谈谈找推荐人和准备推荐信的一些经验，顺带为485求祝福# Immigration - 落地生根
l*6
1 楼
之前发过一个140祝福贴，说批了的话上来分享推荐信经验，结果大家的bless很灵。现
在还愿来了，顺带为昨天寄出去的485求祝福，希望大家都能早绿！
主申请人是我先生，因为我们专业相关他工作太忙，全过程是我准备的。以下叙述用第
一人称。
我的条件比起版上的大牛们很一般：
Journal：28
Conference:6
Citation: 240+
Review: 16
I-140 timeline:
PD: July 1, 2014, 直接pp
AD: July 7, 2014
律师是Liu Law 的Karen Egonis，非常负责，回信基本是24小时，不会超过两天。比较
难得的是一个文科生最后居然把我的research弄懂了。从推荐信开始到140寄出去用了
大概一个月。
开始给推荐人发信之前，我把引用过我文章的每一篇文章都快速看了一遍，把其中有正
面评价或者在我文章基础上做了进一步工作的文章全部下下来，其实数量也不多，大概
2，30篇的样子，再按照工作内容分成几个方向。这样筛选过后在以后准备推荐信过程
中就知道往哪个方向写了。接下来开始给这些文章的所有有research scientist title及
以上的推荐人广发邮件（因为律师说research scientist也可以做推荐人），同一篇文
章中也许有几个作者是教授或者research scientist，我会先给其中一个教授先发信，
如果两三天没有回音再给另一个发，不带任何个人情绪。我发的第一封信title 是
Greeting from XXX at XXX University, 以下是大致内容（注：没有按照律师提供的
模板写，不属于保密协议范围）：
Dear Dr. XXX,
My name is XXX, and I am currently a postdoctoral research scientist in Prof
. XXX’s laboratory at XXX University. I am writing this letter to inquire
about the possibility of receiving a supportive letter from you toward my
application of permanent residency in the United States of America.
My research has been focused in XXX. I notice that you have published a very
interesting papers with the title “XXX” on XXX journal in 2007, from
which I learn a lot. It is also my pleasure to notice that you cited one of
my papers “XXX”, which was published when I was working in Prof. XXX’s
group at XXX University. I would like to express my appreciation for the
great paper and for the citing of our work.
As I have started my career in the U.S., I plan to file permanent residency
application recently. My immigration lawyer advised me of filing under the
category of Alien of Extraordinary Ability. Under this classification, I
need to submit evidence to the U.S. government to prove my qualification as
an outstanding researcher. Such evidence includes a number of supporting
letters signed by independent experts who either do not know me personally
or have never worked with me on any projects. Since you are a prominent
figure in my research area, I wonder if you could help me out with such a
letter. This letter will only be used for immigration purpose, and will
never be used as academic recommendation.
I understand that you are extremely busy; therefore, I will ask my lawyer to
provide a well-written draft for you to review, and you are welcome to
write or modify what you feel comfortable based on the draft. However, I
will completely understand if you decline.
Enclosed please find my CV for your evaluation. Thank you in advance for
your help, and I am looking forward to your reply!
Sincerely Yours,
XXX
一周下来，发了大概50封信，收到10几封回信表示同意当推荐人，各个主要的研究方向
都有了。其余的信要么没有回音，要么是婉拒，但这些都是可以理解的，没有产生消极
情绪。因为之前听说有些推荐人刚开始答应，但是收到推荐信后又没有回音了，所以我
给10几个scientists 都回了以下一封信，
Dear Dr. XXX,
Thank you so much for your kindness of helping me with the support letter!
My lawyer will prepare the draft within around two weeks, and I will e-mail
it to you as soon as it is ready. By the way, could you give me a copy of
your CV, so that my lawyer can introduce your background in this letter?
Again, thank you for your help and have a great day!
XXX
接下来从中先选择了5位推荐人（根据他们回信语气友好而且研究方向各有不同来选择
，一美国，一法国，一意大利，一瑞典，一澳大利亚，2个full professor, 3个senior
research scientist），每封推荐信介绍两个工作。我的第一稿基本是按照发表文章
的abstract, introduction, 和conclusion 改头换面过来的，结果律师改下来，通篇
红字，提了好多问题，惨不忍睹！因为签了协议，我不能公开推荐信的内容，但具体原
则有以下几点：
1. 推荐人背景泛泛而谈，不要过多笔墨，避免被对比；
2. 很多人已经知道的高危词诸如will，promising …不要出现;
3. 工作有什么现实意义，对比前人的工作，有什么进步 （即使你的工作在现在领
域的潮流下不牛，总能找到比你更早的工作来对比）；
4. 专有名词要用外行人的语言解释一两句，让移民官能够看懂；
5. 你的工作有什么应用。因为做的是基础研究，所以工业应用有限，这时就体现出
找引过自己文章的推荐人的好处了。可以说I cited XXX’s work and extend it to
XXX. 简单介绍一下他们在你工作上做的扩展（即使他们的工作不是直接在你的工作上
做的，只要认为你的工作是positive都可以说他们是扩展了你的工作），这些话最后律
师都在PL中特别引用了。
推荐信的最后版本出来我看了以后，自己都觉得这个case肯定没问题了。没有浮夸的吹
捧，让人觉得牛的同时处处讲事实摆数据 （其实一点都不牛），所以不会让推荐人看
了不舒服。由于这几个推荐人都只是引用了我一篇文章，但是为了推荐信的充实每篇都
介绍了两项工作，所以在给推荐人发推荐信草稿的时候我是这样说的：
Dear Prof. XXX,
It has been a while since our last communication. I hope everything goes
well with you. Thank you very much for the kindness of being willing to
write a supporting letter for my green card application in United States.
Attached is the draft written by my lawyer. She suggested each referee
introducing two of my works to make the reference letters more informative.
The first work in the draft introduces my paper titled "XXX", which was
cited in several of your papers before. The second work introduces my paper
titled "XXX" publised in XXX. My lawyer introduce this work in the draft
because you are an expert in XXX field to make some comments on my work.
Please feel free to make any change. If you are not satisfied with this
version, please let me or my lawyer know, and we will rewrite the draft.
This letter will only be used for immigration purpose and will never be used
as academic recommendation.
If you think the draft is good, I greatly appreciate if you can print it on
headed paper, sign it, and mail it to me at your earliest convenience.
Please let me know your address so that I can print a paid Fedex Fast
Shipping label for you to mail the letter to United States. However, if
mailing is too trouble for you, you can also email me a signed PDF version
letter with heading, although my lawyer suggested that using original
version is more credible.
I appreciate very much of your help. Your support is very important for me
and my family to settle our life in United States.
Best Wishes,
XXX
5个推荐人都很快回复愿意签，澳大利亚和法国的推荐人还自己掏钱把推荐信很快地寄
了过来，其中一个教授还是在度假。期间有一个小插曲，意大利的那位教授把自己背景
介绍的那一段改得很牛，加上有多少篇文章发表，负责了多少很牛的项目……我想了一
下，还是如实给他发了一封信：
Dear Prof. XXX,
Thank you for your nice editing at the draft, and it looks better than my
original one. However, there is one place that I have to let you know
honestly. In the first draft I sent to my lawyer for editing, I introduce
your background in a lot of detail according to your CV, including you "have
authored or co-authored over 600 international refereed papers and
conference presentations."
However, when the lawyer sent the final version back, I found that she
deleted the numbers of your publication. In her reply, she explained to me
that the immigration officers might compare the petitioner to the letter
writer, questioning why, if the petitioner is one of the small percentage at
the top of the field, he or she does not have the same high number of
publications/citations/awards.
In this sense, could you kindly delete the statement of the total number of
your publication? I feel very embarrassed for raising such request,
especially to a professor that is so famous in the field, but some of the
immigration officers may decline the petition based on one sentence of the
recommenders' words. However, if you feel not comfortable about this, please
feel free to let me know, and I will tell my lawyer that we should keep the
letter as you revised.
Best Regards,
XXX
本来想着如果教授坚持用这个版本就要换推荐人了，结果很快收到回信说他加上那些话
是为了让这封信显得更有权威的，还说觉得移民官拿一个年轻人跟一个做了几十年
科研的人比非常ridiculous。然后非常nice地说会按照我原来的版本一字不漏地签字。
总的来说，我的推荐信准备还是挺顺利的。在这个过程中一定要对自己有信心，不要因
为一些据信或者杳无回音而灰心失落，要相信这个世界上总会有一些好心人愿意对你施
予善意；在以后别人需要的时候，你也愿意把这份善意传递下去。
在还愿来了，顺带为昨天寄出去的485求祝福，希望大家都能早绿！
主申请人是我先生，因为我们专业相关他工作太忙，全过程是我准备的。以下叙述用第
一人称。
我的条件比起版上的大牛们很一般：
Journal：28
Conference:6
Citation: 240+
Review: 16
I-140 timeline:
PD: July 1, 2014, 直接pp
AD: July 7, 2014
律师是Liu Law 的Karen Egonis，非常负责，回信基本是24小时，不会超过两天。比较
难得的是一个文科生最后居然把我的research弄懂了。从推荐信开始到140寄出去用了
大概一个月。
开始给推荐人发信之前，我把引用过我文章的每一篇文章都快速看了一遍，把其中有正
面评价或者在我文章基础上做了进一步工作的文章全部下下来，其实数量也不多，大概
2，30篇的样子，再按照工作内容分成几个方向。这样筛选过后在以后准备推荐信过程
中就知道往哪个方向写了。接下来开始给这些文章的所有有research scientist title及
以上的推荐人广发邮件（因为律师说research scientist也可以做推荐人），同一篇文
章中也许有几个作者是教授或者research scientist，我会先给其中一个教授先发信，
如果两三天没有回音再给另一个发，不带任何个人情绪。我发的第一封信title 是
Greeting from XXX at XXX University, 以下是大致内容（注：没有按照律师提供的
模板写，不属于保密协议范围）：
Dear Dr. XXX,
My name is XXX, and I am currently a postdoctoral research scientist in Prof
. XXX’s laboratory at XXX University. I am writing this letter to inquire
about the possibility of receiving a supportive letter from you toward my
application of permanent residency in the United States of America.
My research has been focused in XXX. I notice that you have published a very
interesting papers with the title “XXX” on XXX journal in 2007, from
which I learn a lot. It is also my pleasure to notice that you cited one of
my papers “XXX”, which was published when I was working in Prof. XXX’s
group at XXX University. I would like to express my appreciation for the
great paper and for the citing of our work.
As I have started my career in the U.S., I plan to file permanent residency
application recently. My immigration lawyer advised me of filing under the
category of Alien of Extraordinary Ability. Under this classification, I
need to submit evidence to the U.S. government to prove my qualification as
an outstanding researcher. Such evidence includes a number of supporting
letters signed by independent experts who either do not know me personally
or have never worked with me on any projects. Since you are a prominent
figure in my research area, I wonder if you could help me out with such a
letter. This letter will only be used for immigration purpose, and will
never be used as academic recommendation.
I understand that you are extremely busy; therefore, I will ask my lawyer to
provide a well-written draft for you to review, and you are welcome to
write or modify what you feel comfortable based on the draft. However, I
will completely understand if you decline.
Enclosed please find my CV for your evaluation. Thank you in advance for
your help, and I am looking forward to your reply!
Sincerely Yours,
XXX
一周下来，发了大概50封信，收到10几封回信表示同意当推荐人，各个主要的研究方向
都有了。其余的信要么没有回音，要么是婉拒，但这些都是可以理解的，没有产生消极
情绪。因为之前听说有些推荐人刚开始答应，但是收到推荐信后又没有回音了，所以我
给10几个scientists 都回了以下一封信，
Dear Dr. XXX,
Thank you so much for your kindness of helping me with the support letter!
My lawyer will prepare the draft within around two weeks, and I will e-mail
it to you as soon as it is ready. By the way, could you give me a copy of
your CV, so that my lawyer can introduce your background in this letter?
Again, thank you for your help and have a great day!
XXX
接下来从中先选择了5位推荐人（根据他们回信语气友好而且研究方向各有不同来选择
，一美国，一法国，一意大利，一瑞典，一澳大利亚，2个full professor, 3个senior
research scientist），每封推荐信介绍两个工作。我的第一稿基本是按照发表文章
的abstract, introduction, 和conclusion 改头换面过来的，结果律师改下来，通篇
红字，提了好多问题，惨不忍睹！因为签了协议，我不能公开推荐信的内容，但具体原
则有以下几点：
1. 推荐人背景泛泛而谈，不要过多笔墨，避免被对比；
2. 很多人已经知道的高危词诸如will，promising …不要出现;
3. 工作有什么现实意义，对比前人的工作，有什么进步 （即使你的工作在现在领
域的潮流下不牛，总能找到比你更早的工作来对比）；
4. 专有名词要用外行人的语言解释一两句，让移民官能够看懂；
5. 你的工作有什么应用。因为做的是基础研究，所以工业应用有限，这时就体现出
找引过自己文章的推荐人的好处了。可以说I cited XXX’s work and extend it to
XXX. 简单介绍一下他们在你工作上做的扩展（即使他们的工作不是直接在你的工作上
做的，只要认为你的工作是positive都可以说他们是扩展了你的工作），这些话最后律
师都在PL中特别引用了。
推荐信的最后版本出来我看了以后，自己都觉得这个case肯定没问题了。没有浮夸的吹
捧，让人觉得牛的同时处处讲事实摆数据 （其实一点都不牛），所以不会让推荐人看
了不舒服。由于这几个推荐人都只是引用了我一篇文章，但是为了推荐信的充实每篇都
介绍了两项工作，所以在给推荐人发推荐信草稿的时候我是这样说的：
Dear Prof. XXX,
It has been a while since our last communication. I hope everything goes
well with you. Thank you very much for the kindness of being willing to
write a supporting letter for my green card application in United States.
Attached is the draft written by my lawyer. She suggested each referee
introducing two of my works to make the reference letters more informative.
The first work in the draft introduces my paper titled "XXX", which was
cited in several of your papers before. The second work introduces my paper
titled "XXX" publised in XXX. My lawyer introduce this work in the draft
because you are an expert in XXX field to make some comments on my work.
Please feel free to make any change. If you are not satisfied with this
version, please let me or my lawyer know, and we will rewrite the draft.
This letter will only be used for immigration purpose and will never be used
as academic recommendation.
If you think the draft is good, I greatly appreciate if you can print it on
headed paper, sign it, and mail it to me at your earliest convenience.
Please let me know your address so that I can print a paid Fedex Fast
Shipping label for you to mail the letter to United States. However, if
mailing is too trouble for you, you can also email me a signed PDF version
letter with heading, although my lawyer suggested that using original
version is more credible.
I appreciate very much of your help. Your support is very important for me
and my family to settle our life in United States.
Best Wishes,
XXX
5个推荐人都很快回复愿意签，澳大利亚和法国的推荐人还自己掏钱把推荐信很快地寄
了过来，其中一个教授还是在度假。期间有一个小插曲，意大利的那位教授把自己背景
介绍的那一段改得很牛，加上有多少篇文章发表，负责了多少很牛的项目……我想了一
下，还是如实给他发了一封信：
Dear Prof. XXX,
Thank you for your nice editing at the draft, and it looks better than my
original one. However, there is one place that I have to let you know
honestly. In the first draft I sent to my lawyer for editing, I introduce
your background in a lot of detail according to your CV, including you "have
authored or co-authored over 600 international refereed papers and
conference presentations."
However, when the lawyer sent the final version back, I found that she
deleted the numbers of your publication. In her reply, she explained to me
that the immigration officers might compare the petitioner to the letter
writer, questioning why, if the petitioner is one of the small percentage at
the top of the field, he or she does not have the same high number of
publications/citations/awards.
In this sense, could you kindly delete the statement of the total number of
your publication? I feel very embarrassed for raising such request,
especially to a professor that is so famous in the field, but some of the
immigration officers may decline the petition based on one sentence of the
recommenders' words. However, if you feel not comfortable about this, please
feel free to let me know, and I will tell my lawyer that we should keep the
letter as you revised.
Best Regards,
XXX
本来想着如果教授坚持用这个版本就要换推荐人了，结果很快收到回信说他加上那些话
是为了让这封信显得更有权威的，还说觉得移民官拿一个年轻人跟一个做了几十年
科研的人比非常ridiculous。然后非常nice地说会按照我原来的版本一字不漏地签字。
总的来说，我的推荐信准备还是挺顺利的。在这个过程中一定要对自己有信心，不要因
为一些据信或者杳无回音而灰心失落，要相信这个世界上总会有一些好心人愿意对你施
予善意；在以后别人需要的时候，你也愿意把这份善意传递下去。
