Lost don't know where to begin, advice needed.

[epw82 0]

Hey guys, I'm a US citizen from Atlanta,Ga and have been living in the Philippines for the past two years with my girlfriend who is a British citizen. We are planning on getting married and I am not sure what route we should go, getting married in the Philippines and then filing an I-130 and doing a DCF or entering the US on a K1 fiance visa and getting married over there. Are there any advantages to either as far as time, money or one being an easier process to go through. My girlfriends sister entered the US and now lives there but went on a fiance visa and she said the process was very long and tedious. Also I heard that there are financial requirements to be able to bring a foreign spouse into the US and I can't seem to find any information on it? If there are financial requirements, being as I have not filed US taxes for the last 2 years, would I have anything viable to use to show my financial capacity? Any help would be appreciated, thanks.

[JP and Tee 13]

I'd suggest you file from the Phillipines as it seems to take a shorter time. A couple who filed way after my husband and I did was approved in 3 months — The USC was overseas and therefore, went through the DCF route. We actually wanted to do that but the embassy replied and said we couldn't as my husband the USC is in the US. Good luck!

[Darnell 8,479]

study the I-864 and I-864P nowish.

[Penguin_ie 5,996]

Getting married and then filing for a CR-1 spousal visa via DCR is faster, cheaper, and ends up with her getting a greencard upon entry, so she can work and travel immediately.

Poverty line depends on your hosuehold size, see here: http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/menuitem.5af9bb95919f35e66f614176543f6d1a/?vgnextoid=73c63591ec04d010VgnVCM10000048f3d6a1RCRD&vgnextchannel=db029c7755cb9010VgnVCM10000045f3d6a1RCRD Unless you have significant assets, you will need a US based co-sponsor to help.

[chaine1 116]

Hey guys, I'm a US citizen from Atlanta,Ga and have been living in the Philippines for the past two years with my girlfriend who is a British citizen. We are planning on getting married and I am not sure what route we should go, getting married in the Philippines and then filing an I-130 and doing a DCF or entering the US on a K1 fiance visa and getting married over there. Are there any advantages to either as far as time, money or one being an easier process to go through. My girlfriends sister entered the US and now lives there but went on a fiance visa and she said the process was very long and tedious. Also I heard that there are financial requirements to be able to bring a foreign spouse into the US and I can't seem to find any information on it? If there are financial requirements, being as I have not filed US taxes for the last 2 years, would I have anything viable to use to show my financial capacity? Any help would be appreciated, thanks.

Are you planning on returning to the USA to live? Your post is a bit ambiguous regarding your intent, apart from wanting to marry your girlfriend. If you are not returning to live in the USA, then no need to file for anything.

Also, you mention you have not filed taxes for the last 2 years. Even as a citizen abroad, you are required to file taxes (unless you didn't work or earned below the threshold). That doesn't mean you'll have to pay any taxes, but you still must file.

[mrss13 2]

Yes, you have to file the taxes now, either way. You probably won't owe and there's not a financial penalty if you don't owe. Make copies of the forms before you send them out, as you will have to submit these to the consulate.

[epw82 0]

Are you planning on returning to the USA to live? Your post is a bit ambiguous regarding your intent, apart from wanting to marry your girlfriend. If you are not returning to live in the USA, then no need to file for anything.

Also, you mention you have not filed taxes for the last 2 years. Even as a citizen abroad, you are required to file taxes (unless you didn't work or earned below the threshold). That doesn't mean you'll have to pay any taxes, but you still must file.

Sorry I thought I mentioned we would be moving back to the US to live, as far as taxes go, I have not filed for the last 2 years because I did not have any income and did not work at all. I was bit unclear on the I-864 on what I can use as proof of income. I do not work and I guess you could say am retired, so I have no actual income, I have no other assets besides US bank checking & savings accounts, would showing these accounts be viable as proof of income?

[kayleighanddanny 7]

Sorry I thought I mentioned we would be moving back to the US to live, as far as taxes go, I have not filed for the last 2 years because I did not have any income and did not work at all. I was bit unclear on the I-864 on what I can use as proof of income. I do not work and I guess you could say am retired, so I have no actual income, I have no other assets besides US bank checking & savings accounts, would showing these accounts be viable as proof of income?

You can use any amount of money you have in your bank accounts, it specifically asks about them in the I-864. You should look up the form and review what you can use and will need. When you use assets, such as a bank account in your case, realize that what you have in your bank is NOT the actual "value". If you've been married less than 2 years at the time of the interview, cut whatever you have in 1/5th (so 80,000 would be valued at 16,000, still not enough to be a sponsor alone). If you've been married for more than 2 years at the time of interview cut it in 1/3 (90,000 would be worth 30,000 maybe enough to be a sponsor alone, depending on household size). I do not work either, I will be using assets and a co-sponsor.