Affidavit of bona fide marriage: sample and template

Form I-130 and Form I-751 both allow statements from people who know the couple, as evidence that the marriage is real. USCIS calls them affidavits or sworn statements from third parties. They support the documentary evidence; they do not replace it. This page gives a sample, explains what makes one useful, and offers a template. It is general information, not legal advice.

Who should write one

Someone who has seen the couple together over time and can say specific things: a parent, a sibling, a close friend, a neighbour, a colleague who attended the wedding and dinners since. Two or three good statements from different parts of the couple's life are better than ten vague ones. The writer should give their full name, address, date and place of birth, and how they know the couple. Writers who are not US citizens or residents can still write one.

What makes a statement useful

• Specifics. Dates, places, events, conversations. "I had dinner with them at their apartment on Elm Street in March 2025 and we talked about their plans to visit her mother in Lima" says more than "they are a loving couple".
• First-hand knowledge. What the writer saw and heard, not what they were told.
• Time. How long the writer has known each spouse and how often they see them.
• Plain language. It should sound like the person who wrote it.
• A signature and date, with the statement that it is true under penalty of perjury. The I-130 and I-751 instructions describe what the statement must contain; read the current version before you finalise.

Sample affidavit

AFFIDAVIT OF MARIA TERESA LOPEZ

I, Maria Teresa Lopez, declare as follows:

1. I was born on 4 June 1968 in Lima, Peru. I live at 118 Oak Lane, Hillsboro, Oregon 97124. I am the mother of Ana Lopez Castro.

2. I have known Daniel Reyes since March 2023, when Ana introduced him to our family during his first visit to Lima. He stayed in our home for two weeks. I have known Ana all her life.

3. Ana and Daniel married on 20 July 2024 in Hillsboro, Oregon. I attended the wedding with my husband and Ana's two brothers. About forty guests from both families were present.

4. Since the wedding I have visited Ana and Daniel at their apartment at 2210 SE Division Street, Portland, roughly once a month. They share the apartment; I have seen both of their clothes, their shared kitchen, and the mail addressed to each of them there. In December 2024 we spent Christmas together at their home, and in August 2025 Daniel travelled with Ana and me to Lima for my mother's funeral.

5. I speak to Ana several times a week, and Daniel is usually part of those calls. From what I have seen, they share their money and their decisions, and they have told me they plan to buy a house in 2027.

I declare under penalty of perjury under the laws of the United States of America that the foregoing is true and correct.

Signed: ______________________    Date: 3 October 2026
Maria Teresa Lopez

Template

AFFIDAVIT OF [FULL NAME]

I, [full name], declare as follows:

1. I was born on [date] in [city, country]. I live at [address]. [Relationship to the couple, e.g. "I am a friend of both spouses" / "I am the petitioner's sister".]

2. I have known [spouse A] since [date and how]. I have known [spouse B] since [date and how].

3. [How you learned of the relationship; the wedding if you attended; what you observed.]

4. [Specific occasions since the marriage: dates, places, who was there, what you saw of their shared home and life.]

5. [How often you are in contact and what you know of their plans.]

I declare under penalty of perjury under the laws of the United States of America that the foregoing is true and correct.

Signed: ______________________    Date: ____________
[Full name]

Does it need to be notarized?

The form instructions and USCIS policy describe when a sworn statement must be notarized and when a declaration under penalty of perjury is enough; the answer has changed over the years and depends on the form. Read the current instructions for the form you are filing. Notarization never hurts if the writer can arrange it easily.

Where the affidavit fits

An affidavit is one exhibit among several. Officers give the most weight to records that show a shared life, such as a joint lease, joint accounts, joint tax returns and insurance, and then to photos, messages and statements that fill in the picture. See I-751 evidence for the full list and how to organize it, and proof of relationship for a K-1 visa for an engaged couple.

Common questions

How many affidavits should I include?

Two or three from people in different parts of your life, each specific and first-hand, is typical. More does not help; vagueness hurts.

Can a family member write the affidavit?

Yes. Parents and siblings often write the most detailed ones because they have the most first-hand knowledge. Include at least one from outside the family if you can.

Does the affidavit have to be in English?

If it is written in another language, include a full English translation with a statement from the translator that they are competent to translate and that the translation is complete and accurate, as the form instructions describe.

Is an affidavit enough on its own?

No. It supports documentary evidence of a shared life. A petition with affidavits and nothing else usually gets a request for evidence.

More guides: Proof of relationship for a K-1 visa · I-751 evidence