Co-sponsorship during the interview with the consulate

[The_Sage1 2]

I've been reading a few people on here saying that the consulates don't accept co-sponsorship...??? What gives with that? I am planning on having my parents co-sponsor our petition. I do make about 13,000 a year but still that's not enough I don't think. Why on Earth would they not accept co-sponsorship, when yet every source out there says they do? This is so frustrating....

[Inky 1,111]

Manila very often doesn't accept co-sponsers aparently for k-1 files. This happend to my friend. Certain countrys don't allow it but not all countrys.

[JimVaPhuong 4,863]

I've been reading a few people on here saying that the consulates don't accept co-sponsorship...??? What gives with that? I am planning on having my parents co-sponsor our petition. I do make about 13,000 a year but still that's not enough I don't think. Why on Earth would they not accept co-sponsorship, when yet every source out there says they do? This is so frustrating....

Deciding whether there's a risk of a K1 beneficiary becoming a "public charge" is entirely up to the discretion of the consulate. None are required to accept a co-sponsor, though many will (probably most). Some are particular about who they will accept for a co-sponsor, and some just rarely accept them at all. From what I've read here, Manila is reluctant to accept a co-sponsor, but might do so if the co-sponsor is an immediate family member.

Your income is pretty low to support a wife and yourself. You're not just below the 125% poverty level, you're below the 100% poverty level. The AOS fees alone are going to consume nearly 8% of your gross annual income. Your chances would probably be better if you were closer to meeting the requirements on your own. As it is, from what I've heard about the embassy in Manila, I don't think your chances are very good.

An option is to get married and file for a CR1. In that event, you'd be filing the I-864, which allows for a co-sponsor regardless of which consulate you go through.

[Otto 83]

Deciding whether there's a risk of a K1 beneficiary becoming a "public charge" is entirely up to the discretion of the consulate. None are required to accept a co-sponsor, though many will (probably most). Some are particular about who they will accept for a co-sponsor, and some just rarely accept them at all. From what I've read here, Manila is reluctant to accept a co-sponsor, but might do so if the co-sponsor is an immediate family member.

Your income is pretty low to support a wife and yourself. You're not just below the 125% poverty level, you're below the 100% poverty level. The AOS fees alone are going to consume nearly 8% of your gross annual income. Your chances would probably be better if you were closer to meeting the requirements on your own. As it is, from what I've heard about the embassy in Manila, I don't think your chances are very good.

An option is to get married and file for a CR1. In that event, you'd be filing the I-864, which allows for a co-sponsor regardless of which consulate you go through.

Yup - they (USEM) are particular about who the co-sponso is (amongst other things).

Memo from USEM in reference to co sponsors (PDF)

[The_Sage1 2]

My father is going to be listed at my co-sponsor. I don't see why they'd reject that as a co-sponsor. It's not like a friend or uncle is co-sponsoring. I also have the money saved up for all the following fees and so forth.

Thanks for the encouragement guys, I might as well give up, break up with my fiancee and hang myself.

Edited November 12, 2009 by The_Sage1

[Otto 83]

My father is going to be listed at my co-sponsor. I don't see why they'd reject that as a co-sponsor. It's not like a friend or uncle is co-sponsoring. I also have the money saved up for all the following fees and so forth.

Thanks for the encouragement guys, I might as well give up, break up with my fiancee and hang myself.

I think there is encouragement in there - a Father/parent would very likely be something USEM would consider - they do it every day.

[The_Sage1 2]

Sometimes people don't know how exactly how hard it is to go through this. To be in love with someone that you can't regularly see in person and have no certainty that she'll ever get here. I'm always getting discouraged by things like this. I work full time and get paid 9 dollars and hour and I can't even find a higher paying job where I live. If I could, I'd be on that right now. I only make a little over 14,000 a year after taxes; I just calculated that one. I know that my cousin got married to a Filipino man, she just graduated at high school and still lived with her parents...and they still accepted their co-sponsorship. Hmm.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

My father is going to be listed at my co-sponsor. I don't see why they'd reject that as a co-sponsor. It's not like a friend or uncle is co-sponsoring. I also have the money saved up for all the following fees and so forth.

Thanks for the encouragement guys, I might as well give up, break up with my fiancee and hang myself.

I think you have been given some good options here. Consualtes can pretty much decide what they want to do, some accept any old US citizen as a co-sponsor, some accept it only if it is a family member, some not at all. They can reject you and accept the next guy in line. It is a subjective decision made in light of the case as a whole and no two cases are the same entirely.

As Jim said, the CR-1 is an option as it takes the financial support role out of the foggy, misty I-134/consulate realm and into the more clear (and legally binding) I-864/NVC realm, at least they are consistent.

I would say your first option (if you have already filed the K-1) is to see it through and maybe it works out. Then go to plan B. Hanging yourself should be plan C.

[JimVaPhuong 4,863]

Sometimes people don't know how exactly how hard it is to go through this. To be in love with someone that you can't regularly see in person and have no certainty that she'll ever get here. I'm always getting discouraged by things like this. I work full time and get paid 9 dollars and hour and I can't even find a higher paying job where I live. If I could, I'd be on that right now. I only make a little over 14,000 a year after taxes; I just calculated that one. I know that my cousin got married to a Filipino man, she just graduated at high school and still lived with her parents...and they still accepted their co-sponsorship. Hmm.

Wait! Before you said you made $13K per year. Now you're saying you make $14K AFTER TAXES. It's not your "take home" pay that matters here. It's your gross income. Presumably, someone making 125% of the poverty level, with a filing status of "married, filing jointly", would pay little if any actual income taxes. They realize your tax liability is going to go down after you're married. Maybe you are closer than you think. What is your gross income?

As far as your other comments, trust me - everyone here knows how hard it is to go through this. I don't have the financial "red flags" that you've got, but I have other red flags that me and my fiancee have to overcome, in addition to having to deal with one of the toughest consulates in the world. I make a comfortable living, but that isn't going to make any difference to the consulate. They don't generally suspect the petitioner of visa fraud - they suspect the beneficiary.

This process will try your patience, and you have to be willing to accept that it might take a lot longer than you would like. In my case, we could get shot down at the interview, or they may ask for additional evidence. After submitting the additional evidence, we may get shot down or put in AP. After the AP, we may get shot down and have the petition sent back to USCIS. The reality is that this very well could take years to successfully complete. But, as I was explaining to my fiancee this morning (she's very nervous about the interview) the US government can only delay us - they cannot stop us. We will succeed eventually. I told her she should go into the interview with the attitude that she's just there to drop off some documents, answer some questions, and pick up her blue slip. If she can think like that then she'll be a lot less nervous about failing, since a blue slip would not really be a failure. Even a white denial slip would not be a failure, since it wouldn't stop us from proceeding - it would just add more time to the process.

In your case, a denial would mean either waiting until your income situation improves and filing again, or getting married and going with a CR1. As long as you're reasonably careful and don't make any serious mistakes, they can't stop you from eventually getting your SO to the US. They can only delay you. Just be patient, and be prepared to respond to whatever happens.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

Sometimes people don't know how exactly how hard it is to go through this. To be in love with someone that you can't regularly see in person and have no certainty that she'll ever get here. I'm always getting discouraged by things like this. I work full time and get paid 9 dollars and hour and I can't even find a higher paying job where I live. If I could, I'd be on that right now. I only make a little over 14,000 a year after taxes; I just calculated that one. I know that my cousin got married to a Filipino man, she just graduated at high school and still lived with her parents...and they still accepted their co-sponsorship. Hmm.

they go by gross income. $9 x 2080 (for a full time job) Guess what? You are there. $18, 212 is the 125% level for two people. You really only need 100% for the consulate but since you will need 125% for the AOS you may as well make a "dry run" of it.

[The_Sage1 2]

Gotcha, I work for $9/hr and work full time. Thanks for the information. Sorry for seeming overly emotional...but it's a rather emotional time for the both of us.

It still would definately help to get a job that paid like 12 dollars an hour or more. I work as a night time security guard and I get paid peanuts for what I do.

[pushbrk 13,120]

Gotcha, I work for $9/hr and work full time. Thanks for the information. Sorry for seeming overly emotional...but it's a rather emotional time for the both of us.

It still would definately help to get a job that paid like 12 dollars an hour or more. I work as a night time security guard and I get paid peanuts for what I do.

You do barely meet the requirements but that's no assurance. Another option is a second job.

Bear in mind that your circumstances don't warrant any special "positive" consideration when a Consular Officer considers the public charge concern. They have a job to do. If they think it's likely your fiance will become a public charge BECAUSE you get paid peanuts, they will deny the visa, appropriately. Their sympathy is with the US taxpayer it's their job to protect.

I'd have dad's I-134 and supporting documents available anyway as they may be needed and accepted.

Edited November 12, 2009 by pushbrk

[Keysersoze 0]

Gary, be careful with your wordings here, some people take it seriously. Hanging yourself should never be an option. Never ever, there is always an alternative. Life is full of meaning. Do not give up and do your best.

My father is going to be listed at my co-sponsor. I don't see why they'd reject that as a co-sponsor. It's not like a friend or uncle is co-sponsoring. I also have the money saved up for all the following fees and so forth.

Thanks for the encouragement guys, I might as well give up, break up with my fiancee and hang myself.

I think you have been given some good options here. Consualtes can pretty much decide what they want to do, some accept any old US citizen as a co-sponsor, some accept it only if it is a family member, some not at all. They can reject you and accept the next guy in line. It is a subjective decision made in light of the case as a whole and no two cases are the same entirely.

As Jim said, the CR-1 is an option as it takes the financial support role out of the foggy, misty I-134/consulate realm and into the more clear (and legally binding) I-864/NVC realm, at least they are consistent.

I would say your first option (if you have already filed the K-1) is to see it through and maybe it works out. Then go to plan B. Hanging yourself should be plan C.

[rapatel3188 0]

I filed I 130 for my wife and she had her interview on September 20,2011 and she got denied because they said require more sponsor. I am wondering how long will it took to approve after i have submit new sponsor. My wife will get document on Monday October 10, 2011 and she will submit document in VHS office in Ahemedabad India. Is any one know how long she has to wait to get her visa.

Edited October 7, 2011 by rapatel3188

[kali1229 6]

<!--quoteo(post=3482859:date=Nov 11 2009, 08:21 PM:name=The_Sage1)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (The_Sage1 @ Nov 11 2009, 08:21 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=3482859"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->Sometimes people don't know how exactly how hard it is to go through this. To be in love with someone that you can't regularly see in person and have no certainty that she'll ever get here. I'm always getting discouraged by things like this. I work full time and get paid 9 dollars and hour and I can't even find a higher paying job where I live. If I could, I'd be on that right now. I only make a little over 14,000 a year after taxes; I just calculated that one. I know that my cousin got married to a Filipino man, she just graduated at high school and still lived with her parents...and they still accepted their co-sponsorship. Hmm.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

Wait! Before you said you made $13K per year. Now you're saying you make $14K <i>AFTER TAXES</i>. It's not your "take home" pay that matters here. It's your gross income. Presumably, someone making 125% of the poverty level, with a filing status of "married, filing jointly", would pay little if any actual income taxes. They realize your tax liability is going to go down after you're married. Maybe you are closer than you think. What is your gross income?

As far as your other comments, trust me - everyone here knows how hard it is to go through this. I don't have the financial "red flags" that you've got, but I have other red flags that me and my fiancee have to overcome, in addition to having to deal with one of the toughest consulates in the world. I make a comfortable living, but that isn't going to make any difference to the consulate. They don't generally suspect the petitioner of visa fraud - they suspect the beneficiary.

This process will try your patience, and you have to be willing to accept that it might take a lot longer than you would like. In my case, we could get shot down at the interview, or they may ask for additional evidence. After submitting the additional evidence, we may get shot down or put in AP. After the AP, we may get shot down and have the petition sent back to USCIS. The reality is that this very well could take years to successfully complete. But, as I was explaining to my fiancee this morning (she's very nervous about the interview) the US government can only delay us - they cannot stop us. We will succeed eventually. I told her she should go into the interview with the attitude that she's just there to drop off some documents, answer some questions, and pick up her blue slip. If she can think like that then she'll be a lot less nervous about failing, since a blue slip would not really be a failure. Even a white denial slip would not be a failure, since it wouldn't stop us from proceeding - it would just add more time to the process.

In your case, a denial would mean either waiting until your income situation improves and filing again, or getting married and going with a CR1. As long as you're reasonably careful and don't make any serious mistakes, they can't stop you from eventually getting your SO to the US. They can only delay you. Just be patient, and be prepared to respond to whatever happens.

This was very comforting. Thank you.