Debt and its effects on my chances

[TayL 0]

I'm a 21 year old Canadian female looking to move to the US. My only crime, EVER, is a careless driving conviction (which the officer agreed wasn't my fault, but because it was rear end she had to write me a ticket. She was a REALLY nice officer). I'm healthy aside from a benign breast tissue condition that in no way interferes with my function. Virtually no family history of illness. No kids. Halfway done my first degree. Clean bill of mental health following a bad spell a year ago that I am considered recovered from. Nothing bad on my history that would prevent me from immigrating.

Except for some debt. I have about 3500 in credit card debt which is considered "bad debt" because of non-payment and I have about 15 000 in student loans that are beginning to come due this month. The debts are my fault. I should have moved home when I first hit the rough patch last year rather than trying to survive it on my own. I've learned my lesson. I have tried and tried and tried (and am still trying) to find a job to pay this down. I literally put out a couple dozen resumes a week. I've done so every week since June. I FINALLY got a call last week and may have a temporary part time position as of tomorrow. I'm living expense free (with my parents) so every penny that I make, aside from travel costs to get to and from work, will go towards paying down my debts in order to try and get rid of them.

My fiancé and I will be able to apply for my K-1 in April (his income should be enough to get me through the whole process, but we're likely going to apply with a co-sponsor anyway to try and ensure that we do not experience delays) and, because my home situation is degrading (abusive family, but I have no other option right now), we do not want to experience any delays.

Is my debt likely to damage my chances of getting the K-1? I'm incredibly concerned about this. The last thing we want is to be told "Nope. No can do. Not until everything's paid off." I'd rather know now.

[Wis-Can 0]

Your credit is of no concern in the process. Its the petitioner who has to file the aff. of support when you get to that point.

[Stan1234 0]

As far as I'm aware (and I may well be wrong) your finaces pay no part in the visa process. I recently applied and was approved for a K1 visa coming from the UK and at no time during the application was I asked about the state of my finances (I too have student loans and at the time of applying had credit card debts that I was furiously trying to pay off).

I think the main thing is that your USC fiancee can prove that he has the finances (job, savings etc) to be able to support you once you're in the US.

Hope this helps and good luck.

[tallcoolone 102]

Personal Debt is nothing to be concerned with.

I would rack up all the debt I could and leave the credit card holding the bag.

Credit Cards are a legal scam and tend to prey on people.

They love to charge "Late Fees" and outrageous interest rates.

Notice how you montly due is so cheap each month, they just want your interest money.

[TayL 0]

Thank you SOOOO much! I really appreciate your words. We've been worrying about this since he proposed. His finances are in good shape--they would have been fine, then he got a promotion, and now he's up for another promotion. As I said, we're also looking for a co-sponsor, because he hasn't been with his company very long and we're a bit concerned that they might get upset about his "job stability." We've got a couple of prospects for that, so we're hoping that this will go through quickly if we have a co-sponsor to start with, because they won't be able to find any kind of a financial problem on his end.

Again, thank you so much. I should have just signed up for an account here and asked this question months ago!

[KimandRuss 0]

Personal Debt is nothing to be concerned with.

I would rack up all the debt I could and leave the credit card holding the bag.

Credit Cards are a legal scam and tend to prey on people.

They love to charge "Late Fees" and outrageous interest rates.

Notice how you montly due is so cheap each month, they just want your interest money.

This is not good advice. Not to mention the moral and legal problems it could cause.

Warrants can still be issued and police records WILL give you a problem in any Country.

OP.... You did mention a 'clean bill of mental health following a bad spell last year'... this is something that may need to be explained and perhaps proven.

[Big Papa Zone 93]

I would rack up all the debt I could and leave the credit card holding the bag.

I was thinking of doing EXACTLY that, but have thought better of it since.

[Chica Yeyé 41]

Personal Debt is nothing to be concerned with.

I would rack up all the debt I could and leave the credit card holding the bag.

Credit Cards are a legal scam and tend to prey on people.

They love to charge "Late Fees" and outrageous interest rates.

Notice how you montly due is so cheap each month, they just want your interest money.

This is not good advice. Not to mention the moral and legal problems it could cause.

Warrants can still be issued and police records WILL give you a problem in any Country.

OP.... You did mention a 'clean bill of mental health following a bad spell last year'... this is something that may need to be explained and perhaps proven.

Kim is making an excellent point - your medical history will be indeed scrutinized. Be prepared to offer said bill of health when asked during your medical.

Good luck.

[TayL 0]

I was hospitalized following a suicide attempt that was caused by an abusive relationship. I was badly abused and saw no way out, tried to kill myself, got hospitalized. My abusive partner left me in disgust over my "stupidity" and said I deserved to die. Best thing that ever happened to me. My problems were identified on my medical record as extreme stress causing me to manifest symptoms of mental illness or something like that. The doctors said it was merely a severe stress reaction to the abuse I was undergoing.

[Chica Yeyé 41]

And you will be asked about it at the medical, count on that.

[TayL 0]

I already was. I spent the first few months of our relationship researching whether or not the circumstances of my hospitalization last year would kill our chances. Given the criteria that they are meant to go on, I should be okay, especially if I have another appointment or two with a psych to make sure that I have a proper evaluation that says I'm fine on my record. Getting those appointments lined up is part of why we're waiting until April.

[bogartnoir 1]

umms....what about the health of the petitioner? i have bipolar. will this cause a problem? :c

[TayL 0]

O.O

Oh no... I never even THOUGHT about that. My fiancé has bipolar as well. But he has a good job and hasn't had any real issues with the bipolar in years--his doctor even let him go off his meds because he's stable most of the time these days. They won't kill us for that, will they?

[KimandRuss 0]

It's the beneficiary's health that comes into play...not the petitioners.

OP... i'm sorry for your circumstances and what you went through. That is truly awful and do hope you took some valuable life lessons away from it.

I don't think we're saying that you will be denied.. but you will certainly be asked about it at your medical appointment (where you MUST be truthful) and you may even be sent for an evaluation (to a us approved panel physician) to confirm that you are 'ok' now.

[Chica Yeyé 41]

Exactly what Kim said: the health of the petitioner has no bearing.

To the OP: please take care of yourself. This process is exhausting and extremely stressful.