How did you get by w/o working?

[MichelleMcK 0]

So I need some advice from everyone who has gone through with the K1 Visa:

When the foreign fiance(e) moved to the USA, how did they manage to support themselves? Because I am basically assuming that my fiance is not going to get an EAD when he crosses the border on his K-1. I am only a University Student with a part-time job, and cannot support him.

Basically, I'm wondering how everyone else got by not being able to work, and living in a foreign country.

Thanks in advance!

[Emancipation 2]

So I need some advice from everyone who has gone through with the K1 Visa:

When the foreign fiance(e) moved to the USA, how did they manage to support themselves? Because I am basically assuming that my fiance is not going to get an EAD when he crosses the border on his K-1. I am only a University Student with a part-time job, and cannot support him.

Basically, I'm wondering how everyone else got by not being able to work, and living in a foreign country.

Thanks in advance!

Hey gal - check the Pinned EI thread at the top of the CDN forum. It is possible for your guy to collect EI while in the US waiting for his EAD to be approved. It's not big bucks but it's a start.

I withdrew volentary amounts out of my pension, sold all my possessions and saved like a crazy person before I left as well.. It is possible, and now that I'm working it's all good. We managed to make it through without going into debt which I'm VERY thankful for!

Edited December 12, 2007 by Emancipation

[~Laura and Nick~ 5]

Yay you found it!

Welcome

I responded in the other thread too.

I'm just saving up as much as I can before I come down there. Nick has a pretty good job but I still want to do my part.

Do you live with your parents? Does your fiance work, is he able to save any money at all before he moves down?

Best of luck!!!

[Chica Yeyé 41]

Savings is always the way to go; and do check out the EI possibility. And once the man is in the US, marry away sister and apply for that AOS and EAD pronto. I remember when I married Bren, and both in Canada with a study permit and changed mine to a work permit, the wait was insane, and the not having money was even crazier.

Good luck, L.

[Udella&Wiz 325]

We basically saved about 6 months worth of my salary so that we wouldn't live on too tight a budget. I actually didn't realize that I wouldn't be able to work until a couple months into the process (darn...could have been saving a little) but it's great that you're anticipating this now.

It was hard to plan a wedding, plus think about saving too. We were married in our owning living room. Made the brunch and decorated everything ourselves. I don't have a final total, but I would guestimate about $1500 or so. Yes I found my dress super on sale at Sears of all places and it cost about $100 for alterations ($300 in total). My husband's suit was about as much - go figure. It's doable though. Your expectations may change about what you thought equalled the perfect wedding...mine did

No idea what you have planned there....but ask people for suggestions and help. I found family willing to help out even when we didn't need it or anticipate it.

I chose to cash in my Tier 3 Stock plan from work since it wasn't huge and the tax hit was reasonable...that was a few thousand bucks which immediately went into savings. Each of us had a 3 pay month which we choose to save from rather then spend. I also started cutting down on buying new work clothes (cuz frankly I used to just buy for the sake of buying...my wardrobe is full) and I still managed to squeak in a few new items on sale. I ate out a little less and commited to a $$ amount to be transfered over to savings on pay day. I already had a money market fund for rainy days and shopping expeditions (X dollars every pay) so I didn't notice a few bucks extra.

Yah - sounds well planned, but honestly I'm still stressed out despite the fact that we have the cash. We got a few generous gifts from the Wedding which were very nice as well.

I'm always ticked that the AOS fee is $1010 per person (for some fo the same damn forms I've already filled out) and I have to do it for me and my daughter

I applied for EI - but they're not the quickest bunch and what with waiting periods etc....I'm not sure I'll see anything before I get back to work...but hey...be cool if I got a little lump sum cheque from them towards the end too!!!!!

[thermophile 0]

Similar situation-I'm a grad student so get a small stipend. We decided to go the CR1 route for the reason that we couldn't live with out the hubby working. Where are you in the process? you might consider a quick legal wedding to get the paperwork started, then have a ceremony/party later.

sorry hope that didn't come off rude-I didn't mean for it to be. just wanted to give you another route to consider.

Edited December 12, 2007 by thermophile

[Chica Yeyé 41]

Similar situation-I'm a grad student so get a small stipend. We decided to go the CR1 route for the reason that we couldn't live with out the hubby working. Where are you in the process? you might consider a quick legal wedding to get the paperwork started, then have a ceremony/party later.

sorry hope that didn't come off rude-I didn't mean for it to be. just wanted to give you another route to consider.

Shite. Does that mean I cannot blackmail you letting the world know you are falsifying your research results????????? :angry: :angry: Darn.

[thermophile 0]

some Mexican princess got up on the wrong side of the bed this morning.

of course if you were hoping to base your financial future on what you can get out of blackmailing me-all I can say is

You're hosed, eh

[Chica Yeyé 41]

some Mexican princess got up on the wrong side of the bed this morning.

of course if you were hoping to base your financial future on what you can get out of blackmailing me-all I can say is

You're hosed, eh

1.- That would be Mexican Queen to you.

2.- You have broken my . I will now have to rent myself at the UWash. Darn.

3.- Please make tenure and then I can blackmail you properly

[Earmuffs 1]

Im on parental benefits i think its good for a year..

money sucks but its better than nothing.

[~Nini~ 2]

While our petition was in process, I started saving up money from my job to accommodate the jobless period. For moving expenses, I sold most of my stuff to help counter the UPS fees. As a farewell gift my family and close friends also gave me a sum of money to take with me

EI is also a great way to get some money while jobless.

[Caladan 19]

We had grand plans for C. to save up about $12,000 prior to his move down here. Due to some scheduling shenanigans with work, that ended up being about $2,000, but we lucked into being able to procure an EAD stamp so he was able to get in about two months' worth of work. We were lucky; his employer was going international just as we were moving down here, and it's not the sort of thing I'd recommend.

Of course, having to wait for the AOS-EAD meant that the schedule went ahead without him, and now they're shutting down work for Christmas, and we're now living on my grad student stipend until January. It's a little stressful because being married has essentially doubled my expenses with no income (doubled rent, as I split it before, health insurance for him, parking, car insurance, extra food.) We're making ends meet without going into debt, but we have almost no discretionary spending.

I would recommend having at least the $1010 in hand to file for AOS right away, but figure on four-six months of unemployment at a minimum for him. If he has a job now, have him start socking away as much as he can because between moving, putting a household together, &c, your 'burn rate' will be high for a few months.

[HannahP 119]

How are you intending to meet the 125% above poverty requirements to get his visa in the first place?

[thermophile 0]

some Mexican princess got up on the wrong side of the bed this morning.

of course if you were hoping to base your financial future on what you can get out of blackmailing me-all I can say is

You're hosed, eh

1.- That would be Mexican Queen to you.

2.- You have broken my . I will now have to rent myself at the UWash. Darn.

3.- Please make tenure and then I can blackmail you properly

sorry queeny. UW is high on my list of places that I would love to rent myself out to, although now that I'm afraid of your blackmailing me I'll have to hide

[Chica Yeyé 41]

some Mexican princess got up on the wrong side of the bed this morning.

of course if you were hoping to base your financial future on what you can get out of blackmailing me-all I can say is

You're hosed, eh

1.- That would be Mexican Queen to you.

2.- You have broken my . I will now have to rent myself at the UWash. Darn.

3.- Please make tenure and then I can blackmail you properly

sorry queeny. UW is high on my list of places that I would love to rent myself out to, although now that I'm afraid of your blackmailing me I'll have to hide

the good thing about our line of biz is that the world is small, he he he [insert really MEAN laugh here] :devil:

Come over, we have good coffee.

And let's stop hijacking the thread....