Letter from bank for I134?

[al-Hubb jameel 0]

Is this really necessary or are bank statements alone ok? If it must be the letter, does it need to be certified and do I need statements as well? Thanks in advance!!!!

Edited March 15, 2009 by lizziebits28

[V-G-1 1]

Hi Lizzie:

you dont need any of that stuff.

If you make above 12,000 or whatever that poverty line is, all you need is:

1. 6 months of work stubs

2. Tax Returns or Transcripts (if you lost the returns) for last 3 years

3. Employment letter from HR stating how long/what position, and salary.

Thats it------ those I-134 instructions are old..

[al-Hubb jameel 0]

Hi Lizzie:

you dont need any of that stuff.

If you make above 12,000 or whatever that poverty line is, all you need is:

1. 6 months of work stubs

2. Tax Returns or Transcripts (if you lost the returns) for last 3 years

3. Employment letter from HR stating how long/what position, and salary.

Thats it------ those I-134 instructions are old..

Thank you so much!!!!

[Danno2 0]

I think you may want to contact the consulate where the interview will be held. The Bangkok embassy has the old form on thier website and I'm pretty sure people are still using it. When I did a google search on USCIS I-134 they have the old form listed.

http://www.uscis.gov/files/form/i-134.pdf

In the document it says

"Statement from an officer of the bank or other financial institutions where you have deposits, identifying the following details regarding your account:

1. Date account opened;

2. Total amount deposited for the past year;

3. Present balance."

I use Bank of America so I visited a local branch and asked for it. They termed in an "Immigration Letter" and I received it the next day. The cost was $10.

I have never heard anyone say you needed 6 months worth of pay stubs and did not see that on the new or old forms.

[Danno2 0]

When all else failed I looked on the USCIS website instead of googling it.

Overview of I-134 (also info saying you can use this or prior versions of the form)

http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/men...0004718190aRCRD

New instructions indicating bank and employment letters are still required

http://www.uscis.gov/files/form/i-134instr.pdf

New I-134 form

http://www.uscis.gov/files/form/I-134.pdf

Hope this helps.

Danny

[brnidokiegurl 0]

talk to the bank, most already have a special form letter (for immigration purposes) set for this which should do fine for you

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

talk to the bank, most already have a special form letter (for immigration purposes) set for this which should do fine for you

The bank letter is absolutely NOT necessary. If your income is above 125% of the pverty guidelines, you do not need ANYTHING else. Attach last years tax return with w-2, an employment letter (also optional) and "some" check stubs. 6 months is probably way overboard, but would never hurt.

Bank letters are particulary useful for self employed people. If the deposits to their personal accounts in the past year are roughly equivilent to their stated earnings it is a pretty good "check and balance". For a person with regular employment, it is redundant.

I used a bank letter as I was self employed most of the previous year before filing the petition. I wrote my own bank letter, took it to the local branch, asked them to type it and sign it. I waited while they did. It is ridiculous to pay a fee for this service and I would change banks before doing so.

[Bobby+Umit 161]

talk to the bank, most already have a special form letter (for immigration purposes) set for this which should do fine for you

The bank letter is absolutely NOT necessary. If your income is above 125% of the pverty guidelines, you do not need ANYTHING else. Attach last years tax return with w-2, an employment letter (also optional) and "some" check stubs. 6 months is probably way overboard, but would never hurt.

Bank letters are particulary useful for self employed people. If the deposits to their personal accounts in the past year are roughly equivilent to their stated earnings it is a pretty good "check and balance". For a person with regular employment, it is redundant.

I used a bank letter as I was self employed most of the previous year before filing the petition. I wrote my own bank letter, took it to the local branch, asked them to type it and sign it. I waited while they did. It is ridiculous to pay a fee for this service and I would change banks before doing so.

Actually, she is correct. It could be necessary.

If the embassy/consulate is using the old forms, or you use the old form provided, you have to follow the instructions for that form. Contacting the embassy/consulate is the best way to find out what they want. All are different, and some ask for more than others.

I just came across a similar issue, the Ankara (Turkey) website states that the I-134 form needs to be notarized, but if you look at the new form, it states it does not need to be.

They responded to my email about this and told me if you use the old one, must be notarized, use the new one - does not have to be. (They had the old form on their site, but linked to the new one in a different section, they have since removed the old form)

[John24689 0]

Necessary vs not necessary. I sent my letter from the bank. It they want it, they have it. If they don't want it, they have it anyhow. I had rather send too much than not enough and get a RFE. To each their own. This is a long and expensive process and I believe in furnishing what they want, what I think they want, what I want to send that is not mentioned. So far, so good in this process. I know their are ones who send less and get approved. I am happy for them. One never knows who will review their case, which side of the bed they got up on, good mood or bad mood, which instructions they are following, etc. The choice is yours, but I would send the bank information. Good luck on your journey.

[Danno2 0]

Necessary vs not necessary. I sent my letter from the bank. It they want it, they have it. If they don't want it, they have it anyhow. I had rather send too much than not enough and get a RFE. To each their own. This is a long and expensive process and I believe in furnishing what they want, what I think they want, what I want to send that is not mentioned. So far, so good in this process. I know their are ones who send less and get approved. I am happy for them. One never knows who will review their case, which side of the bed they got up on, good mood or bad mood, which instructions they are following, etc. The choice is yours, but I would send the bank information. Good luck on your journey.

John I could not agree with you any more.

One thing I don't understand is why people say the letter is not required. The NEW instructions for the NEW form I posted above state it is required.

I will end up spending about 10k just getting my fiance on American soil. I personally don't think the $10 and 10 minutes it takes to get it is a big deal in the grand scheme of things.

[ThaitoUSA 15]

I agree with you, Danny and John, that it cannot hurt to be overprepared, and since this is a relatively simple procedure for most people, why not do it?

However, it does not state in the new I-134's instructions that a bank letter is necessary. It does state:

As the sponsor, you must show that you have sufficient income or (emphasis added) financial resourse to assure that the alien you are sponsoring will not become a public charge while in the United States.

Someone who makes over $50,000 a year and provides a letter from employer, pay slips, and three years of tax transcripts/returns shall not be required to supply the bank letter.

It goes on to state:

Evidence should consist of copies of any of the documents listed below that applies to your situation.

It does not state everyone must supply everything below. If I am just making enough to be 125% of the poverty line, I would likely want to include the bank letter. If I am making double it, there simply is no need.

That is precisely how come other VJer's, like Gary, say "There is no need if your income is sufficient." That is what the instructions state.

Again, I am in agreement that it's no big deal and could do no harm in having. At the same time, it is unnecessary for some.

[Bobby+Umit 161]

Necessary vs not necessary. I sent my letter from the bank. It they want it, they have it. If they don't want it, they have it anyhow. I had rather send too much than not enough and get a RFE. To each their own. This is a long and expensive process and I believe in furnishing what they want, what I think they want, what I want to send that is not mentioned. So far, so good in this process. I know their are ones who send less and get approved. I am happy for them. One never knows who will review their case, which side of the bed they got up on, good mood or bad mood, which instructions they are following, etc. The choice is yours, but I would send the bank information. Good luck on your journey.

John I could not agree with you any more.

One thing I don't understand is why people say the letter is not required. The NEW instructions for the NEW form I posted above state it is required.

I will end up spending about 10k just getting my fiance on American soil. I personally don't think the $10 and 10 minutes it takes to get it is a big deal in the grand scheme of things.

Ah - but you are misunderstanding the instructions for the new form:

Evidence should consist of copies of any of the documents listed below that applies to your situation.

Note the "any" - means you can pick the documents, you don't have to provide them all. So, it's only required if your need it for your situation.

You can either show "income" or "resources". Resources in this case would be money in the bank, ie: savings.

If you just sent a letter from your employer (showing income), and nothing else, you would still be in line with the requirements of this form.

However, as it states, you can send as much info as you want to prove your case.

In my case, I sent a letter from my employer and a copy of my tax transcript for 3 years. (duplicate of course).

That is how I read the instructions, and I bounced that against the embassy in Ankara and they said that is enough evidence for my application.

Edited March 15, 2009 by Bobby_Umit

[Matt & Bing 56]

Thanks for the good information in this thread.

My income will easily satisfy the requirements so I will not be getting a letter from my bank. My question is, should I even complete the lines that ask for amount I have on deposit in savings banks, value of personal property and real estate value and mortgage amount? I will not be providing any evidence of these amounts but I was still planning on listing them on my affadavit.

[ThaitoUSA 15]

No need to list anything there if you are not providing any evidence.

[Paul & Evelyn 0]

Is this really necessary or are bank statements alone ok? If it must be the letter, does it need to be certified and do I need statements as well? Thanks in advance!!!!

There is a reason why the letter is required. If you note from the I-134 instructions, the specification for the bank letter is clear. If the consulate wants to further evaluate your financial situation, the letter may provide them with the kind of information that says you made $500 worth of deposits, or maybe you made $50,000 worth of deposits, during the prior year. I don't think it is conclusive of anything, but it may be to the consulate if they are looking for something to be consistent with and supporting the income claimed on the form. If you are using the new form, neither it nor the bank letter are required to be notarized.