Had a Heartbreak Today

[digbeezgrl 0]

Well, just received a piece of mail today from Homeland Security that caused me to burst into tears.

I fall short of the income requirements for the affifavit of support, nor do I have the last 3 years tax returns to prove income. I've had quite a rough few years since 2000 and a sporadic job history, and last year didn't file at all (I just babysat on and off). We know absolutely NO ONE that we could ask to co-sponsor my fiance here in the US, so we are thinking this is just impossible to overcome.

I make a modest wage now, that technically could support us both, but I fear it will be not good enough.

My question is, realistically how much does he need in the bank to 'self sponsor'? He's from the UK, with an excellent job history and savings and checking accounts, although they are almost empty now due to his trip around the world last year (this is how he met me...)

And another question. What if I went to visit him in Enlgand and we got married there? I understand I would have to come back alone, but will this make it easier on us to eventually get him here without all the red tape? I've read as much as I can bear on this site, and it's been extremely insightful, but we are exploring ALL other avenues around this K1, which seems really out of reach at this time.

This is really killing my spirit, I can't stop crying and the thought of being without him just because the govt says so makes me really angry. If I have to, I'll say bon voyage to the US altogether and move to England, even though we both would much rather be here in Tampa.

Thank you so much for thoughts, help, advice, opinions, etc...

[RichiJenny 14]

I cant find the link yet, but to meet the minimum requirements....you need to be earning either 13 or 16 thousand per year. Not sure exactly how much, will check.

If you make more than that, you're fine, even if its 10 bucks more, you're still over the limit.

With that, you'll file with the I-134 and wont need tax returns, just an employers letter and a couple wage stubbs (optional).

Have a look for the 2005 and/or 2006 poverty guidelines.

ps...my fiancee didnt get back into full time employment til Jan 2005.

http://aspe.hhs.gov/poverty/06poverty.shtml

Thats it.

[digbeezgrl 0]

But, what I'm saying is, I didn't even make THAT much. I'm not kidding. I lived the first 4 months of

last year not working at all and living off borrowed money ( just a lot of issues that need not be mentioned) and when I finally did work, I only made about $7000 last year. The same is the case, give or take, for the 3 or 4 years previous as well. I'm not trying to sound like a total loser, but I've lived off of VERY little for a long time, hence, I just do not meet the requirements per the income guidelines, period.

So, in order for him to self-sponsor, I'm wondering what he would have to show in terms of assets, savings, etc. in order for us to even have a prayer of staying here. Thank you again.

[zethris 0]

relocate to pennsylvania, near philadelphia The Hardford insurance company is on a hiring spree right now for their main call centers and are looking for people that can speak english and help elderly people with their insurance and they start pay at $25,000. you can contact me for further details if you might be interrested, I just got a job there last month. It's a great company.

[ufkenmill 0]

Can you give more details about your timeline and more specifics? You said you received a piece of mail from DHS that said you don't make enough money, why would they send you a letter? Have you had an interview already and they forwarded it to DHS to make a decision?

[digbeezgrl 0]

No, nothing like that... I received a packet containing the 864... affidavit of support, and about 4 sheets

of instructions on what is needed to prove you can support finace... along with an income schedule, which is when I realized I haven't made enough money. Haven't even filed K1 yet. Was getting close to having everything ready until this info came to light.

PS, HA!!! Thanks for the suggestion, but, I waited 7 years to get the hell out of the snow of NY... I will not be relocating to Penn anytime soon, no matter WHAT the salary. Judging by this info I've received, seems as though it wouldn't matter much anyway... I've had a bad FEW years, not just last year. Which makes me wonder, if I were magically offered a six figure salary tomorrow, would that suffice? Why are they asking for 3 years worth of income?

More importantly, what are his chances of self sponsoring? I can't seem to find anywhere on the site that show what he would need to do this. This seems to be our only hope.

[ufkenmill 0]

No, nothing like that... I received a packet containing the 864... affidavit of support, and about 4 sheets

of instructions on what is needed to prove you can support finace... along with an income schedule, which is when I realized I haven't made enough money. Haven't even filed K1 yet. Was getting close to having everything ready until this info came to light.

PS, HA!!! Thanks for the suggestion, but, I waited 7 years to get the hell out of the snow of NY... I will not be relocating to Penn anytime soon, no matter WHAT the salary. Judging by this info I've received, seems as though it wouldn't matter much anyway... I've had a bad FEW years, not just last year. Which makes me wonder, if I were magically offered a six figure salary tomorrow, would that suffice? Why are they asking for 3 years worth of income?

More importantly, what are his chances of self sponsoring? I can't seem to find anywhere on the site that show what he would need to do this. This seems to be our only hope.

Well, before you start freaking out about how you can't be with your fiance, do a little more research on this. You haven't even filed the K1 yet, don't over-worry about what MIGHT happen or what COULD happen. Do your best to find a co-sponsor (parents, aunts, uncles, brothers, sisters, friends) and in the meantime get a job. You can't support someone on a babysitting wage and there's a likelyhood you may have to support him for a while until he finds work there.

If you can't find a job that pays above the poverty line then maybe you should reconsider your relationship. Priority number 1 is always food,rent, utilities, etc... survival type things.

How have you been living off of 7K a year? Do you live with your family? If so, why won't they cosponsor?

[digbeezgrl 0]

OK, never mind. If you've never done it, you probably wouldn't understand. I said there were

issues, I didn't want to air dirty laundry here. I have lived off very little for a while because

there are a lot of things that were messed up about my life in general, but this doesn't mean

I can't seek love and partnership just like every other human on earth.

No, I haven't lived with my family, I had my own apartment, car, food, etc., without govt help. It CAN

be done. You just don't go out, don't shop for new clothes, don't go to movies, etc. It's simply called being poor.

If I had that kind of relationship with my family, believe me, I would ask for their support on this, but

I don't.

Going to bed now, thanks anyway for all your thoughts.

PS

There's no option on 'rethinking' my relationship with my fiance, by the way. It has taken me 30 YEARS to find him, and yeah, it's bad luck that he happens to live on the other side of the planet, but I support

myself just fine and always have. I am disappointed that I can't meet the requirements, but in no way

does this even make me consider for a minute giving up someone I love so dearly.

Is anyone going to tell me what he needs to self sponsor? If not, then thanks anyway.

[RichiJenny 14]

I've looked for the figures to allow a self sponsor but cant find anything.

My suggestion is to call the USCIS first thing in the morning and ask them for the info you need.

Although they're not the greatest with info, they should be able to give you what you need.

[gcox457 0]

beneficiaries from the UK can self-sponsor for the K1 with surprising little assets. On the order of $5k in cash. Maybe less. There have been several on VJ who have done it.

That said, I'm a bit confused...you said you received a letter from the DHS? What letter? What are you applying for? You later mentioned the I-864. Is your fiance currently in the U.S. and applying for Adjustment of Status? A little more info please.

[Fandango 1,440]

Just found this...don't know how much of it is correct, but it certainly is hopeful! I had to laugh that the first link in that thread was to here, but check out the last post in the thread on page 3.

Have a Looksie

[ryecatcher25 0]

well everyone here also needs to realize that she may have children adn this would increase the amount of income she would need. But that said if i were you i would get a 10 dollar and hour job making 18000 to 19000 a year (this i think would be good enough if you had one child living with you, because remember the minimum # you need to support is 2, yourself and your spouse). BUt once you get the job file the k1 because by the time your interview comes around (not sure how long for england interview, but lets say 6 months from filing time to interview) but by the time the interview comes around you will have been working for six months and making above the average minimum. I honestly believe that is the only way you have a chance of getting your k1 fulfilled.

But rememebr this - most marriages fail because of FINANCIAL PROBLEMS. This isn't a reflection on you but i really think you should consider this even if your petition is successful.

[pax 0]

beneficiaries from the UK can self-sponsor for the K1 with surprising little assets. On the order of $5k in cash. Maybe less. There have been several on VJ who have done it.

That said, I'm a bit confused...you said you received a letter from the DHS? What letter? What are you applying for? You later mentioned the I-864. Is your fiance currently in the U.S. and applying for Adjustment of Status? A little more info please.

I'm confused, too. Let's try and sort this out, shall we?

First, you need to tell us what you're trying to do. Since you posted this in the K-1 forum, I'm going to work off the assumption that your fiance (not husband) is applying for a K-1. If that's not the case, correct me.

If your fiance is going to be applying for a K-1 visa, you do not need to file an I-864 for him (yet). That's about the only good news. The K-1 requires the I-134, which is a similar form, but is not legally binding in the way that the I-864 is. That said, it is NOT something to be taken lightly.

Gary mentioned the option of self-sponsorship. Theoretically, that can work, and has worked at least a few times that we know of for K-1 applicants in London. But to pursue this option would require that your fiance have access to liquid assets in the amount of several thousand pounds. Not many people have this (although if he'll be selling significant property in the UK, or cashing in bonds or the like, he may well have it). And also keep in mind that this option is not in black-and-white; it is probably subject to the discretion of individual COs and I would not feel comfortable telling you that SOLE self-sponsorship for a K-1 will get your fiance out the door with a visa. You will need to prove that you will have something to do with his support.

Which brings me to my next question. Since Yodrak hasn't dropped by, I'll throw this out: if you yourself are, as you say, not buying new clothes et al., barely getting by...how, exactly, will you support your fiance when he gets here if he is not independently wealthy? How do you plan to file an I-864, when you have to file one (and you will have to file one when he applies to adjust status) without a tax return, as this is required for the I-864? Your fiance will not be able to walk off the plane and into a job--you are likely looking at a stretch of at least a few months wherein your fiance will not be able to work. If you are working only intermittently and are barely making enough to make your own ends meet, how will you feed two mouths when he gets here?

The above are, inasmuch as I'm concerned, rhetorical questions. I don't expect you to share the intimate details of your finances here. But you do need to answer those questions for yourself and your fiance, and if your employment situation is unlikely to change, you need to find someone who will be willing to sign an affidavit of support for your fiance. It does not have to be a family member--it could be a close friend--but you'll need to find someone. I wouldn't say this to be unkind, nor, I suspect, would anyone else here who would say the same thing. VJ wants to see you succeed and be with your loved one, and if your chances don't look good, we want to help you to improve them. But you and your fiance need to figure some things out before you plunge into this process. Because the process itself is costly, too--the petition fee, the medical fee, the visa fee, fees for copies of documents you might need...the list goes on and on.

Best of luck to you both.

[jennieh 0]

Even if you do self sponoring the problem comes when he is here on visa and its time for AOS. Then you have to use the I-864 and meet the 125% proverty levels. So self sponoring is just a temporary solution. Sorry dont give up things will work out. If you can get current employment at the right amount they sometimes accept that.

[Jaylen Brit 0]

How about YOU emigrating to the UK?

I mention this as you say your fiance has a good well paid job and assets of his own, and emigrating to the UK as a fiancee is MUCH easier (ie, quicker) for you than it would be for him. Even if he is also unemployed right now then surely it would easier for him to GEt a job than you from what you are saying - wouldn't this be a way you could be together without you losing your sanity over trying to get over the poverty level requirements? AOS is expensive in the US - I don't mean satisfying the minimum wage requirements but just the fees for the AOS itself.

Also the UK has free healthcare so thats another 'bill' worry you won't need to think about.

As for self-sponsoring - I think 'officially' its not allowed but the UK embassay DO seem to take it into account and Ive hear a figure of around 5k minimum bandied about, but there's no guarantee they'll accept a self-sponsor. You can also ask friends (not only family members) who are employed USC's to co-sponsor btw.

I hope some of that was helpful