An Employment Verification Letter (EVL) is an official document issued by your employer—or self-prepared if you’re self-employed—that confirms your current or past employment status. It’s often requested by banks, landlords, or government agencies as proof of your job and income.

For U.S. immigration purposes, EVLs serve as important supporting evidence for visa and green card applications. Important: Don’t confuse an EVL with the Employment Authorization Document (EAD), which is a legal work permit issued by USCIS allowing non-citizens to work in the U.S.

Need of EVL:

EVLs are frequently requested in the following situations:

1. Applying for a Green Card

If you’re sponsoring a relative’s green card application, you’ll submit Form I-864, Affidavit of Support, to prove you can financially support the applicant. Alongside tax returns and pay stubs, an EVL is key evidence—especially if you recently changed jobs or combine incomes with your spouse.

2. Self-Employed Sponsors

If you’re self-employed and cannot provide standard W-2 forms, USCIS expects a self-drafted EVL describing your business and role. You should also provide additional documentation such as business registrations, client contracts, and tax returns to prove your income.

3. Applying for a Tourist (B-2) Visa

To demonstrate strong ties to your home country and financial ability to fund your U.S. visit, an EVL verifies your current employment status, proving you have a job to return to.

4. Applying for Work Visas (e.g., H-1B, L-1)

EVLs verify your employment history and job experience, critical to eligibility for work visa categories.

5. Temporary Business Visitor (B-1) Visa

For short-term business trips (meetings, training, negotiations), an EVL confirms your employment abroad and clarifies that you won’t be working for a U.S. employer or receiving U.S. payment.

Read Also: U.S. Sponsor Support for Migrants to Form I-134A – Complete Guide

Mandatory Information in EVL:

To ensure USCIS or other agencies accept your EVL, it should contain:

• Date of letter issuance (preferably within 3 months of application)
• Employee’s full name and job title
• Employment dates (start and end date, or “present” if ongoing)
• Employment status (full-time, part-time, contract, temporary, etc.)
• Annual or hourly salary and compensation details
• Detailed job responsibilities and duties (especially for immigration or green card purposes)
• Official letterhead of the employer (or personal letterhead if self-employed)
• Signature, printed name, and title of the authorized person

How to Request an Employment Verification Letter for Immigration?

• Ask your supervisor or Human Resources (HR) department—provide clear details about why you need the letter and what information should be included.
• Some companies use third-party employment verification services such as InVerify or The Work Number. Check if your employer uses these, which can speed up the process.
• If self-employed, draft a professional letter describing your role and income, and consider having it notarized for extra authenticity (not required, but sometimes helpful).

Additional Information:

• Make sure all information in the letter aligns with your tax returns and pay stubs to avoid inconsistencies.
• Keep the letter recent (within 3 months) and on official letterhead for credibility.
• Include as much detail as possible in job duties when applying for visas or green cards, since this helps USCIS evaluate your qualifications.
• Retain copies of the letter for your records and future applications.

Frequently Asked Questions: