Offer Letters
Proof of future income before day one.
A formal offer letter you can submit when you've been hired but haven't started — useful for relocations and rentals timed to a job change.
Who it's for
- New hires relocating
- Rentals contingent on future income
- Immigration cases
What's included
- Company details
- Position & start date
- Compensation package
- Reporting structure
What it proves
- Guaranteed future income
- Employer commitment
What this document actually is
The gap between accepting a job and receiving your first paycheck is often when you most need proof of income — you're moving cities, signing a lease, applying for a visa. An offer letter is the document reviewers accept in that gap. Landlords in relocation markets, immigration officers processing work visas, and even mortgage lenders (with some caveats) will accept a signed offer as proof of future income for 30–90 days before your start date.
When people reach for this document
You accepted a job in a new city and need to sign a lease before you move
Landlords will accept an offer letter in lieu of stubs, provided the start date is within the next 30–60 days and compensation is stated in the letter.
You're on an H-1B and need to prove employment for I-129
USCIS accepts an offer letter as employment proof for petition-based visas as long as it includes role, salary, and expected start date.
You're relocating internationally and applying for local housing
Housing markets in Amsterdam, Berlin, Singapore, and Dubai routinely accept translated offer letters for expat hires.
What the delivered document looks like
- Company letterhead
- Candidate name and address
- Position title, department, reporting manager
- Start date and location (remote/hybrid/on-site)
- Compensation: base salary, sign-on bonus, equity, benefits summary
- Contingencies (background check, right-to-work) and expiration date
- Signature blocks for company and candidate
What reviewers check
- Signed by both parties
- Start date is within the accepted proof window
- Compensation is stated in local currency
- Company is a real entity (LinkedIn / registry lookup)
Questions specific to offer letters
Will a mortgage lender accept an offer letter?
Sometimes. For salaried W-2 offers within 60 days of start, many lenders accept them. Commission-based offers usually require actual pay stubs.
Does it need to be countersigned?
Yes. An unsigned offer is a proposal; reviewers want proof the candidate accepted.
What if my offer has a probation period?
That's standard and doesn't reduce the letter's weight, as long as the base compensation during probation is stated.