Co-sponsorship annoyance...

[The_Sage1 2]

I've read so many different people's experiences to going to the consulate interview in Manila in regards to co-sponsorship. And I also read the letter from the embassy that each case is ruled in a "case by case" basis and has a unique ruling in regards to becoming a public charge or not. However, it still doesn't really give me a good answer. To me, this should be a black and white issue and not a grey area. My guess is they don't like co-sponsors to be friends or distant relatives. In my case, my father who I even live in the same household with is the co-sponsor so I don't really see why they shouldn't accept it. The problem is, I've seen one or two people say the consulate wouldn't even accept their own parents as a co-sponsor. I think this is where things should be black and white. And the last person I read up on said their consulate and others didn't even look at the sponsorship forms.

It seems to me that some consulates are nice and less biased, and others act more unfairly. I really do hope my fiancee gets a good consulate.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

I've read so many different people's experiences to going to the consulate interview in Manila in regards to co-sponsorship. And I also read the letter from the embassy that each case is ruled in a "case by case" basis and has a unique ruling in regards to becoming a public charge or not. However, it still doesn't really give me a good answer. To me, this should be a black and white issue and not a grey area. My guess is they don't like co-sponsors to be friends or distant relatives. In my case, my father who I even live in the same household with is the co-sponsor so I don't really see why they shouldn't accept it. The problem is, I've seen one or two people say the consulate wouldn't even accept their own parents as a co-sponsor. I think this is where things should be black and white. And the last person I read up on said their consulate and others didn't even look at the sponsorship forms.

It seems to me that some consulates are nice and less biased, and others act more unfairly. I really do hope my fiancee gets a good consulate.

The consulates, as opposed to consular officers, whom you hope your fiancee gets a good one, have wide latitude on the issue of financial support and evidence of relationship. This is because some countries, Philippines for example, are rife with family visa fraud. The consulates need ways to make judgements specific to their areas.

London, for example, deals with native English speaking people with similar educations to the United States and virtually NO family visa fraud. Should the same standards apply to London? Would that even make sense? What are the odds that a native English speaking, educated person from England will become a public charge in the USA vs. a Pinay? On the other hand, the goal of many people from the PIs is to get ALL there family here, one way or another. Hopefully you are aware of this attribute. They will pay people to petition their daughter, niece, cousin, whatever. This is why they do not want anyone but YOUR close relative sponsoring, this is why they do not like if you are introduced by family members in the USA. This is why in some consulates it is very bad medicine to show money transfers between you and your fiancee. I am NOT saying your relationship is a fraud. I am saying there is so much fraud in the PIs that you will treated as if it were, assumptions are made. It matters not if we argue the "fairness" of it. It is what it is, you will deal with it or you will not get a visa

Now, here is the deal. You are lucky, You know about these things before the last minute because you found VJ, good for you. You have a fiancee in the PIs, you are going to have to deal with Manilla. You need to prepare for it. Whining about it not being "fair" is not preparation and nothing in the system will change between now and the time of your interview. This means there is no way "around" you are going to have to qualify (in any consulate you would do that).

You have options...

1. Go to PIs, MARRY your fiancee, come back and file for a CR-1. Then the financial qualification is handled by NVC in the United States, they have consistent standards and you can even COMBINE incomes on the I-864 used for the CR-1 visa with your father if you are in the same household, PLUS your wife arrives with a green card in her hand.

2. Dump your fiancee and get one from another country. The easiest ones to deal with financially are native English speaking countries, Mexico, the EU and some of the former Soviet Union countries, you still have to qualify, but they will accept nearly anyone (US citizen) as a co-sponsor without question

3. Get a better job, prioritize you fiancee and make her, getting her here, and getting her AOS your number one priority. But aside ANY other activcity in your life and get a full time job paying at least $9.50 per hour and KEEP that full time job until after she has her green card IN HAND. You won't need a co-sponsor.

Good luck

[pushbrk 13,133]

I've read so many different people's experiences to going to the consulate interview in Manila in regards to co-sponsorship. And I also read the letter from the embassy that each case is ruled in a "case by case" basis and has a unique ruling in regards to becoming a public charge or not. However, it still doesn't really give me a good answer. To me, this should be a black and white issue and not a grey area. My guess is they don't like co-sponsors to be friends or distant relatives. In my case, my father who I even live in the same household with is the co-sponsor so I don't really see why they shouldn't accept it. The problem is, I've seen one or two people say the consulate wouldn't even accept their own parents as a co-sponsor. I think this is where things should be black and white. And the last person I read up on said their consulate and others didn't even look at the sponsorship forms.

It seems to me that some consulates are nice and less biased, and others act more unfairly. I really do hope my fiancee gets a good consulate.

In my life experience when the term "this should be" is used, what is really meant is "I wish...". I too, hope your fiancee gets a good Consular officer. She will interview with the Consular Immigrant Visa unit at the US Embassy in Manila, not any Consulate.