Exceptional Hardship Advanced Issues
How Should Records and Support Letters Be Used in a Form I-612 Case?
Support letters can explain hardship, but treatment records, school documents, financial records, custody orders, and other records created in the ordinary course may independently corroborate important facts.
Reviewed by Peter Messersmith ·
2026-09-14
Declarations provide the personal narrative
The applicant and qualifying relatives can explain how the claimed hardship affects their actual lives and why particular facts matter.
Existing records can corroborate the narrative
Medical charts, school records, bills, tax documents, payroll records, therapy records, and court documents may confirm facts that existed independently of the waiver filing.
Support letters should add useful knowledge
Letters are strongest when the writer explains first-hand knowledge rather than repeating the applicant's conclusions.
Consistency across sources matters
Dates, diagnoses, income figures, family roles, and other central facts should align across declarations, letters, and objective records.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are support letters useful?
Yes, particularly when the writer has relevant first-hand knowledge.
Why submit ordinary records?
They can independently corroborate important facts stated in declarations.
Should every document say the same thing word for word?
No, but material facts should remain consistent.
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