Affidavit and Losing A Job...

[Frouke77 0]

Anyone got any experience with the latest development concerning the economic crash?

Me and my man Tommy got engaged in the US last November during my last visit. I'm Dutch, he's an American citizen from Alabama. So I've been traveling between our two countries for 2 years now. Our problem is that Tom lost his job last year, just around the time we got engaged and wanted to start up the K1-visa procedure. But you know the drill: no income = no visa. Which means they're keeping thousands of couples apart right now... Plus the economy started crashing rapidly so jobs are hard to find these days. We simply don't know what to do anymore. It's very frustrating. I have all the right (and legalized) credentials / recommendations as a therapist (and a steady income) in the Netherlands but we really wanna start our life together in Alabama.

Tom's got a house for sale but since the housing market crashed as well it might take some time to sell. I've started applying for AL jobs myself but they're not very keen on foreigners it seems. I simply get no response at all.

I know there are many more couple like us in the same terrible position right now. We seem to be waiting forever for the smoke to clear up...

Any bit of advice or help will be greatly appreciated!

[Gerjoel 0]

Anyone got any experience with the latest development concerning the economic crash?

Me and my man Tommy got engaged in the US last November during my last visit. I'm Dutch, he's an American citizen from Alabama. So I've been traveling between our two countries for 2 years now. Our problem is that Tom lost his job last year, just around the time we got engaged and wanted to start up the K1-visa procedure. But you know the drill: no income = no visa. Which means they're keeping thousands of couples apart right now... Plus the economy started crashing rapidly so jobs are hard to find these days. We simply don't know what to do anymore. It's very frustrating. I have all the right (and legalized) credentials / recommendations as a therapist (and a steady income) in the Netherlands but we really wanna start our life together in Alabama.

Tom's got a house for sale but since the housing market crashed as well it might take some time to sell. I've started applying for AL jobs myself but they're not very keen on foreigners it seems. I simply get no response at all.

I know there are many more couple like us in the same terrible position right now. We seem to be waiting forever for the smoke to clear up...

Any bit of advice or help will be greatly appreciated!

HI I am the petitioner and I am also in the same boat I lost my job and it seems that my only option is to ask a family or a friend who is willing to put their name on the affidavit of support as a co supporter. I hope this helps.

[Frouke77 0]

Yeah that could be an option I guess. I still don't understand why the 'foreign party' can't have a family member to sign for that as well. I could have been living with my love for at least a year now if that would have been possible. So many people have offered me to become my sponsor and so many times I had to explain why that isn't allowed by the US. Ugh. Just how much proof do they need to know you'll be able to make it work together. It's frustrating because I know I could get a healthcare job over there and in time so will he again. Too big a risk I suppose.

Thanks for your quick response though! We'll just have to stop moping and keep the faith that all things will evolve as they should.

[childress_london 3]

My guess as to why the beneficiary cannot provide co-sponsors is because it would be hard to enforce U.S. laws on someone in another country. Therefore, the co-sponsor has to be in the U.S. so that they can enforce the co-sponsorship legally if necessary.

[rebeccajo 14]

You should read up on the requirements for the consulate in Amsterdam and see if it is possible for you to 'self sponsor'. A few consulates will permit this if the foreign beneficiary has adequate savings - London is one of them. I have no idea if this would be an option for you with Amsterdam, but it is worthy of research.

As for looking for employment in the US right now, you're not getting any responses from US employers because you are not yet legally authorized to work in the US. It's simple as that.

Once you do arrive here, you will need to sit for tests in the State of Alabama before you will be able to work as a therapist. Mental health services are subject to licensure in the US.

So you can see - income and survival IS an issue for aliens entering the US. It is not such a ridiculous notion that the Service would ask for some proof that the US citizen petitioning to bring an alien into the US be able to provide for them.

Edited April 24, 2009 by rebeccajo

[Married2aTico 0]

Income requirements are actually pretty low, especially if you have no children. Perhaps he can get a job or two in retail just to meet the requirement for now. Obviously it's not ideal, but if he wants you in the US he may have to eat some humble pie.

[atk_721 0]

I m in the same boat,filled out my affidavit of support beginning of March and got laid off Mar 31st.Not sure what I shud do,right know i m just getting offers for temp work

One question:

Does unemployment benefits count as income for AOS purpose or no????

[Bobby+Umit 161]

I m in the same boat,filled out my affidavit of support beginning of March and got laid off Mar 31st.Not sure what I shud do,right know i m just getting offers for temp work

One question:

Does unemployment benefits count as income for AOS purpose or no????

Yes, you pay taxes on them.

[Bobby+Umit 161]

Anyone got any experience with the latest development concerning the economic crash?

Me and my man Tommy got engaged in the US last November during my last visit. I'm Dutch, he's an American citizen from Alabama. So I've been traveling between our two countries for 2 years now. Our problem is that Tom lost his job last year, just around the time we got engaged and wanted to start up the K1-visa procedure. But you know the drill: no income = no visa. Which means they're keeping thousands of couples apart right now... Plus the economy started crashing rapidly so jobs are hard to find these days. We simply don't know what to do anymore. It's very frustrating. I have all the right (and legalized) credentials / recommendations as a therapist (and a steady income) in the Netherlands but we really wanna start our life together in Alabama.

Tom's got a house for sale but since the housing market crashed as well it might take some time to sell. I've started applying for AL jobs myself but they're not very keen on foreigners it seems. I simply get no response at all.

I know there are many more couple like us in the same terrible position right now. We seem to be waiting forever for the smoke to clear up...

Any bit of advice or help will be greatly appreciated!

You could live your lives together in the Netherlands till the economy picks up again.

[atk_721 0]

I m in the same boat,filled out my affidavit of support beginning of March and got laid off Mar 31st.Not sure what I shud do,right know i m just getting offers for temp work

One question:

Does unemployment benefits count as income for AOS purpose or no????

Yes, you pay taxes on them.

Thanks for ur reply Bobby_Umit

Another question:

If my combined income means my YTD earning till mar31st plus my employment benefit for the year is more than 125% of poverty level,am I ok or still have to get a co-sponsor.

[pushbrk 13,052]

I m in the same boat,filled out my affidavit of support beginning of March and got laid off Mar 31st.Not sure what I shud do,right know i m just getting offers for temp work

One question:

Does unemployment benefits count as income for AOS purpose or no????

Yes, you pay taxes on them.

We don't yet have any reports of success using only temporary unemployment benefits to meet the current income requirement. I have no reason to believe a Consular Officer would conclude the intending immigrant would not become a public charge based solely on evidence of such temporary income. If I were the petitioner, I'd have a co-sponsor in my back pocket and do all I could to find some kind of "employment".

[Gerjoel 0]

I m in the same boat,filled out my affidavit of support beginning of March and got laid off Mar 31st.Not sure what I shud do,right know i m just getting offers for temp work

One question:

Does unemployment benefits count as income for AOS purpose or no????

Yes, you pay taxes on them.

We don't yet have any reports of success using only temporary unemployment benefits to meet the current income requirement. I have no reason to believe a Consular Officer would conclude the intending immigrant would not become a public charge based solely on evidence of such temporary income. If I were the petitioner, I'd have a co-sponsor in my back pocket and do all I could to find some kind of "employment".

hey guys these are good feedback id like to keep track on this topic as I am in the same boat. good point on Unemployment Benefits as an income as you do pay taxes and considering the economic hardship of the country we still need to be with our love once. but a co sponsor is definately playing it safe.

[baron555 934]

I still don't understand why the 'foreign party' can't have a family member to sign for that as well.

Well, you can help. Just deposit a large sum of money into his bank account and he can then list that as one of his assets.

(Of course the usual Watch out for Reverse Scammers alert applies.)

[BrokenHearted49 0]

Co-sponsorship and a public charge is a joke. The Latino's come over here and 1/2 of them are a public charge and nothing happens. I personally know of other nationalities that are here and use the system in good shape and nothing happens to them. The paper work for the government is such a joke they will never know what end is up and whos doing what to who.

Its just another piece of paper to delay the process and they think it works, let them have a ball trying to track all that, yeah right.

[rebeccajo 14]

Co-sponsorship and a public charge is a joke. The Latino's come over here and 1/2 of them are a public charge and nothing happens. I personally know of other nationalities that are here and use the system in good shape and nothing happens to them. The paper work for the government is such a joke they will never know what end is up and whos doing what to who.

Its just another piece of paper to delay the process and they think it works, let them have a ball trying to track all that, yeah right.

Reported.