affidavit of Support

[amanda114 0]

I want to first start off by saying this website is amazing and extremely helpful! I am impressed at how many people want to help others.. I can see myself getting rather obessed with checking this site!

So I just sent off the I-129F package today and thought I would start sorting out what is required for the next step since we are both out of the States.

My fiance and I both live and work in Korea as English teachers. We are planning on coming back to the states in March 2010 (hopefully we get approved before then)! When we both arrive in the States neither of us will have a job but will be looking earnestly for one. So my fiance (US citizen) will not have a job to show money coming in so the affidavit of Support will appear very poor though we have been saving a great deal in Korea. How would we show what we have saved, should we show our pay stubs?? I understand that we can get a co-sponsor and we intend to do that but I am a little worried about going to the interview and explaining that we will not have a job in the States when we get back.

I have been trying to search this process, but I im not getting many clear discussions about what exactly is required and as you can all see we are worried this about this question. If anyone else has been in this situation where you both don't live in America I would appreciate your response.

Regards

Amanda

[Carlawarla 1]

If you're both living in Korea, why didn't you get married and apply for DCF? This drastically cuts down on your waiting time.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

I want to first start off by saying this website is amazing and extremely helpful! I am impressed at how many people want to help others.. I can see myself getting rather obessed with checking this site!

So I just sent off the I-129F package today and thought I would start sorting out what is required for the next step since we are both out of the States.

My fiance and I both live and work in Korea as English teachers. We are planning on coming back to the states in March 2010 (hopefully we get approved before then)! When we both arrive in the States neither of us will have a job but will be looking earnestly for one. So my fiance (US citizen) will not have a job to show money coming in so the affidavit of Support will appear very poor though we have been saving a great deal in Korea. How would we show what we have saved, should we show our pay stubs?? I understand that we can get a co-sponsor and we intend to do that but I am a little worried about going to the interview and explaining that we will not have a job in the States when we get back.

I have been trying to search this process, but I im not getting many clear discussions about what exactly is required and as you can all see we are worried this about this question. If anyone else has been in this situation where you both don't live in America I would appreciate your response.

Regards

Amanda

You do not have to explain at the interview what you will do in the States except get married within 90 days. You will need a co-sponsor for the AOS if you don't have a job by then. If he has a job NOW, that is what is required. Employment letters are not needed for the interview. Complete an I-134, attach proof of income (check stubs) and go for it. If you are uncomfortable , get a co-sponsor and avoid the questions. It is possible they would ask questions on this, so if you want cover yourself with a co-sponsor.

The DCF mentioned above is another option, but it may or may not be a faster option depending where you are in the K-1 process. It is a BETTER option in my opinion.

[payxibka 10,045]

You do not have to explain at the interview what you will do in the States except get married within 90 days. You will need a co-sponsor for the AOS if you don't have a job by then. If he has a job NOW, that is what is required. Employment letters are not needed for the interview. Complete an I-134, attach proof of income (check stubs) and go for it. If you are uncomfortable , get a co-sponsor and avoid the questions. It is possible they would ask questions on this, so if you want cover yourself with a co-sponsor.

The DCF mentioned above is another option, but it may or may not be a faster option depending where you are in the K-1 process. It is a BETTER option in my opinion.

except any job that will be the basis of the financial support ability decision, needs to continue... in this situation it will not and likely will be not accepted. I agree that you may wish to line up a "co-sponsor" here as well....

[amanda114 0]

Thanks for the reponses. We actually went to the consulate in Seoul and the officer suggested that we get married since we are both in the same country and that it would dramatically shorten the process. We initially were all for it and then realised that we didnt want to get married with no family around and miss out in the moment even though we could have a ceremony in America. So basically we have gone the I-129F route.

I did find a fellow teacher who completed the K1 process. He mentioned that at the interview in Seoul the interviewer was really concerned with the fact that neither of them would have a job when they enter the states. He mentioned to the interviewer that he had saved a lot of money while in Korea and showed that he had US$50,000 sitting in his bank account and the interview appreciated that he had that much money. While we have saved, we don't have $50,000 sitting in one bank account! Will have organised a co-sponser but just want to be sure that showing our current work tax details and pay stubs will accepted.

What other advice can be offered?

Regards

Amanda

You do not have to explain at the interview what you will do in the States except get married within 90 days. You will need a co-sponsor for the AOS if you don't have a job by then. If he has a job NOW, that is what is required. Employment letters are not needed for the interview. Complete an I-134, attach proof of income (check stubs) and go for it. If you are uncomfortable , get a co-sponsor and avoid the questions. It is possible they would ask questions on this, so if you want cover yourself with a co-sponsor.

The DCF mentioned above is another option, but it may or may not be a faster option depending where you are in the K-1 process. It is a BETTER option in my opinion.

except any job that will be the basis of the financial support ability decision, needs to continue... in this situation it will not and likely will be not accepted. I agree that you may wish to line up a "co-sponsor" here as well....

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

Thanks for the reponses. We actually went to the consulate in Seoul and the officer suggested that we get married since we are both in the same country and that it would dramatically shorten the process. We initially were all for it and then realised that we didnt want to get married with no family around and miss out in the moment even though we could have a ceremony in America. So basically we have gone the I-129F route.

I did find a fellow teacher who completed the K1 process. He mentioned that at the interview in Seoul the interviewer was really concerned with the fact that neither of them would have a job when they enter the states. He mentioned to the interviewer that he had saved a lot of money while in Korea and showed that he had US$50,000 sitting in his bank account and the interview appreciated that he had that much money. While we have saved, we don't have $50,000 sitting in one bank account! Will have organised a co-sponser but just want to be sure that showing our current work tax details and pay stubs will accepted.

What other advice can be offered?

Regards

Amanda

You do not have to explain at the interview what you will do in the States except get married within 90 days. You will need a co-sponsor for the AOS if you don't have a job by then. If he has a job NOW, that is what is required. Employment letters are not needed for the interview. Complete an I-134, attach proof of income (check stubs) and go for it. If you are uncomfortable , get a co-sponsor and avoid the questions. It is possible they would ask questions on this, so if you want cover yourself with a co-sponsor.

The DCF mentioned above is another option, but it may or may not be a faster option depending where you are in the K-1 process. It is a BETTER option in my opinion.

except any job that will be the basis of the financial support ability decision, needs to continue... in this situation it will not and likely will be not accepted. I agree that you may wish to line up a "co-sponsor" here as well....

If you have a co-sponsor it does not matter if yoru work is accepted as long as the co-sponor's is. As far as getting married, I would strongly suggest you do so there and go the DCF route. For one you are greatly complicating YOUR lives for the benefit of others to watch you get married? Doesn't make sense.

Have a simple civil ceremony, file the DCF and have a great wedding ceremony and reception in the states when you get here.

[SandLand 1]

I agree with Gary and Alla.... I'm working in Kuwait and my wife is from Uzbekistan. I spoke with the consular at the US Embassy in Tashkent and they recommended that we married in Tashkent and then filed i-130 DCF in Kuwiat. I submitted the i-130 petition a week after my wife arrived in Kuwait and it was approved in 7 days. I believe it normally takes about 5 or 6 months to process a fiance visa from start to finish.

My advice is just do a civil marriage in Korea, drop your i-130 petition immediate and she should have her CR-1 in less than 3 months.

[Anh map 2,098]

I agree with Gary and Alla.... I'm working in Kuwait and my wife is from Uzbekistan. I spoke with the consular at the US Embassy in Tashkent and they recommended that we married in Tashkent and then filed i-130 DCF in Kuwiat. I submitted the i-130 petition a week after my wife arrived in Kuwait and it was approved in 7 days. I believe it normally takes about 5 or 6 months to process a fiance visa from start to finish.

My advice is just do a civil marriage in Korea, drop your i-130 petition immediate and she should have her CR-1 in less than 3 months.

This gets my vote based on simplifying the process, saving about $1K in fees, and spouse has a green card after entering the US.

[kaffy 2]

Have a simple civil ceremony, file the DCF and have a great wedding ceremony and reception in the states when you get here.

I totally agree. This is what we did - had a simple civil ceremony at the ward office in order to get my husband's Australian spousal visa process started.. then had our "proper" wedding celebration a few months later with family in Hawaii. We didn't "miss out" on anything doing it this way.

But regardless if you follow through with the K-1 or DCF process you will need to find a joint/co-sponsor who can meet the income requirements on your behalf