An immigration hardship letter is written in two situations: when a relative or loved one is getting deported and you want to prove that doing so would affect you or your family adversely, or when you seek entry into a country by proving that a relative in the country will face extreme hardship without your assistance. Immigration hardship letters are often used to prevent deportation from a foreign country. In more rare cases, the letter can be used to seek entry into a country, although this approach is seldom successful.
The purpose of an immigration hardship letter is to prove to the immigration authority that deporting a member of your family will plunge the family into extreme economic hardship. These letters are usually written where the immigrant being threatened with deportation is the sole breadwinner in the family. The letter is professional and respectful in tone and language, but it is also very personal.
It should illustrate in no uncertain terms how deportation will affect you and your family, how your family depends on the deported immigrant for support, etc. You should seek to craft a narrative around your hardships and appeal to the immigration authority for leniency. The format of an immigration hardship letter can be seen below.
{Date}
Subject: Letter of Extreme Hardship
Case Number: {Insert case number}
Petitioner Name: {Your Name}
I, {Your Name}, declare under penalty of perjury, under the laws of the United States of America, that the following is true and correct.
This letter is to express the extreme hardship I, {Name}, would suffer if my husband, {Name}, were to be deported from the United States.
Healthcare
{Convey healthcare concerns in great detail}.
Loans
{Convey financial concerns in great detail}.
{Mortgage | Rent}
{Convey financial concerns in great detail}.
Family ties
{Convey your sense of isolation}
Oppression in homeland
{Convey why moving away with your husband is not feasible – reasons of political or religious persecution, etc.}
Summary
{Summarize your case. Emphasize the financial, emotional, and physical blow that the deportation would have for yourself and your family. Finish up by stating the dreams you hope to fulfill and how you plan to contribute to society if your husband is allowed to stay}.
Sincerely,
{Letter writer}
Exhibits:
{List of enclosed documents. You should reference these specifically in each section}
