New couple to the forum seeking advice

[Claire and Troy 2]

Hello everyone.

My name is Troy. A little nutshell history on us;

My girlfriend Claire and I have been lurking this site since about March of this year seeking information. We've known each other since September of 2006 speaking almost every day (Thank God for Skype) and finally meeting in February of this year in England. She has since been here on holiday and we're dying to be together permanently. I am a US citizen and she is from the UK. I've been separated for quite some time now and currently awaiting my divorce decree so Claire and I can formally declare our engagement. We're both hoping to marry and reside here in the US and have decided on going the K-1 route. I've read so much information on the net that at times I thought my brain was going to explode so I have decided to bring our questions and concerns here. Mainly for the information sharing, partly for our own sanity.

A few of our immediate concerns about the visa process..

1. My girlfriend has a 6yo daughter that I just love to pieces who already looks to me as a dad. The father was never named at birth and as a result was designated as "Unknown". This was due to the boyfriend at the time trying to cheat the system. This same man also went as far as declaring himself deceased to avoid any monetary obligations for another child by a different woman very near the same time. I'll refrain from posting my feelings on that and him for maybe some other time. Anyhow, would she still need some sort of parental permission or court order to allow her daughter to accompany her to live here? I can't find any information on the father being designated as unknown relating to this.

*On a side note, the supposed father is currently residing in the US having married a US citizen.

2. I have 2 children of my own (10 and 11) and was curious if they counted toward my annual income in regard to the I-134, and if so what should I expect the minimum income to be?

3. I'm 42 and Claire is 26. I've been told by some that the age difference could possibly present a problem for us. Is this true?

That's about all I have for now. I'm sure we will think of something else

[Dakine 26]

Hello everyone.

My name is Troy. A little nutshell history on us;

My girlfriend Claire and I have been lurking this site since about March of this year seeking information. We've known each other since September of 2006 speaking almost every day (Thank God for Skype) and finally meeting in February of this year in England. She has since been here on holiday and we're dying to be together permanently. I am a US citizen and she is from the UK. I've been separated for quite some time now and currently awaiting my divorce decree so Claire and I can formally declare our engagement. We're both hoping to marry and reside here in the US and have decided on going the K-1 route. I've read so much information on the net that at times I thought my brain was going to explode so I have decided to bring our questions and concerns here. Mainly for the information sharing, partly for our own sanity.

A few of our immediate concerns about the visa process..

1. My girlfriend has a 6yo daughter that I just love to pieces who already looks to me as a dad. The father was never named at birth and as a result was designated as "Unknown". This was due to the boyfriend at the time trying to cheat the system. This same man also went as far as declaring himself deceased to avoid any monetary obligations for another child by a different woman very near the same time. I'll refrain from posting my feelings on that and him for maybe some other time. Anyhow, would she still need some sort of parental permission or court order to allow her daughter to accompany her to live here? I can't find any information on the father being designated as unknown relating to this.

*On a side note, the supposed father is currently residing in the US having married a US citizen.

2. I have 2 children of my own (10 and 11) and was curious if they counted toward my annual income in regard to the I-134, and if so what should I expect the minimum income to be?

3. I'm 42 and Claire is 26. I've been told by some that the age difference could possibly present a problem for us. Is this true?

That's about all I have for now. I'm sure we will think of something else

Here's a start!

http://www.uscis.gov/files/form/I-864p.pdf

Also your age gap dain't much to be concerned about.

Edited December 2, 2008 by Haole

[Claire and Troy 2]

Here's a start!

http://www.uscis.gov/files/form/I-864p.pdf

Also your age gap dain't much to be concerned about.

Ahh thanks for the info. It appears I named the wrong form. Silly me My brain has once again begun to leak from pouring over webpage after webpage.

[rocks 494]

the i-134 is what you need first, it is for the interview stage. the i-184 is required for adjustment of status after you get married.

if you all intend to live in a house together that's a household of 5, i think you'd need to have an income of $31,000.

[Dakine 26]

Forgot one thing. Min poverty guidelines usally go up more around Feb or March.

So by the time your interview comes around they will mprobably be higher,

Edited December 2, 2008 by Haole

[Chica Yeyé 41]

Also, , they are quite helpful!! You can find them here: http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.ph...amp;page=guides

[*julez* 124]

Your household size for the I-134 will be considered to be 5, you + Claire, plus the 3 kids.

Age difference shouldn't be a problem in London. My Brit husband is 20 yrs older than me and wasn't asked a question about the age difference. The main question they wanted to know was why we'd chosen to live in the US rather than the UK.

If you search in the UK forum here on VJ, there are a few threads about Ukers bringing over "fatherless" children. read up on that as it can take some time to get that sorted out to the Embassy's satisfaction.

Good luck.

[pushbrk 12,898]

Here's a start!

http://www.uscis.gov/files/form/I-864p.pdf

Also your age gap dain't much to be concerned about.

Ahh thanks for the info. It appears I named the wrong form. Silly me My brain has once again begun to leak from pouring over webpage after webpage.

You were right the first time. The I-864 is not used in the K1 "visa process". It's used later when your then "wife" adjusts status.

You'll have a household of 5. Several months after you file the initial petition, just google "125% of poverty level" and see the current figure for a household of 5. I expect it will be in the low thirties for gross income before taxes.

You've got plenty of time to study the guides.

[Claire and Troy 2]

Claire and I really appreciate the responses, thank you. I searched over the UK section and I think I found what we needed regarding her daughter and we're feeling much better about it now.

Hopefully I will be able to file our petition soon! Wonderful forum!

[jundp 191]

Claire and Troy,

I just wanted to say good luck to you. Also, even if you have to wait to file your K1 application, I would suggest beginning to gather what you can now (photos, phone records, planes ticket stubs, emails, etc) for the initial application. You can also start looking over the forms you need to fill out and get an idea of what you'll need.

Good luck on the journey!

Jen

[raymaga 25]

Good luck with your visa process. I hope it all goes smoothly and quickly.

Best wishes to you both and we look forward to seeing your posts in the future.

[When2RNLove 6]

Hello everyone.

My name is Troy. A little nutshell history on us;

My girlfriend Claire and I have been lurking this site since about March of this year seeking information. We've known each other since September of 2006 speaking almost every day (Thank God for Skype) and finally meeting in February of this year in England. She has since been here on holiday and we're dying to be together permanently. I am a US citizen and she is from the UK. I've been separated for quite some time now and currently awaiting my divorce decree so Claire and I can formally declare our engagement. We're both hoping to marry and reside here in the US and have decided on going the K-1 route. I've read so much information on the net that at times I thought my brain was going to explode so I have decided to bring our questions and concerns here. Mainly for the information sharing, partly for our own sanity.

A few of our immediate concerns about the visa process..

1. My girlfriend has a 6yo daughter that I just love to pieces who already looks to me as a dad. The father was never named at birth and as a result was designated as "Unknown". This was due to the boyfriend at the time trying to cheat the system. This same man also went as far as declaring himself deceased to avoid any monetary obligations for another child by a different woman very near the same time. I'll refrain from posting my feelings on that and him for maybe some other time. Anyhow, would she still need some sort of parental permission or court order to allow her daughter to accompany her to live here? I can't find any information on the father being designated as unknown relating to this.

*On a side note, the supposed father is currently residing in the US having married a US citizen.

2. I have 2 children of my own (10 and 11) and was curious if they counted toward my annual income in regard to the I-134, and if so what should I expect the minimum income to be?

3. I'm 42 and Claire is 26. I've been told by some that the age difference could possibly present a problem for us. Is this true?

That's about all I have for now. I'm sure we will think of something else

One thing I noticed VJers didnt touch on is the parental permission issue. I dont know much about her country but here in the US, a father can be present at the birth of a child and named be on the BC but it don't mean ####### unless they were ever married. The woman is alway considered the Custodial Parent if there was no marriage when the child was born so she does not need the guys permission to remove her from her country. How do I know this because I was in the same boat. I have had my daughter the day she was brought from the hospital but in the eyes of the Law I had no rights because we had never been married and she could come take the child with police escort at any moment and there would have not been a damn thing that I could have done about it. What went in my favor in court I kept a log everday from birth and she's 3+ now. So I decided before that happened I took her to court got Sole Custody and Child Support for my daughter. But please have her check before she removes the child from her coutry just to be safe.

[Claire and Troy 2]

One thing I noticed VJers didnt touch on is the parental permission issue. I dont know much about her country but here in the US, a father can be present at the birth of a child and named be on the BC but it don't mean ####### unless they were ever married. The woman is alway considered the Custodial Parent if there was no marriage when the child was born so she does not need the guys permission to remove her from her country. How do I know this because I was in the same boat. I have had my daughter the day she was brought from the hospital but in the eyes of the Law I had no rights because we had never been married and she could come take the child with police escort at any moment and there would have not been a damn thing that I could have done about it. What went in my favor in court I kept a log everday from birth and she's 3+ now. So I decided before that happened I took her to court got Sole Custody and Child Support for my daughter. But please have her check before she removes the child from her coutry just to be safe.

She will be seeing a solicitor to make sure she has all necessary documentation proving sole custody.

[panterchen 1]

Good luck and let us know how it goes!!! This process and the load of information can be frustrating sometimes but you will always find helpful people and their advices here on VJ!

Just know, you are not alone.