How to handle I-134's on the interview day

[Zoe&Chris 5]

Hi all,

I have a question specifically about how to handle the support evidence on my interview day. This is a question I've been saving up for a while, and now its crunch time. Bear with me, this is a long one but I would really appreciate it if people who have had their interview could weigh in on what to do on the day,

To set up the situation, I have I-134 + evidence all filled out from my fiance, and from his dad. I am not sure how to handle this on the day because:

1) My fiance makes more than enough to support me. His I-134 states this, and his 2012 tax return states this, and his payslips state this. HOWEVER he earns ths money as a graduate student (PhD) and thus is not an "employee". He earns his money as a stipend to support his research. This is further complicated by the fact that although this status will not change, for the last 3 years he has been paid not by his university but by a DOE fellowship. This is about to end (Sept 1st) but the PhD is not. After this date, his university will resume paying him. I have therefore TWO employer (but not really employer) letter - one from DOE stating they will pay until 1st Sept, and one from University saying they will pay him after. Both letters stress though, that they will "not enter into an employer-employee relationship" with him.

2) Because I feel this above stuff may be complicated, I have his Dad as a co-sponsor. He makes enough.

To my quesion - what do I say when I am asked to hand over my I-134(s). I have thought of several options:

1) Just hand my fiance's I-134, tax and payslips. Don't hand the employer letters unless asked. Don't mention Dad.

2) Hand over everthing for fiance, hope it is OK. Don't mention Dad.

3) Hand over everything fiance, mention Dad (could I say, I have prepared a co-sponsor but I don't think I need one?)

Iguess I'm worried that if I mention his dad, they will think my fiance doesn't make enough, but he does. I also have no idea wether they care if he is paid as an employee or not - I can't see why they could because money is money, but from my experience as a PhD student, when people hear student they tend to treat you differently even if you make OK money being one! I also don't know wether payslips and tax form is enough, or if they wll need to see employer letters.

I guess the thing I most want to know is, how much is it open dialogue in the interview? If i fail to mention Dad, and then they find my fiance's siuation undesirable, will they tell me, giving me an opportunity to pull the additional co-sponsor out of my bag? Or will I find myself out on the street without a chance to reply? Is there anything to lose by telling them everything up front?

Wow thats long - super sorry...

Zoe

[hobbitofohio 10]

I would have your fiance write a short summary letter about the income explaining the PHD work, how he is paid, the change coming in the fall and that Father is acting a co-sponsor. Put the letter on top of the income paper work with a paper clip.

You do not have to do it this way, but it will make it quicker at the interview with less questions to you about it. Either way, give them all the pages and you should be fine.

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

#1 for sure.

If the interviewer has questions, you've got more to pull out. Don't even discuss it with the document collector.