love with gathering data and analyzing the results and was amazed by our final product: several stunning brain images showcasing the areas of hyper and hypoactivity in brains affected by DID. Desire quickly followed my amazement — I want to continue this project and study more brains. Their complexity, delicacy, and importance to every aspect of life fascinate me. Successfully completing this research project gave me a sense of hope; I know I am capable of participating in a large scale research project and potentially making a difference in someone else’s life through my research.

Anna’s diagnosis inspired me to begin volunteering at FRF; from there, I discovered my desire to help people further by contributing to medical research. As my research interest blossomed, I realized that it’s no coincidence that I want to study brains—after all, Anna suffered from brain cancer. Reflecting on these experiences this past year and a half, I see that everything I’ve done is connected. Sadly, a few months after I returned from China, Anna passed away. I am still sad, but as I run a toy truck across the floor and watch one of the little patients’ eyes light up, I imagine that she would be proud of my commitment to pursue medicine and study the brain.

This essay has a very strong emotional core that tugs at the heart strings and makes the reader feel invested. Writing about sickness can be difficult and doesn’t always belong in a personal statement, but in this case it works well because the focus is on how this student cared for her cousin and dealt with the grief and emotions surrounding her condition. Writing about the compassion she showed and the doubts and concerns that filled her mind keeps the focus on the author and her personality. 

This continues when she again discusses the activities she did with the kids at FRF and the personal reflection this experience allowed her to have. For example, she writes: Volunteering has both made me appreciate my own health and also cherish the new relationships I build with the children and families. We play sports, make figures out of playdoh, and dress up.

Concluding the essay with the sad story of her cousin’s passing brings the essay full circle and returns to the emotional heart of the piece to once again build a connection with the reader. However, it finishes on a hopeful note and demonstrates how this student has been able to turn a tragic experience into a source of lifelong inspiration. 

One thing this essay should be cognizant of is that personal statements should not read as summaries of your extracurricular resume. Although this essay doesn’t fully fall into that trap, it does describe two key extracurriculars the student participated in. However, the inclusion of such a strong emotional core running throughout the essay helps keep the focus on the student and her thoughts and feelings during these activities.

To avoid making this mistake, make sure you have a common thread running through your essay and the extracurriculars provide support to the story you are trying to tell, rather than crafting a story around your activities. And, as this essay does, make sure there is lots of personal reflection and feelings weaved throughout to focus attention to you rather than your extracurriculars. 

Essay Example #4: Love of Writing

“I want to be a writer.” This had been my answer to every youthful discussion with the adults in my life about what I would do when I grew up. As early as elementary school, I remember reading my writing pieces aloud to an audience at “Author of the Month” ceremonies. Bearing this goal in mind, and hoping to gain some valuable experience, I signed up for a journalism class during my freshman year. Despite my love for writing, I initially found myself uninterested in the subject and I struggled to enjoy the class. When I thought of writing, I imagined lyrical prose, profound poetry, and thrilling plot lines. Journalism required a laconic style and orderly structure, and I found my teacher’s assignments formulaic and dull. That class shook my confidence as a writer. I was uncertain if I should continue in it for the rest of my high school career.

Despite my misgivings, I decided that I couldn’t make a final decision on whether to quit journalism until I had some experience working for a paper outside of the classroom. The following year, I applied to be a staff reporter on our school newspaper. I hoped this would help me become more self-driven and creative, rather than merely writing articles that my teacher assigned. To my surprise, my time on staff was worlds away from what I experienced in the journalism class. Although I was unaccustomed to working in a fast-paced environment and initially found it burdensome to research and complete high-quality stories in a relatively short amount of time, I also found it exciting. I enjoyed learning more about topics and events on campus that I did not know much about; some of my stories that I covered in my first semester concerned a chess tournament, a food drive, and a Spanish immersion party. I relished in the freedom I had to explore and learn, and to write more independently than I could in a classroom.

Although I enjoyed many aspects of working for the paper immediately, reporting also pushed me outside of my comfort zone. I am a shy person, and speaking with people I did not know intimidated me. During my first interview, I met with the basketball coach to prepare for a story about the team’s winning streak. As I approached his office, I felt everything from my toes to my tongue freeze into a solid block, and I could hardly get out my opening questions. Fortunately, the coach was very kind and helped me through the conversation. Encouraged, I prepared for my next interview with more confidence. After a few weeks of practice, I even started to look forward to interviewing people on campus. That first journalism class may have bored me, but even if journalism in practice was challenging, it was anything but tedious.

Over the course of that year, I grew to love writing for our school newspaper. Reporting made me aware of my surroundings, and made me want to know more about current events on campus and in the town where I grew up. By interacting with people all over campus, I came to understand the breadth of individuals and communities that make up my high school. I felt far more connected to diverse parts of my school through my work as a journalist, and I realized that journalism gave me a window into seeing beyond my own experiences. The style of news writing may be different from what I used to think “writing” meant, but I learned that I can still derive exciting plots from events that may have gone unnoticed if not for my stories. I no longer struggle to approach others, and truly enjoy getting to know people and recognizing their accomplishments through my writing. Becoming a writer may be a difficult path, but it is as rewarding as I hoped when I was young.

This essay is clearly structured in a manner that makes it flow very nicely and contributes to its success. It starts with a quote to draw in the reader and show this student’s life-long passion for writing. Then it addresses the challenges of facing new, unfamiliar territory and how this student overcame it. Finally, it concludes by reflecting on this eye-opening experience and a nod to their younger self from the introduction. Having a well-thought out and sequential structure with clear transitions makes it extremely easy for the reader to follow along and take away the main idea.

Another positive aspect of the essay is the use of strong and expressive language. Sentences like “ When I thought of writing, I imagined lyrical prose, profound poetry, and thrilling plot lines ” stand out because of the intentional use of words like “lyrical”, “profound”, and “thrilling” to convey the student’s love of writing. The author also uses an active voice to capture the readers’ attention and keep us engaged. They rely on their language and diction to reveal details to the reader, for instance saying “ I felt everything from my toes to my tongue freeze into a solid block ” to describe feeling nervous.

This essay is already very strong, so there isn’t much that needs to be changed. One thing that could take the essay from great to outstanding would be to throw in more quotes, internal dialogue, and sensory descriptors.

It would be nice to see the nerves they felt interviewing the coach by including dialogue like “ Um…I want to interview you about…uh…”.  They could have shown their original distaste for journalism by narrating the thoughts running through their head. The fast-paced environment of their newspaper could have come to life with descriptions about the clacking of keyboards and the whirl of people running around laying out articles.

Essay Example #5: Starting a Fire

Was I no longer the beloved daughter of nature, whisperer of trees? Knee-high rubber boots, camouflage, bug spray—I wore the garb and perfume of a proud wild woman, yet there I was, hunched over the pathetic pile of stubborn sticks, utterly stumped, on the verge of tears. As a child, I had considered myself a kind of rustic princess, a cradler of spiders and centipedes, who was serenaded by mourning doves and chickadees, who could glide through tick-infested meadows and emerge Lyme-free. I knew the cracks of the earth like the scars on my own rough palms. Yet here I was, ten years later, incapable of performing the most fundamental outdoor task: I could not, for the life of me, start a fire. 

Furiously I rubbed the twigs together—rubbed and rubbed until shreds of skin flaked from my fingers. No smoke. The twigs were too young, too sticky-green; I tossed them away with a shower of curses, and began tearing through the underbrush in search of a more flammable collection. My efforts were fruitless. Livid, I bit a rejected twig, determined to prove that the forest had spurned me, offering only young, wet bones that would never burn. But the wood cracked like carrots between my teeth—old, brittle, and bitter. Roaring and nursing my aching palms, I retreated to the tent, where I sulked and awaited the jeers of my family. 

Rattling their empty worm cans and reeking of fat fish, my brother and cousins swaggered into the campsite. Immediately, they noticed the minor stick massacre by the fire pit and called to me, their deep voices already sharp with contempt. 

“Where’s the fire, Princess Clara?” they taunted. “Having some trouble?” They prodded me with the ends of the chewed branches and, with a few effortless scrapes of wood on rock, sparked a red and roaring flame. My face burned long after I left the fire pit. The camp stank of salmon and shame. 

In the tent, I pondered my failure. Was I so dainty? Was I that incapable? I thought of my hands, how calloused and capable they had been, how tender and smooth they had become. It had been years since I’d kneaded mud between my fingers; instead of scaling a white pine, I’d practiced scales on my piano, my hands softening into those of a musician—fleshy and sensitive. And I’d gotten glasses, having grown horrifically nearsighted; long nights of dim lighting and thick books had done this. I couldn’t remember the last time I had lain down on a hill, barefaced, and seen the stars without having to squint. Crawling along the edge of the tent, a spider confirmed my transformation—he disgusted me, and I felt an overwhelming urge to squash him. 

Yet, I realized I hadn’t really changed—I had only shifted perspective. I still eagerly explored new worlds, but through poems and prose rather than pastures and puddles. I’d grown to prefer the boom of a bass over that of a bullfrog, learned to coax a different kind of fire from wood, having developed a burn for writing rhymes and scrawling hypotheses. 

That night, I stayed up late with my journal and wrote about the spider I had decided not to kill. I had tolerated him just barely, only shrieking when he jumped—it helped to watch him decorate the corners of the tent with his delicate webs, knowing that he couldn’t start fires, either. When the night grew cold and the embers died, my words still smoked—my hands burned from all that scrawling—and even when I fell asleep, the ideas kept sparking—I was on fire, always on fire.

This student is an excellent writer, which allows a simple story to be outstandingly compelling. The author articulates her points beautifully and creatively through her immense use of details and figurative language. Lines like “a rustic princess, a cradler of spiders and centipedes, who was serenaded by mourning doves and chickadees,” and “rubbed and rubbed until shreds of skin flaked from my fingers,” create vivid images that draw the reader in. 

The flowery and descriptive prose also contributes to the nice juxtaposition between the old Clara and the new Clara. The latter half of the essay contrasts elements of nature with music and writing to demonstrate how natural these interests are for her now. This sentence perfectly encapsulates the contrast she is trying to build: “It had been years since I’d kneaded mud between my fingers; instead of scaling a white pine, I’d practiced scales on my piano, my hands softening into those of a musician—fleshy and sensitive.”

In addition to being well-written, this essay is thematically cohesive. It begins with the simple introduction “Fire!” and ends with the following image: “When the night grew cold and the embers died, my words still smoked—my hands burned from all that scrawling—and even when I fell asleep, the ideas kept sparking—I was on fire, always on fire.” This full-circle approach leaves readers satisfied and impressed.

There is very little this essay should change, however one thing to be cautious about is having an essay that is overly-descriptive. We know from the essay that this student likes to read and write, and depending on other elements of her application, it might make total sense to have such a flowery and ornate writing style. However, your personal statement needs to reflect your voice as well as your personality. If you would never use language like this in conversation or your writing, don’t put it in your personal statement. Make sure there is a balance between eloquence and your personal voice.

Essay Example #6: Dedicating a Track

“Getting beat is one thing – it’s part of competing – but I want no part in losing.” Coach Rob Stark’s motto never fails to remind me of his encouragement on early-morning bus rides to track meets around the state. I’ve always appreciated the phrase, but an experience last June helped me understand its more profound, universal meaning.

Stark, as we affectionately call him, has coached track at my high school for 25 years. His care, dedication, and emphasis on developing good character has left an enduring impact on me and hundreds of other students. Not only did he help me discover my talent and love for running, but he also taught me the importance of commitment and discipline and to approach every endeavor with the passion and intensity that I bring to running. When I learned a neighboring high school had dedicated their track to a longtime coach, I felt that Stark deserved similar honors.

Our school district’s board of education indicated they would only dedicate our track to Stark if I could demonstrate that he was extraordinary. I took charge and mobilized my teammates to distribute petitions, reach out to alumni, and compile statistics on the many team and individual champions Stark had coached over the years. We received astounding support, collecting almost 3,000 signatures and pages of endorsements from across the community. With help from my teammates, I presented this evidence to the board.

They didn’t bite. 

Most members argued that dedicating the track was a low priority. Knowing that we had to act quickly to convince them of its importance, I called a team meeting where we drafted a rebuttal for the next board meeting. To my surprise, they chose me to deliver it. I was far from the best public speaker in the group, and I felt nervous about going before the unsympathetic board again. However, at that second meeting, I discovered that I enjoy articulating and arguing for something that I’m passionate about.

Public speaking resembles a cross country race. Walking to the starting line, you have to trust your training and quell your last minute doubts. When the gun fires, you can’t think too hard about anything; your performance has to be instinctual, natural, even relaxed. At the next board meeting, the podium was my starting line. As I walked up to it, familiar butterflies fluttered in my stomach. Instead of the track stretching out in front of me, I faced the vast audience of teachers, board members, and my teammates. I felt my adrenaline build, and reassured myself: I’ve put in the work, my argument is powerful and sound. As the board president told me to introduce myself, I heard, “runners set” in the back of my mind. She finished speaking, and Bang! The brief silence was the gunshot for me to begin. 

The next few minutes blurred together, but when the dust settled, I knew from the board members’ expressions and the audience’s thunderous approval that I had run quite a race. Unfortunately, it wasn’t enough; the board voted down our proposal. I was disappointed, but proud of myself, my team, and our collaboration off the track. We stood up for a cause we believed in, and I overcame my worries about being a leader. Although I discovered that changing the status quo through an elected body can be a painstakingly difficult process and requires perseverance, I learned that I enjoy the challenges this effort offers. Last month, one of the school board members joked that I had become a “regular” – I now often show up to meetings to advocate for a variety of causes, including better environmental practices in cafeterias and safer equipment for athletes.

Just as Stark taught me, I worked passionately to achieve my goal. I may have been beaten when I appealed to the board, but I certainly didn’t lose, and that would have made Stark proud.

This essay effectively conveys this student’s compassion for others, initiative, and determination—all great qualities to exemplify in a personal statement!

Although they rely on telling us a lot of what happened up until the board meeting, the use of running a race (their passion) as a metaphor for public speaking provides a lot of insight into the fear that this student overcame to work towards something bigger than themself. Comparing a podium to the starting line, the audience to the track, and silence to the gunshot is a nice way of demonstrating this student’s passion for cross country running without making that the focus of the story.

The essay does a nice job of coming full circle at the end by explaining what the quote from the beginning meant to them after this experience. Without explicitly saying “ I now know that what Stark actually meant is…” they rely on the strength of their argument above to make it obvious to the reader what it means to get beat but not lose. 

One of the biggest areas of improvement in the intro, however, is how the essay tells us Stark’s impact rather than showing us: His care, dedication, and emphasis on developing good character has left an enduring impact on me and hundreds of other students. Not only did he help me discover my talent and love for running, but he also taught me the importance of commitment and discipline and to approach every endeavor with the passion and intensity that I bring to running.

The writer could’ve helped us feel a stronger emotional connection to Stark if they had included examples of Stark’s qualities, rather than explicitly stating them. For example, they could’ve written something like: Stark was the kind of person who would give you gas money if you told him your parents couldn’t afford to pick you up from practice. And he actually did that—several times. At track meets, alumni regularly would come talk to him and tell him how he’d changed their lives. Before Stark, I was ambivalent about running and was on the JV team, but his encouragement motivated me to run longer and harder and eventually make varsity. Because of him, I approach every endeavor with the passion and intensity that I bring to running.

Essay Example #7: Body Image and Eating Disorders

I press the “discover” button on my Instagram app, hoping to find enticing pictures to satisfy my boredom. Scrolling through, I see funny videos and mouth-watering pictures of food. However, one image stops me immediately. A fit teenage girl with a “perfect body” relaxes in a bikini on a beach. Beneath it, I see a slew of flattering comments. I shake with disapproval over the image’s unrealistic quality. However, part of me still wants to have a body like hers so that others will make similar comments to me.

I would like to resolve a silent issue that harms many teenagers and adults: negative self image and low self-esteem in a world where social media shapes how people view each other. When people see the façades others wear to create an “ideal” image, they can develop poor thought patterns rooted in negative self-talk. The constant comparisons to “perfect” others make people feel small. In this new digital age, it is hard to distinguish authentic from artificial representations.

When I was 11, I developed anorexia nervosa. Though I was already thin, I wanted to be skinny like the models that I saw on the magazine covers on the grocery store stands. Little did I know that those models probably also suffered from disorders, and that photoshop erased their flaws. I preferred being underweight to being healthy. No matter how little I ate or how thin I was, I always thought that I was too fat. I became obsessed with the number on the scale and would try to eat the least that I could without my parents urging me to take more. Fortunately, I stopped engaging in anorexic behaviors before middle school. However, my underlying mental habits did not change. The images that had provoked my disorder in the first place were still a constant presence in my life.

By age 15, I was in recovery from anorexia, but suffered from depression. While I used to only compare myself to models, the growth of social media meant I also compared myself to my friends and acquaintances. I felt left out when I saw my friends’ excitement about lake trips they had taken without me. As I scrolled past endless photos of my flawless, thin classmates with hundreds of likes and affirming comments, I felt my jealousy spiral. I wanted to be admired and loved by other people too. However, I felt that I could never be enough. I began to hate the way that I looked, and felt nothing in my life was good enough. I wanted to be called “perfect” and “body goals,” so I tried to only post at certain times of day to maximize my “likes.” When that didn’t work, I started to feel too anxious to post anything at all.  

Body image insecurities and social media comparisons affect thousands of people – men, women, children, and adults – every day. I am lucky – after a few months of my destructive social media habits, I came across a video that pointed out the illusory nature of social media; many Instagram posts only show off good things while people hide their flaws. I began going to therapy, and recovered from my depression. To address the problem of self-image and social media, we can all focus on what matters on the inside and not what is on the surface. As an effort to become healthy internally, I started a club at my school to promote clean eating and radiating beauty from within. It has helped me grow in my confidence, and today I’m not afraid to show others my struggles by sharing my experience with eating disorders. Someday, I hope to make this club a national organization to help teenagers and adults across the country. I support the idea of body positivity and embracing difference, not “perfection.” After all, how can we be ourselves if we all look the same?

This essay covers the difficult topics of eating disorders and mental health. If you’re thinking about covering similar topics in your essay, we recommend reading our post Should You Talk About Mental Health in College Essays?

The short answer is that, yes, you can talk about mental health, but it can be risky. If you do go that route, it’s important to focus on what you learned from the experience.

The strength of this essay is the student’s vulnerability, in excerpts such as this: I wanted to be admired and loved by other people too. However, I felt that I could never be enough. I began to hate the way that I looked, and felt nothing in my life was good enough. I wanted to be called “perfect” and “body goals,” so I tried to only post at certain times of day to maximize my “likes.”

The student goes on to share how they recovered from their depression through an eye-opening video and therapy sessions, and they’re now helping others find their self-worth as well. It’s great that this essay looks towards the future and shares the writer’s goals of making their club a national organization; we can see their ambition and compassion.

The main weakness of this essay is that it doesn’t focus enough on their recovery process, which is arguably the most important part. They could’ve told us more about the video they watched or the process of starting their club and the interactions they’ve had with other members. Especially when sharing such a vulnerable topic, there should be vulnerability in the recovery process too. That way, the reader can fully appreciate all that this student has overcome.

Essay Example #8: Becoming a Coach

”Advanced females ages 13 to 14 please proceed to staging with your coaches at this time.” Skittering around the room, eyes wide and pleading, I frantically explained my situation to nearby coaches. The seconds ticked away in my head; every polite refusal increased my desperation.

Despair weighed me down. I sank to my knees as a stream of competitors, coaches, and officials flowed around me. My dojang had no coach, and the tournament rules prohibited me from competing without one.

Although I wanted to remain strong, doubts began to cloud my mind. I could not help wondering: what was the point of perfecting my skills if I would never even compete? The other members of my team, who had found coaches minutes earlier, attempted to comfort me, but I barely heard their words. They couldn’t understand my despair at being left on the outside, and I never wanted them to understand.

Since my first lesson 12 years ago, the members of my dojang have become family. I have watched them grow up, finding my own happiness in theirs. Together, we have honed our kicks, blocks, and strikes. We have pushed one another to aim higher and become better martial artists. Although my dojang had searched for a reliable coach for years, we had not found one. When we attended competitions in the past, my teammates and I had always gotten lucky and found a sympathetic coach. Now, I knew this practice was unsustainable. It would devastate me to see the other members of my dojang in my situation, unable to compete and losing hope as a result. My dojang needed a coach, and I decided it was up to me to find one.

I first approached the adults in the dojang – both instructors and members’ parents. However, these attempts only reacquainted me with polite refusals. Everyone I asked told me they couldn’t devote multiple weekends per year to competitions. I soon realized that I would have become the coach myself.

At first, the inner workings of tournaments were a mystery to me. To prepare myself for success as a coach, I spent the next year as an official and took coaching classes on the side. I learned everything from motivational strategies to technical, behind-the-scenes components of Taekwondo competitions. Though I emerged with new knowledge and confidence in my capabilities, others did not share this faith.

Parents threw me disbelieving looks when they learned that their children’s coach was only a child herself. My self-confidence was my armor, deflecting their surly glances. Every armor is penetrable, however, and as the relentless barrage of doubts pounded my resilience, it began to wear down. I grew unsure of my own abilities.

Despite the attack, I refused to give up. When I saw the shining eyes of the youngest students preparing for their first competition, I knew I couldn’t let them down. To quit would be to set them up to be barred from competing like I was. The knowledge that I could solve my dojang’s longtime problem motivated me to overcome my apprehension.

Now that my dojang flourishes at competitions, the attacks on me have weakened, but not ended. I may never win the approval of every parent; at times, I am still tormented by doubts, but I find solace in the fact that members of my dojang now only worry about competing to the best of their abilities.

Now, as I arrive at a tournament with my students, I close my eyes and remember the past. I visualize the frantic search for a coach and the chaos amongst my teammates as we competed with one another to find coaches before the staging calls for our respective divisions. I open my eyes to the exact opposite scene. Lacking a coach hurt my ability to compete, but I am proud to know that no member of my dojang will have to face that problem again.

This essay begins with an in-the-moment narrative that really illustrates the chaos of looking for a coach last-minute. We feel the writer’s emotions, particularly her dejectedness, at not being able to compete. Starting an essay in media res  is a great way to capture the attention of your readers and build anticipation for what comes next.

Through this essay, we can see how gutsy and determined the student is in deciding to become a coach themselves. She shows us these characteristics through their actions, rather than explicitly telling us: To prepare myself for success as a coach, I spent the next year as an official and took coaching classes on the side.  Also, by discussing the opposition she faced and how it affected her, the student is open and vulnerable about the reality of the situation.

The essay comes full circle as the author recalls the frantic situations in seeking out a coach, but this is no longer a concern for them and their team. Overall, this essay is extremely effective in painting this student as mature, bold, and compassionate.

The biggest thing this essay needs to work on is showing not telling. Throughout the essay, the student tells us that she “emerged with new knowledge and confidence,” she “grew unsure of her own abilities,” and she “refused to give up”. What we really want to know is what this looks like.

Instead of saying she “emerged with new knowledge and confidence” she should have shared how she taught a new move to a fellow team-member without hesitation. Rather than telling us she “grew unsure of her own abilities” she should have shown what that looked like by including her internal dialogue and rhetorical questions that ran through her mind. She could have demonstrated what “refusing to give up” looks like by explaining how she kept learning coaching techniques on her own, turned to a mentor for advice, or devised a plan to win over the trust of parents. 

Essay Example #9: Eritrea

No one knows where Eritrea is.

On the first day of school, for the past nine years, I would pensively stand in front of a class, a teacher, a stranger  waiting for the inevitable question: Where are you from?

I smile politely, my dimples accentuating my ambiguous features. “Eritrea,” I answer promptly and proudly. But I  am always prepared. Before their expression can deepen into confusion, ready to ask “where is that,” I elaborate,  perhaps with a fleeting hint of exasperation, “East Africa, near Ethiopia.”

Sometimes, I single out the key-shaped hermit nation on a map, stunning teachers who have “never had a student  from there!” Grinning, I resist the urge to remark, “You didn’t even know it existed until two minutes ago!”

Eritrea is to the East of Ethiopia, its arid coastline clutches the lucrative Red Sea. Battle scars litter the ancient  streets – the colonial Italian architecture lathered with bullet holes, the mosques mangled with mortar shells.  Originally part of the world’s first Christian kingdom, Eritrea passed through the hands of colonial Italy, Britain, and  Ethiopia for over a century, until a bloody thirty year war of Independence liberated us.

But these are facts that anyone can know with a quick Google search. These are facts that I have memorised and compounded, first from my Grandmother and now from pristine books  borrowed from the library.

No historical narrative, however, can adequately capture what Eritrea is.  No one knows the aroma of bushels of potatoes, tomatoes, and garlic – still covered in dirt – that leads you to the open-air market. No one knows the poignant scent of spices, arranged in orange piles reminiscent of compacted  dunes.  No one knows how to haggle stubborn herders for sheep and roosters for Christmas celebrations as deliberately as my mother. No one can replicate the perfect balance of spices in dorho and tsebhi as well as my grandmother,  her gnarly hands stirring the pot with ancient precision (chastising my clumsy knife work with the potatoes).  It’s impossible to learn when the injera is ready – the exact moment you have to lift the lid of the mogogo. Do it too  early (or too late) and the flatbread becomes mangled and gross. It is a sixth sense passed through matriarchal  lineages.

There are no sources that catalogue the scent of incense that wafts through the sunlit porch on St. Michael’s; no  films that can capture the luminescence of hundreds of flaming bonfires that fluoresce the sidewalks on Kudus  Yohannes, as excited children chant Ge’ez proverbs whose origin has been lost to time.  You cannot learn the familiarity of walking beneath the towering Gothic figure of the Enda Mariam Cathedral, the  crowds undulating to the ringing of the archaic bells.  I have memorized the sound of the rains hounding the metal roof during kiremti , the heat of the sun pounding  against the Toyota’s window as we sped down towards Ghinda , the opulent brilliance of the stars twinkling in a  sky untainted by light pollution, the scent of warm rolls of bani wafting through the streets at precisely 6 o’clock each day…

I fill my flimsy sketchbook with pictures from my memory. My hand remembers the shapes of the hibiscus drifting  in the wind, the outline of my grandmother (affectionately nicknamed a’abaye ) leaning over the garden, the bizarre architecture of the Fiat Tagliero .  I dice the vegetables with movements handed down from generations. My nose remembers the scent of frying garlic, the sourness of the warm tayta , the sharpness of the mit’mt’a …

This knowledge is intrinsic.  “I am Eritrean,” I repeat. “I am proud.”  Within me is an encyclopedia of history, culture, and idealism.

Eritrea is the coffee made from scratch, the spices drying in the sun, the priests and nuns. Eritrea is wise, filled with ambition, and unseen potential.  Eritrea isn’t a place, it’s an identity.

This is an exceptional essay that provides a window into this student’s culture that really makes their love for their country and heritage leap off the page. The sheer level of details and sensory descriptors this student is able to fit in this space makes the essay stand out. From the smells, to the traditions, sounds, and sights, the author encapsulates all the glory of Eritrea for the reader. 

The vivid images this student is able to create for the reader, whether it is having the tedious conversation with every teacher or cooking in their grandmother’s kitchen, transports us into the story and makes us feel like we are there in the moment with the student. This is a prime example of an essay that shows , not tells.

Besides the amazing imagery, the use of shorter paragraphs also contributes to how engaging this essay is. Employing this tactic helps break up the text to make it more readable and it isolates ideas so they stick out more than if they were enveloped in a large paragraph.

Overall, this is a really strong essay that brings to life this student’s heritage through its use of vivid imagery. This essay exemplifies what it means to show not tell in your writing, and it is a great example of how you can write an intimate personal statement without making yourself the primary focus of your essay. 

There is very little this essay should improve upon, but one thing the student might consider would be to inject more personal reflection into their response. Although we can clearly take away their deep love and passion for their homeland and culture, the essay would be a bit more personal if they included the emotions and feelings they associate with the various aspects of Eritrea. For example, the way their heart swells with pride when their grandmother praises their ability to cook a flatbread or the feeling of serenity when they hear the bells ring out from the cathedral. Including personal details as well as sensory ones would create a wonderful balance of imagery and reflection.

Essay Example #10: Journaling

Flipping past dozens of colorful entries in my journal, I arrive at the final blank sheet. I press my pen lightly to the page, barely scratching its surface to create a series of loops stringing together into sentences. Emotions spill out, and with their release, I feel lightness in my chest. The stream of thoughts slows as I reach the bottom of the page, and I gently close the cover of the worn book: another journal finished.

I add the journal to the stack of eleven books on my nightstand. Struck by the bittersweet sensation of closing a chapter of my life, I grab the notebook at the bottom of the pile to reminisce.

“I want to make a flying mushen to fly in space and your in it” – October 2008

Pulling back the cover of my first Tinkerbell-themed diary, the prompt “My Hopes and Dreams” captures my attention. Though “machine” is misspelled in my scribbled response, I see the beginnings of my past obsession with outer space. At the age of five, I tore through novels about the solar system, experimented with rockets built from plastic straws, and rented Space Shuttle films from Blockbuster to satisfy my curiosities. While I chased down answers to questions as limitless as the universe, I fell in love with learning. Eight journals later, the same relentless curiosity brought me to an airplane descending on San Francisco Bay.

“I wish I had infinite sunsets” – July 2019

I reach for the charcoal notepad near the top of the pile and open to the first page: my flight to the Stanford Pre-Collegiate Summer Institutes. While I was excited to explore bioengineering, anxiety twisted in my stomach as I imagined my destination, unsure of whether I could overcome my shyness and connect with others.

With each new conversation, the sweat on my palms became less noticeable, and I met students from 23 different countries. Many of the moments where I challenged myself socially revolved around the third story deck of the Jerry house. A strange medley of English, Arabic, and Mandarin filled the summer air as my friends and I gathered there every evening, and dialogues at sunset soon became moments of bliss. In our conversations about cultural differences, the possibility of an afterlife, and the plausibility of far-fetched conspiracy theories, I learned to voice my opinion. As I was introduced to different viewpoints, these moments challenged my understanding of the world around me. In my final entries from California, I find excitement to learn from others and increased confidence, a tool that would later allow me to impact my community.

“The beauty in a tower of cans” – June 2020

Returning my gaze to the stack of journals, I stretch to take the floral-patterned book sitting on top. I flip through, eventually finding the beginnings of the organization I created during the outbreak of COVID-19. Since then, Door-to-Door Deliveries has woven its way through my entries and into reality, allowing me to aid high-risk populations through free grocery delivery.

With the confidence I gained the summer before, I took action when seeing others in need rather than letting my shyness hold me back. I reached out to local churches and senior centers to spread word of our services and interacted with customers through our website and social media pages. To further expand our impact, we held two food drives, and I mustered the courage to ask for donations door-to-door. In a tower of canned donations, I saw the value of reaching out to help others and realized my own potential to impact the world around me.

I delicately close the journal in my hands, smiling softly as the memories reappear, one after another. Reaching under my bed, I pull out a fresh notebook and open to its first sheet. I lightly press my pen to the page, “And so begins the next chapter…”

The structuring of this essay makes it easy and enjoyable to read. The student effectively organizes their various life experiences around their tower of journals, which centers the reader and makes the different stories easy to follow. Additionally, the student engages quotes from their journals—and unique formatting of the quotes—to signal that they are moving in time and show us which memory we should follow them to.

Thematically, the student uses the idea of shyness to connect the different memories they draw out of their journals. As the student describes their experiences overcoming shyness at the Stanford Pre-Collegiate Summer Institutes and Door-to-Door Deliveries, this essay can be read as an Overcoming Obstacles essay.

At the end of this essay, readers are fully convinced that this student is dedicated (they have committed to journaling every day), thoughtful (journaling is a thoughtful process and, in the essay, the student reflects thoughtfully on the past), and motivated (they flew across the country for a summer program and started a business). These are definitely qualities admissions officers are looking for in applicants!

Although this essay is already exceptionally strong as it’s written, the first journal entry feels out of place compared to the other two entries that discuss the author’s shyness and determination. It works well for the essay to have an entry from when the student was younger to add some humor (with misspelled words) and nostalgia, but if the student had either connected the quote they chose to the idea of overcoming a fear present in the other two anecdotes or if they had picked a different quote all together related to their shyness, it would have made the entire essay feel more cohesive.

Where to Get Your Personal Statement Edited

Do you want feedback on your personal statement? After rereading your essays countless times, it can be difficult to evaluate your writing objectively. That’s why we created our free Peer Essay Review tool , where you can get a free review of your essay from another student. You can also improve your own writing skills by reviewing other students’ essays. 

If you want a college admissions expert to review your essay, advisors on CollegeVine have helped students refine their writing and submit successful applications to top schools. Find the right advisor for you to improve your chances of getting into your dream school!

Next Step: Supplemental Essays

Essay Guides for Each School

How to Write a Stellar Extracurricular Activity College Essay

4 Tips for Writing a Diversity College Essay

How to Write the “Why This College” Essay

Related CollegeVine Blog Posts

Clinical psychology

Psychotherapy, personality, cover letter for an immigration officer (5 samples).

As a BetterHelp affiliate, we may receive compensation from BetterHelp if you purchase products or services through the links provided.

Samples of immigration officer cover letters

To get an immigration officer position, you need a well-written cover letter that showcases your passion for and dedication to the industry. When writing an immigration officer cover letter, these are some of the essential things to include in your letter:

I have a proven track record of success in my previous roles as an Immigration Officer. I have successfully adjudicated hundreds of applications for various types of visas, including family-based petitions, work visas, and asylum cases. I have also been responsible for managing a caseload of more than 100 active cases at any given time.

City, State, Zip Code

I also gained experience researching the background of immigrants to determine their eligibility to make sure they do not pose any safety risk for the country. My research abilities also help to locate illegal immigrants that have already entered the country so they can be deported.

I have the communication skills and the interpersonal skills to communicate with all agencies from the local to the international level. I have critical thinking skills with the ability to solve problems as they arise. I am also very perceptive and I have the ability to make good decisions in a moment’s notice if necessary.

I have taken self-defense classes and weapons training classes that have helped to prepare me for this position. I am physically and mentally fit to hold this job and I am ready to put my skills and training to work for the country.

You can contact me for an interview by calling (555)-555-5555 and I hope to discuss the details of this position with you soon.

“Dear hiring manager,

I am writing to express my interest in the Immigration Officer position that is currently available at your company. I believe that my extensive experience as an immigration officer, coupled with my education and training, makes me a strong candidate for this position.

I have been working as an immigration officer since 2005. My first job was at the U.S. Embassy in Mexico City, where I worked for three years. In 2008, I moved to the U.S. Embassy in Bogota, Colombia, where I worked for another three years. In 2011, I was promoted to Senior Immigration Officer and transferred to the U.S. Embassy in Buenos Aires, Argentina. I have been working there ever since.

I would like to thank you for considering me for this position and hope that we can arrange a meeting so that we can discuss my qualifications in greater detail.”

Frequently Asked Questions:

What is the role of an immigration officer.

An immigration officer interviews people who want to enter or stay in the country, and also investigates businesses and individuals who violate immigration laws.

How do I write a cover letter for a visa officer?

If you like this blog post, please leave your comments and questions below.

https://www.immisearch.ca/post/immigration-cover-letter-template

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Related posts, cover letter for hse position (5 samples), cover letter for lunch monitor (5 samples), cover letter for dnata equipment operator(5 samples).

• Table of Contents
• Preface & Acknowledgements
• Acronyms & Abbreviations
• 1. A Brief History
• 2. Sources of Law
• 3. Elements of Asylum Law
• 4. Precedential LGBTQ/H Asylum Cases
• 5. The One-Year Filing Deadline
• 6. Withholding of Removal
• 7. Relief Under CAT
• 8. Voluntary Departure
• 9. Real ID Act
• 10. Safe Third Country
• 11. Challenging Asylum Cases
• 12. Working with Asylum Seekers
• 13. Working with LGBTQ/H Asylum Seekers
• 14. Elements of an Application
• 15. Preparing the I-589
• 16. Sample I-589
• 17. Preparing the Asylum Declaration
• 18. Declaration Dos and Don’ts

19. Annotated Sample Declaration

• 20. Corroborating Client-Specific Documents
• 21. Corroborating Country Conditions
• 22. Indexed Country Conditions Sample
• 23. Sample Cover Letter
• 24. Assembling Everything
• 25. Affirmative Application Process
• 26. Immigration Court Proceedings
• 27. Board of Immigration Appeals
• 28. Federal Court Review
• 29. Detained Asylum Seekers
• 30. Obtaining an Employment Authorization Document
• 31. Asylee Status
• 32. Withholding Status
• 33. CAT Status
• Important Resources

The information contained herein is for reference only and may not be up to date. It does not constitute legal advice. You should always consult an attorney regarding your matter.

SAMPLE DECLARATION

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY CITIZENSHIP AND IMMIGRATION SERVICES ASYLUM OFFICE LYNDHURST, NEW JERSEY IN THE MATTER OF: JOAO DOE

STATEMENT IN SUPPORT OF APPLICATION FOR POLITICAL ASYLUM

I, Joao Doe, declare under the penalty of perjury, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. sec. 1546, that the following is true and correct:

» Practice pointer: The declaration should begin with a brief introduction which lays out the basis of the asylum claim.

1. My name is Joao Doe. I was born on February 23, 1975 in Sao Bernardo do Campo, a suburb of Sao Paulo Brazil, and I am a thirty year old native and citizen of Brazil.

2. I am a gay man. In Brazil, there was and is such intense hatred and violence against actual or suspected homosexuals by the government, its police, death squads and society that I had to flee to the United States. As a gay man, I suffered public ridicule, beatings, and sexual abuse by police and prisoners. I struggled through my childhood and adolescence to hide my homosexuality, fearing rejection, violence and abuse from the police and others merely because I was different.

» Practice pointer: In general it is best to the use the term “gay man” or “lesbian” rather than “homosexual” as a self-definition. It is okay to use the terms interchangeably in the body of the declaration, but the noun “homosexual,” especially in the phrase, “I am a homosexual” sounds very clinical and has a slightly negative connotation.

3. Although I arrived in the United States on July 7, 2001, I was just diagnosed with HIV on July 18, 2005. In my country, people with HIV and AIDS are called AIDS carriers and mistreated by the government and society. There is much blame against gays for AIDS and therefore they perceive male persons with AIDS as homosexuals and mistreat them more. The fact that I am a gay man living with HIV makes me a greater target for future mistreatment in my country. While I have always been afraid to return to Brazil, now that I know that I am also HIV-positive, I am certain that returning to Brazil would be a death sentence. Because of this enormous change in my situation, I am now filing for asylum.

» Practice pointer: If the applicant has missed the one year filing deadline, this will certainly be an issue in the case. It is therefore important to address the issue head on.

» Practice pointer: Bold face point headings help make the declaration readable for the adjudicator.

» Practice pointer: Although childhood mistreatment will almost never, in and of itself, be sufficient to win an asylum claim, it is important for the adjudicator to have as full an understanding of what the applicant’s life was like in his country as possible.

4. I am the fourth of eight brothers and sisters. My father is a shoe repairman and my mother, a housewife. I was more effeminate than most young boys growing up. As a kid, my classmates ridiculed me at school and on the streets shouting “menina” (“girl”) or “viado” (“faggot.”) They’d sometimes shove me when we were at the playground.

» Practice pointer: When detailing specific bad names or incidents with name calling, it’s best to write out the exact word in the language in which it was spoken (or written) and include the English translation directly afterwards.

5. I remember one incident in particular. When I was maybe nine or ten years old, around 1985, I was walking home from a school and a group of boys were playing soccer. When I was walking by they stopped playing and whispered to each other and then asked me if I wanted to play with them. I was nervous because I wasn’t a very good player, but I was so happy to be asked to join in, that I put down my books and ran over to join them. As soon as I made it over to the players, one of them pushed me to the ground and said that soccer wasn’t a game for “viados” and that if wanted to join the game, I could be the ball. Then they all started kicking me, and I curled up to avoid getting hit on the head, and they were all laughing, “look he even looks like a ball.” At one point they were all laughing so hard, I had the chance to get up and run away.

6. I ran all the way home. I remember trying so hard not to cry in front of the boys when they were kicking me, but as soon as I got away, I couldn’t help crying and crying. In my rush to escape, I left my books behind. I was too ashamed to tell my family what had happened and I lied to my teacher about losing my books.

» Practice pointer: It is very important to include detailed accounts of specific incidents which the applicant recalls. It is in these details that the adjudicator can really understand what the applicant went through in the past and why the applicant fears returning. It is also easier for the adjudicator to judge the client’s credibility if there is a specific incident about which the adjudicator can elicit more details. Often applicants are reticent to discuss specific incidents and instead make broad statements like, “I was called names all the time.” Or “I was always getting beaten up.” It’s okay for the applicant to make broad statements like this, but it’s essential to also detail specific examples.

7. I was too young to understand why I was different but knew that I was not as masculine as my brothers and other boys my age. I had no friends as a boy since the other boys insulted me and didn’t want to be seen with me. I didn’t tell my family about these painful episodes because I didn’t want to alarm them and call more attention to the ways that I was different from other boys. My family avoided discussing my difference.

Adolescence

8. In 1989, when I was around thirteen or fourteen years old, I started to realize that I was physically attracted to other guys. I had always known that I was different from the other boys, and I’d always heard the name “faggot,” but it wasn’t until I was in my teens that I began to have real feelings for other guys and began to understand just what my “difference” meant.

» Practice pointer: Remember that in an asylum case based on sexual orientation, the first thing you need to prove to the adjudicator is that your client actually is gay. The best way to do this is by providing detailed information about his “coming out” process, including when he first began to realize that he was gay and when he had his first romantic relationship with another man.

9. In 1990, when I was fifteen, I began to work at a local grocery store during the day and attend school at night. Until then I had been ridiculed and ostracized because others saw that I was effeminate and therefore assumed that I was homosexual. But up to that point I had never acted on my feelings.

10. In 1991, when I was sixteen years old and still working at the grocery store, a man by the name of Jorge moved into town from a larger city and started working at the Post Office down the street from the store. In or around May, 1991, I was in the town park when Jorge approached me and persuaded me to have sexual relations with him in a dead end street. I say “persuaded” because he was much older and came from a big city and said that he was married. I felt uncomfortable having sex with someone I’d just met, but I was sixteen and had never had any sexual contact with anyone. I remember feeling really scared, but at the same time, feeling kind of relieved to finally confirm for myself that I was gay and that that’s why I’d always felt so different.

11. While I knew that this encounter in the park wasn’t going to become a lasting relationship, I never imagined what Jorge would do. After we had our encounter, Jorge told a classmate of mine, Paulo, that I had had sex with him.

12. Paulo began to blackmail me, threatening to tell everyone in school how I was in fact a “viado” (“faggot”) unless I brought him things from the store where I worked such as cigarettes, beer and food. I had no choice but to do what he told me because I was so afraid of how much worse my life would be if he told more of my classmates that I truly was homosexual.

» Practice pointer: Although purely private incidents with other students may not meet the definition of persecution (since there is no state involvement and no unsuccessful effort by the applicant to receive state protection) it is worth including these accounts because they help to paint a picture of the intolerance the applicant faces in his society.

13. Although Paulo never did tell my classmates, I spent the next two years in that school in constant fear. I was afraid of how much worse my life would be if everyone at school knew for sure that I was gay. I was also afraid that I’d get caught stealing from the store and have to explain to my boss and parents the reason I was taking things.

My Family Moves to Sao Paulo

14. In 1993, at age eighteen, my parents decided to move to Sao Paulo itself. I was relieved that we were moving because I could no longer take the ridicule and blackmail by my classmate and hoped that my life as a gay man would be better there. Once there, I did meet other gay men, and I thought that my life would be easier. However, I soon realized that in big cities the problems for gay people were even bigger as I now describe.

15. I had not yet graduated from high school and hoped that moving to a new city, I’d be able to make a new start. I still had one more year before I would graduate and thought that moving someplace new, I could leave my troubles behind me, but almost immediately, my new classmates suspected that I was gay and made my life miserable calling me not by my name but names like “bicha” (“faggot”). I was so miserable that I eventually stopped going to school.

16. I remember one occasion when I got into the classroom late, but still before the teacher came into the room. As soon as I entered the classroom, all of the other students burst into laughter. I took my seat, and tried not to look at them. Instead I looked at the board in the front of the room, where there was a drawing of a man with an erect penis having sex with a goat. An arrow pointed to the man with my name.

17. I remember opening a book and pretending to read so that I could try to ignore the other students. When the teacher came in, he started yelling at me, asking me if I’d drawn this picture, and the students all began laughing again. I was so humiliated, I just left the classroom without saying anything.

» Practice pointer: It is always best to include specific examples of mistreatment or problems which the applicant suffered. It is much more powerful for the reader to hear the details of a particular incident than for the applicant to make generalized statements like, “Other students always made fun of me.”

18. There were other times that I would remain in the classroom to avoid being publicly humiliated by the other students when I went outside. I actually filed complaints with the school director’s office. Instead of disciplining the other students, the director told me that if I would act more like a man, I would not have these problems with the other students.

» Practice pointer: It is important to state that the applicant filed complaints, if he did, because this helps show that what he suffered was not merely isolated incidents of adolescent cruelty, but rather that the institutions in his country did not protect him from this behavior.

19. Even though I only had half a year left to get my high school degree, in the winter of 1993, I dropped out of school. I remember that my mother was very disappointed because she always thought I’d go on to college and maybe become a lawyer or a doctor. Instead, I got a job working in a men’s clothing store called Armando’s.

20. I was relieved to be away from the abusive environment of the school at last, though I also felt depressed about my future. This was a hard time because I was still living with my family, but I couldn’t explain to them the real reason I left school. I just told them that there was no point to going to school and that I was old enough to earn my own money.

My First Relationship

» Practice pointer: To prove that the applicant actually is a member of the particular social group of “homosexuals,” it is important to include detailed information about relationships he had as proof of his sexual orientation.

21. After I’d been working at Armando’s for around six months, my life changed for the better. A young man came into the store looking to buy a suit, and I went over to ask him if he needed help. Immediately I felt a connection with him. I could sense him looking at me longer than he needed to and I felt nervous talking to him.

22. I helped him try on several suits. He told me his name was Ricardo and he asked me to meet him at a bar later. I remember feeling like I could barely breathe when I wrote down the address of the bar.

23. I met Ricardo later that night at a bar that was filled with men. It was the first time I’d been to a gay bar. I felt scared going in there because I knew these bars were sometimes raided by the police, but I also felt elated seeing all these gay men who were so comfortable being together.

24. As soon as I saw what kind of bar this was, I knew for sure that Ricardo was interested in me in the same way I was interested in him. Since I still lived with my family, we went to his apartment from the bar. This was an amazing night for me, to be with someone close to my age (Ricardo was 22), who seemed like he really liked me and was comfortable with being gay himself.

25. After that, Ricardo and I started to see each other regularly. This was an amazing period for me. After spending my whole life feeling like there was something wrong with me and like I’d never fit in, I finally found a person who was like me and who accepted me as I was. About nine months after I met Ricardo, in early 1995, I moved into his apartment with him.

26. I’m sure that while I was still living at home, my family had begun to understand the true nature of my relationship with Ricardo. We were together all the time. I started coming home very late, and sometimes not at all. And when we weren’t together we were talking on the phone. Although I could sense increasing tension with my family, everyone chose to ignore the situation and pretend that what they knew was happening wasn’t really happening.

27. Living with Ricardo was wonderful. We were finally free to be ourselves together without having to worry about when I’d get home or what my family might think. Knowing someone who had been “out” longer than I had was also very good for me. Ricardo introduced me to his other gay friends, and I soon had a whole circle of gay friends.

Problems with the Police

28. Even though my home life was improving, however, this didn’t mean that as a gay man I was free to live without fear in Brazil.

29. My friends and I never found peace on the streets since young heterosexual men would approach, insult and even attack us as “viados” (“faggots”) and AIDS carriers. Even then there were gangs of men who would drive by us in the plaza and throw rotten eggs, water balloons, sticks, and rocks at us shouting that we were faggots and AIDS carriers.

30. The police in Brazil, who are supposed to protect people, instead were often the most abusive towards gay people. We gay people could not defend ourselves against the police but only held our heads down and listened to them in silence. We always knew that if we made them angry, they had this special mistreatment called “telephone,” a technique where the police officer opened his two hands, lifted us his arms and brought them down hitting the person’s ears, causing intense pain and ringing in the ears.

31. I recall one night in 1996 that the police applied the telephone to my friend Claudio because they claimed that he was homosexual, out late at night and should be home and he spoke back to them.

32. Ricardo and I were at home at around 11:00 when Claudio knocked on our door, waking us up. His shirt was torn and he looked visibly shaken. I asked him what happened but he wouldn’t talk about it, he just asked if he could sleep on our couch. It wasn’t until the next morning that he told us what the police had done and about the “telephone” treatment he had received.

» Practice pointer: Since asylum claims are based on fear of future persecution as well as past persecution, it is helpful to include accounts of serious problems that other gay people the applicant knew experienced. As with the applicant’s own experiences, it’s important to include details rather than to generalize.

I Am Raped by a Policeman because I Am Gay

33. In the summer of 1996 I suffered a terrible experience which still haunts me. I was coming home at night from eating dinner out with some friends. After I’d walked a few blocks from the restaurant towards the bus stop, a man who seemed drunk approached me and told me to walk with him. I told him I did not have time and tried to walk away from him. He then grabbed me, called me “a faggot” and told me not to do anything funny because he had a gun. He forced me to walk with him all the way up a hill near a sawmill, located on the other side of the train tracks. He then pulled down his pants and forced me to perform oral sex on him at gunpoint. Afterwards, he made me take off my clothes and raped me. When he finished, he put his gun into my anus and told me to be still, otherwise he would pull the trigger. He warned me that if I told anyone, he’d kill me. He left me there at the sawmill alone, crying. I made my way home.

34. I pulled myself together before I got home, and I decided not to tell Ricardo about what had happened. To this day, I don’t really understand why I didn’t tell him. But that night I just felt dirty and used, and felt, somehow like I was at fault for this happening. I worried that Ricardo wouldn’t want to be with me any more if he knew.

35. I was angry about what happened, but I also feared reporting this experience to the authorities given his threat. After this happened, I was scared to leave my home because I was afraid I might see him again and he might abuse me sexually again. Even though I didn’t tell Ricardo what had happened, our relationship changed after this. About two months after the rape, the two of us broke up, though we remained friends. I moved out of Ricardo’s apartment and shared an apartment with another gay friend named Silvio. Silvio and I became good friends, but were never romantically involved.

» Practice pointer: It is always helpful to get affidavits or letters from the applicant’s former partner(s) confirming their relationship as another way of proving the applicant’s sexual orientation.

36. In June, I learned who the man that raped me was when I saw his photograph in the Diario Do Rio Doce newspaper. His name was Joaquim Cruz and he was an undercover member of the Policia Militar de Governador Valadares, PMGV, the military police. The newspaper reported on his death. He was killed in retaliation for having allegedly killed a young couple with a hammer. When I realized that he had been a military police officer, I was even more thankful that I did not report him to the authorities. Now that he was dead, I felt a little safer but that would not last for long.

» Practice pointer: It is always important to explain whether or not the applicant reported the mistreatment to the authorities. If the applicant did report the incident, what was the result? If the applicant did not report the incident, why not? Even when the applicant suffers harm directly from government agents (like police officers) adjudicators may want to know whether the applicant reported the incident to a higher authority within the government. The applicant should explain why he didn’t feel safe doing so, even if the reason (i.e. the police already abused him) seems obvious to him.

My Second Incident with the Police

» Practice pointer: Incidents of mistreatment directly at the hands of the government are the clearest examples of persecution. It is crucial to provide in-depth, detailed accounts of any problems the applicant experienced with the police, military or other government agencies.

37. On another occasion, in around March, 1997, at around 9:30 p.m., I was sitting in the Plaza Italia with my friends Silvio and Nelson, talking with other gay friends when all of a sudden four police cars pulled up with two police officers in each car. They said to one another, “There are the faggots” and pointed their guns at us. They ordered us to get in their cars because the Police Chief wanted to see us. We asked why but they refused to answer but said that we would soon know why. When we got to the police station, we continued to ask why we were under arrest, and the police officers continued to insult us as “viados” (“faggots”), and ordered us to shut up and behave since otherwise we would be beaten.

38. The commanding officer directed us into a room and ordered us to get undressed down to our underwear and get in a line to be processed for the cell. At the head of the line there were two police officers holding a “cacetete,” a weapon made of hard rubber with a wooden handle. They ordered us to walk by them to the cell. Each time we passed, they smacked us hard twice in the buttocks saying this was our stamp to get in the cell. Being hit by the “cacete” was very painful.

39. The commanding officer forced us into a ten foot by ten foot cell with a cement floor and six common criminals. The officer told the criminals “here come your girlfriends, rape them and do what you want with them.” He encouraged the criminals to sexually abuse us! The criminals clarified that they were in there for some time for different kinds of offenses from fights, to car thefts and drugs.

40. As soon as the officer left, the criminals attacked us, pairing up, making us perform oral sex and raping us. I cried to myself as I endured this rape by two criminals. I knew that we were outnumbered and the police condoned the criminals’ actions, so there was nothing I could do to escape.

41. At sunrise, when a guard came to the cell to check on us, we asked when we were to see the Police Chief. The guard told us that it might not be until tomorrow if he decides to take the day off. I became petrified that I was to be detained without charges indefinitely at the mercy of these criminals and their sexual abuse.

42. Thankfully a few hours later, an officer finally came to bring us from the cell to see the Police Chief. We were ordered up against the wall when the Chief came in. In front of the other officers, the Chief insulted us as “viados” (“faggots”) and asked us how we enjoyed the evening in the cell. He ordered us to walk across the room, still in our underwear, saying that we walked like faggots. He warned us that he did not want to hear anything about us or see us hanging out on the street, since the next time, we would not be released the following day but be kept in jail for our faggot ways. He then ordered us to get dressed and sent us out of the police station. “Look at the faggots walk,” the Chief and other officers laughed as we left. It was therefore now completely clear to me that the Chief and police had detained me and my friends and encouraged the criminals to sexually abuse us as punishment simply because we were gay.

43. I suffered bruises from the criminals’ rape all over, including in my rectum and I could not sit down for days from the pain. I did not seek medical attention for fear of being identified as a homosexual by the doctor and mistreated. I did not report the actions of the police since it was the police themselves who told the criminals to abuse us. I believed if I tried to make some sort of complaint, I would only be attacked again by the police. In Brazil, gay men frequently “disappear” and I feared for my life if the police thought I was a troublemaker.

» Practice pointer: If the applicant suffers an injury which requires medical treatment, it’s important to obtain the medical records. If the applicant did not seek medical treatment, it’s important to explain why not since the adjudicator may wonder why the applicant has not provided medical records otherwise.

My Third Incident with the Police

44. About one month after the arrest, on the Wednesday before Good Friday of 1997, at around 8:30 p.m., I was with my friend Silvio, and another friend, Jose, just walking down the street together, when we saw two police cars approaching. The sight of the police sent us running for our lives given the Chief’s previous threat against us if the police found us again. I could not escape too far but scrambled up a bushy tree from where I could not see much of what happened but could hear everything. I heard the police officers shout “stop!” I heard one of my friends, Jose, begging the officers to let him go because he had done nothing wrong. The police said that he looked like a faggot and that they would take him to the station. “Get in,” they shouted to him and drove off.

45. After they left, I got down from the tree thankful that I had not been discovered but panicked over what might happen to Jose. I later learned that they detained him overnight without charges. He wouldn’t speak with us about what happened to him in jail, so I suspect that he was also subjected to sexual abuse.

46. During this time, I had started to take classes at night so that I could get my high school graduation certificate. I had begun to realize that I wouldn’t have any future if I didn’t go back to school. In the fall of 1997, I began to take business classes part-time at the University of Sao Paulo while continuing to work at the clothes store.

My Fourth Incident with the Police

47. At the end of February, 1998, I went to Rio de Janeiro to spend Carnaval. On a Saturday night at around midnight, I was walking in a park with an acquaintance named David when two police officers suddenly appeared. The officers demanded to know what we were doing. We told them that we were only talking, which was the truth. The officers called us liars since no two men would go to a park just to talk. They demanded to know which of us was the “bicha” (“faggot”). We denied that we were faggots. They responded that if we did not confess, they would take both of us to jail where we would be kept until Ash Wednesday. I decided to confess since I feared the abuse we would face in jail. They ordered David to leave.

48. When I asked whether I could go now, they responded, “Not before you give us something in return.” The officers pointed their guns at me and ordered me to perform oral sex on both of them. I felt sickened to have to do this, but realized that they had guns and I was completely at their mercy. The abuse lasted around 30 minutes. Afterwards, they released me, telling me “Go, but don’t look back or you’re dead.” As I walked from the park, I shivered in fear that they would shoot me in the back even as I did not look back at them. Again, with the police themselves abusing me and threatening me, I was too afraid to try to report what happened. I didn’t want to go near a police station for fear I’d see the same officers again.

49. After this incident happened, I decided that I would try to avoid going to places where gay people gathered because I was terrified to have another encounter with the police. For the next couple of years I focused all of my energies on working during the day and going to school at night. This was a lonely time for me but I felt like my life was moving forward since I was doing well in school.

My Fifth Incident with the Police

50. It wasn’t possible for me to live my life completely without human contact, however, so one night in June, 2001, after an exam, I went out to a bar with Christian, a gay friend from the university. I was returning home late at night at around 1 a.m., when two police officers stopped me and asked where I was coming from. I told them the truth that I was coming from a bar called Los Ventos. Everyone knew that gay people met each other at this bar, so the police assumed I was gay and began to ridicule me. They told me that I was a faggot, looking to get “fucked,” and that they would take me into the station to let the prisoners have fun with me. I was terrified of being thrown in with the common criminals again and being sexually abused again, so I told them I had to get home to go to work the next morning and began to walk away. One officer took his cacetete in rage and smacked my left hand threatening me to “get out of their sight, faggot!”

51. I was so afraid, I started running. I remember that I could hardly see while I was running because I couldn’t stop myself from crying. I really believed that I was going to be shot in the back for running away from them, but at that point I decided that I’d rather be killed than be forced again to have sex with the police. Even now when I think about it I remember how I felt that night, scared, angry, humiliated, and completely powerless to protect my rights in a country where the police are free to attack us.

52. That night I decided that whatever it took, I had to get out of Brazil. Later that week, I applied for a tourist visa to come to the U.S. but it was denied.

Escape to the United States

53. After many years of not having an honest conversation with my family about my sexuality, I finally sat down and told my mother everything that I had experienced because I am gay. We talked late into the night, both crying and she agreed to help me get out of Brazil. She helped me pay for a plane ticket to Mexico, and on June 23, 2001, I flew to Mexico City. After that, I met up with some coyotes who were friends of my mother’s brother. On July 7, 2001, I entered the United States without inspection by Laredo, TX.

» Practice pointer: Although in this case the applicant missed the one year filing deadline so his exact date of entry is not essential, it is still helpful to bolster his overall credibility if he can submit evidence confirming his story of entering the United States Thus, he should submit a copy of the airline ticket or passport with the entry stamp into Mexico. It will also be crucial to include an affidavit or letter from the applicant’s mother confirming that she agreed to help him after concluding that his life was at risk in Brazil.

54. On July 18, 2005, at the Callen-Lorde Community Health Center, I tested HIV-positive. The news devastated me partly since I always practiced safer sex, except when the police and criminals in Brazil sexually abused me against my will. I panic just thinking about being deported to Brazil as a gay man living with HIV. It is my understanding that there is intense discrimination against people with HIV and AIDS in Brazil. Because of poor information about AIDS, people with HIV and AIDS are treated unfairly. Those who have the disease are ostracized and treated like lepers. I recall that many times while in Brazil since people think homosexuals are responsible for AIDS and are AIDS carriers, people who suspected that I was a homosexual insulted and threatened me as an AIDS carrier even when I was HIV-negative. Now that I am HIV-positive, I believe they will try to hurt me any way possible by not treating me in the hospital, refusing to give me employment, and not protecting me from police or gang violence.

55. I also fear for my life if deported because I am a gay man, considering the abuse I already experienced as a homosexual and considering the rise of the death squads that have been killing homosexuals with impunity. I have heard from my friends in Brazil of several people in my city who were murdered because of their sexual orientation and HIV status. I heard that in May 2003, Oswaldo Borges, an acquaintance of mine was found dead at age 27, with his body dismembered at a gas station in town. It is believed that he was murdered because he was HIV-positive.

56. To date, I still experience nightmares over what happened to me with the police, criminals and society. However, I wake up and am thankful for having found real safety in the United States.

57. I did not apply for political asylum until now in the United States since I did not know that the persecution I suffered in the past and fear in the future as a gay man could be the basis for political asylum here. It was not until I was diagnosed with HIV, two months ago, that I learned about asylum from a social worker at the Callen-Lorde Community Health Center. The social worker, Martin Peña referred me to Immigration Equality.

58. Although I have always been afraid to return to Brazil because of my sexual orientation, now, as a gay man who is also HIV-positive I’m more afraid than ever. I believe that if I’m deported to Brazil I will again face abuse and rape by the police, and that the mistreatment I face will be even worse now that I am also HIV-positive.

59. It is my hope that after so much abuse and mistreatment as a homosexual including physical and sexual abuse by the police and criminals and the prospect of even more abuse and mistreatment as a homosexual with HIV/AIDS if deported to Brazil, that the Asylum Office will consider granting me political asylum in their discretion. I thank you for your consideration of my application.

Signature Line Joao Doe Sworn to before me this 15th day of February 2006

Signature Line Notary Public

This Manual is intended to provide information to attorneys and accredited representatives. It is not intended as legal advice. Asylum seekers should speak with qualified attorneys before applying.

This handbook is intended for use by pro bono attorneys and immigration attorneys working on LGBTQ/HIV asylum cases.

Self-help asylum guides for LGBTQ and HIV-positive people without attorneys.

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The Residency Personal Statement (2024/2025): The Insider’s Guide (with Examples)

A physician and  former residency program director  explains how to write your residency personal statement to match in to your top-choice residency program in 2025.

Read example residency personal statements and suggested outlines., introduction.

We have been working with residency applicants who successfully match into the programs and specialities of choice for more than 15 years and a key part of that success, is writing a compelling residency personal statement.

Having worked with so many applicants, we know you will get differing advice depending on who you ask. The key to our applicants’ success is that we understand how to write a residency personal statement that has broad appeal and will impress all types of readers.

The residency personal statement allows residency program directors and associate directors the chance to get a sense of who you are and your commitment to your chosen specialty. 

As a former program director who understands how residency personal statements are reviewed, what “stands out,” and, most importantly, what will earn you interview invitations, the information below will help you write a residency personal statement to match!

It is imperative to make sure you get the most accurate guidance possible with regards to your residency personal statement content and optimal residency personal statement length (up to one page).

Want more personalized suggestions?  Sign up for a FREE residency personal statement consultation .

Table of Contents

Goals for Writing Your 2025 Residency Personal Statement

Above all else, your residency personal statement offers the opportunity to show your interest in your  chosen specialty  when applying to  residency  to illustrate you are a good fit.

The more details you offer about why you are interested in the specialty and how your med school rotations,  accomplishments  and experiences have reinforced this interest, the stronger your personal statement will be, the more it will appeal to selection committees and the better you will do in the match process.

I encourage applicants to offer as much “evidence” as possible to “show” rather than “tell” what  qualities, characteristics and interests  they have. “Telling” a reader, for example, that you are compassionate and hard working means nothing. Instead, you must “show” that you embody these qualities based on your experiences in health care and the patients for whom you have cared.

The residency personal statement also offers the opportunity to write about who you are as a person to convey some details about your background, influences, and interests outside of your given specialty.

The Importance of a Balanced Residency Personal Statement

The key when writing your residency personal statement is to ensure that it is well-balanced so it appeals to a large group of people who might read your ERAS residency application.

However, it is important to understand that every program director and  faculty member  has his or her own idea of what he would like to read in a personal statement. As an applicant, you must go into this process understanding that you cannot please everyone, or a specific program, and your personal statement should therefore have the broadest appeal possible.

For example, some  program directors  would rather hear about your personal interests and curiosities and get to know who you are rather than have you focus on the specialty in which you are interested.

At MedEdits, we suggest taking a “middle of the road” approach; include some details about who you are but also focus on the specialty itself. In this way, you will make more traditional reviewers who want to hear about your interest in the specialty happy while also satisfying those who would rather learn about you as a person.

Above all, be authentic and true to yourself when writing your statement. This always leads to the best results! Read on to learn more about how to write a winning personal statement.

About MedEdits

Getting into a residency has never been more competitive. Founded by a former associate program director, the experts at MedEdits will make your residency personal statement shine. We’ve worked with more than 5,000 students and 94% have been matched to one of their top-choice programs.

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Residency Personal Statement Outline & Structure

Residency applicants often do well when given outlines or templates to follow, so, we will offer that, but, it is important to realize that many applicants deviate from these rigid rules. One very typical outline that serves applicants quite well in the  residency admissions process  is:

• Compose a catchy introduction. Your intro can be related to your  interest in the specialty  to which you are applying, about a hobby or personal experience, or about your background. Regardless of the topic you choose, you want to tell a story and start with something that will interest your reader and engage him.
• The next two to four paragraphs comprise the body of your personal statement. We encourage applicants to write about any significant experiences they have had related to their desired specialty and/or future goals. This would include information about rotations, electives, and sub internships related to the specialty, volunteer and research experiences and even significant outside interests.
• Finally, you want to conclude your essay. In your conclusion, write about what you seek in a residency program, what you will bring to a residency program, and, if you have any idea of your future career goals, write about those as well. Your conclusion is also where you can tailor a personal statement to a specific geographic area of interest or type of program (rural, urban, community).

Residency Personal Statement Length & Residency Personal Statement Word Limit

The allowed ERAS residency personal statement length is 28,000 characters which equates to about five pages!

We have been hearing from more and more applicants that the personal statement should not exceed  one page  when typed in to the  ERAS application . Because of this overwhelming trend, we are supporting this guidance unless you have  extenuating circumstances  that require your personal statement be longer.

Our recommendation is that your residency  personal statement be a maximum of 5300 characters with spaces.

ERAS Residency Personal Statement Checklist

• Ensure your personal statement flows well

The best personal statements are easy to read, don’t make the reader think too much, and make your path and interests seem logical. Rarely does a personal statement have a theme. Also try to have each paragraph transition to the next seamlessly.

2. Your personal statement should be about you!

Your personal statement should be about you and no one else. Focus on your interests, your accomplishments and your path. This is your opportunity to be forthcoming about your  achievements  – by writing in detail about what you have done.

3. Be sure your personal statement clearly outlines your interest in the specialty.

Since the reader wants to be convinced of your understanding of, experience in, and curiosity about the specialty to which you are applying, be sure you highlight what you have done to explore your interest as well as your insights and observations about the specialty to show your understanding of it.

4. Make it human.

Again, your personal statement should be about you! The reader wants to know who you are, where you are from, what your interests are and who you are outside of medicine. Therefore, try to include those details about your background that are intriguing or important to you.

5. Express your interest in the specialty.

The reader fundamentally wants to know why you are pursuing the specialty. The more details you offer the more convincing you are about your commitment and your understanding of the specialty. Be sure to include details that might seem obvious. For example, in  emergency medicine  you must like acute care, but try to include more nuanced details about your interest, too. What aspects of the diagnoses and pathologies involved do you enjoy? What do you value about the actual work you will do? How do you feel about the patients for whom you will care?

6. The start and evolution of your interest.

Readers want to know how and when you became interested in your specialty. Was this before medical school? During medical school? What have you done to pursue and nurture your interest in the specialty?

7. What you have done to learn more about the specialty.

You should explain what you have done to pursue your interest. What rotations have you done or have planned? What research, scholarly work or community service activities have you pursued to further your interest?

8. Where you see yourself in the future – if you know!

Without going into too much detail, write about the type of setting in which you see yourself in the future. Do you hope to also participate in research, teaching, public health work or community outreach as a part of your career? What are your future goals? Since many programs typically train a certain type of physician, it is important that your goals are aligned with the programs to which you are applying.

9. What do you bring to the specialty?

You should try to identify what you can bring to the program and the specialty to which you are applying as a whole. For example, are you applying to family medicine and have a distinct interest in public health? Are you applying for  internal medicine  and do you have demonstrated expertise in information technology and hope to improve electronic medical records? Do you have extensive research or teaching experience, and do you hope to continue to pursue these interests in the future? Have you developed a commitment to global health, and do you hope to continue making contributions abroad? Programs have a societal obligation to select residents who will make valuable contributions in the future, so the more ambitions you have the more desirable a candidate you will be.

10. What type of program you hope to join?

Do you hope to be part of a community or university-based program? What are you seeking in a residency program? Programs are looking for residents who will be the right “fit” so offering an idea of what you are seeking in a program will help them determine if your values and goals mesh with those of the program.

11. Who you are outside of the hospital?

Try to bring in some personal elements about who you are. You can do this in a few ways. If you have any outside interests or accomplishments that complement your interest in your specialty, such as extracurricular work, global work, teaching or volunteer efforts, write about them in detail, and, in doing so, show the reader a different dimension of your personality. Or, consider opening your statement by writing about an experience related to your hobbies or outside interests. Write about this in the form of an introductory vignette. I suggest taking this nontraditional approach only if you are a talented writer and can somehow relate your outside interest to the specialty you are pursuing, however. An interest in the arts can lend itself to dermatology, plastic surgery or ophthalmology, for example. Or, an interest in technology could relate to  radiology .

12. Any personal challenges?

Also explain any obstacles you have overcome: Were you the first in your family to graduate from college? Were you an immigrant? Did you have limited financial resources and work through college? Many applicants tend to shy away from the very things that make them impressive because they are afraid of appearing to be looking for sympathy. As long as you explain how you have overcome adversity in a positive or creative way, your experience will be viewed as the tremendous accomplishment that it is. The personal statement should explain any unusual or distinctive aspects of your background.

Common ERAS Residency Personal Statement Mistakes

Do not tell your entire life story or write a statement focused on your childhood or undergraduate career. 

Do not write about why you wanted to be a doctor. This is old news. From the reviewers perspective, you already are a doctor!

Do not write a personal statement focused on one hobby or begin with your birth. Some background information might be useful if it offers context to your choices and path, but your residency personal statement should be focused on the present and what you have done to pursue your interest in the specialty to which you are applying.

Do not preach. The reader understands what it means to practice his specialty and does not need you to tell him. Don’t write, for example: Internal medicine requires that a physician be knowledgeable, kind and compassionate. The reader wants to know about you!

Do not put down other specialties. You don’t need to convince anyone of your interest by writing something negative about other specialties. Doing so just makes you look bad. If you switched residencies or interests, you can explain what else you were seeking and what you found in the specialty of your choice that interests you.

Do not embellish. Program directors are pretty good at sniffing out inconsistencies and dishonesty. Always tell the truth and be honest and authentic. 

Do not plagiarize. While this seems obvious to most people, every year people copy personal statements they find online or hire companies that use stock phrases and statement to compose statements for applicants. Don’t do it!

Do not write about sensitive topics. Even if you were in a relationship that ended and resulted in a  poor USMLE score , this is not a topic for a personal statement. In general, it is best to avoid discussing relationships, politics, ethical issues and religion.

Do not boast. Any hint of arrogance or self-righteousness may result in getting rejected. There is a fine line between confidence and self promotion. Some people make the mistake of over-selling themselves or writing about all of their fantastic qualities and characteristics. Rarely do readers view such personal statements favorably.

Do not write an overly creative piece. A residency personal statement should be professional. This work is equivalent to a job application. Don’t get too creative; stay focused.

Writing ERAS Residency Personal Statements For Multiple Specialties

An increasing number of applicants are applying to more than one specialty in medicine especially if the first choice specialty is very competitive. If you are applying to more than one specialty, even if there is disciplinary overlap between the two (for example family medicine and pediatrics), we advise you write a distinct specialty for each. Remember that a physician who practices the specialty you hope to join will most likely be reviewing your statement. He or she will definitely be able to determine if the personal statement illustrates a true understanding of the specialty. If you try to recycle an entire personal statement or parts of a personal statement for two specialties, there is a high likelihood the personal statement will communicate that you aren’t sincerely interested in that specialty or that you don’t really understand what the specialty is about.

Writing About Red Flags in your ERAS Personal Statement

The personal statement is also the place to explain any red flags in your application, such as gaps in time or a leave of absence. When addressing any red flags, explain what happened succinctly. Be honest, don’t make excuses, and don’t dwell on the topic. Whenever possible, write about how you have matured or grown from the adversity or what you may have learned and how this benefits you.

If you have left a program or had a break in your medical education, you will also have the chance to explain this in your  ERAS application . You should also write about this topic in your personal statement only if you have more to explain, however. 

If you have failed a Step exam or one course in medical school, this likely isn’t something to address in the personal statement. However, you should be prepared to discuss any failure during an interview. By the same token, it is best not to address one low grade or poor attending evaluation in your statement. 

Have you taken a circuitous path to medicine? If so you might address why you made these choices and what you found so interesting about medicine that was lacking in your former career.

Residency Personal Statement Example

Below are two great examples of residency personal statements that earned the applicants who wrote them numerous interviews and first choice matches. As you will see, these two applicants took very different approaches when writing the personal statement yet wrote equally persuasive and “successful” personal statements.

Residency Personal Statement Example, Analysis, and Outline: The Traditional Approach

Suggested outline:.

• Introduction: Catchy Story
• Paragraph 2: Background Information and how Interest Started
• Paragraph 3: Write about what you did to explore your interest
• Paragraph 4: Second paragraph about your experiences related to your specialty
• Conclusion: Wrap it up. Write something about your future goals.

Below is an example of the traditional approach:

Why It’s Great

This is a great personal statement because it clearly conveys the applicant’s interest in, and understanding of, obstetrics and gynecology (OB/GYN) and what the applicant has done to pursue that interest. Not only does this applicant have a long-standing interest in OB/GYN, but, she conveys that she has experienced the specialty in different settings and understands the diverse nature of the specialty. She also includes information about her hobbies and interests and writes about her exploration of OB/GYN outside of the clinical arena. An added bonus is that the applicant writes well and uses descriptive language making her statement interesting and fun to read.

Residency Personal Statement Example, Analysis, and Outline: The Outside Interests Approach

Many mentors advise applicants to tell the reader something about them that is unrelated to medicine or the specialty they are pursuing. This is a fine idea, but be sure your personal statement also includes some details about your interest in your specialty if you decide to move in this direction.

Suggested Outline:

• Introduction: Write a Catchy Introduction. Be creative! Think outside the box.
• Paragraph 2:Elaborate on your introduction offering more details
• Paragraph 3: Write about your specialty choice and what appeals to you.
• Paragraph 4: Write more about your explorations in medical school.
• Concluding paragraph(s): Write about your future goals, the type of program you hope to join and consider looping back to your introduction.

The landscape before me was lush and magical. We had been hiking for hours and had found a great spot to set up camp. As I was unloading my backpack and helping to pitch the tent, I saw a scene I knew I had to capture. I quickly grabbed my carefully packed Leica before the magnificent sunset disappeared. Trying to get the perfect exposure, I somehow managed to capture this image so accurately that it reflected the beauty of what was before us high in the mountains of Utah, so far away from the hustle and bustle of New York City where we attended medical school.

This is a really intriguing personal statement because the author writes about his outside interests in a compelling way that makes him instinctively likable. He then goes on to explain what he enjoys about surgery and what he has done to pursue that interest. As you can see, this applicant writes less about his specialty (surgery) than the applicant in statement #1 did, but, he still convinces the reader of his understanding of, and commitment to, surgery. In this statement, the reader gains a much broader understanding of who the applicant is as a person and what he likes to do in his free time.

Final Thoughts

Writing your residency personal statement should be about telling your story in your own voice and style. You want to highlight your interest in the specialty for which you are applying while also conveying some ideas about who you are as a person to keep your reader engaged in learning about you as a person.

Residency Personal Statement Consulting Services

MedEdits Medical Admissions offers comprehensive guidance and document review services for residency applicants to every specialty in medicine. With more than twenty years of experience in residency admissions and founded by a former residency admissions officer and physician, MedEdits understands what program directors want to read and can help you decide what aspects of your background to focus on in your residency personal statement to earn the most interviews possible.

Residency Related Articles and Guidance

• Residency Match Statistics
• Residency Personal Statement
• Residency Match: How It Works & How To Get Matched
• How to write a residency interview thank you letter.
• What Outfit To Wear To Your Residency Interview
• Medical Residency Timeline & Length
• Medical Residency Salary By Specialty
• How To Master MyERAS, The Medical Residency Interview, and Common Residency Interview Questions
• Master the ERAS (Electronic Residency Application Service) & ERAS Timeline
• Residency Letters Of Recommendation (with ERAS Samples)
• Residency Letter of Intent
• How to Write a Residency Letter of Intent
• Residency Love Letters
• Residency Match Success: Lessons Learned

Residency Specialty Articles

• Family Medicine Residency Match: Beat more than 4400 Applications
• Pediatrics Residency Match: Beat more than 3000 Applicaitons
• Internal Medicine Residency Match: Beat more than 10,000 Applications
• General Surgery Residency Match: BEAT more than 1900 Applications
• Emergency Medicine Residency Match: BEAT more than 2600 Applications
• Anesthesiology Residency Match: BEAT more than 2,000 Applicants

JESSICA FREEDMAN, M.D. , a former medical school and residency admissions officer at the  Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai , is the founder and chair of MedEdits Medical Admissions and author of three top-selling books about the medical admissions process that you can find on  Amazon .

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AOA Guide Series: How to Write a Personal Statement Example of Personal Statement for Family Medicine 2 My path to medical school was filled with challenges. This adversity, however, has shaped my.

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How to write a personal statement for immigration FAQ

How to start a personal statement.

Start with why you chose it, then try and summarise this in one or two sentences. Be original and refer to personal experiences as a way to draw attention. Avoid overused opening sentences, quotes and clichés like 'when I was young…' They want to know about you now, not your childhood or Shakespeare!

How to write a personal statement?

What makes a good personal statement? Explain the reason for your choice and how it fits in with your aspirations for the future. Give examples of any related academic or work experience. Show you know what the course will involve and mention any special subjects you're interested in.

How do I write a personal statement for a green card?

3:20 8:29 Personal Statement for EB-2 NIW green card application - YouTube YouTube Start of suggested clip End of suggested clip This is really a letter. You have your background. You repeat your background. Maybe you condenseMoreThis is really a letter. You have your background. You repeat your background. Maybe you condense your background in summary. And then this should be less than half of document.

What is a personal statement for immigration?

Depending on what type of status you are seeking, your personal statement will describe the unique circumstances in your life that argue for approval of your petition and/or application.

How do I write an immigration statement?

Your immigration support letter should include: A signature, printed name, and job title of the supervisor or employer. The business's contact information. A business card. The applicant's job title. The applicant's salary, employment dates, and a detailed description of duties.

How do I write a personal statement for USCIS?

The structure of the personal statement can be the following: Date. Salutation. Similar to the recommendation letters, it is courteous to include some sort of salutation to the USCIS officer that will review the document. ... Subject line. ... Petitioner´s background. ... Petitioner's professional plans. ... Name and signature.

How do I write a personal statement for a visa?

Statement of Purpose for visa application. Address. Subject. Introduction. Academic Background and details. Professional Experience. Reasons why you choose this particular Course. Career Goals and aspirations.

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What do Civil Servants say?

• Social Mobility in the National Security Community Catherine Holmes and Naomi Davey, co-NSC Social Mobility Champions, write about the National Security Community and their work to ensure the community represents the country.
• Alfonso's life in Cyber Security Alfonso Greenbrook is a former Level 4 Apprentice in Cyber Security Monitoring. He now works in Security and Data Protection in DWP.
• Alison and Dave's life in HMRC Hear from Alison and Dave about what it's like to work within Customer Strategy & Tax Design in HMRC

Early Careers

• Apprenticeships
• Care Leavers Internship Scheme
• Civil Service Fast Stream
• Summer Internship Programme

Experienced Hires

• Executive Leadership
• Contracting Opportunities
• Evidence House
• Civil Service Secondments

Supported Schemes

• Prison Leaver Recruitment
• Going Forward into Employment

Applying for a Job

• About the application process

Civil Service Success Profiles

How to write your cv, how to write your personal statement.

• Civil Service Behaviours
• Assessments and Interviews

Supporting your Application

• Great Place to Work for Veterans
• Disability Confident Scheme

Your personal statement

The purpose of a personal statement is to showcase your relevant skills and experience against the job requirements.  The statement is your opportunity to give examples of how you fit the requirements of the job.  When writing a personal statement it is important that you:

• Read the job specification so you are clear about the job requirements.
• Outline the skills and experience that you have that are relevant to the job and use examples to help demonstrate this.   Wherever possible include specific facts and figures that demonstrate the tangible results of your work.
• Keep to the word limit. If your statement is too brief it will not provide the required depth of detail and evidence to be assessed fully. 
• Proofread your statement before submitting it to make sure it is clear, easy to read and relevant.

How we recruit

For some jobs, you will be asked to provide a CV (curriculum vitae) as part of your application. Here you can find information on how to write the best CV.

Demonstrating behaviours

Behaviours are the things that people do that result in effective performance. Read more about the behaviours we use to assess you.

Assessments and interviews

Read about the different kinds of assessments you might be asked to do, after you’ve submitted an application form.

The Civil Service recruits using Success Profiles. This means that for every role, we consider what you’ll need to demonstrate to be successful.