Can I draft the O-1 recommendation letters myself for the signers to sign?

You can prepare a draft of the recommendation letters for the O-1 to make things easier for the signers, as long as the final version authentically reflects each recommender’s own opinion.

In the O-1, letters from experts who know your work help demonstrate recognition in your field. It is common to offer an outline or a summary of key points to guide the recommender, but the content must be personally reviewed, contextualized, and validated by them.

• Use the draft only as a starting point, never as a fixed text imposed on the signer.
• Make sure each recommender agrees with the content and personalizes it with their own experience.
• Prioritize truthfulness: inaccurate or overly generic information weakens credibility.

To handle this carefully and safely, it is worth reviewing the updated guidelines from USCIS and seeking expert support when organizing the letters.

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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.