K-1 Visa Questions; Beginning the Journey Soon

[kwbaille 0]

Hey everyone,

I'll start with a little intro. I am a US citizen 23 years of age. My fiance is Japanese and also 23 years old. Over the years we have been keeping various documents for this very occasion (Boarding passes, train and bus tickets, pictures of us together from when we visited each other). We are going to send in the K-1 packet soon but I have some questions that I'm still unsure of.

1 - For the Affidavit of Support: We both recently graduated from the same college (We have copies of both our degrees proving we graduated from the same place) and I am now working as a Microsoft .NET Developer. I make 40k a year right now with little other assests. Should I be concerned in anyway that they would think I cannot support her? I have kept my pay stubs and time sheets since I have begun my work 2 months ago. Also how should I fill out the I-134? The example on this site is not very relevant to me so it's hard for me to apply those guidlines to myself.

2 - I have heard that I should also include a letter to extend the time the package is "active" while it is held by the embassy (in say Tokyo). The reason I have heard is because the package can expire before the fiance is able to return all the various documents to the embassy. What are your thoughts on this? Other than that I have everything ready to go.

I thank you very much for your responses.

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

1. I-134 is not sent yet, so you will have some more months of work history before it is needed. They go by current income, so you should be fine, but they do have discretion. When that time comes, make sure to show proof of current employment.

2. No need. The embassy will automatically extend the petition if there is an issue. There shouldn't be any problem, however.

[kwbaille 0]

1. I-134 is not sent yet, so you will have some more months of work history before it is needed. They go by current income, so you should be fine, but they do have discretion. When that time comes, make sure to show proof of current employment.

2. No need. The embassy will automatically extend the petition if there is an issue. There shouldn't be any problem, however.

What do you mean by "they do have discretion"? Would they peer at my file with suspicious eyes because of my lack of work history and low asset value?

[* Kristin * 49]

Your income is fine by the poverty standards: http://www.uscis.gov/files/form/i-864p.pdf

I can't say specifically how Japan works - but normally you would be required to provide say, a letter from your employer and/or pay stubs (which you're saving) and tax transcripts...

What do you mean by "they do have discretion"? Would they peer at my file with suspicious eyes because of my lack of work history and low asset value?

[Tim/Mav 305]

What do you mean by "they do have discretion"? Would they peer at my file with suspicious eyes because of my lack of work history and low asset value?

No, I don't think so. It is impressive you have attained a degree and a job well over the guildlines. Also, you have'nt Filed yet so the interview where proof of Income is needed is 6 to 8 months down the road. (Save those Check Stubs) Your in a better position than you think.

[kwbaille 0]

No, I don't think so. It is impressive you have attained a degree and a job well over the guildlines. Also, you have'nt Filed yet so the interview where proof of Income is needed is 6 to 8 months down the road. (Save those Check Stubs) Your in a better position than you think.

Thank you for your kind words. I will continue to keep records of my paystubs. Should I also be saving bank statements? And would me buying a car help much with the low assets problem? There's a lot of things on the I-134 I do not have. There is mention of bonds and such things. I don't have those.

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

They shouldn't have a problem, but some consulates are more strict than others. The strange thing is that the I-134 is more or less a check to see if the person will qualify for the I-864 when they do AOS. The I-134 is not legally binding, but the I-864 is. Normally, a fairly short work history for I-864 is not a problem, but I saw recently someone who was told to get a co-sponsor at an embassy because of short work history (or so they reported).

Showing assets is not required if you qualify through income, by the way. They won't look at both if one is satisfactory.

I wouldn't worry about it. You were recently a student and have landed a good first job out of college. That is a very good reason for short work history. If you are still worried, it might be good to have a back-up co-sponsor lined up in case there is an issue, but I wouldn't plan on it being a problem. I would also suggest looking at the Japan consulate for their specific requirements, if any.

[kwbaille 0]

They shouldn't have a problem, but some consulates are more strict than others. The strange thing is that the I-134 is more or less a check to see if the person will qualify for the I-864 when they do AOS. The I-134 is not legally binding, but the I-864 is. Normally, a fairly short work history for I-864 is not a problem, but I saw recently someone who was told to get a co-sponsor at an embassy because of short work history (or so they reported).

Showing assets is not required if you qualify through income, by the way. They won't look at both if one is satisfactory.

I wouldn't worry about it. You were recently a student and have landed a good first job out of college. That is a very good reason for short work history. If you are still worried, it might be good to have a back-up co-sponsor lined up in case there is an issue, but I wouldn't plan on it being a problem. I would also suggest looking at the Japan consulate for their specific requirements, if any.

I will do that, thank you. The I-134 is definitely one of the more confusing forms to fill out... On this website it says to provide support as listed in section II, but I don't see a section labeled "II" or "2" anywhere. I'm just going to assume I paperclip my stubs and bank statements with it.

[Tim/Mav 305]

Thank you for your kind words. I will continue to keep records of my paystubs. Should I also be saving bank statements? And would me buying a car help much with the low assets problem? There's a lot of things on the I-134 I do not have. There is mention of bonds and such things. I don't have those.

Purchasing a car is Not Countable as an Asset.

Yes, save bank statements but they maynot even be needed.

Quote: "There's a lot of things on the I-134 I do not have." Not true. You have a good paying job and shows support.

Don't worry about Bonds.

On your I-129-F Application show you currant job, address, etc. Notice: They are not asking anything about income for that job. For the other rest of the 5 years (if applicable) write in School/Colledge/Unemployed.

You are a long ways from worrying about the I-134

[kwbaille 0]

Haha yes I am a ways off from worrying about it, but I like to have everything mapped out well in advance. I had my fiance keep her boarding pass from a year and a half ago just incase we decided to do this. Should I send the official boarding pass to anyone ever? Or only copies of them? I know I am supposed to send a copy package to my fiance with all the originals of photos and such... Though a lot of "originals" are on Facebook.

[kwbaille 0]

Also thank you very much Tim and Harpa for your timely responses. I really appreciate that.

[Tim/Mav 305]

Haha yes I am a ways off from worrying about it, but I like to have everything mapped out well in advance. I had my fiance keep her boarding pass from a year and a half ago just incase we decided to do this. Should I send the official boarding pass to anyone ever? Or only copies of them? I know I am supposed to send a copy package to my fiance with all the originals of photos and such... Though a lot of "originals" are on Facebook.

Do Not send the Originals, copies. Originals may or maynot be asked for at the interview. Good luck on your 129-F Petition.

[kwbaille 0]

Do Not send the Originals, copies. Originals may or maynot be asked for at the interview. Good luck on your 129-F Petition.

Thank you. The hardest part is patience. Everything else is easy.

[edilene1 0]

I would not worry at all about your income, trust me, you make more then most people !! I did an 134 with original application, and then I did a new one, as my income increased, you can always update it in time for the final interview.

mike

[bigdog 376]

Hey everyone,

I'll start with a little intro. I am a US citizen 23 years of age. My fiance is Japanese and also 23 years old. Over the years we have been keeping various documents for this very occasion (Boarding passes, train and bus tickets, pictures of us together from when we visited each other). We are going to send in the K-1 packet soon but I have some questions that I'm still unsure of.

1 - For the Affidavit of Support: We both recently graduated from the same college (We have copies of both our degrees proving we graduated from the same place) and I am now working as a Microsoft .NET Developer. I make 40k a year right now with little other assests. Should I be concerned in anyway that they would think I cannot support her? I have kept my pay stubs and time sheets since I have begun my work 2 months ago. Also how should I fill out the I-134? The example on this site is not very relevant to me so it's hard for me to apply those guidlines to myself.

2 - I have heard that I should also include a letter to extend the time the package is "active" while it is held by the embassy (in say Tokyo). The reason I have heard is because the package can expire before the fiance is able to return all the various documents to the embassy. What are your thoughts on this? Other than that I have everything ready to go.

I thank you very much for your responses.