Financial Support Advice

[serapio 0]

Hi all,

My situation is that I am in a PhD program where the salary as a teaching assistant ($15,600) is just barely above poverty line for a two-person family ($14,000). To complicate things, my time spent abroad the last few years (some of it employed full time there, but earning a Chinese salary) has the effect that my gross income the last couple tax years has been closer to $10,000, and because I am going back to China from June to December this year, my gross income for 2008 will also be about that. So first question, is an award letter from my university stating the guaranteed funding enough to convince them we will remain solvent? I have no debts and have been living on about 10,000 for the last ten years, even while going to school for most of that time, but I don't have much put away either.

My parents are willing to be financial sponsors. If they are financial sponsors, do I understand it correctly that my finances are irrelevant? And if we go that route, does it look bad if on question 11 of I-134, they say they don't intend to provide specific support? It's possible they may loan us a car or something like that, but we otherwise don't expect to actually be dependent on them.

Thanks for any wisdom you can send my way

[pushbrk 13,133]

Hi all,

My situation is that I am in a PhD program where the salary as a teaching assistant ($15,600) is just barely above poverty line for a two-person family ($14,000). To complicate things, my time spent abroad the last few years (some of it employed full time there, but earning a Chinese salary) has the effect that my gross income the last couple tax years has been closer to $10,000, and because I am going back to China from June to December this year, my gross income for 2008 will also be about that. So first question, is an award letter from my university stating the guaranteed funding enough to convince them we will remain solvent? I have no debts and have been living on about 10,000 for the last ten years, even while going to school for most of that time, but I don't have much put away either.

My parents are willing to be financial sponsors. If they are financial sponsors, do I understand it correctly that my finances are irrelevant? And if we go that route, does it look bad if on question 11 of I-134, they say they don't intend to provide specific support? It's possible they may loan us a car or something like that, but we otherwise don't expect to actually be dependent on them.

Thanks for any wisdom you can send my way

With a qualified co-sponsor your finances are irrelevant but you must still provide the I-134 and all supporting documentation. Parents do a separate and complete form. Sure, it's ok say no on the specific support question.

[*JG* 2]

I'd actually like to meet you and learn all your secrets. I can't imagine us, nor just myself, living off just $10,000 per year. Good for you.

Good luck.

[serapio 0]

With a qualified co-sponsor your finances are irrelevant but you must still provide the I-134 and all supporting documentation. Parents do a separate and complete form. Sure, it's ok say no on the specific support question.

Thanks.

I'd actually like to meet you and learn all your secrets. I can't imagine us, nor just myself, living off just $10,000 per year. Good for you.

Good luck.

Heh. I don't need much myself, though I do spend a lot more when I'm with her.

[BigCityDave 0]

I'd actually like to meet you and learn all your secrets. I can't imagine us, nor just myself, living off just $10,000 per year. Good for you.

Good luck.

Credit Cards??