I-134 - personal property

[Stephen9822 0]

Hello All,

My fiance and I just received our NOA2 approval from USCIS. I'm in the process of filling in the I-134 form. I've been reading that it is not necessary to include assets (which will require you to include supporting documents) when filing the form. Just to be clear, all I need to list is my salary if I choose to go that route? If I would like to add my personal assets accrual, what supporting documents would I include to display reasonable value for those items?

Thanks in advance for your input.

[Ning 619]

Hello All,

My fiance and I just received our NOA2 approval from USCIS. I'm in the process of filling in the I-134 form. I've been reading that it is not necessary to include assets (which will require you to include supporting documents) when filing the form. Just to be clear, all I need to list is my salary if I choose to go that route? If I would like to add my personal assets accrual, what supporting documents would I include to display reasonable value for those items?

Thanks in advance for your input.

It isnt required or needed especially if you have sufficent income. The assest are of no use unless they are liquid or can be liquidated quickly.

If you want to use them just use the amounts you feel are correct. No supporting docs are required because they will disregard them anyway.

[JimVaPhuong 4,863]

It isnt required or needed especially if you have sufficent income. The assest are of no use unless they are liquid or can be liquidated quickly.

If you want to use them just use the amounts you feel are correct. No supporting docs are required because they will disregard them anyway.

Incorrect.

The consulate does have a lot of discretion with the I-134, and they can choose to ignore assets if they want to. However, if they choose to consider the assets then the sponsor must include proof that they own the asset, and proof of the asset's value. For example, if you have liquid assets (cash, stocks, bonds, CD's, etc.) then you need a statement from the bank, broker, or financial institution showing ownership and value of the assets. If you want to include your home as an asset then you'd need to provide a copy of a title or deed proving ownership, copies of statements from any lien holders showing any amounts owed for mortgages or equity lines of credit, and a copy of a recent appraisal from a licensed appraiser. For a car you would need to include a copy of the title, and a copy of an appraisal from a dealer or a valuation from a recognized source (Kelley Blue Book, for example).

For someone who qualifies on income alone it would be pointless to include assets.

[Ning 619]

Incorrect.

The consulate does have a lot of discretion with the I-134, and they can choose to ignore assets if they want to. However, if they choose to consider the assets then the sponsor must include proof that they own the asset, and proof of the asset's value. For example, if you have liquid assets (cash, stocks, bonds, CD's, etc.) then you need a statement from the bank, broker, or financial institution showing ownership and value of the assets. If you want to include your home as an asset then you'd need to provide a copy of a title or deed proving ownership, copies of statements from any lien holders showing any amounts owed for mortgages or equity lines of credit, and a copy of a recent appraisal from a licensed appraiser. For a car you would need to include a copy of the title, and a copy of an appraisal from a dealer or a valuation from a recognized source (Kelley Blue Book, for example).

For someone who qualifies on income alone it would be pointless to include assets.

My first sentence indicates almost exactly what your last one does. In my own case when my husband submitted the docs you indicate the officer said " we dont bother reviewing this evidence in most cases".

[JimVaPhuong 4,863]

My first sentence indicates almost exactly what your last one does. In my own case when my husband submitted the docs you indicate the officer said " we dont bother reviewing this evidence in most cases".

Understood, but the experience of one person with one consular officer at one US consulate doesn't necessarily justify a blanket statement about all consular officers at all consulates. There are a great many VJ members who have successfully gotten a K1 visa from a US consulate after submitting an I-134 that was insufficient on income, but had adequate assets (with the requisite evidence) to offset the income shortage. What you say about assets being essentially ignored may be true for that one consular officer at that one consulate, but it's apparently not true of all consular officers or all consulates. The law allows them the discretion to consider assets, and many of them do.

[dyana 0]

what my fiance did, is list his salary and his personal assets, insurance, etc (he filled all) but without any docs except letter of employee, bank statement & tax.. no question during screen docs/interview, but maybe as above opinion as long as income qualify, maybe assests is pointless...

[Stephen9822 0]

what my fiance did, is list his salary and his personal assets, insurance, etc (he filled all) but without any docs except letter of employee, bank statement & tax.. no question during screen docs/interview, but maybe as above opinion as long as income qualify, maybe assests is pointless...

Thanks for the advice. Understood concerning the assets, sounds like if you meet the income levels, adding anything extra is more work than it's worth. My next question is, they are requesting my W2, job offer letter and bank statements. The W2 and job offer letter I don't have a problem with, but I have just landed a job after being laid off for a 2 month period so my bank account has taken a beating. Is this absolutely necessary to include? Or should I not sweat it and just leave it out. Again, I make well above the poverty level. Any help would be appreciated. Especially from someone who's dealt with the Jakarta Embassy recently.

Edited August 14, 2011 by Stephen9822

[JimVaPhuong 4,863]

Thanks for the advice. Understood concerning the assets, sounds like if you meet the income levels, adding anything extra is more work than it's worth. My next question is, they are requesting my W2, job offer letter and bank statements. The W2 and job offer letter I don't have a problem with, but I have just landed a job after being laid off for a 2 month period so my bank account has taken a beating. Is this absolutely necessary to include? Or should I not sweat it and just leave it out. Again, I make well above the poverty level. Any help would be appreciated. Especially from someone who's dealt with the Jakarta Embassy recently.

Who is "they"? It sounds like you've already gotten a blue slip from the consulate for financial evidence. Is this the case?

Did you submit a copy of your tax return and forget to include a copy of your W2? A copy of a tax return would be the entire package, just as if you were mailing it to the IRS. That would include W2's, maybe some 1099's, etc.

Why did they ask for a "job offer letter"? Are you talking about a "letter of employment"? These aren't the same thing. A "job offer letter" is a letter given to someone who isn't currently working for the company, and offering them a position at a specific salary. A "letter of employment" is a statement from an employer that someone IS working for the company. A "letter of employment" usually indicates how long the person has worked for the company, and their base salary or hourly wage.

What do you think caused them to ask for your bank statements? Did you include cash assets on your I-134? Were you self-employed last year? How many months of bank statements did they ask for? Only the most recent? A year or more? It's difficult to say what will happen if you don't provide them unless we have a pretty good idea why they asked for them.

[Stephen9822 0]

Who is "they"? It sounds like you've already gotten a blue slip from the consulate for financial evidence. Is this the case?

Did you submit a copy of your tax return and forget to include a copy of your W2? A copy of a tax return would be the entire package, just as if you were mailing it to the IRS. That would include W2's, maybe some 1099's, etc.

Why did they ask for a "job offer letter"? Are you talking about a "letter of employment"? These aren't the same thing. A "job offer letter" is a letter given to someone who isn't currently working for the company, and offering them a position at a specific salary. A "letter of employment" is a statement from an employer that someone IS working for the company. A "letter of employment" usually indicates how long the person has worked for the company, and their base salary or hourly wage.

What do you think caused them to ask for your bank statements? Did you include cash assets on your I-134? Were you self-employed last year? How many months of bank statements did they ask for? Only the most recent? A year or more? It's difficult to say what will happen if you don't provide them unless we have a pretty good idea why they asked for them.

They being the embassy. They sent me notice with instructions as to what they will need from my fiancé and I. I have yet to submit anything to them. ..nothing. All the paperwork I have done is my initial pkg. As part of their standard requirements I would imagine they requested this information. There was nothing in my I-129F packet that would dictate the forms requested. They asked for either a letter of employment or an offer letter, my W2 (no tax return which I thought was strange. I had actually requested my official transcripts from the IRS) and bank statements. They did not specify how many bank statement, date range, nothing. Just "bank statements. So I was a little confused. So at this point I have provided them nothing to dictate what forms/evidence I would need to provide. I just started working a month ago so I as going to include a letter of employment as well as my offer letter just for safe measures. Any thoughts?

Edited August 15, 2011 by Stephen9822

[JimVaPhuong 4,863]

They being the embassy. They sent me notice with instructions as to what they will need from my fiancé and I. I have yet to submit anything to them. ..nothing. All the paperwork I have done is my initial pkg. As part of their standard requirements I would imagine they requested this information. There was nothing in my I-129F packet that would dictate the forms requested. They asked for either a letter of employment or an offer letter, my W2 (no tax return which I thought was strange. I had actually requested my official transcripts from the IRS) and bank statements. They did not specify how many bank statement, date range, nothing. Just "bank statements. So I was a little confused. So at this point I have provided them nothing to dictate what forms/evidence I would need to provide. I just started working a month ago so I as going to include a letter of employment as well as my offer letter just for safe measures. Any thoughts?

Yeah, sounds like general guidance rather than specific instructions. Can you post the instructions verbatim, or give a link to the instruction package on the consulate's website? I suspect you're reading something like "Examples of acceptable evidence includes...".

[Stephen9822 0]

Yeah, sounds like general guidance rather than specific instructions. Can you post the instructions verbatim, or give a link to the instruction package on the consulate's website? I suspect you're reading something like "Examples of acceptable evidence includes...".

Here is the prep sheet for the interview..... My apologies, they do ask for tax returns as well. 1 years worth.. does that mean they want a years worth of bank stmts?

DOCUMENT PREPARATION INSTRUCTIONS FOR FIANCE(E) VISA INTERVIEWS

Please note that when applicants arrive at the Embassy for an interview, the documents applicable to their cases must be pre-arranged in the following order:

1. Passport

2. Two copies of Electronic Visa Application Form DS-156 (EVAF).

EVAF can be found at : https: //evisaforms.state.gov/ds156.asp

3. DS-156K and DS-230

4. Birth Certificate(s)

5. Name Change Certificate (if applicable)

6. Marriage Certificate (if applicable)

7. Death or Divorce Decree (if applicable) from Petitioner & Applicant

8. Police Certificate

Each applicant aged 16 or older must have police clearance from any country where the applicant resided for one year or more.

Police Certificate for Indonesia is not required.

9. Original Affidavit of Support (Form I-134 fiance(e) visa applicants) from the petitioner or other qualified sponsor along with supporting evidence: One (1) year of US income tax returns 1040 & W-2 (copies or faxes are acceptable) Bank statements and proof of assets Letter of employment or job offer

10. Photographs two (2) color photos of each applicant in the correct format

11. Medical Examination Result

12. Evidence of Relationship (photos, cards, letters)

13. Fee: US$ 350.00 or rupiah equivalent for each fiancé(e) visa applicant

For each document, the applicant must bring:

Originals or original certified copies by the issuing office Photocopies of the original documents All documents should be accompanied by English translations

Please note that if translations are required, the photocopies and translations for all items must be in order together with the originals (i.e. do not arrange copies and translations separately)

IMPORTANT NOTE:

Please note that the embassy is closed for Indonesian and American holiday.

Any documents presented to the consular section that are not in the order and form described above will be returned to you to be reorganized.

[JimVaPhuong 4,863]

Yeah, ok. General instructions.

Bank statements are usually only needed if the sponsor is declaring cash assets, or if they are declaring current income which is substantially higher than their tax return income and they're self-employed. If the income you are declaring on the I-134 is more or less the same as the income on your tax return then you shouldn't need the bank statements. If the income you're declaring on the I-134 is higher than your tax return income, but you're not self-employed, then copies of pay stubs would be preferred to bank statements.

If you're a regular employee (i.e., not self-employed) then you should get an employment letter from your employer showing when you began working there, your status (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.), and your current salary or wage. If your employer won't give you a letter of employment (some employers refuse for some reason) then substitute recent pay stubs. What they're looking for is recent evidence that you're still working.

I recommend you get IRS transcripts for your most recent tax return. I've never heard of a consulate that didn't prefer transcripts to an actual copy of the 1040 and W2's. Some consulates practically insist on transcripts. Here are instructions for ordering transcripts:

http://www.irs.gov/individuals/article/0,,id=110571,00.html

It costs nothing to order transcripts. You should receive them within a couple of weeks.

[DercitoCarmen 0]

Hi, I have a question, do they ask only for 1 year of tax returns or more for a self -employed american petitioner?

Thank you very much!

[Roberto Martinez 0]

Queation: to include my home as an asset on I 134 form, can I use the tax assessment value from my county,  or is an appraisal from a licensed appraiser the only option.

Everything is so expensive already, and if I can show the tax assessment,  which is free to get, instead of paying $650 for an appraisal would be amazing. 

Help on this will be greatly appreciated. 

[powerpuff 6,626]

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