Affidavit of Support mandatory?

[Anichka 0]

I have a question regarding the affidavit of support. Is supplying it mandatory for a fiance visa when the time of the interview comes? We are both students and unemployed so I don't know if there is any sense in supplying it. Should I have my parents give the affidavit? Sorry if the questions sounds silly, I just don't know much about all this affidavit stuff. Thank you for the help!

[Ladylethal 12]

Yes, it's mandatory both at Consular stage as later on during AOS. I-134 now and I-864 later. You can though, get a co-sponsor for her. In that case you file one and your co-sponsor (your parents) file another. Your parents affidavit must meet minimum requirements to support their household + your fiancee.

Read the guides and FAQs regarding affidavits of support.

[Brad and Vika 129]

Yes, you will have to provide an affadavit, and it sounds like you will need parents or some other co-sponsor to participate. You will have to provide all required documents on the application - and in this case some one who has the necessary income or assets for support of your SO.

Edited June 15, 2009 by Brad and Vika

[Surf2Salsa 0]

I was under the impression that co-sponsors were not accepted on K-1 visas.

Is that not so?

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

I have a question regarding the affidavit of support. Is supplying it mandatory for a fiance visa when the time of the interview comes? We are both students and unemployed so I don't know if there is any sense in supplying it. Should I have my parents give the affidavit? Sorry if the questions sounds silly, I just don't know much about all this affidavit stuff. Thank you for the help!

Yes, absolutely. The "sense" is if you don't, she gets no visa. You needa co-sponsor if you cannot do it on your own. YOU will need to provide one in addition to the co-sponsor. You need to read and learn about this "co-sponsor stuff" Check the guides above.

[Carlawarla 1]

I was under the impression that co-sponsors were not accepted on K-1 visas.

Is that not so?

I've read of a few Embassy's that don't accept a co-sponsor for a K-1, but certainly not all. It's not standard that they don't accept it...not at all.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

I was under the impression that co-sponsors were not accepted on K-1 visas.

Is that not so?

Most consulates accept them. Bangkok does not. I have heard Manilla only does if they are family members. There is no "blanket ban" on co-sponsors, it is consulate specific.

[payxibka 10,045]

From the KEV-1 instructions (specific only to Kiev):

EVIDENCE OF SUPPORT FOR FIANCE(E) VISA APPLICANTS: Any evidence from your American spouse/fiancé(e) which will show the consular officer that you and members of your family who will accompany you will not become public charges while in the United States. Documentation regarding financial support can be in any form – preferably one year of tax returns, W-2s, bank statements, earning statements, letters from employers.

My interpretation of the above would say that the I-134 itself is NOT required. However, providing ONLY the I-134 without any backup evidence is NOT acceptable. The catch is that ALL the supporting evidence that you would provide WITH the I-134 is still required. So the difference between providing or not providing the actual affidavit itself is merely the form, so in my mind why would you not include it.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

From the KEV-1 instructions (specific only to Kiev):

EVIDENCE OF SUPPORT FOR FIANCE(E) VISA APPLICANTS: Any evidence from your American spouse/fiancé(e) which will show the consular officer that you and members of your family who will accompany you will not become public charges while in the United States. Documentation regarding financial support can be in any form – preferably one year of tax returns, W-2s, bank statements, earning statements, letters from employers.

My interpretation of the above would say that the I-134 itself is NOT required. However, providing ONLY the I-134 without any backup evidence is NOT acceptable. The catch is that ALL the supporting evidence that you would provide WITH the I-134 is still required. So the difference between providing or not providing the actual affidavit itself is merely the form, so in my mind why would you not include it.

That is true, Pay, there is no requirement to use the I-134, but there is a requirement to show financial support. The I-134 is a handy and accepted form.

[payxibka 10,045]

From the KEV-1 instructions (specific only to Kiev):

EVIDENCE OF SUPPORT FOR FIANCE(E) VISA APPLICANTS: Any evidence from your American spouse/fiancé(e) which will show the consular officer that you and members of your family who will accompany you will not become public charges while in the United States. Documentation regarding financial support can be in any form – preferably one year of tax returns, W-2s, bank statements, earning statements, letters from employers.

My interpretation of the above would say that the I-134 itself is NOT required. However, providing ONLY the I-134 without any backup evidence is NOT acceptable. The catch is that ALL the supporting evidence that you would provide WITH the I-134 is still required. So the difference between providing or not providing the actual affidavit itself is merely the form, so in my mind why would you not include it.

That is true, Pay, there is no requirement to use the I-134, but there is a requirement to show financial support. The I-134 is a handy and accepted form.

It is not the form itself but the evidence behind the form (or the exercise the form instructions takes you through) that is critical because you could just submit just the two pages of the I-134 form ... but you will fail.

[JimVaPhuong 4,863]

The consulate in HCM specifically asks for the I-134, so I don't know if they would accept evidence alone. On the other hand, they also specifically say that the form needs to be notarized, but people have confirmed with the consulate that they will accept the new version of the form without the notary stamp.

The checklist issued by the embassy in Kiev also specifically asks for the I-134.

http://kyiv.usembassy.gov/files/kev1eng.rtf

[payxibka 10,045]

The consulate in HCM specifically asks for the I-134, so I don't know if they would accept evidence alone. On the other hand, they also specifically say that the form needs to be notarized, but people have confirmed with the consulate that they will accept the new version of the form without the notary stamp.

The checklist issued by the embassy in Kiev also specifically asks for the I-134.

http://kyiv.usembassy.gov/files/kev1eng.rtf

The I-134 form itself is NOT required by Kiev, but all the supporting evidence IS... believe me... I am living proof of that! My now wife had it but held it in her "hip pocket" and I told her only present it is asked.

Edited June 15, 2009 by payxibka

[JimVaPhuong 4,863]

The consulate in HCM specifically asks for the I-134, so I don't know if they would accept evidence alone. On the other hand, they also specifically say that the form needs to be notarized, but people have confirmed with the consulate that they will accept the new version of the form without the notary stamp.

The checklist issued by the embassy in Kiev also specifically asks for the I-134.

http://kyiv.usembassy.gov/files/kev1eng.rtf

The I-134 form itself is NOT required by Kiev, but all the supporting evidence IS... believe me... I am living proof of that! My now wife had it but held it in her "hip pocket" and I told her only present it is asked.

Okay, I'm just sayin...

I can just visualize some ####### retentive CO refusing to look at the evidence because the I-134 (which is probably less legally binding than a handshake) is not included, when the checklist says it should be.

[payxibka 10,045]

The consulate in HCM specifically asks for the I-134, so I don't know if they would accept evidence alone. On the other hand, they also specifically say that the form needs to be notarized, but people have confirmed with the consulate that they will accept the new version of the form without the notary stamp.

The checklist issued by the embassy in Kiev also specifically asks for the I-134.

http://kyiv.usembassy.gov/files/kev1eng.rtf

The I-134 form itself is NOT required by Kiev, but all the supporting evidence IS... believe me... I am living proof of that! My now wife had it but held it in her "hip pocket" and I told her only present it is asked.

Okay, I'm just sayin...

I can just visualize some ####### retentive CO refusing to look at the evidence because the I-134 (which is probably less legally binding than a handshake) is not included, when the checklist says it should be.

Well you are reading quite deep into the checklst... of what it says, I submitted only tax returns and paystubs... letters, bank statements and I-134 were not provided.

evidence of support from your American fiancé(e) – tax returns, pay stubs, letters from employers, bank statements, Affidavit of Support I-134.

[Katia-a-a 0]

Just got an email from a girl who said she didn't get the visa because she didn't have the Affidavit of Support. But she's going to have the interview again when her fiance sends it to her!