Can my former-workplace deny my ex-manager from giving me a recommendation?

Question

I was applying for US Permanent Residency (Green Card) for which I needed recommendation letters from my previous employers. One of my ex-managers (with whom I left on excellent terms and did great work with) expressed interest in writing me a recommendation letter and wrote a really good one. However, as required by the USCIS, when I requested that it be printed on an official letterhead, my manager delivered some bad news: She said that the HR has a new policy that no past-employees can be given recommendation letters. If necessary, they can corroborate employment history (limited to roles and duration) but nothing else. No exceptions.

This seems a bit absurd but the HR did seriously state this as their policy. My manager, obviously, didn't want to do anything without the HR's permission. Thus, I am left without a crucial recommendation letter.

Is there something I can do?

Answer 1

Try having the manager explain to HR that it is an immigration thing and not a job reference.

Most US employers are afraid of being sued and so managers are no longer allowed to write references or recommendations. Instead HR issue a strictly factual "X worked from A to B, their title was Y and their pay was Z"

The company can't prevent the manager writing a reference but they can stop it being an officially sanctioned, ie. on letterhead, communication.