USCIS cover letter: how to write it and what to include
A cover letter is the first page of your USCIS package: who is filing, what, and which documents are enclosed. Below: structure, a sample, and a table for re-parole, TPS, Work Permit, expedite and RFE. As of 11/02/2026.
⚡ In short
- USCIS does not require a cover letter, but it helps the officer see quickly that the package is complete.
- Write it in English, one page (1–2 for an expedite), signed.
- Must have: name, A-Number, receipt number (if any), form number and a numbered list of enclosures.
- Put the letter on top of the package; in an RFE response the RFE notice goes on top.
- It does not replace an affidavit: your story goes in a separate statement, the letter only lists documents.
📌 What a cover letter is and when you need one
❓What is a USCIS cover letter?+
A short first page of the package: who is applying, which form, which documents are enclosed and in what order. The officer sees everything on one sheet and can check faster that nothing is missing.
⚖️Is a cover letter mandatory?+
No, USCIS does not require it and will accept the application without one. For paper filings, expedite requests and RFE responses we still recommend it: there is less risk a document gets lost or overlooked.
💻Do I need one if I file online?+
The online form gives the structure, so a letter is optional. If you upload a lot of evidence (for example, for re-parole), upload the letter as a separate PDF first in the evidence section.
📮When is a cover letter most useful?+
- Paper filing of I-131, I-821, I-765.
- Expedite requests.
- RFE responses.
- Unsolicited evidence sent to a pending case.
🧩 Letter structure
🔝Header: what goes at the top?+
Your name, address, phone, email and date. Below: “U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services” and the address from the form instructions (it depends on the form and your state).
🎯RE line: what to include?+
Form number and name, type of request, the applicant’s full name as in the passport, date of birth, A-Number and receipt number if you have one. Example: “RE: Form I-131, Re-Parole (U4U)”.
✍️Body: how much to write?+
Two or three sentences: what you are filing and why. For an expedite it is longer: which USCIS criterion you rely on and how you prove it. Details: how to request an expedite.
📎List of enclosures: how to format it?+
A numbered list in the same order as the documents in the package. Each item: what it is and the number of pages, copy or original. List translations next to the original.
🖊️Signature: who signs?+
The applicant, by hand or electronically depending on how you file. For a child, a parent signs.
📋 What to include for each filing
The header and signature are the same in every letter. What changes is the RE line and the list of enclosures:
| What you file | What to put in RE | What to list as enclosures |
|---|---|---|
| Re-parole (I-131) | Form I-131, Re-Parole (U4U), name, A-Number | I-94, passport and parole stamps, EAD, ID, affidavit, medical and other evidence, translations |
| TPS (I-821 + I-765) | Form I-821 TPS Ukraine (re-registration or initial), A-Number | I-94, passport, proof of US residence, prior I-797s, EAD |
| Work Permit (I-765) | Form I-765, category, e.g. (c)(11) or (a)(12) | I-94, passport, prior EAD, 2 photos (paper filing) |
| Expedite | Request to Expedite Form …, receipt number, A-Number | Receipt notice I-797C, evidence for the criterion: employer letter, medical records, news about your city |
| RFE response | Response to RFE, receipt number, RFE date | The RFE notice on top, then documents in the order of the RFE items |
📝 Sample cover letter
Template for re-parole. Replace the brackets with your details and remove items you do not need. For TPS, Work Permit, expedite and RFE change the RE line and the list using the table above.
[Your full name] [Street address, City, State ZIP] [Phone] · [Email] [Date: Month DD, YYYY] U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services [Lockbox / service center address from the form instructions] RE: Form I-131, Application for Travel Document (Re-Parole, U4U) Applicant: [FULL NAME], DOB [MM/DD/YYYY] A-Number: [A-XXX-XXX-XXX] · Receipt No.: [if any] Dear Officer, Please find enclosed my Form I-131 requesting re-parole. I was paroled into the United States on [date] under Uniting for Ukraine. My current parole expires on [date]. Enclosed documents: 1. Form I-131, signed 2. Copy of Form I-94 3. Copy of passport biographic page and parole stamp 4. Copy of EAD (front and back) 5. Personal statement (affidavit) 6. [Other evidence], with certified English translations Thank you for your consideration. Sincerely, [Signature] [Full name]
⚠️ Common mistakes
❌Telling your whole story in the letter+
Your story, threats and circumstances belong in the affidavit; the cover letter is only a list. An officer may skip a long letter.
❌The list does not match the package+
If the letter lists 8 documents and the envelope has 7, that is the first thing noticed. Check the list against the package before mailing.
❌No A-Number or receipt number+
Without them, documents for a pending case (expedite, RFE, extra evidence) are harder to match to your file.
❌Ukrainian documents without translation+
USCIS accepts foreign-language documents only with a full English translation and a translator’s certificate.
💡 In short: what helps and what to avoid
✅ What helps
- One page, in English, signed.
- Numbered list in package order.
- A-Number and receipt number in the RE line.
- Keep a copy of the whole package with the letter.
⛔ What to avoid
- Sending originals when USCIS asks for copies.
- Claiming things in the letter that the documents do not show.
- Mailing without checking the address in the form instructions.
We will write the cover letter and put the package together
We write the cover letter and statement in English, choose the evidence and check the package before filing. Expedite package $240, re-parole from $280. We are not attorneys and do not guarantee the result.
📚 Official sources
This page is for information only and is not legal advice. We are not lawyers and are not affiliated with USCIS or the U.S. Department of State.
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