Assets Question on Affadavit of Support

[Caladan 19]

Hi! I'm new! My boyfriend is Canadian and if all goes well we'll start on the K-1 this summer.

But, I have a concern and a question. I'm a graduate student, and I make about $16,000 a year via teaching. (It may be slightly higher this summer with summer teaching.) So as you can see, I'm hovering right around the 125% threshold, probably nudged slightly over with the summer bonus.

I do have a considerable amount in personal savings, however, and on the I-134, there is a line for that. So my first question is, do personal savings factor in their decision? It seems pretty obvious to me that if my salary scrapes us by and my savings are enough for another year of living, we'd be an okay risk, but I am unsure of the criteria used by USCIS. Anyone been through this?

Second, does a co-sponsor have to be a blood relation? Despite the fact that my boyfriend and I have been together for three years, my parents have an in-born resistance to givin' the 'govmint' any information, so chances are, if I can't do this on my own, I won't be able to rely on them. (Kind of heartbreaking.) I have some friends whom I might be able to talk into it if I cry, but... does a co-sponsor have to be a relation of the petitioner?

Thanks for your help!

[MaryandMian 1]

It looks like you will need a co sponsor. I would start preparing for this now since you are not at the 125 percent poverty level.

Your co sponsor does not have to be a blood relative. It can be a family friend that is willing to do this for you so you need to make sure someone will be very generous in sponsorship. Also, once you marry you will have to file the I-485 which is another more binding contract that the immigrant will not be burden on the system here.

So read up on the forms and try and find your sponsor now. Good luck.

Mary

[Caladan 19]

Thanks. Unfortunate. I hope I can convince a college friend; parents would love nothing more than for me to break up. (I think they are still of the mindset that if I have a boyfriend, I won't pass eighth grade. Ah, parents.)

[Caladan 19]

No chance a bank or loan guarantee would work?

What does this legally bind a cosponsor to, anyway?

[babybunny 2]

if you have things like

401K, IRA, Profit sharing these things help.

but you will need a co sponser.

a co sponser will be responsible should your fiancee become public charge.

he decides to get Food stamps, welfare. Co sponser get to pay that back!!

Edited March 28, 2006 by shonjaved

[Caladan 19]

I have a master's degree -- I'm not going to end up on food stamps. But that settles it. I won't be able to find a co-sponsor then. The only people I could ask are my parents, and they wouldn't co-sign for a car because it might make them liable. "I guess it's just not meant to be!" chirps my mom.

I guess that's it. No point in applying just to get denied. I'm ridiculously upset at the moment, but I suppose this is premature. We've discussed marriage, we're not even engaged, so no ###### point.

[meauxna 15]

I have a master's degree -- I'm not going to end up on food stamps. But that settles it. I won't be able to find a co-sponsor then. The only people I could ask are my parents, and they wouldn't co-sign for a car because it might make them liable. "I guess it's just not meant to be!" chirps my mom.

I guess that's it. No point in applying just to get denied. I'm ridiculously upset at the moment, but I suppose this is premature. We've discussed marriage, we're not even engaged, so no ###### point.

Caladan, slow down!

You have to put more than 15 minutes of research into this thing, and don't give up nearly so easily!

I just wrote a bunch of stuff and scratched it out. Maybe you two do not need this pressure on you now, but suffice it to say that when you're ready to look at it again, you will find that your situation is NOT dead in the water, you just need to learn some more.

Hang on, little tomato!

Don't go to bed sad. Really, your situation is not as bad as you think.

mo

[aussiewench 9]

I have a master's degree -- I'm not going to end up on food stamps. But that settles it. I won't be able to find a co-sponsor then. The only people I could ask are my parents, and they wouldn't co-sign for a car because it might make them liable. "I guess it's just not meant to be!" chirps my mom.

I guess that's it. No point in applying just to get denied. I'm ridiculously upset at the moment, but I suppose this is premature. We've discussed marriage, we're not even engaged, so no ###### point.

Caladan, slow down!

You have to put more than 15 minutes of research into this thing, and don't give up nearly so easily!

I just wrote a bunch of stuff and scratched it out. Maybe you two do not need this pressure on you now, but suffice it to say that when you're ready to look at it again, you will find that your situation is NOT dead in the water, you just need to learn some more.

Hang on, little tomato!

Don't go to bed sad. Really, your situation is not as bad as you think.

mo

I agree with Mo.

For starters....

Federal Poverty Guidelines: The Department of Health and Human Services publishes a list every year giving the lowest income acceptable for a family of a particular size so that the family does not live in poverty. Consular officers use these figures in immigrant visa cases to determine whether a sponsor’s income is sufficient to support a new immigrant. For sponsors using the Form I-864 Affidavit of Support the income must be above 125 percent of the federal poverty guidelines. For sponsors using the Form I-134, Affidavit of Support the income generally should be at or above 100 percent of the Federal Poverty Guidelines.

http://travel.state.gov/visa/frvi/glossary...ssary_1363.html

The I-134 is not required for K visas but is often used. When used, the I-134 is only one thing that a Conof will look at when determining if an applicant will become a public charge. It's totality of circumstances.