A I-129f/K-1 visa MESS...Suggestions?

[BitingMyNails2 0]

SO...I think I've come to a serious halt on our visa case. We are already approved for a I-129f visa, but since I did all the paperwork myself and didn't realize until just a few weeks ago that Thailand seems to be the one and only consulate not accepting co-sponsorship for I-134, I really think we've lost this battle. Of course I'll have him try anyway with my father as a co-sponsor, but I'm not hearing anything positive about this issue - PERIOD.

So whats next then? Do I really have to pay another 500 and refile? Or go to Thailand and marry him and come home and do it all over? Or can I just switch consulates since he's really from Cameroon just residing in Thailand so pretty much already has clearance there too? (ha, fat chance, ya i'm fishing!!!)...I really don't know what to do to save myself some time. My son is already 1 and a half months old, and still has yet to see his father. =( Makes me super sad. Can I use him maybe? We can always establish paternity, does that help?....Eeeeerg. I could cry. Any suggestions would be cool...Thx

[JimVaPhuong 4,863]

SO...I think I've come to a serious halt on our visa case. We are already approved for a I-129f visa, but since I did all the paperwork myself and didn't realize until just a few weeks ago that Thailand seems to be the one and only consulate not accepting co-sponsorship for I-134, I really think we've lost this battle. Of course I'll have him try anyway with my father as a co-sponsor, but I'm not hearing anything positive about this issue - PERIOD.

So whats next then? Do I really have to pay another 500 and refile? Or go to Thailand and marry him and come home and do it all over? Or can I just switch consulates since he's really from Cameroon just residing in Thailand so pretty much already has clearance there too? (ha, fat chance, ya i'm fishing!!!)...I really don't know what to do to save myself some time. My son is already 1 and a half months old, and still has yet to see his father. =( Makes me super sad. Can I use him maybe? We can always establish paternity, does that help?....Eeeeerg. I could cry. Any suggestions would be cool...Thx

Thailand isn't the only consulate that generally does not accept co-sponsors with the I-134. Vietnam also rarely accepts co-sponsors for K visas, and the Philippines is known to be reluctant to accept them. I'm sure there are others, also. It actually doesn't have anything to do with the "public charge" requirement. It's because the statistical odds of the relationship being a sham for immigration purposes are higher if the petitioner is at the bottom of the income scale. Many visa scams involve US citizens who are complicit in the scam because they are being paid, and a low income person is more likely to be "bought off" than a person with a comfortable income. The I-134 affidavit is one of the few areas where the consulate has complete discretion to deny a visa without having to conjure an excuse for returning the petition to USCIS.

I don't think your chances of getting the petition sent to Cameroon are very good if the petition is already in Thailand, and your fiance is also there. Even if you could, do you know if Cameroon accepts co-sponsors with the I-134?

There is anecdotal evidence that a child will improve your chances, but I've not seen any real evidence of it. There is no basis in law or DoS policy to justify it. People have claimed that they "know someone" who was refused a visa, then got pregnant and were approved the second time, so they're convinced the pregnancy did the trick. On the other hand, I've seen cases on this forum of people who were refused a visa with a child, and at least two cases in the past month where a fiancee with a child scammed a US citizen for a visa. Most visa scammers would happily make a baby if they thought it would help their chances of getting a visa, and I'm sure the consulates are aware of this. Anyway, there's no checkbox on any form that says "Give us special consideration because we've got a baby".

How far away from the minimum income requirements are you? What are the chances you'll meet the requirements before you have to apply for AOS? Do you have any assets that could help offset your shortage in income?

You may be left with no option other than to marry and refile for a CR1. Fortunately, the I-864 has firm rules that the consulate can't fudge with, and you CAN have a co-sponsor with the I-864.

[rsn 135]

SO...I think I've come to a serious halt on our visa case. We are already approved for a I-129f visa, but since I did all the paperwork myself and didn't realize until just a few weeks ago that Thailand seems to be the one and only consulate not accepting co-sponsorship for I-134, I really think we've lost this battle. Of course I'll have him try anyway with my father as a co-sponsor, but I'm not hearing anything positive about this issue - PERIOD.

So whats next then? Do I really have to pay another 500 and refile? Or go to Thailand and marry him and come home and do it all over? Or can I just switch consulates since he's really from Cameroon just residing in Thailand so pretty much already has clearance there too? (ha, fat chance, ya i'm fishing!!!)...I really don't know what to do to save myself some time. My son is already 1 and a half months old, and still has yet to see his father. =( Makes me super sad. Can I use him maybe? We can always establish paternity, does that help?....Eeeeerg. I could cry. Any suggestions would be cool...Thx

Go with what Jim said in this thread, and what I and other said in your recent thread. That is, find a way to come up with enough assets to cover yourself w/out requiring a co-sponsor. If this isn't possible, I guess you could either go ahead and hope they accept your co-sponsor (not likely) and then marry & file a CR1 if they turn you back, or cancel the K1 attempt and go the CR1 route now. If you go ahead with the K1, you still have to pay for the medical exam, and the interview fee.

[Ning 619]

SO...I think I've come to a serious halt on our visa case. We are already approved for a I-129f visa, but since I did all the paperwork myself and didn't realize until just a few weeks ago that Thailand seems to be the one and only consulate not accepting co-sponsorship for I-134, I really think we've lost this battle. Of course I'll have him try anyway with my father as a co-sponsor, but I'm not hearing anything positive about this issue - PERIOD.

So whats next then? Do I really have to pay another 500 and refile? Or go to Thailand and marry him and come home and do it all over? Or can I just switch consulates since he's really from Cameroon just residing in Thailand so pretty much already has clearance there too? (ha, fat chance, ya i'm fishing!!!)...I really don't know what to do to save myself some time. My son is already 1 and a half months old, and still has yet to see his father. =( Makes me super sad. Can I use him maybe? We can always establish paternity, does that help?....Eeeeerg. I could cry. Any suggestions would be cool...Thx

There are posts today on V J about the percentage of visas connected to V J. No matter what numbers are used they still only represent a small percentage. The embassy in BKK told me they see about 700 cases per month. Keep this in mind when you read these posts. I dont know what percent are K 1 types.

I helped two friends with their K 1 visas. Each of them required a co-sponsor. They were both approved in BKK & are here in the USA now. There have been many cases reported here on V J where a co-sponsor wasnt allowed.

You will not know what the outcome will be on your case until you submit all the docs & he walks up to the window on the given day. It seems you have paid the fees & waited all this time so why not submit the co-sponsor & see what takes place?

[thepizzadude 26]

SO...I think I've come to a serious halt on our visa case. We are already approved for a I-129f visa, but since I did all the paperwork myself and didn't realize until just a few weeks ago that Thailand seems to be the one and only consulate not accepting co-sponsorship for I-134, I really think we've lost this battle. Of course I'll have him try anyway with my father as a co-sponsor, but I'm not hearing anything positive about this issue - PERIOD.

So whats next then? Do I really have to pay another 500 and refile? Or go to Thailand and marry him and come home and do it all over? Or can I just switch consulates since he's really from Cameroon just residing in Thailand so pretty much already has clearance there too? (ha, fat chance, ya i'm fishing!!!)...I really don't know what to do to save myself some time. My son is already 1 and a half months old, and still has yet to see his father. =( Makes me super sad. Can I use him maybe? We can always establish paternity, does that help?....Eeeeerg. I could cry. Any suggestions would be cool...Thx

There are posts today on V J about the percentage of visas connected to V J. No matter what numbers are used they still only represent a small percentage. The embassy in BKK told me they see about 700 cases per month. Keep this in mind when you read these posts. I dont know what percent are K 1 types.

I helped two friends with their K 1 visas. Each of them required a co-sponsor. They were both approved in BKK & are here in the USA now. There have been many cases reported here on V J where a co-sponsor wasnt allowed.

You will not know what the outcome will be on your case until you submit all the docs & he walks up to the window on the given day. It seems you have paid the fees & waited all this time so why not submit the co-sponsor & see what takes place?

[Nik+Heather 121]

I thought I read that sometimes the issue with cosponsors is that there is no relationship - if it's the OP's father, don't you think that might make some difference as opposed to "my cousin's roommate's best friend"? Especially if the OP lives with her father.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

SO...I think I've come to a serious halt on our visa case. We are already approved for a I-129f visa, but since I did all the paperwork myself and didn't realize until just a few weeks ago that Thailand seems to be the one and only consulate not accepting co-sponsorship for I-134, I really think we've lost this battle. Of course I'll have him try anyway with my father as a co-sponsor, but I'm not hearing anything positive about this issue - PERIOD.

So whats next then? Do I really have to pay another 500 and refile? Or go to Thailand and marry him and come home and do it all over? Or can I just switch consulates since he's really from Cameroon just residing in Thailand so pretty much already has clearance there too? (ha, fat chance, ya i'm fishing!!!)...I really don't know what to do to save myself some time. My son is already 1 and a half months old, and still has yet to see his father. =( Makes me super sad. Can I use him maybe? We can always establish paternity, does that help?....Eeeeerg. I could cry. Any suggestions would be cool...Thx

If i am not mistaken Thailand WILL accept co-sponsors (maybe with some limitations) for CR-1 visas. Our good and knowledgeable THAI members will correct me if i am wrong, but I think the prohibition applies to K-1s. Yes, you could go there, get married and file a CR-1 if that is the case.

OR, what are our prospects of a job? You can delay the interview for four months (usually, up to the consulate) and maybe more, in four month increments. If you can land a job making the minimum amounts maybe you can still proceed with the K-1.

I will advise again, it is best to read through this whole process and check with consulate requirements and preparing all the documents and clearing all the hurdles before you file the petition. Surprises are not a good thing at this stage and there is no need for surprises if you can read what I am writing at the best website for this topic

[payxibka 10,047]

If i am not mistaken Thailand WILL accept co-sponsors (maybe with some limitations) for CR-1 visas. Our good and knowledgeable THAI members will correct me if i am wrong, but I think the prohibition applies to K-1s. Yes, you could go there, get married and file a CR-1 if that is the case.

As a general rule, BKK does not but if going the CR/IR route then NVC reviews the I-864 and they will

[Thai family 0]

Don't give up just yet.

1) call the Department of State's visa information line in DC and ask them for direction. They were very helpful to us - (202) 663-1225. Be prepared to wait on hold for ten or fifteen minutes before you talk to a specialist.

2) Write a letter in plain English and have it notarized explaining just how he will be supported and put it on the top of your I 134. It probably wouldn't hurt to have your father write one too, if he is willing to make it strong enough. If you didn't file taxes, the letter from you is a requirement.

3) Have your father fill out the I-134 anyway, and make sure it gets slipped under the window at the appointment. We had it in a sealed envelope.

4) My son used the letter not only to explain why he didn't file taxes for two years (student, and not allowed to work per the terms of his visa), but to make his case and document how he would support his wife. If you are confident he will be supported, try your best to prove it. This is the way to let them know about your skills and resources. This was for a K 3 visa and just before Bangkok apparently became so strict. He included his college transcripts, lifetime social security earnings statement, evidence of his VA education benefits, the last tax return he did file and a copy of his student visa. At the time of the interview he had been employed for about five months so he did have some pay stubs and an employment letter. We will never know if they took my husband's I 134 into consideration.

Technically there has never been a provision for a co-sponsor for the I-134 any where. Just make your case the best you can.

I wish you the best.

-Thai Mom