As the name suggests, a letter of good moral character is a letter that attests to an individual’s character and qualifies their character to be “good”.
This is the equivalent of a reference letter in the workplace. While a reference letter serves to prove that you worked where you said you worked and did what you claimed to have done, a letter of good moral character proves you are who you claim to be.
This begs the question, ‘where is a letter of good moral character used?’ How do you write a letter of good moral character? We’re going to answer all of these questions in this article and crown it off with some samples. But before then, lets us look in-depth at what a letter of good moral character is and what makes it important.
Regardless of the instance, a letter of good moral character is a letter written to confirm that an individual is of good character. If requested in a court, this tells the judge or the jury that the person the letter is written for is an upright individual and is not the culprit in whatever it is that is being brought against them.
If requested for immigration, a letter of good moral character goes to show the immigration officers that you’re an upright citizen and will not cause any problems if granted access into the country.
This is also the case when a character reference letter is written for naturalization. A good moral character letter shows you have not committed any crimes, have been an upright citizen, and do not nurture any intention of changing. In this case, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services receives the letter as it is part of the naturalization requirement.
For a good character reference letter to be credible, it needs to be written by people that actually know you. This can be a spouse, a relative, a religious leader, or a business partner. Letters from these individuals carry much more weight as they either know the person in question very well or they’re written by people with high moral standings in society.
A well-written letter astronomically increases the chances of the letter achieving its intended aim. This is why it’s important that the letter is written perfectly, this means dotting all the I’s and crossing all t’s.
Without further ado, here’s how to write a good moral character letter:
This goes without saying, but a letter of good moral character is an official letter, and as such, must follow all letter-writing principles, this includes headings.
The heading includes the relevant addresses, the date the letter was written, and contact information. All of these should be written on the left side of the letter. It is important to make sure there are no errors when writing this section of the letter. This is because if the court or immigration office ever decides to get in touch with you, your contact information would be one of the first places to check.
If you’re writing as a business partner or as a member of an organization, using a company letterheaded paper also gives an edge when it comes to how official the letter appears.
After the headings, the next most important thing to include in your letter is the greeting. Due to the nature of this letter, it is extremely important that your greetings are professional. This means abstaining from using any and all forms of improper and impersonal greetings.
If you’re writing to very important people, it is important to address them by their honorifics rather than their names, and If you’re unsure what their honorific is, you can simply address the letter to the position they hold.
This is where the body of your letter starts. In this section, you must state who you are, and what you do (if relevant to the letter and aids your credibility) and include your relationship with the person in question.
When writing this section of the letter, ensure to include only the relevant bits. Refrain from including any unnecessary information that is irrelevant to the case.
Before writing the body of the letter, it’s important to check in with the lawyer handling the case or the individual in question to better understand their needs. This way, you write what they want you to write instead of writing what you think is needed.
If you’re not given any clear instructions, it’s best to state how long you’ve known the person in question, what you think of their character, and on some rare occasions, you wouldn’t be out of line if you included a story that told to positively to the person’s attributes.
Also, it is also expected that you touch on the reason you’re writing the letter in the body. This way, the recipient knows that you’re aware of what’s happening and are actually close to the recipient. This helps the case as it goes further to prove your relationship with the person in question.
This is the most important part of your letter, and whether or not your letter gets the desired outcome is based entirely on how the body is written. This is why it’s important that it gets the most of your attention.
The closing and conclusion section should touch briefly on the relationship you have with the recipient and mildly admonish the recipient to grant their request. In the closing, also express your interest in continuing communication if there’s ever the need.
To Whom It May Concern, My name is (write your name) and I am the CEO and founder of (name of company), where (name of employee) has worked as a (role) for the last 5 years. I am writing this letter to attest and vouch for their good moral character. In all the years (name of employee) has worked with us, we have never had cause to doubt his character. In the time they’ve spent with the company, they’ve gone out to represent the company in more occasions than I can count and we have never had any negative reports. (Name of employee) currently manages an entire department and all his subordinates look to him with respect and admiration. In all this time, they’ve won “employee of the month” more than anyone else put together. (Name of employee) is a great employee with a good moral character and I hope this letter helps further the cause. Kind Regards, (Your name and signature)
January 18, 2023 To Whom It May Concern, My name is (include your name) I am writing this letter on behalf of my friend and business partner, (Name) with respect to his application to become a citizen of the United States. I have known (name) for over 5 years and in that time, we have concluded multiple business ventures together and are currently in the middle of our latest venture. I can attest without any doubt or reservation that (name) is an upright individual, honest, trustworthy with a great work ethic. Over the course of the years, I've been in hairy situations with (name) and I have never had cause to doubt his character. (Name) is a family-oriented person with two children and his excellent character isn't only reserved for business, he carries it everywhere he goes and is also evident in how much he cares for his children. As a test of his good nature, (Name) has assisted in the soup kitchen in our church for over four years. He's come to be a beacon of hope for the people in the kitchen and not once has he let any of them down. If I may be so bold, (name) is the embodiment of a true American citizen. For these reasons stated above, I believe more than anything that he deserves to be an American citizen. Thank you for your time and consideration. Kind Regards, (Your Name and Signature)
To the Judge and Jury, My name is (state your name), and I am writing this letter to attest to the good moral character of the defendant, (state the defendant's name), in the case of his driving under the influence. I have known (name of defendant) for over 5 years, and in that time, I have watched him get married, birth children, run his business, and be an upstanding member of our community. In all this time, I have never seen (name of defendant) involved in an unruly manner nor has he ever been involved in anything that was not right and just. We were all shocked beyond belief to discover that he had been drinking and driving. While his actions cannot be excused, we ask the court to please temper justice with mercy. As the court is probably aware, (Name of defendant) suffered a loss in the family and that was what brought about the behavior. While I understand that this is not justification for his actions, I plead with the court to not mar him for one mistake. (Name of defendant) has been a friend and neighbor for years, volunteers at the local animal shelter, and not once has he exhibited this kind of behavior. This is how I know it will not repeat itself. I hope this letter paints (name of defendant) in a different light than what he's currently seen as. Thank you for your time and consideration. Signed To the Judge and Jury.
To Whom It May Concern: I am writing this letter to attest to the good moral character of [Applicant's Name]. I have known [Applicant's Name] for [number] years, and during that time, I have come to know [him/her] as a kind, honest, trustworthy, and hardworking individual. I first met [Applicant's Name] when [he/she] [explain how you met]. Since then, we have developed a close friendship, and I have had the opportunity to witness [his/her] good moral character firsthand. For example, one time that [Applicant's Name] demonstrated [his/her] good moral character was when [he/she] [describe an example of the applicant's good moral character]. This incident showed me that [Applicant's Name] is someone who is always willing to help others, even if it means putting [himself/herself] at a disadvantage. [Applicant's Name] is also a very active member of the community. [He/She] volunteers [his/her] time regularly at [name of organization] and [name of organization]. [His/Her] work with these organizations has made a positive impact on the lives of many people. I have no doubt that [Applicant's Name] would be a valuable asset to your country. [He/She] is a person of good moral character, strong work ethic, and deep commitment to community service. I highly recommend [Applicant's Name] for immigration. Sincerely, [Your Name] [Your Title] [Your Contact Information]
[Your Name] [Your Address] [City, State, Zip Code] [Your Email Address] [Your Phone Number] [Date] [USCIS Address] [City, State, Zip Code] To Whom It May Concern, I am writing this letter to express my wholehearted support for [Family Member's Full Name], who is currently seeking permanent residency in the United States. [Family Member's Full Name] is my [relationship to the family member], and I am fully committed to assisting them throughout the immigration process. I have known [Family Member's Full Name] for [number of years or duration] and can attest to their outstanding character, strong work ethic, and unwavering dedication to becoming a valuable and responsible member of the American community. I firmly believe that granting [Family Member's Full Name] permanent residency in the United States is not only in their best interest but is also in the best interest of the United States. [Family Member's Full Name] is a person of integrity, responsibility, and moral character. They have always respected the laws and values of this country, and I am confident that they will continue to do so as a permanent resident. [He/She] has been an active participant in our local community, volunteering for various organizations, and contributing positively to our society. Furthermore, [Family Member's Full Name] has consistently displayed a strong commitment to their education and career. [He/She] graduated from [Name of Educational Institution] with [Degree Earned] and has been gainfully employed at [Name of Employer] for [Number of Years] as a [Job Title]. [He/She] pays taxes, obeys the law, and is a responsible and productive member of society. In addition to [Family Member's Full Name]'s character and contributions, their presence is invaluable to our family. [He/She] plays a significant role in providing support and care to our family members, and [his/her] absence would create a void that cannot be easily filled. I kindly request that you consider [Family Member's Full Name]'s application for permanent residency with the utmost care and compassion. Granting [him/her] permanent residency would allow [him/her] to continue to contribute to our society, pursue [his/her] dreams, and remain an integral part of our family. If you require any further information or documentation to support [Family Member's Full Name]'s application, please do not hesitate to contact me at [Your Phone Number] or [Your Email Address]. Thank you for your time and consideration. I believe that [Family Member's Full Name] is a deserving candidate for permanent residency in the United States, and I hope you will make a favorable decision. Sincerely, [Your Name]
Conclusion
More than anything, a letter of good character must attest to an individual’s good character. If the person in question isn’t someone of good character, you should decline writing the letter.
We’ve included samples to help you get started with writing your own letter of good moral character.
