Need advice on how to proceed

[Shawn123 0]

I'm a US Army veteran using the GI Bill to attend school in the Philippines. I've been here for about three and a half years and will be returning to the States once I use up the GI Bill.

A couple of years ago I met my fiancee while I was out with a mutual friend, and we've been together since then. We will be getting married soon, but I'm really not sure how to proceed.

The main difficulty I'm having at the moment is what to do about the affidavit of support. I've been here on a student visa for the past few years and haven't been working. Since I haven't been working, I also haven't filed any tax returns. My plan was to go to the embassy in Manila and submit an I-130 and proceed to working on the IR-1/CR-1 or a K-3 visa... but I'm not sure how I will be able to do any of this without having a recent work history. I do have family members who can co-sponsor my soon-to-be wife, but I'm still somewhat worried about hitting a snag over not having any recent tax returns.

I'm fully capable of making ends meet. I'm healthy, intelligent, reliable, and fully employable. I don't think I will have any problems finding work and getting things set up for us when I return to the States. But if all that the paper pushers see is that I haven't filed a tax return in the past few years, then none of that really matters.

At any rate, neither one of us wants to spend a long time apart from each other. I'm just starting out on all of this and am feeling slightly overwhelmed. Any useful advice will be appreciated.

Edited October 26, 2015 by Shawn123

[teeak 224]

Don't worry, you'll be fine!

When it comes to the affidavit of support, you just need to write an explanation as to why you didn't have to file taxes for the past years. It's really that simple, and since you were a student, you can just provide evidence of this, like school transcripts etc.

What would've been a problem is if you were working abroad and not claiming that income by not filing taxes. Then you would've had to file late tax returns.

But, in your situation it won't be necessary. All you need to worry about is finding a joint sponsor and establishing domicile in the US before your fiance immigrates.

Edited October 26, 2015 by teeak