Borderline cases of financial support (K-1 vs. CR-1)

[lysander 14]

I'm a U.S. citizen wishing to bring my fiancée in from the Philippines. I have zero declared income and zero assets (I'm unemployed and live with my parents and my fiancée is going to be the main breadwinner). We prefer to go the K-1 route.

As a member of my household, my mother could sign an I-864A to add in her income to meet the threshold, but I'm concerned about the separate K-1 requirement for an I-134. My understanding is that you can have co-sponsors for the I-134 but they don't count for much when it comes to getting your visa application approved.

In this type of situation, do I need to go the CR-1 route instead? Thanks.

Edited December 6, 2014 by Leucosticte

[khankhanoo7 3]

sorry us embassy Manila, Philippines not accepting Co sponsor for K1 fiancee visa ...

you must apply for CR-1

sorry us embassy Manila, Philippines not accepting Co sponsor for K1 fiancee visa ...

you must apply for CR-1

[Hank_ 9,174]

I'm a U.S. citizen wishing to bring my fiancée in from the Philippines. I have zero declared income and zero assets (I'm unemployed and live with my parents and my fiancée is going to be the main breadwinner). We prefer to go the K-1 route.

As a member of my household, my mother could sign an I-864A to add in her income to meet the threshold, but I'm concerned about the separate K-1 requirement for an I-134. My understanding is that you can have co-sponsors for the I-134 but they don't count for much when it comes to getting your visa application approved.

In this type of situation, do I need to go the CR-1 route instead? Thanks.

Yes you need to go the CR-1 route.

sorry us embassy Manila, Philippines not accepting Co sponsor for K1 fiancee visa ...

you must apply for CR-1

sorry us embassy Manila, Philippines not accepting Co sponsor for K1 fiancee visa ...

you must apply for CR-1

Well that is not true, USEM is difficult when it comes to accepting a co-sponsor with the K-1 but they do accept them. The IR/CR-1 route is the smarter route to go though, that I totally agree with.

[lysander 14]

Suppose you are a borderline case, with a short period of employment at your job, and barely making it to the $19,662 income threshold. Will the K-1's I-134 requirements be more stringent than the CR-1's I-864 requirements?

[lysander 14]

What is the required length of job tenure to demonstrate annual income for the I-864? I notice the instructions mention "pay stub(s) for the most recent 6 months". Suppose one hasn't filed tax returns in the past three years and doesn't have six months of job tenure, and one's income is about $1,700/month (barely enough to clear the $19,662/year threshold); can one still slide by using a letter from the employer? Thanks.

[j&ana 363]

I do not think it matters as long as your incomes meet the requirement you are supporting 2 people either way, you and fiance/ spouse

Edited December 14, 2014 by j&ana

[NikLR 13,227]

The i-134 is not legally binding while the i-864 is. However looking at your embassy, Manila does not accept co-sponsors for K1 but they do accept joint sponsors for the CR1. By the time either case gets to interview you'll likely have another 6 to 12 or more months (depending on the route) untiL the AOS is needed.

[lysander 14]

Suppose I fall short of the I-864 income threshold and want to make up for the difference with assets. Is there any problem with borrowing money from family and putting it temporarily in a bank account under my name, for use in meeting the asset requirements? Thanks.

[Ontarkie 14,234]

~~Multiple threads merged. Please do not make multiple threads for the same or similar topic.~~

[Umka36 781]

Suppose I fall short of the I-864 income threshold and want to make up for the difference with assets. Is there any problem with borrowing money from family and putting it temporarily in a bank account under my name, for use in meeting the asset requirements? Thanks.

They are not stupid, and look for tricks like this. They will want proof of the funds being have been in the bank for a while (say a year or more). If it was that easy, everyone would do it. Just meeting the minimum poverty level is also not a 100% guarantee that a visa will be issued, they take the whole totality of your circumstance into account.

[NikLR 13,227]

Suppose I fall short of the I-864 income threshold and want to make up for the difference with assets. Is there any problem with borrowing money from family and putting it temporarily in a bank account under my name, for use in meeting the asset requirements? Thanks.

Yes that would be an issue.

It would be better to get a joint sponsor.

[lysander 14]

Yes that would be an issue.

It would be better to get a joint sponsor.

This immigrant has relatives living in the U.S. Perhaps a viable solution would be to get a household member (who has ample resources) to sign on as co-sponsor (rather than joint sponsor) and also have the relatives sign a separate contract agreeing to reimburse the sponsor or co-sponsor for anything they're required to pay the government under the terms of the I-864. Has anyone done something like that?

[NikLR 13,227]

This immigrant has relatives living in the U.S. Perhaps a viable solution would be to get a household member (who has ample resources) to sign on as co-sponsor (rather than joint sponsor) and also have the relatives sign a separate contract agreeing to reimburse the sponsor or co-sponsor for anything they're required to pay the government under the terms of the I-864. Has anyone done something like that?

Not going to work.

Manila doesn't do co-sponsors for K1.

The I-864 is a legally binding document and joint sponsors are always accepted.

There is no way to get around the sponsorship requirements.

[lysander 14]

Not going to work.

Manila doesn't do co-sponsors for K1.

The I-864 is a legally binding document and joint sponsors are always accepted.

There is no way to get around the sponsorship requirements.

Well, I don't have my heart set on going the K-1 route. CR-1 could be acceptable, maybe even preferable.

[Darnell 8,478]

I'm a U.S. citizen wishing to bring my fiancée in from the Philippines. I have zero declared income and zero assets (I'm unemployed and live with my parents and my fiancée is going to be the main breadwinner). We prefer to go the K-1 route.

As a member of my household, my mother could sign an I-864A to add in her income to meet the threshold, but I'm concerned about the separate K-1 requirement for an I-134. My understanding is that you can have co-sponsors for the I-134 but they don't count for much when it comes to getting your visa application approved.

In this type of situation, do I need to go the CR-1 route instead? Thanks.

Are you evaluating income TODAY or are you trying to evaluate income on the day it will be evaluated by the IV Unit in Manila ?

I ask, cause it seems you are trying to get engaged for the 'immediacy of the now', which is a specious approach to full knowledge acquisition when chasing a K-1 visa in Manila.

In general terms, a co-sponsor for Manila IV is rarely allowed by the IV Unit there.