Do you have to be above the poverty level to get approved for K-1 visa

[Liam and Kara 6]

I've been reading and reading all these stories about people going for their final interviews AFTER they've been approved for a K-1 visa---When they're finally married and go for their adjustment of status interview--it seems to be critical that thier financial situation is 125% above the poverty level---SHEESH people-we're going through difficult economic times here.... Does someone else REALLY have THAT much power over whether or not I can live and be happily married to my man from Scotland? All these people getting married can't possibly all be 125% above USA poverty level. I'm so confused about how money is a factor during these interviews.

[Otto 83]

I've been reading and reading all these stories about people going for their final interviews AFTER they've been approved for a K-1 visa---When they're finally married and go for their adjustment of status interview--it seems to be critical that thier financial situation is 125% above the poverty level---SHEESH people-we're going through difficult economic times here.... Does someone else REALLY have THAT much power over whether or not I can live and be happily married to my man from Scotland? All these people getting married can't possibly all be 125% above USA poverty level. I'm so confused about how money is a factor during these interviews.

For a couple (household of 2) on the continental US (it's a bit more for Alaska and Hawaii) you're talking about $17,000/year. (That's about $8.33/hour working 40 hours a week.) I'm not sure they could really ask for much less...

[Liam and Kara 6]

I've been reading and reading all these stories about people going for their final interviews AFTER they've been approved for a K-1 visa---When they're finally married and go for their adjustment of status interview--it seems to be critical that thier financial situation is 125% above the poverty level---SHEESH people-we're going through difficult economic times here.... Does someone else REALLY have THAT much power over whether or not I can live and be happily married to my man from Scotland? All these people getting married can't possibly all be 125% above USA poverty level. I'm so confused about how money is a factor during these interviews.

For a couple (household of 2) on the continental US (it's a bit more for Alaska and Hawaii) you're talking about $17,000/year. (That's about $8.33/hour working 40 hours a week.) I'm not sure they could really ask for much less...

Thank you for clearing that up---I was worried that I would have to prove that I made around $85,000 a year or something insane like that----I think I'm just freaking out over everything and I probably need a good night's sleep LOL

[YuAndDan 153]

I've been reading and reading all these stories about people going for their final interviews AFTER they've been approved for a K-1 visa---When they're finally married and go for their adjustment of status interview--it seems to be critical that thier financial situation is 125% above the poverty level---SHEESH people-we're going through difficult economic times here.... Does someone else REALLY have THAT much power over whether or not I can live and be happily married to my man from Scotland? All these people getting married can't possibly all be 125% above USA poverty level. I'm so confused about how money is a factor during these interviews.

For a couple (household of 2) on the continental US (it's a bit more for Alaska and Hawaii) you're talking about $17,000/year. (That's about $8.33/hour working 40 hours a week.) I'm not sure they could really ask for much less...

Exactly, that number is extremely LOW a person pumping gas at the local circle K makes that. In my case I have not seen that level of income since graduating high-school.

125% povertyline is a JOKE, people cannot live on that.

[Liam and Kara 6]

I've been reading and reading all these stories about people going for their final interviews AFTER they've been approved for a K-1 visa---When they're finally married and go for their adjustment of status interview--it seems to be critical that thier financial situation is 125% above the poverty level---SHEESH people-we're going through difficult economic times here.... Does someone else REALLY have THAT much power over whether or not I can live and be happily married to my man from Scotland? All these people getting married can't possibly all be 125% above USA poverty level. I'm so confused about how money is a factor during these interviews.

For a couple (household of 2) on the continental US (it's a bit more for Alaska and Hawaii) you're talking about $17,000/year. (That's about $8.33/hour working 40 hours a week.) I'm not sure they could really ask for much less...

Exactly, that number is extremely LOW a person pumping gas at the local circle K makes that. In my case I have not seen that level of income since graduating high-school.

125% povertyline is a JOKE, people cannot live on that.

Yes ! I think you misunderstood what I meant---I thought that I would have to make 125% HIGHER than the poverty level LOL It's all confusing--I'm WAYYYYYYYYYY ahead of myself anyway-- he's not even gotten approved for a K-1 visa yet. and he's been banned from entering the USA until he has the K-1 for suspect of intent to immigrate. which is ridiculous--I can tell right now that this entire process is going to be a nightmare.

[Otto 83]

Yes ! I think you misunderstood what I meant---I thought that I would have to make 125% HIGHER than the poverty level LOL It's all confusing--I'm WAYYYYYYYYYY ahead of myself anyway-- he's not even gotten approved for a K-1 visa yet. and he's been banned from entering the USA until he has the K-1 for suspect of intent to immigrate. which is ridiculous--I can tell right now that this entire process is going to be a nightmare.

A 'nightmare' with a very happy ending though... (it get's better by the way...)

[Liam and Kara 6]

Yes ! I think you misunderstood what I meant---I thought that I would have to make 125% HIGHER than the poverty level LOL It's all confusing--I'm WAYYYYYYYYYY ahead of myself anyway-- he's not even gotten approved for a K-1 visa yet. and he's been banned from entering the USA until he has the K-1 for suspect of intent to immigrate. which is ridiculous--I can tell right now that this entire process is going to be a nightmare.

A 'nightmare' with a very happy ending though... (it get's better by the way...)

WOW! you got your k-1 visa in just 4 months! All the timelines that I've read so far UK to USA have

been 7 to 8 months.

[Otto 83]

WOW! you got your k-1 visa in just 4 months! All the timelines that I've read so far UK to USA have

been 7 to 8 months.

Ya...we really think we got lucky...our interview was on a Friday the 13th.. wouldn't surprise me if some people changed/canceled and we got the spot...(we really felt our interview would have been around a month later)...who knows..

[KAT&Allie 0]

Thank you for clearing that up---I was worried that I would have to prove that I made around $85,000 a year or something insane like that----I think I'm just freaking out over everything and I probably need a good night's sleep LOL

Kara,

You are not alone in freaking out. Sometimes I think VJ makes it even more stressful as all sorts of possibilities come up that you haven't thought of before. I had a serious case of panic for about 2 weeks after we sent our petition in. Now, I've calmed down a lot as I started to realise that there is nothing I can do once the petition is in... I even managed to accept the fact that it might be well into the next year before we can finally get married and be together. Not that I like it but there is really very little I can do about it. Sometimes just wish we submitted the petition sooner ... oh, well.

Try to chill out a bit, fill the application forms as advised in the Guides on VJ, send everything that is relevant, don't stress too much if you forget something (speaking from the personal experience here ) and hope you'll be one of the lucky few that get approved very fast.

Wishing you speedy and problem free journey.