Family members can provide witness statements when they have relevant personal knowledge. The usefulness of a statement depends on what the witness actually knows, not simply on the person's relationship to the applicant.
Keep the statement based on firsthand knowledge
A useful declaration identifies the witness, explains how the witness knows the applicant, describes what the witness personally saw, heard, experienced, or learned directly, and gives dates or honest date ranges where possible.
The witness should distinguish firsthand knowledge from information someone else told them.
Do not make every statement identical
Multiple declarations copied from the same template can hide each witness's unique knowledge. Let each person describe events truthfully in their own words, then translate the statement if necessary under the applicable filing rules.
Preserve contact and source information
Keep the signed original when possible, the witness's contact information, the foreign-language version if applicable, the complete English translation, and the translator certification required for the filing forum.
If the witness may testify in immigration court, separate witness-list and filing requirements can apply.
Official sources
Whether to submit a particular witness statement is case-specific and should be reviewed for accuracy and relevance.