Failed to find a Co-sponsor?!

[MaxOnline 0]

Some embassies require an Affidavit of support from the beneficiary to present when the interview is taking place... and while some petitioners are ineligible or don't qualify as supporters to their spouses, maybe 'cause they don't have jobs or their annual salary is not above 125% of poverty line, or they're disabled and unable to work... then they start looking for someone to Co-sponsor the beneficiary (though some people say there's no such a thing as a cosponsor! I even heard that you're not even forced by the law to provide an affidavit of support to the CO. in the US. embassy in your country).

My question here is what happens when they fail to find a co-sponsor (some people refuse to co-sponsor the beneficiary 'cause they think he's going to be a financial burden on them when he/she gets to the US. or maybe 'cause don't know him/her and subsequently they don't trust him/her... or maybe they don't want anyone to check out their financial status and what they have and what they don't!).

What about people here who failed to find someone to co-sponsor... what did they do? are they still on hold... did this 'caused their visa petition to be denied or rejected? did they eventually found a co-sponsor?

one last question... do you think that the economy crisis in the US. will have impact on visa approvals, will this add more delays... will this add more hurdles?

please share your experience... and tell us your story.

Thanks

Edited October 8, 2008 by MaxOnline

[cmnb 0]

Some embassies require an Affidavit of support from the beneficiary to present when the interview is taking place... and while some petitioners are ineligible or don't qualify as supporters to their spouses, maybe 'cause they don't have jobs or their annual salary is not above 125% of poverty line, or they're disabled and unable to work... then they start looking for someone to Co-sponsor the beneficiary (though some people say there's no such a thing as a cosponsor! I even heard that you're not even forced by the law to provide an affidavit of support to the CO. in the US. embassy in your country).

My question here is what happens when they fail to find a co-sponsor (some people refuse to co-sponsor the beneficiary 'cause they think he's going to be a financial burden on them when he/she gets to the US. or maybe 'cause don't know him/her and subsequently they don't trust him/her... or maybe they don't want anyone to check out their financial status and what they have and what they don't!).

What about people here who failed to find someone to co-sponsor... what did they do? are they still on hold... did this 'caused their visa petition to be denied or rejected? did they eventually found a co-sponsor?

one last question... do you think that the economy crisis in the US. will have impact on visa approvals, will this add more delays... will this add more hurdles?

please share your experience... and tell us your story.

Thanks

i dont think the economy has anything to do with visa approvals or denials...these are two different issues independent of each other.

[Mononoke28 135]

I'm pretty sure that either the embassy or the NVC will put the case on hold until an affidavit is presented. I know the NVC won't complete a case until an I-864 is submitted with proof of income. If it's not submitted within a certain period of time, the case is cancelled and they don't even forward it to the embassy for an interview.

As far as the financial situation in the US and the visa process is concerned, I don't think they care very much about it. They still request that a person or co-sponsor makes 125% over the poverty line or no visa is issued. Good economy or bad economy.

Diana

[Eric-Pris 1,606]

If a person can't find a co-sponsor, I guess they won't receive a visa. It's better than them coming here and being a burden on our struggling economy.

Regarding the affidavit of support... I often wonder how people who can't meet the 125% of the poverty level plan on supporting a spouse. Keep in mind that the spouse who comes over won't be able to work for at least 3 months. Most people who co-sponsor don't actually plan on supporting the beneficiaries, they just do it to help the petitioner bring his loved one over. For example, in most cities, a single person would have trouble getting by on 125% of the poverty guideline for a household of 2 ($17,500), much less supporting a husband/wife. How can somebody support 2 people making that or just above that?

[pushbrk 12,824]

I'm pretty sure that either the embassy or the NVC will put the case on hold until an affidavit is presented. I know the NVC won't complete a case until an I-864 is submitted with proof of income. If it's not submitted within a certain period of time, the case is cancelled and they don't even forward it to the embassy for an interview.

As far as the financial situation in the US and the visa process is concerned, I don't think they care very much about it. They still request that a person or co-sponsor makes 125% over the poverty line or no visa is issued. Good economy or bad economy.

Diana

K visas don't technically require an affidavit of support. However, because to adjust status from one DOES require an I-864 from a qualified sponsor, most Consular officers will ask for one. Part of their job is to determine whether the intending immigrant is likely to become a public charge. In fulfilling this obligation, I've seen everything from never bringing up the subject of finances at all, to requiring co-sponsors from people who clearly met the minimum published standards.

For an immigrant visa, the lack of a qualified sponsor will kill the visa process at NVC.

For AOS, the lack of a qualified sponsor will kill the AOS process.

K visas are a gray area in some cases during the visa portion of the process but they eventually become AOS cases.

For our purposes, an intending immigrant either becomes a permanent resident, leaves the US or becomes an illegal alien.

[LuckyDucky 0]

Some embassies require an Affidavit of support from the beneficiary to present when the interview is taking place... and while some petitioners are ineligible or don't qualify as supporters to their spouses, maybe 'cause they don't have jobs or their annual salary is not above 125% of poverty line, or they're disabled and unable to work... then they start looking for someone to Co-sponsor the beneficiary (though some people say there's no such a thing as a cosponsor! I even heard that you're not even forced by the law to provide an affidavit of support to the CO. in the US. embassy in your country).

Everyone pretty much covered why there is a 125% bar that has to be cleared to sponsor someone.

My personal opinion is that the 125% requirement is more than fair. The current $17,000 requirement for a household of 2 is not difficult to achieve. It's a full-time job at $8.18 / hour.

That may seem cold to people who have loved ones overseas. I can sympathize, but I still don't want money I contribute to the "common good" to be used to prop them up. I qualified to be a sponsor on my own through hard work and planning.

one last question... do you think that the economy crisis in the US. will have impact on visa approvals, will this add more delays... will this add more hurdles?

I don't think the economy crisis will impact visa approvals. There may be even less visa applications now. (Of course, this may cause people at USCIS to cut back on their workforce, too.)

[john_and_marlene 162]

Of course the economic crisis will have an impact on some visa applications. Many workers will lose their jobs. Out of the many who lose their jobs, some will have petitions for family members/fiance(e)s. When they can't show current income adequate to sponsor, the visas will be denied.

[MaxOnline 0]

That may seem cold to people who have loved ones overseas. I can sympathize, but I still don't want money I contribute to the "common good" to be used to prop them up. I qualified to be a sponsor on my own through hard work and planning.

Dude, come on, none actually asked you to contribute to anyone!! plus don't think that the money that you make from the hard work - as you say - is real money, I know you're struggling... as many Americans! so don't think you're contributing or what ever... none asked you to support others, just support yourself and your family... this if you really can!

Edited October 8, 2008 by MaxOnline

[pushbrk 12,824]

That may seem cold to people who have loved ones overseas. I can sympathize, but I still don't want money I contribute to the "common good" to be used to prop them up. I qualified to be a sponsor on my own through hard work and planning.

Dude, come on, none actually asked you to contribute to anyone!! plus don't think that the money that you make from the hard work - as you say - is real money, I know you're struggling... as many Americans! so don't think you're contributing or what ever... none asked you to support others, just support yourself and your family... this if you really can!

The reason for affidavits of support and minimum standards to qualify is all about making sure the US Taxpayer doesn't have to subsidize (contribute to) the financial needs of intending immigrants. So, anybody who is asking for their family member to come without adequate financial means, is asking you, me and John to contribute to their support.

[LuckyDucky 0]

That may seem cold to people who have loved ones overseas. I can sympathize, but I still don't want money I contribute to the "common good" to be used to prop them up. I qualified to be a sponsor on my own through hard work and planning.

Dude, come on, none actually asked you to contribute to anyone!! plus don't think that the money that you make from the hard work - as you say - is real money, I know you're struggling... as many Americans! so don't think you're contributing or what ever... none asked you to support others, just support yourself and your family... this if you really can!

The reason for affidavits of support and minimum standards to qualify is all about making sure the US Taxpayer doesn't have to subsidize (contribute to) the financial needs of intending immigrants. So, anybody who is asking for their family member to come without adequate financial means, is asking you, me and John to contribute to their support.

Exactly. I tried to be succinct, but wasn't very clear. My apologies for that.

I mean that a portion of my tax dollars go towards programs that help people in need: unemployment, welfare, etc. I'm all for citizens that can use that money when they are in need. Many of them will use it to springboard into employment or education or use that money as a means to start a new life.

However, it's difficult for me to say I'd be willing to give more (higher taxes) if the purpose was to help support those who are bringing over intending immigrants with insufficient income.

[HannahP 119]

Regarding the affidavit of support... I often wonder how people who can't meet the 125% of the poverty level plan on supporting a spouse. Keep in mind that the spouse who comes over won't be able to work for at least 3 months. Most people who co-sponsor don't actually plan on supporting the beneficiaries, they just do it to help the petitioner bring his loved one over. For example, in most cities, a single person would have trouble getting by on 125% of the poverty guideline for a household of 2 ($17,500), much less supporting a husband/wife. How can somebody support 2 people making that or just above that?

Er, we did it quite easily by working and saving up money prior to getting the visa. We probably had $8500 between us on top of the $2500 we received as a wedding gift. I was working 34 hours a week @ $8.50 an hour -- I'm not certain if that's above or below poverty level. And we certainly lived on much less than $17,500 for the two years we lived together (in university) prior to getting the visa...without savings of any kind. I imagine it depends a lot on where you live. Our rent for a two-bedroom apt here in Lawrence, Kansas is $450 a month. Our one-bedroom in Grand Forks, ND was $350 a month (w/heat, gas, and cable included.)

[gingerblue 0]

Sometimes the petitioner has a low income because they have circumstances which will change once their fiance moves here and they can be married. In my case, I'm a single mom with three kids, one of whom has behavioral problems and can't be left home alone (there is no daycare for 13 year olds). Between transporting kids (three different public schools, and our town does not bus) and needing to be home to supervise (and transport to practices, therapists, doctor appts) after school, I can only be available to work 5 hours a day. I cannot....CANNOT...carry a full time job right now. I've tried. Of course, the minute my fiance comes, that frees me up to get a full time job. Which trust me, I cannot wait to do! (This mom ####### gets old.)

Lack of income does not always equal lack of initiative. Sometimes people, especially single mothers, have extenuating circumstances that will resolve with marriage.

Also...quite often, the beneficiary will bring assets when they immigrate. And skills. And a job history. Sure, he can't work for the first few months, but he will be able to work soon. And make a heck of a lot more than me. At his level of employment, a job search will likely take longer than getting the EAD anyway.

Not every immigrant is poor and unskilled.

Sorry to rant, but this issue drives me nuts. I'm seriously worried about not getting this K1 approved and yet our income potential next year surpasses the 125% threshold many times over. But all anyone wants to focus on is my income right now.

[MsZ 6]

The "once he/she is here it will be better economically" may be true but it also might not. So you're asking the US public to take a chance that it will work out as you hope but in the mean time, you can't actually afford one more dependent. And from my POV, if you can't afford one more dependent, you can't afford to bring over a fiance (not even a spouse but a fiance).

They also say that one of the worst reasons to remarry is the hope that you'll be better off financially. Money problems from the get go turn into relationship problems and that also decreases the chance that it will work out as you hope. And in turn, that means that we're (the US public) are taking an even greater chance than you probably realize.

[*JG* 2]

If a person can't find a co-sponsor, I guess they won't receive a visa. It's better than them coming here and being a burden on our struggling economy.

If it were only that easy. 125% doesn't necessarily mean you're all set in the debt to income ratio. Sometimes I think the 125% is really a joke.

[*JG* 2]

The "once he/she is here it will be better economically" may be true but it also might not. So you're asking the US public to take a chance that it will work out as you hope but in the mean time, you can't actually afford one more dependent. And from my POV, if you can't afford one more dependent, you can't afford to bring over a fiance (not even a spouse but a fiance).

They also say that one of the worst reasons to remarry is the hope that you'll be better off financially. Money problems from the get go turn into relationship problems and that also decreases the chance that it will work out as you hope. And in turn, that means that we're (the US public) are taking an even greater chance than you probably realize.

I agree. This always irks me when someone says, once he/she is here and working.............You just never know what the future holds.