I-134 Submitted at Montreal Interview. Update or Use one from Petition?

[frostiana 12]

Greetings again, do we submit the I-134 that we put with the petition... our Petition was submitted in March, or do we update the 134 ? We are submitting the most recent bank statements etc. but they will be more recent than the original affidavit figures. Thank you!

[Penny Lane 8,159]

You were not supposed to put an I-134 in the petition. It was only supposed to be given at the time of interview, along with supporting evidence. I suggest doing it again and getting more recent evidence and a recent signature. The one from March might be fine, but I wouldn't risk it.

Edited October 27, 2011 by Coconuts

[frostiana 12]

Thanks coconuts... you are so right. Will do.

[CanadianGuy1 0]

Thanks coconuts... you are so right. Will do.

I'm not sure if this is correct, If you go back to the checklist that we sent along with packet 3, it was pretty clear at the bottom that by signing you're agreeing that you've gathered all the necessary documents, that includes the I 134 (for K1). So regardless of when the packet 3 was sent out, you should bring the same I 134.

I also sent our I 134 form along with other documents back in August and I'm planning on taking the same I 134!

[pocheros 101]

I'm not sure if this is correct, If you go back to the checklist that we sent along with packet 3, it was pretty clear at the bottom that by signing you're agreeing that you've gathered all the necessary documents, that includes the I 134 (for K1). So regardless of when the packet 3 was sent out, you should bring the same I 134.

I also sent our I 134 form along with other documents back in August and I'm planning on taking the same I 134!

Hmm... that doesn't sound right. I'm pretty sure Coconuts is right; they want recent stuff. Especially with the tax returns, they care most about the most recent tax return. That means if you have your interview next year you should definitely bring an updated I-134. They don't want outdated information because it's not relevant to how much money your sponsor is making at the time you receive your visa.

The I-134 wasn't supposed to be sent with the petition. They are expecting it to be prepared when you receive packet 3/4, which means it should be more current. I also think the I-134 has to be signed within a certain time frame of the interview (just like the medical exam, letter of intent, etc.)

Edited October 27, 2011 by pocheros

[CanadianGuy1 0]

Hmm... that doesn't sound right. I'm pretty sure Coconuts is right; they want recent stuff. Especially with the tax returns, they care most about the most recent tax return. That means if you have your interview next year you should definitely bring an updated I-134. They don't want outdated information because it's not relevant to how much money your sponsor is making at the time you receive your visa.

The I-134 wasn't supposed to be sent with the petition. They are expecting it to be prepared when you receive packet 3/4, which means it should be more current. I also think the I-134 has to be signed within a certain time frame of the interview (just like the medical exam, letter of intent, etc.)

Hi there, yes you're right, she did prepare and sign the I 134 after we received packet 3, so as I said above it was July 27th...at the time we didn't know that scheduling the interview will take as long as it did!

Anyway, do you think that having the latest pay stubs (from Aug, Sep, and Oct) along with the W2s and income tax returns might help?

I just wouldn't want her to have to fill out another one and have to overnight it to me, since we only have 4 days until the interview

[Penny Lane 8,159]

I'm not sure if this is correct, If you go back to the checklist that we sent along with packet 3, it was pretty clear at the bottom that by signing you're agreeing that you've gathered all the necessary documents, that includes the I 134 (for K1). So regardless of when the packet 3 was sent out, you should bring the same I 134.

I also sent our I 134 form along with other documents back in August and I'm planning on taking the same I 134!

No, I am correct.

Nowhere does it state that I-134 is to be sent in with Packet 3. It's like your birth certificate and police certificates. Those documents are on the checklist because you are to have them ready the day of your interview.

It is specifically asked for at your interview, as well as recent supporting evidence.

Since your interview is so soon, CanadianGuy1, as long as your supporting evidence is recent, you should be ok. My I-134 ended up being a couple months old by the time I got my interview and it was no problem, but I made sure to include all recent pay stubs to prove that the numbers were still correct.

Edited October 27, 2011 by Coconuts

[CanadianGuy1 0]

Hi there, yes you're right, she did prepare and sign the I 134 after we received packet 3, so as I said above it was July 27th...at the time we didn't know that scheduling the interview will take as long as it did!

Anyway, do you think that having the latest pay stubs (from Aug, Sep, and Oct) along with the W2s and income tax returns might help?

I just wouldn't want her to have to fill out another one and have to overnight it to me, since we only have 4 days until the interview

My apologies for excessive postings, I'm freaking out a little bit as the interview is right around the corner

I found this post from a few years ago on VJ, it sounds they'll let you through if it was filled within a year, not sure if this is accurate information...what do you guys think?

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/56976-i-134-validity/

[Penny Lane 8,159]

Yours was just signed back in July, I would still use it. Mine, I believe, was signed in February for a May interview and it was fine. Just include the paystubs from then until now.

[CanadianGuy1 0]

Yours was just signed back in July, I would still use it. Mine, I believe, was signed in February for a May interview and it was fine. Just include the paystubs from then until now.

Thanks! Yes, that does sound pretty good, especially when yours was also 3 months old, I should be OK. However, now I'm almost thinking that I might as well have her fill out another one and overnight it to me, I would not want to have any issues at the interview just because of this minor little thing lol.

Also while reading those other threads about this topic on VJ, I noticed one guy is suggesting that it needs to be notarized, I don't think that was required? Did you guys have yours notarized?

Thanks,

Jim

[Penny Lane 8,159]

No, it does not have to be notarized. If it eases your mind to have a new I-134, by all means, do it. But I honestly don't think it's necessary at all. A couple months isn't a big deal as long as you're providing all the supporting evidence. The pay stubs that are recent (from date of signature to now) prove that they still hold the same job at the same income that's listed on the form.

[CanadianGuy1 0]

No, it does not have to be notarized. If it eases your mind to have a new I-134, by all means, do it. But I honestly don't think it's necessary at all. A couple months isn't a big deal as long as you're providing all the supporting evidence. The pay stubs that are recent (from date of signature to now) prove that they still hold the same job at the same income that's listed on the form.

Thanks for the speedy response again. Yes, I also thought it was not necessary, please correct me if I'm wrong, NOTHING needs to be notarized, correct?

Also, I think you're right, couple of months should be a big deal, the employment verification letter she had from her employer was from May 10 (which would still be under 6 months at the time of the interview)...besides as you suggested, I have all her recent paystubs all the way from May through October 2011! God I hate second guessing at the last minute, but thanks for your help

[pocheros 101]

The 134 does not need to be notarized because the USC signs it in their full name. In the instructions for the 134 it states this. As coconuts said a couple months should be fine for wiggle room. The bare minimum stuff that MTL requires, i.e. birth certificate, affidavit of support, letter of intent etc. does NOT need to be notarized. Occasionally applicants have to bring extra things e.g. translations of documents in which case sometimes they're supposed to be notarized, but most of the time you do not have to notarize anything.

[CanadianGuy1 0]

The 134 does not need to be notarized because the USC signs it in their full name. In the instructions for the 134 it states this. As coconuts said a couple months should be fine for wiggle room. The bare minimum stuff that MTL requires, i.e. birth certificate, affidavit of support, letter of intent etc. does NOT need to be notarized. Occasionally applicants have to bring extra things e.g. translations of documents in which case sometimes they're supposed to be notarized, but most of the time you do not have to notarize anything.

Yes, it does have the disclaimer at the bottom of the form right above the USC signatures. Thank you both, I guess it's settled, I'm not asking her to send me an updated I134

Now that I can't seem to stop thinking about this whole sponsorship issue, I can't help but wonder if I need her bank statements also. She makes a little over $45k (which I assume is good enough for sponsorship purposes), and does not have much savings as she's still paying off student loans.

Did you guys bring the USC's bank statements also? At least something that corresponds to the direct deposit paycheck amount going into the checking account. I know I'm being really paranoid, but since she can't make it to the interview, I'm just a little too nervous about this, hope you guys understand!

[Penny Lane 8,159]

I did not bring bank statements.

I brought a letter from the employer, tax returns for the last 3 years, and pay stubs from February-May.