A good moral character letter for immigration is a signed statement from someone who knows you, an employer, neighbor, clergy member, or coworker, giving specific examples of your honesty, responsibility, and positive conduct. Good moral character is generally required for naturalization and Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) self-petitions decided by United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), and in immigration court for cancellation of removal for people who are not permanent residents (including VAWA cancellation) and some voluntary departure requests. Each looks back over a period of years that depends on the case; an immigration attorney can tell you which applies.
Writing a character letter for someone, or collecting letters for your own case?
Character letters have to come from people who know the applicant. Some of these cases also include a psychological evaluation: a licensed psychologist's findings from an interview and standardized tests. That is what Dr. Mantonya writes, for cancellation of removal, VAWA petitions and the N-648 disability waiver for citizenship. You or your attorney can write to us in any language, and asking is free.
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In 2025 USCIS changed how it reviews good moral character for naturalization. A policy memo tells officers to look at the whole picture, weighing positive conduct along with anything disqualifying, and USCIS has brought back neighborhood investigations and written them into its Policy Manual. That gives character letters a new role in naturalization cases: USCIS can look at them when it decides whether to investigate at all.
This guide walks through what USCIS now requires, who should write your letters, seven good moral character letter samples you can fill in today (for naturalization, cancellation of removal, and VAWA), and how to handle a criminal or tax record in the letter itself. It also links to the related immigration letter of support guide, our hardship letter for immigration resource, and the cancellation of removal guide for attorneys who need a full evidentiary record.
In this guide
- Who should write a good moral character letter?
- How do you write an effective character letter?
- What makes a character letter credible to USCIS?
- What not to include
- Seven sample letters you can fill in
- The 2025 policy change
- What changed in 2025 (and what didn't)
- What does good moral character mean under immigration law?
- When does USCIS require proof of good moral character?
- Can you prove good moral character with a criminal record?
- How USCIS really investigates good moral character
- Is this the same as an "affidavit of good moral character"?
- When are character letters not enough?
- Good moral character letter examples (composite cases)
- Frequently asked questions
Who should write a good moral character letter?
The best writers for a good moral character letter for immigration are people who know you well and can describe specific things they have seen you do, ideally from different parts of your life. For a naturalization (Form N-400) case, the USCIS Policy Manual now says who: letters "should be preferably written by U.S. citizens who personally know" you, such as neighbors, employers, coworkers and business associates, and "USCIS does not consider letters written by the alien's immediate family or relatives." Sending letters with your N-400 can help USCIS decide whether it needs a neighborhood investigation in your case. That chapter covers naturalization. In cancellation of removal the judge may receive any material and relevant statement (8 CFR 1240.7(a)), and in a VAWA self-petition USCIS considers any credible evidence (8 CFR 204.2(c)(2)(i)); ask your attorney which writers to use.
Quality over quantity: specific letters say more than vague ones, however many there are. Each writer should cover a different part of your life:
- Employer or supervisor: work ethic, reliability, honesty on the job
- Pastor, priest, imam, or rabbi: faith involvement, moral values, volunteer work, character over time
- Neighbor: day-to-day interactions, helpfulness, community involvement
- Coworker or professional colleague: integrity under pressure, teamwork, ethical behavior
- Teacher, coach, or mentor: growth, dedication, personal development
Family members: for an N-400, USCIS does not consider letters from your immediate family or relatives, so ask people outside the family. In cancellation of removal and VAWA cases a relative's letter can still be part of the record, and it does the most when it gives specific facts the writer saw firsthand; ask your attorney.
How do you write an effective character letter?
Open with who you are
Full legal name, U.S. citizenship or immigration status, occupation, address. How long you have known the applicant and how often you see each other. This is not a formality. A U.S. citizen employer with a business address is a different kind of witness than an anonymous friend.
Give one to three specific examples
This is the part that matters most. "She is a wonderful person" tells the officer nothing. Instead: "During our busiest season last October, Maria volunteered for weekend shifts for six straight weeks. When she found a $2,400 error in our quarterly inventory, she reported it immediately and stayed until 9 PM to fix the records." Dates. Numbers. Actions the writer saw with their own eyes.
If there is a record, address it honestly
If you have a past issue the officer will see in the file (a driving-under-the-influence (DUI) conviction, a misdemeanor, a lapse in tax payments), pretending it does not exist makes the entire letter less believable. One paragraph can acknowledge the past and describe, specifically, what changed: "Since his DUI in 2021, Mr. Hernandez has attended Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) meetings every Thursday for four years. He has not missed a single week that I am aware of. I drive him to meetings myself."
Close in your own words
End with a sentence or two, in your own words, about the kind of person you know the applicant to be. For an N-400, the Policy Manual asks each letter for "an explicit statement about the alien's moral character and attitude towards the United States and the U.S. Constitution," so say what you have seen of both. Include a perjury declaration. Sign it, date it, and give your full name, address, phone number and email; for an N-400, also state your U.S. citizenship or immigration status and enclose a copy of a document that shows it. The officer should be able to reach you if they have questions.
What makes a character letter credible to USCIS?
A credible USCIS character letter makes specific claims the officer could verify if they chose to. Three traits make a letter easier to believe: concrete detail with dates, numbers, and places the writer personally witnessed; the writer's own credibility established through full legal name, occupation, and a verifiable address; and independence from the applicant, since a writer with no personal stake in the outcome is easier to believe.
Detail beats volume
A letter that says "I watched him organize a coat drive at our church for three consecutive winters, arriving at 5 AM each Saturday to sort donations before services" says more than any number of letters saying "he is a good person." Dates, times, and places are what make a claim verifiable. If the officer wanted to, could they call you and confirm the specific thing you described? That is the test.
The writer's own credibility matters
A writer who gives a full name, occupation and contact information and offers to answer follow-up questions is easy to check. An anonymous friend with no address and no phone number is not. Include your occupation and the specific way you know the applicant. If you hold a position of trust (teacher, pastor, supervisor, licensed professional), say so in the first sentence.
Independence from you
A writer with no personal stake in the outcome is easier to believe. If you are a family member writing in a case where relatives' letters count (cancellation of removal or VAWA, not an N-400), acknowledge the relationship and compensate by being more specific. "As his sister, I see him every week" establishes bias. "As his sister, I have personally watched him drive our elderly mother to dialysis three times a week for the past two years, missing his own overtime pay to do it" turns that bias into testimony with verifiable facts.
Consistency with the file
If the applicant's declaration says they arrived in 2014 and your letter says you have known them since 2012, the officer notices. DHS trial attorneys in removal proceedings can look for these contradictions. Before you finalize any letter, compare your dates, names, and facts against the rest of the application.
What should you not include in a character letter?
- Legal arguments. Do not cite statutes, case law, or make legal conclusions. That belongs in the attorney's brief. Your job is to describe what you have personally seen.
- Your own immigration status, if it could put you at risk. Ask the applicant's attorney before you put it in the letter. For an N-400, the Policy Manual asks each writer for a statement and documentation of their citizenship or status, so a writer who is not comfortable giving that may not be the right writer for a naturalization case.
- Exaggeration. Inflated claims invite skepticism. "The best person I have ever met" sounds like a favor. "A reliable neighbor who helped me after my surgery" is believable.
- Speculation. Do not predict what USCIS will do or opine on legal issues. "I believe the court should grant this case" is for the attorney, not for you.
- Contradictions with the record. If you are unsure about a date or fact, write "to the best of my recollection" rather than guessing a specific number that might conflict with the applicant's own declaration.
- Template language. Five letters with identical phrases and structure look like a handed-out template. Write in your own words.
What does a good moral character letter template look like?
A good moral character letter template gives the writer a structure: writer identification, length of acquaintance, two or three specific behavioral examples, and a sworn closing under penalty of perjury. The seven templates below cover employers, religious leaders, neighbors, coworkers, teachers and mentors, friends (and relatives, outside naturalization cases), and applicants with a criminal record. Each one has a line for the two things the USCIS Policy Manual asks of naturalization letters: a statement about the applicant's character and attitude toward the United States and the Constitution, and a copy of a document showing the writer's citizenship or status.
How to use them: give each writer the one template that fits, and ask them to replace every bracket with their own facts in their own words. These are samples, not official forms, and nobody has reviewed them for your case: each writer states only facts they can truthfully swear to, and your attorney checks which form, filing address and evidence rules apply. Brackets that describe what to write are prompts, not text to keep. One page is plenty. If a writer is more comfortable in another language, they can write in it; USCIS then requires a full English translation, with the translator's signed statement that it is complete and accurate and that they are competent to translate (8 CFR 103.2(b)(3)); immigration court has a similar rule (8 CFR 1003.33). For immigration court, a writer who signs a letter in English without being fluent in English also needs a certificate that it was read to them in a language they understand; ask the attorney before they sign. The sworn closing works for writers inside or outside the United States.
Template 1: Employer or supervisor
[Date]
Re: [Applicant full legal name], date of birth [MM/DD/YYYY]
[Case type, as the applicant or attorney tells you: Form N-400 naturalization (USCIS does not consider letters from relatives) / cancellation of removal / VAWA self-petition]
[To the USCIS officer reviewing this application: / To the Honorable Immigration Judge:]
My name is [Your full legal name]. I am a [U.S. citizen / lawful permanent resident / other status] and I live at [Your street address, city, state]. I am the [your title] at [company name], [company address]. [Applicant first name] has worked for us since [month and year] as a [position], about [hours] hours a week, and I supervise that work directly.
[Two or three things you saw yourself, with dates. Think about: a time the applicant was honest when it cost something (a cash count, a billing error, admitting a mistake); how the applicant treats customers and coworkers; attendance and reliability over the years; extra responsibility you trusted the applicant with. Example: In March 2024 Maria found a $2,400 error in our inventory count that would have gone unnoticed. She reported it the same day and stayed until 9 PM to fix the records.]
[Anything else a stranger would not know: promotions, keys or money you trust the applicant with, how long you have worked together, how the applicant handled a hard stretch at work.]
[In one or two sentences of your own, say what kind of person the applicant is, based on what you have seen. Use your own words, not the wording in this template.]
[For an N-400: one or two sentences of your own on what you have seen of the applicant's moral character and attitude toward the United States and the U.S. Constitution. The USCIS Policy Manual asks naturalization letters for this; for other cases, ask the attorney whether to include it.]
If the officer has questions about anything in this letter, I can be reached at [phone] or [email].
I declare under penalty of perjury under the laws of the United States of America that the foregoing is true and correct. Executed on [date] in [city, state, or country where you sign].
Sincerely,
[Signature]
[Printed name], [title, if any]
[Phone number]
[Email address]
[Enclosed is a copy of my U.S. passport / permanent resident card / other document showing my citizenship or immigration status. The USCIS Policy Manual asks naturalization letters for this; for other cases, include it if the applicant or attorney asks.]
Template 2: Religious or community leader
[Date]
Re: [Applicant full legal name], date of birth [MM/DD/YYYY]
[Case type, as the applicant or attorney tells you: Form N-400 naturalization (USCIS does not consider letters from relatives) / cancellation of removal / VAWA self-petition]
[To the USCIS officer reviewing this application: / To the Honorable Immigration Judge:]
My name is [Your full legal name]. I am a [U.S. citizen / lawful permanent resident / other status] and I live at [Your street address, city, state]. I am the [pastor / priest / imam / rabbi / director] of [organization name] in [city, state], where I have served since [year]. [Applicant first name] has been part of our [congregation / community center / organization] since [year], and I see [Applicant first name] [how often: every week / most Sundays / at monthly events].
[What the applicant actually does in your community, with dates and hours if you know them. Think about: volunteer work, roles of trust (keys, money, children or elderly members), times the applicant helped someone without being asked. Example: For three years Jose has arrived at 6 AM on Saturdays to run our food pantry, which serves about 40 families a week. When a family in our church lost their home to a fire in December 2024, he organized the supply drive and delivered the mattresses himself.]
[What you have seen of the applicant as a parent, spouse, or neighbor, if you know it firsthand. Leave this out if you do not.]
[In one or two sentences of your own, say what the applicant means to your community. Use your own words.]
[For an N-400: one or two sentences of your own on what you have seen of the applicant's moral character and attitude toward the United States and the U.S. Constitution. The USCIS Policy Manual asks naturalization letters for this; for other cases, ask the attorney whether to include it.]
If the officer has questions about anything in this letter, I can be reached at [phone] or [email].
I declare under penalty of perjury under the laws of the United States of America that the foregoing is true and correct. Executed on [date] in [city, state, or country where you sign].
Sincerely,
[Signature]
[Printed name], [title, if any]
[Phone number]
[Email address]
[Enclosed is a copy of my U.S. passport / permanent resident card / other document showing my citizenship or immigration status. The USCIS Policy Manual asks naturalization letters for this; for other cases, include it if the applicant or attorney asks.]
Template 3: Neighbor
[Date]
Re: [Applicant full legal name], date of birth [MM/DD/YYYY]
[Case type, as the applicant or attorney tells you: Form N-400 naturalization (USCIS does not consider letters from relatives) / cancellation of removal / VAWA self-petition]
[To the USCIS officer reviewing this application: / To the Honorable Immigration Judge:]
My name is [Your full legal name]. I am a [U.S. citizen / lawful permanent resident / other status] and I live at [Your street address, city, state]. I have lived at that address since [year]. [Applicant first name] has lived [next door / across the street / two houses down / in the same building] since [year], and we see each other [how often].
[Things you have seen with your own eyes, with dates. Think about: help given to you or other neighbors, how the applicant treats children and older people on the street, times you trusted the applicant with your home, keys, pets, or mail. Example: Every winter since 2021, Mr. Gonzalez has cleared the sidewalks for the three older neighbors on our block without being asked. When I had surgery in May 2023, he drove me to four follow-up appointments.]
[How the applicant and the family fit into the neighborhood: block clean-ups, neighborhood watch, school events, anything you have seen over the years.]
[In one or two sentences of your own, say what kind of neighbor the applicant is. Use your own words.]
[For an N-400: one or two sentences of your own on what you have seen of the applicant's moral character and attitude toward the United States and the U.S. Constitution. The USCIS Policy Manual asks naturalization letters for this; for other cases, ask the attorney whether to include it.]
If the officer has questions about anything in this letter, I can be reached at [phone] or [email].
I declare under penalty of perjury under the laws of the United States of America that the foregoing is true and correct. Executed on [date] in [city, state, or country where you sign].
Sincerely,
[Signature]
[Printed name]
[Phone number]
[Email address]
[Enclosed is a copy of my U.S. passport / permanent resident card / other document showing my citizenship or immigration status. The USCIS Policy Manual asks naturalization letters for this; for other cases, include it if the applicant or attorney asks.]
Template 4: Coworker or professional colleague
[Date]
Re: [Applicant full legal name], date of birth [MM/DD/YYYY]
[Case type, as the applicant or attorney tells you: Form N-400 naturalization (USCIS does not consider letters from relatives) / cancellation of removal / VAWA self-petition]
[To the USCIS officer reviewing this application: / To the Honorable Immigration Judge:]
My name is [Your full legal name]. I am a [U.S. citizen / lawful permanent resident / other status] and I live at [Your street address, city, state]. I work as a [your job title] at [company name]. I have worked alongside [Applicant first name] since [year], [on the same team / on the same shift / in the same truck or crew], about [hours] hours a week.
[Character, not job skills. Two or three moments you saw yourself, with dates. Think about: honesty with money, customers, or safety; how the applicant treats new or struggling coworkers; a time the applicant owned a mistake. Example: In September 2023, when a new hire made an error that cost us a client, Carlos told our manager it was a team mistake and spent the next two weeks training him after hours.]
[In one or two sentences of your own, say whether you trust the applicant and why. Use your own words.]
[For an N-400: one or two sentences of your own on what you have seen of the applicant's moral character and attitude toward the United States and the U.S. Constitution. The USCIS Policy Manual asks naturalization letters for this; for other cases, ask the attorney whether to include it.]
If the officer has questions about anything in this letter, I can be reached at [phone] or [email].
I declare under penalty of perjury under the laws of the United States of America that the foregoing is true and correct. Executed on [date] in [city, state, or country where you sign].
Sincerely,
[Signature]
[Printed name]
[Phone number]
[Email address]
[Enclosed is a copy of my U.S. passport / permanent resident card / other document showing my citizenship or immigration status. The USCIS Policy Manual asks naturalization letters for this; for other cases, include it if the applicant or attorney asks.]
Template 5: Teacher, coach, or mentor
[Date]
Re: [Applicant full legal name], date of birth [MM/DD/YYYY]
[Case type, as the applicant or attorney tells you: Form N-400 naturalization (USCIS does not consider letters from relatives) / cancellation of removal / VAWA self-petition]
[To the USCIS officer reviewing this application: / To the Honorable Immigration Judge:]
My name is [Your full legal name]. I am a [U.S. citizen / lawful permanent resident / other status] and I live at [Your street address, city, state]. I [teach / coach / mentor] at [school or organization name] in [city, state]. [Applicant first name] has been in my [class / program / team] since [year], and I see [Applicant first name] [how often].
[What you have watched change or grow, with dates. Think about: attendance, effort, helping other students or players, finishing a program, a certificate earned. Example: Ana joined our adult English class in 2021 able to say only a few sentences. She missed two classes in three years, passed the level 4 exam in June 2024, and now helps new students fill out the enrollment forms.]
[In one or two sentences of your own, say what the applicant's effort tells you about the kind of person the applicant is. Use your own words.]
[For an N-400: one or two sentences of your own on what you have seen of the applicant's moral character and attitude toward the United States and the U.S. Constitution. The USCIS Policy Manual asks naturalization letters for this; for other cases, ask the attorney whether to include it.]
If the officer has questions about anything in this letter, I can be reached at [phone] or [email].
I declare under penalty of perjury under the laws of the United States of America that the foregoing is true and correct. Executed on [date] in [city, state, or country where you sign].
Sincerely,
[Signature]
[Printed name], [title, if any]
[Phone number]
[Email address]
[Enclosed is a copy of my U.S. passport / permanent resident card / other document showing my citizenship or immigration status. The USCIS Policy Manual asks naturalization letters for this; for other cases, include it if the applicant or attorney asks.]
Template 6: Rehabilitation letter (for applicants with a criminal record)
Use this one only if the writer knows about the record and has watched the change firsthand (for an N-400, a writer who is not a relative). The officer will usually see the record through the background checks, and a letter that ignores it can look uninformed. A letter that names it and then describes years of specific change is easier to believe.
[Date]
Re: [Applicant full legal name], date of birth [MM/DD/YYYY]
[Case type, as the applicant or attorney tells you: Form N-400 naturalization (USCIS does not consider letters from relatives) / cancellation of removal / VAWA self-petition]
[To the USCIS officer reviewing this application: / To the Honorable Immigration Judge:]
My name is [Your full legal name]. I am a [U.S. citizen / lawful permanent resident / other status] and I live at [Your street address, city, state]. I have known [Applicant first name] since [year], before and after [what happened, in plain words: the 2019 DUI / the 2018 arrest], as [employer / pastor / sponsor / friend / relative of the applicant].
I know that [Applicant first name] [was arrested / was convicted] for [offense] in [year]. I am not writing to excuse it. I am writing to describe what I have seen since.
[The specific changes you have witnessed yourself, with dates. Think about: treatment or classes finished (and when), sobriety dates, meetings you know the applicant attends, work record since, how the applicant talks about what happened. Only include what you know firsthand; if you are not sure of a date, say so. Example: David finished a 12-month treatment program in May 2021. He has attended AA every Wednesday at our church since then, and I have driven him home from those meetings more than two dozen times.]
[What the applicant is like today: family, work, community. Example: He coaches the soccer team his son plays on and has not missed a workday at the construction company his brother owns in three years.]
[In one or two sentences of your own, say why you believe the change is real. Use your own words.]
[For an N-400: one or two sentences of your own on what you have seen of the applicant's moral character and attitude toward the United States and the U.S. Constitution. The USCIS Policy Manual asks naturalization letters for this; for other cases, ask the attorney whether to include it.]
If the officer has questions about anything in this letter, I can be reached at [phone] or [email].
I declare under penalty of perjury under the laws of the United States of America that the foregoing is true and correct. Executed on [date] in [city, state, or country where you sign].
Sincerely,
[Signature]
[Printed name], [title, if any]
[Phone number]
[Email address]
[Enclosed is a copy of my U.S. passport / permanent resident card / other document showing my citizenship or immigration status. The USCIS Policy Manual asks naturalization letters for this; for other cases, include it if the applicant or attorney asks.]
Template 7: Friend (or a relative, outside N-400 cases)
For an N-400, use this one for a friend: USCIS does not consider naturalization letters from your immediate family or relatives. In a cancellation of removal or VAWA case, a relative can use it too if the attorney agrees. A friend or relative helps most by describing daily life up close: a sister who watched someone raise three kids on night shifts knows things no employer ever will. Keep the praise short and the specifics long.
[Date]
Re: [Applicant full legal name], date of birth [MM/DD/YYYY]
[Case type, as the applicant or attorney tells you: Form N-400 naturalization (USCIS does not consider letters from relatives) / cancellation of removal / VAWA self-petition]
[To the USCIS officer reviewing this application: / To the Honorable Immigration Judge:]
My name is [Your full legal name]. I am a [U.S. citizen / lawful permanent resident / other status] and I live at [Your street address, city, state]. I am [Applicant first name]'s [friend / sister / uncle / cousin] and have known [Applicant first name] for [number] years. We see each other [how often].
I know my words come from someone who cares about [Applicant first name]. That is why I am sticking to things I have seen myself.
[Two or three specific things you have seen, with dates. Think about: how the applicant cares for children, parents, or sick relatives; work habits; how the applicant helps others in the family. Example: When our mother was diagnosed with diabetes in 2021, Maria drove her to every appointment for two years while working full time, and she still has not missed a school meeting for her daughters.]
[In one or two sentences of your own, say what kind of person the applicant is. Use your own words.]
[For an N-400: one or two sentences of your own on what you have seen of the applicant's moral character and attitude toward the United States and the U.S. Constitution. The USCIS Policy Manual asks naturalization letters for this; for other cases, ask the attorney whether to include it.]
If the officer has questions about anything in this letter, I can be reached at [phone] or [email].
I declare under penalty of perjury under the laws of the United States of America that the foregoing is true and correct. Executed on [date] in [city, state, or country where you sign].
Sincerely,
[Signature]
[Printed name]
[Phone number]
[Email address]
[Enclosed is a copy of my U.S. passport / permanent resident card / other document showing my citizenship or immigration status. The USCIS Policy Manual asks naturalization letters for this; for other cases, include it if the applicant or attorney asks.]
What did the 2025 policy change do to good moral character letters?
In 2025 USCIS told its officers to look at the whole picture when they decide good moral character for naturalization: positive conduct as well as anything disqualifying. Character letters can matter more under that approach, because officers look for positive evidence and not only the absence of a record.
The policy memo is about naturalization. Besides weighing positive conduct, it says conduct that falls below the standards of the average person in your community can count against you even when it is technically lawful.
Positive factors USCIS looks at
The memo lists positive factors, including:
- Community involvement (volunteering, neighborhood participation)
- Family caregiving (caring for children, elderly parents, disabled relatives)
- Education (degrees, certifications, English classes)
- Stable, lawful employment
- Length of lawful residence in the United States
- Meeting tax and financial obligations
Your character letters should speak to the ones that honestly apply.
USCIS can also send an investigator to talk with people near your home and your work, and it can decide an investigation is not needed. Character letters sent with your N-400, preferably from U.S. citizens who know you, can help it decide (USCIS Policy Manual). Immigration attorneys have reported unannounced home visits. If that happens, you can ask to have your attorney present.
Social media and other screening
USCIS has expanded social media vetting, including review for what it calls "anti-American" activity, which its policy for discretionary benefits treats as a strongly negative factor (naturalization eligibility has its own legal rules), and it has announced more centralized screening of applications. If you are unsure how your posts could be read, ask an immigration attorney before you file.
Voter registration
USCIS guidance (policy alert) says registering to vote or voting unlawfully can count against good moral character, and a false claim to U.S. citizenship or unlawful voting can lead to removal proceedings. How this applies to a registration made at a DMV depends on the facts. If you were ever registered to vote, talk to an immigration attorney before you file.
Denaturalization
Citizenship can be taken away if it was obtained illegally or by misrepresenting or hiding important facts, and USCIS has added guidance on referring such cases. Every fact in your application and in your letters needs to be accurate.
This applies to more than naturalization
Good moral character is also required for VAWA self-petitions, for cancellation of removal for people who are not permanent residents, and for some voluntary departure requests. The 2025 memo is about naturalization, but specific character letters can help in any of these cases. In cancellation and VAWA cases the letters can also sit next to a psychological evaluation, which is a different kind of evidence: a licensed clinician's findings from interviews and standardized tests. That's the part Dr. Mantonya writes (see her cancellation and VAWA evaluations).
What changed in 2025 (and what didn't)
The 2025 changes are about how officers evaluate good moral character for naturalization, not the law that defines it.
What changed
- The evaluation standard. Officers weigh positive factors along with any disqualifying conduct. A clean record alone may not be enough.
- Neighborhood investigations are back. USCIS can send an investigator to talk with you, your neighbors and your employer, unless it decides one is not needed. Ask your attorney how to handle a visit.
- Technically lawful conduct can count. The memo gives examples such as repeated reckless traffic violations and harassment.
What did not change
- The bars set by law. The bars in INA 101(f) come from the statute, and a policy memo cannot rewrite them. Some, such as a murder conviction or most aggravated felony convictions, permanently prevent a finding of good moral character for naturalization.
- The look-back periods. Each kind of case looks at a period of years set by law: for naturalization generally five years, shorter for some spouses of U.S. citizens. Your attorney can tell you which period applies to you.
- VAWA's own rules. In a VAWA self-petition, USCIS can still find good moral character despite some bars when the conduct was connected to the abuse (USCIS Policy Manual).
Borderline cases
Some cases fall in between, such as a single old misdemeanor or a tax problem that has since been resolved. Officers weigh the positive factors against the negative ones, and specific letters from people who saw the positive conduct firsthand are one way to show it.
What does good moral character mean under immigration law?
Good moral character generally means meeting the standards of an average person in your community during a set period. The law does not give a full definition. It lists conduct that disqualifies you (INA 101(f)), and USCIS compares your conduct with the standards of your community (8 CFR 316.10). It does not mean perfection.
Because the law mostly says what disqualifies you, positive evidence matters, and specific character letters are one way to give it.
Bars that letters cannot fix
Some conduct permanently prevents a finding of good moral character for naturalization, such as a murder conviction, most aggravated felony convictions, and serious human rights violations. Other conduct is a bar only if it happened during the look-back period, for example many crimes involving moral turpitude, most drug offenses, false testimony to get an immigration benefit, and certain time in jail. Narrow exceptions exist, and California's marijuana laws do not change the federal rules. Staying clear of the bars does not by itself prove good moral character, and conduct outside the period can still be weighed. Whether any bar applies is a question for an immigration attorney.
Failing to support your dependents can also count against good moral character unless there are extenuating circumstances.
DUI convictions
Under Matter of Castillo-Perez (A.G. 2019), two or more DUI convictions during the period create a presumption against good moral character. Overcoming it is hard: the question is whether the convictions were an aberration, and reform after the convictions does not answer that by itself. The Board has applied it strictly, so letters in a case like this need to describe verifiable, sustained change, not only good qualities. Records often gathered include treatment and sobriety records and a driving record.
Taxes
The memo lists meeting tax obligations among the positive factors, so unfiled returns or unpaid balances are worth raising with an immigration attorney before you file. IRS tax transcripts are the usual proof of filing and payment.
California convictions
Federal immigration law, not California law, decides what counts as a conviction. A plea under California's Proposition 36 can count as a conviction for immigration purposes even after a treatment program (ILRC practice advisory), and a California expungement generally does not remove a conviction for immigration purposes. A vacatur because of a legal defect in the case is treated differently. Talk to an immigration attorney before any plea and before relying on any state-court dismissal.
When does USCIS require proof of good moral character?
Good moral character is required for naturalization and VAWA self-petitions, decided by USCIS, and for non-permanent-resident cancellation of removal and voluntary departure at the end of a case, decided in immigration court. Each looks at a period of years that depends on the case.
- Naturalization (INA 316(a)): generally five years, shorter for some spouses of U.S. citizens (INA 319(a)).
- Cancellation of removal (INA 240A(b)): generally ten years for non-permanent residents. Character letters are part of the positive evidence a judge weighs. The hardship side of the case can be supported with a psychological evaluation of the U.S. citizen or permanent resident relatives; here's how ours work.
- VAWA self-petitions (INA 204(a)(1)): USCIS generally focuses on the years just before filing, and VAWA has its own rules for conduct connected to the abuse. A psychological evaluation can document symptoms and history consistent with that connection, as one part of the evidence. Ask us whether one fits your case.
- Voluntary departure (INA 240B(b)): a set period applies too.
Conduct during the case matters
In cancellation of removal, good moral character is judged through the final decision in the case, which can include an appeal to the Board of Immigration Appeals, so an arrest, a tax problem or a DUI while the case is pending can seriously hurt it.
Selective Service
Many men who lived in the United States as young adults were required to register with the Selective Service. If you did not, ask an immigration attorney before you file.
Can you prove good moral character with a criminal record?
It can be possible, depending on the record, but letters alone may not be enough; they work best with specific evidence of rehabilitation. Generic praise is unlikely to help. The letters need to address the record head-on with verifiable proof of change: treatment completed, sobriety, and changes people saw for themselves. For two or more DUIs, see the DUI rule above.
Sometimes the record is tied to something bigger: abuse at home, trauma, or a mental health condition that went untreated. A psychological evaluation can document that clinical side, which a friend's letter can't speak to. If that sounds like your situation, ask us whether an evaluation fits.
For the letters themselves, writers who know about a record should use Template 6, the rehabilitation letter. It names the record up front and then spends the page on the change the writer has seen.
How USCIS really investigates good moral character
USCIS runs background and security checks, and it may send an investigator into your neighborhood (USCIS Policy Manual). Officers then weigh everything under the 2025 approach. Most applicants think good moral character is about the interview. It starts much earlier.
Background checks. Fingerprints and name checks look for arrests, convictions and other information that bears on eligibility.
Taxes and support. Officers look at whether you filed and paid taxes; IRS tax transcripts are the usual proof. Failing to support your dependents can count against you, and catching up on overdue support or taxes can count as evidence of rehabilitation.
Social media. USCIS reviews social media for some applications, including for what it calls "anti-American" activity.
Neighborhood investigations. An investigator may talk with you, your neighbors and your employer unless USCIS decides it is not needed, and character letters sent with your N-400 can help it decide. Attorneys have reported visits without advance notice. You can ask to have your attorney present.
Is this the same as an "affidavit of good moral character"?
Yes, in practice. An affidavit of good moral character is the same letter sworn before a notary. Every template on this page instead ends with an unsworn declaration under penalty of perjury, which federal law lets stand in for a sworn statement in most federal matters, under 28 U.S.C. § 1746. Federal agencies accept that unsworn declaration in place of a notarized affidavit, so a USCIS filing does not need a notary. Some attorneys still prefer a notarized version for removal proceedings; if yours asks for one, sign the same letter in front of a notary and it becomes a traditional affidavit.
Every template here can be copied, printed, or downloaded as a text file, and any print dialog can save it as a PDF sample to hand to your letter writers.
When are character letters not enough?
Character letters tell the officer who you are through the eyes of the people around you. But some case types need more. When a VAWA self-petitioner's criminal record is connected to the abuse (the abuser forced the conduct), a psychological evaluation can document the clinical side of that connection. When a cancellation case has to show "exceptional and extremely unusual hardship" to a U.S. citizen or permanent resident child, a cancellation of removal evaluation uses a clinical interview and standardized tests to document what character letters cannot.
A forensic evaluation documents clinical findings with standardized measures; the legal outcome depends on the full record. In VAWA cases, character letters show the community who knows you, while the VAWA psychological evaluation documents symptoms and functioning consistent with the reported abuse. Fees for each evaluation are on our pricing page.
Does your case need more than letters?
Dr. Mantonya is a licensed psychologist (PSY28494). She writes psychological evaluations for VAWA, cancellation of removal, asylum, hardship waivers, and more, by secure video anywhere in California. Flat fees from $1,500 to $2,500, with the report usually in 5 to 7 business days.
Write to Dr. MantonyaWhat does a strong good moral character letter example look like?
Strong good moral character letter examples blend specific witnessed conduct with the writer's credentials. Strong samples open with the writer's full name, citizenship status, and relationship, then give one to three concrete incidents with dates and outcomes. They close with a perjury declaration under 28 USC 1746. Vague praise without specifics tells the officer very little.
The templates above give you the structure. The named examples below show how three different writers built credible character letters around the people they actually know. These are composite, illustrative examples written to show the level of detail a strong letter carries. They are not real cases and do not describe any decision by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
Sandra writing for Jose, 38, El Salvador, N-400 neighbor letter
Sandra, a U.S. citizen and retired teacher, lives two houses down from Jose. She has known him for nine years, since the day he moved into the rental property next door with his wife and two daughters. Her letter opened with her full identity: name, address, citizenship, retired Glendale Unified School District kindergarten teacher.
Specific things her letter mentioned: Jose drove her to dialysis every Tuesday and Friday for six months in 2023 after her husband passed away, refusing payment every time she tried; Jose organized the neighborhood block to clean up storm debris in February 2024 and personally hauled three truckloads to the dump; Jose attended every parent-teacher night for both daughters at her former elementary school, where she still volunteers as a reading tutor and watched him show up.
Sandra closed in her own words about the kind of neighbor Jose has been on their Canyon Country block, added what she has seen of his attitude toward the United States and the Constitution (he helps her organize the block's Fourth of July cleanup each year and talks with her about what becoming a citizen means to him), enclosed a copy of her U.S. passport, and signed under penalty of perjury under 28 U.S.C. § 1746.
Why this letter is strong: It speaks to the community involvement factor in the 2025 memo with dated, specific conduct a neighbor personally saw. This example is illustrative; outcomes depend on many factors beyond any single letter.
Reverend Martinez writing for Rosa, 52, Guatemala, N-400 pastoral letter
Reverend Daniel Martinez has been the lead pastor at his Spanish-language Pentecostal congregation in South Los Angeles for eleven years. His letter introduced him as a U.S. citizen, ordained minister, and master's-degree theology graduate, and identified Rosa as a member of his church since 2017.
Specific things his letter mentioned: Rosa coordinates the congregation's Wednesday night food pantry, where she has personally distributed bags of groceries to roughly 40 families per week for the past three years; Rosa identified and reported a $1,800 accounting error in the church's offering count in 2022, then refused the finder's reward the deacon board offered her; Rosa drove an elderly congregant to chemotherapy infusions every other week for eleven months in 2024 without ever asking for gas money. The letter quoted Rosa's exact words from a prayer meeting where she said she would rather pay her own taxes a year early than miss them.
Reverend Martinez addressed Rosa's tax history directly: she had filed late one year, in 2021, after losing her bookkeeping job, and had paid the full balance plus penalties within four months. He noted that her IRS account transcripts show five clean years since. He closed with what he has seen of her attitude toward the United States and the Constitution and enclosed a copy of his naturalization certificate.
Why this letter is strong: It addresses the one weak spot in the record (a late tax year) head-on and pairs it with a document the officer can check, while also covering community involvement. This example is illustrative; outcomes depend on many factors beyond any single letter.
Tony writing for Min-jae, 44, South Korea, N-400 coworker letter
Tony has worked alongside Min-jae at a commercial HVAC company in Long Beach for seven years. His letter opened with his full identity: U.S. citizen, journeyman sheet metal worker, Local 105 union member, foreman on residential service routes since 2020. He explained that he and Min-jae have shared a service truck on roughly two-thirds of their workdays for the past three years.
Specific things his letter mentioned: Min-jae found a customer's checkbook in the truck after a service call in 2023 and drove forty miles back the same day to return it before the customer noticed; Min-jae trained four apprentices in the past three years, two of whom now hold their own journeyman cards; Min-jae stayed late on a Friday in March 2024 to finish a non-billable repair for an elderly tenant whose heat had failed during a cold snap, eating a documented overtime hit the company would not reimburse. Tony described Min-jae's daily lunchtime habit of calling his mother in Busan to check on her dialysis schedule.
Tony closed with a direct endorsement: in seven years of working in close quarters, he had never once heard Min-jae lie, never seen him cut a corner on a safety procedure, and never seen him take advantage of a customer or coworker. He added a sentence on what he has seen of Min-jae's attitude toward the United States and the Constitution, enclosed a copy of his U.S. passport, and printed his union local number and shop foreman certificate number for verification.
Why this letter is strong: Its specificity (dates, named duties, verifiable union and certificate numbers) gives the officer concrete facts on the stable-employment factor in the 2025 memo. This example is illustrative; outcomes depend on many factors beyond any single letter.
Frequently asked questions
What is a good moral character letter for immigration?
A signed personal statement from someone who knows you well (employer, pastor, neighbor, coworker) attesting to your honest, law-abiding, and community-oriented character. These letters serve as evidence in cases where you must prove good moral character under federal law.
How many character reference letters do I need?
No rule sets a number for most cases. For an N-400, the USCIS Policy Manual says sending letters with your application can help USCIS decide whether a neighborhood investigation is needed. Quality matters more than quantity: detailed letters from an employer, pastor, neighbor and coworker say more than generic ones.
What changed with the 2025 USCIS policy?
A 2025 policy memo tells officers to look at the whole picture for naturalization, weighing positive conduct such as community involvement and stable employment along with anything disqualifying. USCIS has also brought back neighborhood investigations, and its Policy Manual says character letters from U.S. citizens who know you can help it decide whether to investigate.
Can a character letter overcome a criminal record?
Not when the record is a bar set by law, such as a murder conviction or most aggravated felonies, or certain conduct during the look-back period. Two or more DUIs create a presumption that is hard to overcome, and VAWA has its own rules for conduct connected to the abuse. Whether a bar applies is a question for an immigration attorney. Letters help most with conduct outside the period and with the overall weighing, and they should name the record and give specific, verifiable evidence of change.
Does the letter need to be notarized?
Usually not for USCIS filings, though a form's instructions can ask for a sworn statement. Some attorneys prefer notarized letters in removal proceedings. A perjury declaration works instead: "I declare under penalty of perjury under the laws of the United States of America that the foregoing is true and correct. Executed on [date]." With that declaration included, the letter serves the same role as a notarized affidavit of good moral character; 28 U.S.C. § 1746 lets federal filings use the unsworn declaration.
Can family members write character letters?
Not for naturalization: the USCIS Policy Manual says USCIS does not consider letters written by your immediate family or relatives, and prefers letters from U.S. citizens who know you personally. In cancellation of removal and VAWA cases a relative's letter can still be part of the record; ask your attorney, and add letters from people outside the family.
Can social media posts affect my good moral character finding?
They can. USCIS may review social media for some applications. Its policy for benefits that involve discretion treats what it calls "anti-American" activity as a strongly negative factor; naturalization eligibility has its own legal rules. Ask an immigration attorney how this applies to your posts and your application before you file.
I registered to vote by accident at the DMV. Does that affect my case?
It can. USCIS guidance says registering to vote or voting unlawfully can count against good moral character, and unlawful voting or a false claim to citizenship can lead to removal proceedings. Whether a DMV registration counts depends on the facts, such as whether you indicated you were a citizen. Talk to an immigration attorney before filing your N-400.
Can USCIS investigate my neighborhood?
Yes. USCIS has brought back neighborhood investigations for naturalization. An investigator can talk with you, your neighbors and your employer about your character unless USCIS decides it is not needed, and character letters sent with your N-400 can help it decide. Attorneys have reported visits without advance notice. You can ask to have your attorney present.
Do I need to have paid all my back taxes?
The 2025 memo lists meeting tax obligations among the positive factors, so unpaid taxes can count against you. An immigration attorney can advise on getting all returns filed and balances handled before you apply. IRS transcripts are the usual proof.
What is the good moral character period for cancellation of removal?
It depends on the kind of cancellation: generally ten years for non-permanent residents, a shorter period for VAWA cancellation, and none for permanent residents. Good moral character is judged through the final decision in the case, including any appeal, so conduct while the case is pending matters; ask your attorney which period applies to you.
Can a DUI be overcome for good moral character?
One DUI is generally not a bar by itself, though it can be weighed. Two or more DUIs during the period create a presumption against good moral character (Matter of Castillo-Perez, 2019) that is hard to overcome: the question is whether the convictions were an aberration, not only whether you have changed since. Records often gathered include treatment and sobriety records, a driving record and character letters that describe the change.
Does USCIS check my credit report or financial records?
USCIS looks at whether you filed and paid taxes (IRS tax transcripts are the usual proof) and can verify employment. Failing to support your dependents can count against good moral character, and the 2025 memo lists meeting tax and financial obligations among the positive factors. Being current on taxes and child support matters.
My case involves VAWA. Can a GMC bar be waived?
In some cases. VAWA has its own rules: USCIS can still find good moral character despite some bars when the conduct was connected to the abuse (INA 204(a)(1)(C)). Whether that fits a case is a question for an immigration attorney. A psychological evaluation can document symptoms and history consistent with that connection, as one part of the evidence. Dr. Mantonya writes VAWA evaluations; ask us whether one fits your case.
Can a non-citizen write a character letter for me?
Yes, though for an N-400 the USCIS Policy Manual says letters should "preferably" come from U.S. citizens who personally know you, and asks each writer for a statement and documentation of their citizenship or immigration status. A lawful permanent resident or another non-citizen can still write; what matters is personal knowledge of you and the writer's own credibility. Whether to include a letter from someone without immigration status, for their own safety and for the case, is a question to ask your attorney.
Do I need to send original signed letters or can copies be submitted?
Follow the form's instructions on copies and originals; USCIS can ask for an original at any time. Each letter should still be signed and dated by the writer; you are sending a copy of a real signed document. Keep the signed originals in case the officer asks for them. For immigration court, ask your attorney what to file.
How recent should a good moral character letter be?
There is no official age limit. A signature date close to when you file avoids questions about whether the letter still reflects the present. The letter does not have to describe only recent events. A pastor who has known you for many years can describe both the past and today. Ask the writer to date the letter close to the time you actually file, and if your case has been pending a long time, ask for an updated letter before the interview.
Can a psychologist write my good moral character letter?
Dr. Mantonya does not write character letters. A psychologist who evaluates you writes a clinical report, and it does a different job: it lays out your symptoms, test results, and history in professional terms. Dr. Mantonya writes these evaluations for VAWA, cancellation of removal, hardship waivers, and N-648 disability waivers. If your case might need one, write to us. Asking is free.