CR-1 Financial Capacity Questions

[epw82 0]

I posted a question about this before but I need a little clarification. I am getting married to my British gf this month in the Philippines where I have been living for the last 3 years. I have not had any income for the last 3 years nor have I filed any taxes, and after the marriage I will have exhausted my finances to basically nothing so I will be moving back to the US sometime between April - June to get my finances together. I would like to bring her over as fast as possible but don't know how this is possible given my current financial situation. When in the states I was self employed doing freelance web programming and design work and hope to get back into doing this upon arriving to the states, but looking for the requirements for filing for a CR-1 I need last years tax return making X amount, which I do not have. I don't know how any of this would work being self employed for work after arriving and not having income for the last 3 years. I talked to a friend that was living in the US that brought over his fiancee from Vietnam and they got married there in the US and he was unemployed at the time of marriage and she was able to stay in the US on the conditions that he just got a job. Will I have to go get a job at an employer to bring and keep her there? Would getting a friend or family member to sponsor her be a better route? Also she will still be in the Philippines when I get to the US, is it better for her file stuff there for a CR-1, or come to the US on her 3 month tourist visa with her British passport and we start filing here? I am just looking for the fastest possible way to get her in the states with me, any advice would be appreciated, thanks.

[Ryan H 3,821]

or come to the US on her 3 month tourist visa with her British passport and we start filing here?

This is a nonstarter. Using the VWP or a Tourist Visas with intention to immigrate is fraudulent and the consequences of such fraud are severe.

If you cannot meet the financial requirements on your own, then you will need a joint sponsor. This is not dealt with until the file reaches the NVC, so you can file your petition as soon as you are married and have photocopies of the needed documents that have to be included with the I-130 petition form.

[epw82 0]

This is a nonstarter. Using the VWP or a Tourist Visas with intention to immigrate is fraudulent and the consequences of such fraud are severe.

If you cannot meet the financial requirements on your own, then you will need a joint sponsor. This is not dealt with until the file reaches the NVC, so you can file your petition as soon as you are married and have photocopies of the needed documents that have to be included with the I-130 petition form.

Thanks for this, I actually just read about this on the FAQ for the I-130 before I saw your reply. About having a joint sponsor, does it have to be a family member? Can it be a family friend etc?

[lost_at_sea 995]

A joint sponsor can be any USC or LPR who is over 18, in the US and has sufficient funds.

They don't even have to be a friend.