Can my graduate stipend satisfy sponsorship requirements for my fiancee?

[Maya W 0]

Hello! I just filed a K-1 visa application for my fiancee from the Netherlands this month. We are hoping that he will be able to move to the US this fall, at which point I will be beginning a PhD program with full funding for 5 years- I am guaranteed a full tuition waver, full health insurance, and a $17,500 annual stipend for living expenses.

My question is: will this qualify to be his financial sponsor or will I need to find a co-sponsor? I know they usually require things like pay stubs etc, but I won't have those until I begin graduate school in September 2011, so the best I will have is a guarantee from the school and a funding offer. I can probably get a letter from the department explaining my funding package, but since it won't have come through by the time he has his meeting at the consulate I'm worried. It also won't be on my tax return for this year, and my taxable income for last year wouldn't meet the poverty line as I was a full time student. It is taxable income, and will be declared on my 2011 tax return, but I'm just unclear about whether I will be able to provide the sponsorship with grad student funding. Does anyone have experience with this? Any advice is greatly appreciated!

Thanks!

[jingo 38]

To sponsor your fiance you need to show that you have over $18,000. I think you can use the stipend if you already have it in your account. If not, they will understand the fact you're a student, but you'll need a co-sponsor to make up the full amount.

[payxibka 10,047]

Moving thread to:

US Embassy and Consulate Discussion

This is the place to post your experiences or questions related to this last step before moving to the US. Topics relating to I-134's, packets sent from consulate and medical & police certificates should be posted here.