I-134 Income Requirements

[Dodi 69]

I'm still waiting on my NOA2, but trying to get everything together for my fiance to take to the embassy for when the time comes. My question is this: I've got a co-sponsor, BUT, I'm wondering if I need her. On my tax return for 2009 I only made $19k because I didn't work for part of the year due to being laid off. I started a new job this March and am making $32k per year now, I have a letter from my employer and copies of pay stubs (I'm scanning/copying every pay stub I get between now and then to include). Would this be acceptable to them, and allow me to sponsor him myself, or would I need to include the co-sponsor because of last year's tax return?

Second, It doesn't say it anywhere in the instructions on the I-134 that I've seen, but everyone is saying I'll need proof of citizenship for my co-sponsor (mother) if we include her. Is this true? My mother has never had a passport in her life, so her birth certificate would be the best I could do. Would I need to send an original or a copy? I don't know if she'd give me the original, as she still has the original from 1957, and it takes forever to get another one issued from the OK Dept of Vital Statistics.

[trailmix 77]

Photocopy of birth certificate should be fine.

Current income is most important, the tax returns just present an overall picture. Probably your best bet would be to go ahead and have her fill out the I-134, if it makes you more comfortable, but don't present it at the interview unless they question the support.

Edited June 27, 2010 by trailmix

[Dodi 69]

She's already filled one out, but my attorney (who's looking more and more like an idiot everytime I find a mistake) sent our I-134's in with the I-129F. I've got copies of all of her documentation, and the form itself, so I'm just printing another one for her to sign and send over. I'll include her birth certificate when we send it over. Thank you for your help.

[Coleen 2]

She's already filled one out, but my attorney (who's looking more and more like an idiot everytime I find a mistake) sent our I-134's in with the I-129F. I've got copies of all of her documentation, and the form itself, so I'm just printing another one for her to sign and send over. I'll include her birth certificate when we send it over. Thank you for your help.

I said the other day in some other thread that lawyers usually don't do the right things (at least the lawyers that people from VJ talk about). They always seem to make some kind of mistake. I said that they are just ripping people off when it comes to these petitions and because of that I got criticized very badly. Well, with all due respect to lawyers I still think they are ripping people off.

According to poverty guidelines, you are fine even with $19k (if it's only you and your fiance(e)). But, you should still use a co-sponsor ''just in case''. Some CO's can be very demanding.

[Dodi 69]

I've got 2 children, so I'd need $27k+, unfortunately. I'm hoping my new info will be enough. She's still willing, just in case.

[Audy_Rob 26]

You would definitely need a copy of the birth certificate. Hopefully the birth certificate is a long form listing parents and is a certified version with a raised seal or stamp. Make a copy of front and back even if the back is blank.

The COs are more interested in current income so the employment lettert and many current pay stubs should be fine. Maybe the fiance(e) could keep the joint sponsor's I-134 affidavit of support in a file and pull it out if requested at the interview.

London is very accomodating about accepting joint sponsors unlike some other Embassies I know.

Good luck.