Will a bankruptcy affect your ability to bring someone here?

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

it sounds like they don't really look at your credit history. is this correct?

I cannot say for sure, I suspect they do. It does not matter for the most part. The only things I have seen reported that affect visa issuance would be unpaid child support and IRS tax leins. Back taxes, being paid on an installment agreement, do not affect anything. Tax leins will be deducted from your calculation of income and can disqualify you for having not sufficient income. Whether you paid your credit cards or filed bankruptcy has no affect.

I suspect they don't pull a credit history.

Maybe but we have ample evidence they find out about tax liens. I suppose there's more than one way to access that information than through a credit report.

I don't call 'one case' ample evidence.

Hard to say how they found that one out. We weren't sitting there on interview day and we don't know what else was in the financial packet. Wage garnishments show up on paystubs. Electronic payments to loans show up on paystubs. Electronic transfers of funds from a checking account to the IRS monthly would show up on a bank statement.

Sorry, correction, "I" have ample evidence to back up my statement because "I" have the answers to the questions you are missing.

Do tell.

Just did.

I think about this and think...why on earth would they NOT do a credit check? Not for looking at how much you owe, yada, yada, but GEE what if a credit report turns up another WIFE someone forgot about? Maybe children? Child support past due? Tax leins, etc. They can verify a lot of information which is provided on the I-129f with a credit report, even addresses to cross reference the G-325a. To me it seems an obvious thing to do.

I think the OPs concern was would it affect issuance of the visa if he has bad credit...NO, not normally with the few exceptions noted, in which case it doesn't matter if they check or not.

[Waheed and Kris 0]

I don't know if a bankruptcy can stop you from getting your visa, but it sure can cause you a headache. My bankruptcy was the main topic of discussion at my husband's interview. Then following the interview I had to submit my bankruptcy court paperwork to the embassy.

Not everyone will have this experience with a bankruptcy but as pushbrk stated they do know about it. Not every CO will give the applicant a hard time about it. I think it really all depends on the CO.

peace

~kris

[JimVaPhuong 4,863]

I was told by an attorney that both USCIS and DOS have access to the databases maintained by LexisNexis. I was told to get a copy of this report, since it contains information that USCIS and the consulate is likely to find out about me, and knowing what they know is a big head start on being able to address any red flags.

There's a wealth of information available about individuals in their databases, including a comprehensive search of public records. This will include liens and bankruptcy's, which are both public records. It will also contain information about real estate transactions, property taxes, professional licenses, and court ordered payments like child support. It also contains any public criminal records.

Private information they maintain includes reports from insurance underwriters, residences where you may have lived, and may ALSO include a credit report if one was recently requested on your behalf (for an auto loan or job application, for example).

You can get a copy of the information they have on you by submitting a written request and proof of identification. Go to choicepoint.com and click "Reports About You". There is no charge for getting a copy of your own report.

[rebeccajo 14]

I was told by an attorney that both USCIS and DOS have access to the databases maintained by LexisNexis. I was told to get a copy of this report, since it contains information that USCIS and the consulate is likely to find out about me, and knowing what they know is a big head start on being able to address any red flags.

There's a wealth of information available about individuals in their databases, including a comprehensive search of public records. This will include liens and bankruptcy's, which are both public records. It will also contain information about real estate transactions, property taxes, professional licenses, and court ordered payments like child support. It also contains any public criminal records.

Private information they maintain includes reports from insurance underwriters, residences where you may have lived, and may ALSO include a credit report if one was recently requested on your behalf (for an auto loan or job application, for example).

You can get a copy of the information they have on you by submitting a written request and proof of identification. Go to choicepoint.com and click "Reports About You". There is no charge for getting a copy of your own report.

This makes more sense than a credit report.

Eyeopening and informative. Thank you.

http://www.lexisnexis.com/government/agencies/homeland.aspx