I-134 - Letter concerning verification of Deposits

[SingleCharles 0]

I am putting together the support documents for the I-134. Of the three banks that I deal with:

One bank was completely accomodating and already had a template for the US Immigration Service. In the mail!

One bank told me that they would only send a letter to a business that would provide a fax number and a credit card number for the $25 fee.

The last bank said that there was nothing in the support tree for my request and it had to be routed to 2nd tier support.

Maybe I am asking the wrong question. Any advice?

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

I am putting together the support documents for the I-134. Of the three banks that I deal with:

One bank was completely accomodating and already had a template for the US Immigration Service. In the mail!

One bank told me that they would only send a letter to a business that would provide a fax number and a credit card number for the $25 fee.

The last bank said that there was nothing in the support tree for my request and it had to be routed to 2nd tier support.

Maybe I am asking the wrong question. Any advice?

I did it like this...I wrote the letter exactly as I wanted it to appear. Of course the information was accurate (I added up all the statement deposits) and then took the letter to the bank and saw the branch President. I said, "Please type this on bank letter head and sign it. I will wait here." They did.

If necessary, remind them it is YOUR account and your information and you can decide to whom and how information about that account is released and you don't give a damn about their policies and couldn't care less about tiers. I would bring a copy of the letter from bank #1 and a filled out transfer of funds form to that bank along with your letter, ask which they want to sign.

[SingleCharles 0]

I did it like this...I wrote the letter exactly as I wanted it to appear. Of course the information was accurate (I added up all the statement deposits) and then took the letter to the bank and saw the branch President. I said, "Please type this on bank letter head and sign it. I will wait here." They did.

If necessary, remind them it is YOUR account and your information and you can decide to whom and how information about that account is released and you don't give a damn about their policies and couldn't care less about tiers. I would bring a copy of the letter from bank #1 and a filled out transfer of funds form to that bank along with your letter, ask which they want to sign.

That is some AWESOME advice Gary (and Alla)! I did speak to the manager at my local branch and she said that she would be willing to help me with my letter but that it would cost me a $35/hour research fee (2 hour minimum) + a $25/statement fee for each of the 12 months - ~$350!! It is a little frustrating to have a little known internet bank give me better service than this well known bank. She ended up giving me a letter (free) without the summary of deposits over the last 12 months but with an average monthly balance.

I suppose short of paying the $350 (and closing my account afterward) I could call the US Consulate in Rio de Janeiro and ask them if they will accept my I-134 with an average monthly balance instead of the 12 month summary of deposits. What do you think?

Edited March 3, 2009 by Charles/Gabriella

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

I did it like this...I wrote the letter exactly as I wanted it to appear. Of course the information was accurate (I added up all the statement deposits) and then took the letter to the bank and saw the branch President. I said, "Please type this on bank letter head and sign it. I will wait here." They did.

If necessary, remind them it is YOUR account and your information and you can decide to whom and how information about that account is released and you don't give a damn about their policies and couldn't care less about tiers. I would bring a copy of the letter from bank #1 and a filled out transfer of funds form to that bank along with your letter, ask which they want to sign.

That is some AWESOME advice Gary (and Alla)! I did speak to the manager at my local branch and she said that she would be willing to help me with my letter but that it would cost me a $35/hour research fee (2 hour minimum) + a $25/statement fee for each of the 12 months - ~$350!! It is a little frustrating to have a little known internet bank give me better service than this well known bank. She ended up giving me a letter (free) without the summary of deposits over the last 12 months but with an average monthly balance.

I suppose short of paying the $350 (and closing my account afterward) I could call the US Consulate in Rio de Janeiro and ask them if they will accept my I-134 with an average monthly balance instead of the 12 month summary of deposits. What do you think?

I kept the letter as a sample for future reference. email me at alshootist@yahoo.com and I will give you a copy.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

I did it like this...I wrote the letter exactly as I wanted it to appear. Of course the information was accurate (I added up all the statement deposits) and then took the letter to the bank and saw the branch President. I said, "Please type this on bank letter head and sign it. I will wait here." They did.

If necessary, remind them it is YOUR account and your information and you can decide to whom and how information about that account is released and you don't give a damn about their policies and couldn't care less about tiers. I would bring a copy of the letter from bank #1 and a filled out transfer of funds form to that bank along with your letter, ask which they want to sign.

That is some AWESOME advice Gary (and Alla)! I did speak to the manager at my local branch and she said that she would be willing to help me with my letter but that it would cost me a $35/hour research fee (2 hour minimum) + a $25/statement fee for each of the 12 months - ~$350!! It is a little frustrating to have a little known internet bank give me better service than this well known bank. She ended up giving me a letter (free) without the summary of deposits over the last 12 months but with an average monthly balance.

I suppose short of paying the $350 (and closing my account afterward) I could call the US Consulate in Rio de Janeiro and ask them if they will accept my I-134 with an average monthly balance instead of the 12 month summary of deposits. What do you think?

I wouldn't bother to call them, give them what you have. Bank letters are optional anyway. If it supports what your other statements are then the exact format and information is not critical. I think that total deposits in the previous 12 months (at least for me, having gone from self-employed to regular employee less than one year before) was most important. And in the end, the CO at our interview never looked at it anyway.