Affidavit of support

[clueless_in_usa 8]

Her interview is in September and in 2009 I already made more than the 125% of the poverty level for two people. However, one of the documents that the consulate asks for is an employment letter.

What happens if I lose my job any day from now till the interview date? What could be the consequences of not having an employment letter, even when I can prove that I already made enough money this year?

And more importantly, how will that situation affect the AOS process after marriage? According to the plan, AOS should happen prior to filing taxes for 2009, so I will not have the most current taxes. So, how can I prove enough income if I do not have a job at the time.

Just planning for the worst, in case the worst happens. Not a Russian specific question, but after reading topics on the upper boards, I am afraid to open topics there.

[CA dreamer 3]

don't be pessimistic.godspeed over the journey.but in case u lost your job you may use your assets or bank deposits to show you can sponsor

[atk_721 0]

don't be pessimistic.godspeed over the journey.but in case u lost your job you may use your assets or bank deposits to show you can sponsor

It happened with me......u need to secure a co-sponsor or ur show enough assets...No they donot consider even if u made more than 125% when u were working also they dont count ur unemployment comp even if it makes more than 125% annually.

Edited July 25, 2009 by atk_721

[amberdima 6]

get the letter now while you're still employed. mine was close to 2 months old and was accepted. if you do lose your job, which it sounds like you're anticipating it, get a co-sponsor for AOS.

[mox 298]

Is there a reason you're concerned about this? Are there rumors of layoffs at your job or something? Or are you looking for something to fret about?

[clueless_in_usa 8]

Is there a reason you're concerned about this? Are there rumors of layoffs at your job or something? Or are you looking for something to fret about?

Mox, I am already looking for a new job, reason why I want to understand how important it is too keep the current job, in case they decide to send me packing before I find a new one. There were layoffs already, and I have been warned. Meanwhile, I am trying to understand the consequences of every option.

[Penguin_ie 5,994]

The income must be ongoing- it doesn't matter how much money you have made already this year, it matters how much money will will be making in an ongoing job, so you can support the immigrant for several years. So unless you have assets, you will need a co-sponsor if you loose your job.

[Thomas-n-Elena 0]

What kind of job do you have?

Just some economic information from someone who is currently unemployed:

Housing took us into this economic downturn and housing will bring us out. The past three months housing has improved better than the estimates- good news but dont get too excited. Manufacturing will be the next to recover about 6-9 months- look in the first 1/4 next year and in the next 12-18 months unemployment numbers will start to get better. If you do loose your job, keep a positive attitude and be active. You will find a new job, being proactive is good because you are ahead of the people who are just sitting around waiting to get laid off.

As far as immigration goes, you can only wait and see, Is there someone who can co-sponsor if necessary? Get them lined up now and getting their paperwork together to avoid more delays. Other than that you can only wait.

[mox 298]

Is there a reason you're concerned about this? Are there rumors of layoffs at your job or something? Or are you looking for something to fret about?

Mox, I am already looking for a new job, reason why I want to understand how important it is too keep the current job, in case they decide to send me packing before I find a new one. There were layoffs already, and I have been warned. Meanwhile, I am trying to understand the consequences of every option.

So as far as the I-129F goes, they are going to want to see the affidavit of support, a letter from your employer and last years taxes. They're not going to call your employer or otherwise verify your employment, which means that if you get the letter from your employer August 4 and are laid off August 5, you're still going to have everything she needs to be approved at the interview. You'll need to get it all sorted before AOS, but you're golden for the interview. That's the reason if I asked if you're just fretting. Get the letter right now, and if you find a new job before the interview you can always get a letter from them too and send them both in.

[Thomas-n-Elena 0]

Is there a reason you're concerned about this? Are there rumors of layoffs at your job or something? Or are you looking for something to fret about?

Mox, I am already looking for a new job, reason why I want to understand how important it is too keep the current job, in case they decide to send me packing before I find a new one. There were layoffs already, and I have been warned. Meanwhile, I am trying to understand the consequences of every option.

So as far as the I-129F goes, they are going to want to see the affidavit of support, a letter from your employer and last years taxes. They're not going to call your employer or otherwise verify your employment, which means that if you get the letter from your employer August 4 and are laid off August 5, you're still going to have everything she needs to be approved at the interview. You'll need to get it all sorted before AOS, but you're golden for the interview. That's the reason if I asked if you're just fretting. Get the letter right now, and if you find a new job before the interview you can always get a letter from them too and send them both in.

You spake the truth brother Mox

[Robert & Olya 0]

I am glad to see this thread

I'm an Electrician and to say the least the "construction industry" is shaky at best. Have not yet filed the K1 but if you have read elsewhere, I have been asking questions about all that is needed and upon returning this September after spending all of August with my fiance, we will be filling the K1.

This topic with the economy (regardless of the small signs of improvement) is of great interest to me, especially since my 2008 income was barely over 1/2 of what I made in 2007 and with 2009 being not a good year either (with always the possibility of work ending), my nerves are a bit frazzeld thinking "File or wait, File or wait, File or wait"

even knowning that this whole K1 takes a "heck of a lot of time" and at the earliest even if we were approved in record breaking time. Olya and Igor will still not arrive until June 2010 (at the earliest), because we both do not want to disrupt Igor's live in the middle of a "school year" give hime some time (summer vacation) to adjust and adapt before he starts in with a whole new school enviroment

this thread has given me some "good food for thought" and some insight for either way we proceed "File or wait"

[mox 298]

Robert, did you make the 125% income requirement? That's all you really need to worry about. If you made the requirement, your income is not an issue no matter how little it is, so don't worry about it. If you didn't make it, then start thinking about a co-sponsor.

[clueless_in_usa 8]

Robert, did you make the 125% income requirement? That's all you really need to worry about. If you made the requirement, your income is not an issue no matter how little it is, so don't worry about it. If you didn't make it, then start thinking about a co-sponsor.

Mox, the problem is timing. When I went to the consulate to confirm that they have her documents, they asked me to prepare form I-134, tax transcripts, and a recent letter from my employer. Therefore, if by the time you get approve you do not have an employer, they may request extra information and delay granting the visa. That is primarily why I asked the question, because (fortunately) I already made over 125% ... but they may not care if I am no longer making money.

[mox 298]

Mox, the problem is timing. When I went to the consulate to confirm that they have her documents, they asked me to prepare form I-134, tax transcripts, and a recent letter from my employer. Therefore, if by the time you get approve you do not have an employer, they may request extra information and delay granting the visa. That is primarily why I asked the question, because (fortunately) I already made over 125% ... but they may not care if I am no longer making money.

If at the time of the interview, you were able to provide a recent letter from your employer showing that you make 125%, you're golden. I.e., they're not going to call your employer on the day of her interview to verify that you are still employed. So the question really boils down to this: are you going to be able to provide these documents for her interview? If yes, don't worry. If there's any doubt, start rounding up a co-sponsor.

By the way, the letter can be a couple months old. So can any supporting pay stubs, and you only need to provide last years taxes. They understand that these documents are expensive to send and that there's often delays in the mail, so they're not going to require the letter or pay stubs be from last week. This gives you a lot of maneuvering room.

[clueless_in_usa 8]

If at the time of the interview, you were able to provide a recent letter from your employer showing that you make 125%, you're golden. I.e., they're not going to call your employer on the day of her interview to verify that you are still employed. So the question really boils down to this: are you going to be able to provide these documents for her interview? If yes, don't worry. If there's any doubt, start rounding up a co-sponsor.

By the way, the letter can be a couple months old. So can any supporting pay stubs, and you only need to provide last years taxes. They understand that these documents are expensive to send and that there's often delays in the mail, so they're not going to require the letter or pay stubs be from last week. This gives you a lot of maneuvering room.

I forgot to say something: the reason this question was and is (for a future AOS) so important to me is the fact that I depend only on myself. Nobody, I repeat, nobody will ever be my cosponsor. Therefore, if I cannot support my future wife, I cannot go through this process.