My American brother-in-law wants to recommend me for EB-2 NIW. Is that impartial?

In the EB-2 NIW, recommendation letters help demonstrate your merit, but the weight of each one depends heavily on the independence of the person signing it. That is where the question about your brother-in-law comes in.

A recommendation tends to carry more value when it comes from someone without close family or personal ties to you, because it conveys an objective assessment free from conflicts of interest. Even when well-intentioned, a letter from a relative is generally read with more caution and tends to carry less weight on that criterion.

For this reason, the ideal approach is to prioritize letters from prominent professionals in your field who can attest to your skills and accomplishments from an external, academic, or professional perspective. The credibility and independence of the evaluator matter greatly in the review process.

This does not mean you should completely dismiss your brother-in-law’s gesture, but rather understand where it adds little value. Since every case is unique and the credibility of supporting documents is decisive, it is worth building your recommendation package with a specialist and checking the latest USCIS guidance.

About the author

Victoria Harper

Editor-in-Chief

Meet the author

As a journalist and lead editor at Visto n’ Visa, Victoria helps ensure that immigration topics are covered in a clear, trustworthy, and easy-to-understand way. Her focus is on delivering useful, human, and relevant content for people exploring new paths abroad.