Would accepting student financial aid overseas cause problems later on?

[M&ME 2]

Hi all,

My wife is currently a student in Germany. She is living at home an is unemployed, as she is a full-time student. Typically families in this situation in Germany receive financial aid from the Gov't to help until the student graduates. The parents would basically claim the student as a dependant and get a check each month.

She just started school and has not applied for this yet, it would begin in January if they apply for it.

Now that she is married, the Gov't wants to see how I am contributing. She is still living at home, rent free, eating at home, and driving a family vehicle. So, her parents expect that they should be able to get compensated.

I will send my income and such, as they request, but I am worried how it will look if she does get the financial aid. Will it appear as though I'm not supporting her? Is it considered Government assistance or is it totally seperate? As a USC I took advantage of Student Financial Aid available to me when I was in school, but here it is not considered the same as government assistance.

Will it appear contradictary if she does accept assistance(the check goes directly to her parents)?

Should she refuse it?

Does it matter?

I picture the worst-case scenario at her CR-1 interview, where they would look over my sponsorship showing I clearly make enough money to support us, but then see that she was getting funding while going to school and not working and...

All input is appreciated.

[christeen 966]

Hi all,

My wife is currently a student in Germany. She is living at home an is unemployed, as she is a full-time student. Typically families in this situation in Germany receive financial aid from the Gov't to help until the student graduates. The parents would basically claim the student as a dependant and get a check each month.

She just started school and has not applied for this yet, it would begin in January if they apply for it.

Now that she is married, the Gov't wants to see how I am contributing. She is still living at home, rent free, eating at home, and driving a family vehicle. So, her parents expect that they should be able to get compensated.

I will send my income and such, as they request, but I am worried how it will look if she does get the financial aid. Will it appear as though I'm not supporting her? Is it considered Government assistance or is it totally seperate? As a USC I took advantage of Student Financial Aid available to me when I was in school, but here it is not considered the same as government assistance.

Will it appear contradictary if she does accept assistance(the check goes directly to her parents)?

Should she refuse it?

Does it matter?

I picture the worst-case scenario at her CR-1 interview, where they would look over my sponsorship showing I clearly make enough money to support us, but then see that she was getting funding while going to school and not working and...

All input is appreciated.

You are qualifying on YOUR income as the USC and her sponsor, so her financial aid in Germany should not even come into play since this is income that she cannot count anyway since it will not continue once she enters the USA... You are the one filling out the 864 as her sponsor and providing YOUR income information, not hers... should not be an issue at all...

[pushbrk 13,143]

Hi all,

My wife is currently a student in Germany. She is living at home an is unemployed, as she is a full-time student. Typically families in this situation in Germany receive financial aid from the Gov't to help until the student graduates. The parents would basically claim the student as a dependant and get a check each month.

She just started school and has not applied for this yet, it would begin in January if they apply for it.

Now that she is married, the Gov't wants to see how I am contributing. She is still living at home, rent free, eating at home, and driving a family vehicle. So, her parents expect that they should be able to get compensated.

I will send my income and such, as they request, but I am worried how it will look if she does get the financial aid. Will it appear as though I'm not supporting her? Is it considered Government assistance or is it totally seperate? As a USC I took advantage of Student Financial Aid available to me when I was in school, but here it is not considered the same as government assistance.

Will it appear contradictary if she does accept assistance(the check goes directly to her parents)?

Should she refuse it?

Does it matter?

I picture the worst-case scenario at her CR-1 interview, where they would look over my sponsorship showing I clearly make enough money to support us, but then see that she was getting funding while going to school and not working and...

All input is appreciated.

All this is completely irrelevant to the US immigration process. If you qualify to sponsor, you qualify to sponsor. She's immigrating to the US, right? Your wife and her family's dealings with the German government don't matter.

[sachinky 465]

IMO, shouldn't be an issue.

It's your income/assets they care about, not the intending immigrant's (unless that is also being added).

[M&ME 2]

It feels like a delemma because they want proof that she's not being supported by me, but I will be supporting her when she's here and can afford to do so. It's a relief that it won't be a factor in our visa decision. I know that they have the right to check anything that they want, and I'm trying to avoid complications if at all possible.

Edited November 20, 2009 by M&ME

[christeen 966]

You said it yourself... You will support her WHEN she gets here... THAT is what is important to the US govt... What you do to support her/not support her in Germany is not considered... Tell the German Govt what you wish... the US govt cannot petition any records of what is submitted to the German Govt... Do what you need to do...

[M&ME 2]

Thank you all, I feel a lot better about the whole thing.

[pushbrk 13,143]

You said it yourself... You will support her WHEN she gets here... THAT is what is important to the US govt... What you do to support her/not support her in Germany is not considered... Tell the German Govt what you wish... the US govt cannot petition any records of what is submitted to the German Govt... Do what you need to do...

And don't lie to an immigration official or on an immigration form. It's actually quite common for foreign loved ones to take care of themselves until they arrive in the USA. The reverse is also common. After all, we're all adults here.

[M&ME 2]

You said it yourself... You will support her WHEN she gets here... THAT is what is important to the US govt... What you do to support her/not support her in Germany is not considered... Tell the German Govt what you wish... the US govt cannot petition any records of what is submitted to the German Govt... Do what you need to do...

And don't lie to an immigration official or on an immigration form. It's actually quite common for foreign loved ones to take care of themselves until they arrive in the USA. The reverse is also common. After all, we're all adults here.

I absolutely agree.