What if you get layed off???

[nycherehecomes 1]

Just wondering... What would happen if you lost your job during this process? Can you go to the appt if you are on unemployment benefits? Is a co sponsor good enough? With todays economy you can never be sure....

[thelastpetitioner 218]

i dont know if unemployment counts or not,but with a co sponsor you should be good to go

[coraliesolms 47]

My hubby (USC) got laid off in the middle of our process, and his mom co-signed for us. It wasn't problem at all.

[Tero 105]

Yea! Just look for a co-signer. They should not deny you from having your spouse simply because of the economic woes.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

Just wondering... What would happen if you lost your job during this process? Can you go to the appt if you are on unemployment benefits? Is a co sponsor good enough? With todays economy you can never be sure....

Unemployment is not specifically excluded. However, it is also not permanent. In many, maybe most, case, unemployment is enough to qualify, especially for a family size of 2 or 3. We have yet to see here at VJ a case where the couple declares they were approved using unemployment ONLY as their source of income. Most will simply hedge their bets and also provide a co-sponsor. I don't blame them.

If you get laid off there are a number of options. For one, get another job right away. YES, you can! To qualify for a family of towo you need to make a little over $18,000 per year. You can basically bag groceries and make that much. In most case you would still be eligible for unemployment benefits, at least partial, and your UE benefits last longer if you supplement them with WORK. Every walmart, Lowe's, Home Depot, Grocery store, etc., even McDonald's, in this area is hiring people and most of those jobs would pay enough to qualify!

Also consider self employment.

[nycherehecomes 1]

Thank you guys! I guess Im just extra nervous. I have to tell you Gary and Alla your answer is hilarious. Too funny. I am still giggling.... Home Depot hahahahahaha love it!

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

Thank you guys! I guess Im just extra nervous. I have to tell you Gary and Alla your answer is hilarious. Too funny. I am still giggling.... Home Depot hahahahahaha love it!

It wasn't meant to be funny, sorry. Were it my fiancee and I was laid off I would much sooner WORK at Home Depot and qualify earning $10.26 per hour than collect unemployment and need a co-sponsor. I am way past the point in life that I will (or should need to) ask other people to sign off for me on my WIFE. If I couldn't meet the very minimal qualifications ($18,000 per year! Are you kidding me?!) I would be postponing bringing another person into my life who is unable to work and provide income for many months and will be in need of lots of expensive stuff after they arrive. When I am in a hole, I STOP DIGGING!

But that's just me.

[Fandango 1,439]

It wasn't meant to be funny, sorry. Were it my fiancee and I was laid off I would much sooner WORK at Home Depot and qualify earning $10.26 per hour than collect unemployment and need a co-sponsor. I am way past the point in life that I will (or should need to) ask other people to sign off for me on my WIFE. If I couldn't meet the very minimal qualifications ($18,000 per year! Are you kidding me?!) I would be postponing bringing another person into my life who is unable to work and provide income for many months and will be in need of lots of expensive stuff after they arrive. When I am in a hole, I STOP DIGGING!

But that's just me.

I *heart* this response.

[Tero 105]

It wasn't meant to be funny, sorry. Were it my fiancee and I was laid off I would much sooner WORK at Home Depot and qualify earning $10.26 per hour than collect unemployment and need a co-sponsor. I am way past the point in life that I will (or should need to) ask other people to sign off for me on my WIFE. If I couldn't meet the very minimal qualifications ($18,000 per year! Are you kidding me?!) I would be postponing bringing another person into my life who is unable to work and provide income for many months and will be in need of lots of expensive stuff after they arrive. When I am in a hole, I STOP DIGGING!

But that's just me.

While your suggestion is good, you make it sound like it is that easy to get another job in this present economy. Of course the ultimate is to look for another job while this process is going on ...we just suggested an alternative way out in the worst case scenario. Some people chose to be with their spouses and "manage" together (if at all) than to be apart and live well. You don't want your petition to expire while holding it off looking for a job since there is no guarantee on how soon you would land one.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

While your suggestion is good, you make it sound like it is that easy to get another job in this present economy. Of course the ultimate is to look for another job while this process is going on ...we just suggested an alternative way out in the worst case scenario. Some people chose to be with their spouses and "manage" together (if at all) than to be apart and live well. You don't want your petition to expire while holding it off looking for a job since there is no guarantee on how soon you would land one.

No need to hold off a petition. A job is not needed for the petition.

It takes very little in the way of a "job" to qualify to sponsor a fiancee and in most (if not all) states you can still collect unemployment AND work at a job paying less than 50% of your former wage. AND still look for a job in your chosen career. Actually given all the people in thse firums that seem to have nothing to do but stare at the USCIS update site, it would keep them busy, anyway.

Just my two cents, but I am going to do ALL I CAN for my family every day. Sitting on my @ss and emailing resumes while collecting unemployment and looking for a co-sponsor is NOT all I CAN do.

As a hiring manager I can tell you also that I would give a job to a guy that got laid off and took a job at Walmart long before the guy that sits around waiting for the identical replacement job to come along. THAT is the kind of guy I want for an employee and the kind of guy most women want for a husband.

Besides if YOU can grab the knobs and make it happen with something as simple as a basic job in retail, fast food, waitressing, whatever...then why not? Who the heck wants to sit around waiting for someone else to fix YOUR problem when YOU can do it yourself?

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

While your suggestion is good, you make it sound like it is that easy to get another job in this present economy. Of course the ultimate is to look for another job while this process is going on ...we just suggested an alternative way out in the worst case scenario. Some people chose to be with their spouses and "manage" together (if at all) than to be apart and live well. You don't want your petition to expire while holding it off looking for a job since there is no guarantee on how soon you would land one.

I can get a job Monday in any market in this country. Send me out Monday morning and I will have a job before dinner, maybe before lunch. In THIS economy. It will not be a "good job" but it will earn enough money to sponsor a fiancee/spouse.

[Tero 105]

I can get a job Monday in any market in this country. Send me out Monday morning and I will have a job before dinner, maybe before lunch. In THIS economy. It will not be a "good job" but it will earn enough money to sponsor a fiancee/spouse.

No doubt you make a valid point but you need to understand that not everyone collecting unemployment is not willing to work at a department store. Not everyone can find a job as easily as you can. The WalMarts in your town might be hiring like crazy does not mean the one in someone else's is. "I can get a job Monday in any market in this country. Send me out Monday morning and I will have a job before dinner, maybe before lunch. In THIS economy." I respect your confidence, but not all can make that boast ...does not mean they don't want to work. And this topic is not about you but about the person in a crossroad that needs some advise. (No offence intended)

[KittyPollitt 284]

While your suggestion is good, you make it sound like it is that easy to get another job in this present economy. Of course the ultimate is to look for another job while this process is going on ...we just suggested an alternative way out in the worst case scenario. Some people chose to be with their spouses and "manage" together (if at all) than to be apart and live well. You don't want your petition to expire while holding it off looking for a job since there is no guarantee on how soon you would land one.

I just spent 6 months in Morocco, and within 2 weeks of my returning, I was working at 3 jobs, because that's what I have to do to make ends meet. It was no trouble at all for me to find work, because I'm not picky. They're not fancy jobs, but I make enough to feed my family and pay the bills. There is no excuse not to work.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

No doubt you make a valid point but you need to understand that not everyone collecting unemployment is not willing to work at a department store. Not everyone can find a job as easily as you can. The WalMarts in your town might be hiring like crazy does not mean the one in someone else's is. "I can get a job Monday in any market in this country. Send me out Monday morning and I will have a job before dinner, maybe before lunch. In THIS economy." I respect your confidence, but not all can make that boast ...does not mean they don't want to work. And this topic is not about you but about the person in a crossroad that needs some advise. (No offence intended)

My advice to him is, and has been, "forget the co-sponsor, get a job" If that was misunderstood as being "about me", then you are in error. It is about the BEST way for the OP to assure he will be able to sponsor AND support his fiancee when she becomes his wife in the best way he can.

If it makes you feel any better, we have three sons old enough to marry (one is married) and if ANY of them came to me and asked me to co-sponsor a fiancee while they were unemployed my answer to my own child would be the same..."NO! Get a job THEN get a wife." While some people may be stupid, and I support their RIGHT to be stupid ADULTS, they should do so at their own risk, I will not subsidize stupidity in my children. If that doesn't make you feel better...oh, well.

[Aztec&Taino 144]

Just wondering... What would happen if you lost your job during this process? Can you go to the appt if you are on unemployment benefits? Is a co sponsor good enough? With todays economy you can never be sure....

Hello,

I very much sympathize with the spirit in which your question was asked. Yes, we are all very stressed about this immigration process and yes, times are hard and there are still many people getting laid off despite the news on the "improved" US economy. We surely do not want to be laid off as we need to soon prove our financial ability to sponsor our fiance(e)s!

Yet, I also agree with Gary & Alla in that there are jobs to be had for those who want them. I have 5 part-time jobs. Yes, I have 5 different positions and bosses. I am also finishing my second master's degree. My jobs vary in pay and status, but I have always found a job whenever I have looked for one. Fortunately, I have always had a good work ethic and I am happy to be able to sponsor my fiance without any problems.

As an immigrant and naturalized citizen myself, I have always strived to exceed the expectations placed upon me by society (a Mexican woman) and I know that as long as I want something I can work on achieving it. I think the same could be said for this immigration process. If a petitioner does not make sufficient income then the USC can find additional jobs. Really, if you want your loved one to come, you will find a way to work through many jobs (even if they are low-wage, low-skilled jobs) in order to meet the minimum financial requirements.

Best wishes to us all in this process.