I-751 cover letter: sample and exhibit list

Published October 27, 2026

A cover letter is not required for Form I-751, but almost everyone includes one. It tells the officer what is in the packet and in what order, so the evidence of your marriage is easy to find. The useful part is the exhibit list. This page gives a sample for a joint petition and a template. It is general information, not legal advice; the form instructions list what must be included.

What the cover letter does

• Identifies the petition: both names, the conditional resident's A-number, and that it is a joint petition to remove conditions.
• Lists every item in the packet in order: the form, the fee, the required copies, then the evidence as numbered or lettered exhibits.
• Explains briefly anything unusual, such as living apart for work, in one or two sentences, with the details in a personal statement.

Sample

[Date]

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
[Address from the I-751 filing instructions for your state]

RE: Form I-751, Petition to Remove Conditions on Residence (joint filing)
Conditional resident: Ana López Castro, A-123-456-789
Petitioner spouse: Daniel Reyes

Dear Officer,

Please find enclosed our joint petition to remove the conditions on Ana's permanent residence. We married on July 20, 2024 and have lived together in Portland, Oregon since August 2024.

Enclosed:
1. Filing fee
2. Form I-751, signed by both of us
3. Copy of the front and back of Ana's permanent resident card

Evidence of our marriage:
Exhibit A. Joint lease, 2210 SE Division St, Portland, 2024 to 2026
Exhibit B. Joint bank account statements, sampled every third month
Exhibit C. 2024 and 2025 joint federal tax returns
Exhibit D. Health insurance card and policy listing both spouses
Exhibit E. Photos together, 2024 to 2026, with dates and captions (12 pages)
Exhibit F. Message history: monthly calendar and dated sample (24 pages)
Exhibit G. Affidavits from Maria Teresa López and James Carter

Sincerely,

Ana López Castro            Daniel Reyes

Making the exhibits easy to read

• Label each exhibit with a cover sheet or tab that matches the letter.
• Put documents in date order inside each exhibit.
• For long records (bank statements, bills, messages), send a sample spread over the period and say so in the list.
• Number the pages of long exhibits so the letter can point to them.
• Translate any foreign-language document, with the translator's statement: see USCIS translation requirements.

For what to put in the exhibits, see I-751 evidence. Proof of Relationship builds the photo and message exhibits (a calendar of messages per month, a dated sample, photos with dates and captions, and an index with page numbers) from your chat export and photos, as one PDF under 4 MB.

Common questions

Is a cover letter required for the I-751?

No, but it helps the officer find your evidence and is standard practice. Keep it to one or two pages.

What should an I-751 cover letter include?

Both names, the A-number, the type of filing, a list of everything enclosed in order, and an exhibit list for the evidence of the marriage.

Should the cover letter explain gaps in our evidence?

Mention them in a sentence, for example living apart for a job, and explain fully in a signed personal statement included as an exhibit.

Who signs the I-751 cover letter?

For a joint petition, usually both spouses, or the attorney if one represents you.

More guides: K-1 visa evidence: proof of relationship · I-751 evidence · Affidavit of bona fide marriage: sample and template · Evidence of bona fide marriage: the full list · I-130 request for evidence on the marriage · How to print WhatsApp messages with dates · USCIS translation requirements · I-130 cover letter for a spouse: sample · K-1 visa interview: questions and documents · Download Messenger chat history · Relationship evidence apps compared