K-1 Application Questions/Co-Sponsor

[rybackrules 0]

Hey everyone! I've got a few questions regarding the K-1 Visa (who doesn't!), and I hope someone could clarify some things for me and my partner. I'll start with a summary of our background, because this is probably required information!

I am 4 years older than my partner, we met when she was 15 and I was 19. I live in the UK, and she is in Nevada. She's currently 19 and I'm 23.

We met online on a website I ran a few years ago, but never started considering a relationship until we'd known each other for a couple of years. I made my first trip to visit her in November 2011, when she was 17 and I was 21. It was a completely platonic visit, and kind of a test to see how well we were around each other in person. After this trip we decided that we did want to proceed, and I have visited her twice since.

She's planning on coming here in August, and then I want to visit her again in April. We're planning on filing for the K-1 Visa in October, which will hopefully be approved by October the following year. We're hoping to get married on January 11th 2015.

She's currently in college with a part-time job. She made $9,000 last year. I work full time in the UK, and make around $20,000 per year here. We're saving our butts off and hoping to get $15-$20k saved between us by the time everything's sorted. We're aware that her income is significantly below the US poverty line, but we're planning on asking one (or both) of her parents to co-sponsor us.

She is planning on taking the 2014/2015 year out of school to work full time to up her income before she goes to Uni to finish her degree.

And onto my questions, finally!

1/ I've seen some people say that some consulates will refuse an application with a co-sponsor, basically because they have a co-sponsor. Is this true? If so it seems deceiving to allow the option.

2/ Are there any benefits for a co-sponsor? Tax breaks etc. I ask this because it will help us to decide which of her parents to approach.

3/ Can there only be one co-sponsor? For a number of reasons I'd like us to be able to ask both her parents to sponsor us. They have both been really supportive of us when I have visited her, and gone out of their way to make sure we have a good time.

4/ Does the country the alien spouse is immigrating from have a positive/negative impact on the application? For example, would a first world country have a better chance than a third world country, or is it all equal?

I did have a lot more questions but they keep coming and going from my head, it's a lot of information to take in.

Thanks to anyone who takes the time to read this!

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

She's currently in college with a part-time job. She made $9,000 last year. I work full time in the UK, and make around $20,000 per year here. We're saving our butts off and hoping to get $15-$20k saved between us by the time everything's sorted. We're aware that her income is significantly below the US poverty line, but we're planning on asking one (or both) of her parents to co-sponsor us.

And onto my questions, finally!

1/ I've seen some people say that some consulates will refuse an application with a co-sponsor, basically because they have a co-sponsor. Is this true? If so it seems deceiving to allow the option.

2/ Are there any benefits for a co-sponsor? Tax breaks etc. I ask this because it will help us to decide which of her parents to approach.

3/ Can there only be one co-sponsor? For a number of reasons I'd like us to be able to ask both her parents to sponsor us. They have both been really supportive of us when I have visited her, and gone out of their way to make sure we have a good time.

4/ Does the country the alien spouse is immigrating from have a positive/negative impact on the application? For example, would a first world country have a better chance than a third world country, or is it all equal?

I did have a lot more questions but they keep coming and going from my head, it's a lot of information to take in.

Thanks to anyone who takes the time to read this!

1. Lucky you. London is easy. They allow a joint sponsor. You could even sponsor yourself there with enough cash. But when it comes time to apply for the greencard, you will need a joint sponsor.

2. No tax breaks. You will not be considered their dependent for tax purposes. They are basically just promising if you go on the dole in America, the government can sue them to pay back what you collected. That is until you die, leave the country, work approximately 10 years, or become a US citizen. Even if you are a sorry scoundrel that cheats on their daughter and divorces her, they are still on the hook.

3. Only one joint.

4. No for the petition. A break you get is not having to have certified translations of documents because yours are already in English. Another break is your consulate is pretty easy.

Edited May 8, 2013 by Nich-Nick

[rybackrules 0]

I know this is probably a long shot, but if I could sponsor myself with enough cash, could a family member in the UK here sponsor me instead?

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

I know this is probably a long shot, but if I could sponsor myself with enough cash, could a family member in the UK here sponsor me instead?

I don't think so. Read what London has to say here http://london.usembassy.gov/faffidavit.html

It mentions friends and relatives in the US or proving YOUR ownership of assets.

[aaron2020 11,651]

I know this is probably a long shot, but if I could sponsor myself with enough cash, could a family member in the UK here sponsor me instead?

A Joint Sponsor must be 1) over age 18 and 2) be a US citizen or an LPR.

Your family member could only be a JS if that person is either a USC or LPR.