Bona Fide Marriage Affidavit Sample: Good Faith and Personal Knowledge Letter Templates

A bona fide marriage affidavit sample is a sworn statement written by a third party — typically a friend, family member, or acquaintance — who can personally attest that a marriage is genuine and not entered into solely for immigration benefits. A good faith marriage affidavit letter sample serves the same function: it documents that the couple married in good faith, sharing their lives, finances, and plans. USCIS and immigration courts accept these documents as supporting evidence in spousal petition and adjustment of status cases. An affidavit of bona fide marriage sample is not required in every case, but immigration officers frequently request these letters when the petitioner and beneficiary have a short courtship history, significant age differences, or limited documentary evidence of shared life. A bona fide marriage affidavit establishes the personal knowledge of the affiant — what they have directly observed about the couple’s relationship — rather than characterizations or opinions. An affidavit of personal knowledge of marriage and relationship sample follows a distinct format that focuses specifically on what the writer has seen, heard, and experienced in connection with the couple.

This guide explains what to include in each type of letter, how to structure the document, and how to notarize it correctly.

What a bona fide marriage affidavit must contain

A properly drafted bona fide marriage affidavit includes the affiant’s full name and address, their relationship to the couple, how long they have known both parties, and the specific evidence of bona fide marriage they have personally observed. Specific evidence means concrete details: attending the couple’s wedding, visiting their home together, meeting their children, seeing shared photographs, knowing their daily routines, or being aware of joint financial arrangements. General statements like “I believe they love each other” are weak and should be supported by concrete observations.

The bona fide marriage affidavit sample should address at minimum: the circumstances under which the affiant met the couple, the length and nature of the affiant’s knowledge, specific events or observations that demonstrate the authenticity of the marriage, and a sworn declaration. The letter should be written in the first person, dated, and signed before a notary public. A good faith marriage affidavit letter sample that reads as a template with names filled in is less persuasive than one that contains genuinely specific, personalized detail.

Good faith marriage affidavit letter sample: structure

A good faith marriage affidavit letter sample follows a standard structure. The opening paragraph identifies the affiant, states how long they have known the couple, and declares the purpose of the letter. The body paragraphs each address a specific category of evidence: how the couple met and their early relationship history; the affiant’s personal observations of the couple’s shared life (home visits, family events, social activities); specific memorable details the affiant can testify to (holidays spent together, support during illness or hardship, attendance at the wedding or engagement). The closing paragraph makes the sworn declaration.

An affidavit of bona fide marriage sample should run two to three pages. Shorter letters often lack specificity; longer letters tend to repeat the same points without adding new evidence. Length should be determined by the amount of genuine specific information available, not padded to meet an arbitrary page count. One well-detailed paragraph about a specific shared event is more valuable than three vague paragraphs about general impressions.

Affidavit of personal knowledge: how it differs

An affidavit of personal knowledge of marriage and relationship sample places particular emphasis on the affiant’s direct, firsthand knowledge — as opposed to what they have been told by the couple or inferred from indirect evidence. Immigration officers reviewing supporting documents pay attention to the distinction between “I witnessed” and “I was told.” Statements based on hearsay (things the couple told the affiant about their relationship) are less probative than direct personal observations.

A strong affidavit of personal knowledge of marriage and relationship sample focuses entirely on what the affiant has personally seen, heard, or experienced. If the affiant attended the couple’s wedding, describe the event. If the affiant has visited the couple’s home, describe the home and the couple’s living arrangement. If the affiant has seen the couple interact with each other’s families, describe those interactions. The more specific and concrete the observations, the more useful the affidavit is as corroborating evidence.

Notarization and submission

Every bona fide marriage affidavit must be signed before a licensed notary public for it to be valid as a sworn document. The notary witnessing the signature adds an official seal and verifies the identity of the affiant. Notarized letters are then submitted as part of the supporting evidence package for the immigration petition. Most immigration attorneys recommend submitting two to four letters from different affiants with varying perspectives on the relationship — a family member, a close friend, a colleague, and a neighbor, if possible — rather than relying on a single letter regardless of how well-written it is. Consult a licensed immigration attorney to review the complete evidence package before submission.