CR-1 co sponsor questions

[Konor94 6]

Hello! I have been engaged to my fiance since June when I went out to the Philippines to see her. We have recently gotten serious about deciding which Visa option we will use to bring her here. I am a college student. I live with my mom and work part time on and off when my school schedule allows. Because of this I think the K1 is out of the question, Manila rarely allows co sponsorship of a visa right? But my fiance is very attached to that idea so of course I'll ask. I am more optimistic about the CR-1 visa myself. I have no tax info because I haven't needed to file for taxes yet in my life, just paystubs, my mom has worked as an attorney for 20 years and is well above the income requirements and has agreed to co sponsor and house us until we are both working.

My question is what are our odds realistically with this visa? Given my sketchy work situation being a student and all and my limited proof of a very limited income? My mom is like 400% poverty level but is even that enough when I have so little myself? She also claims me as a dependent on her taxes because I live with her. Will that be an issue? Will my erratic work history be a red flag? Will living with my mom be a red flag? Do I need my own place? Trying to think of every question I've had over these past 2 months but now that I'm here I'm blanking haha. I guess I'll add more later. Thanks in advance for reading.

Edited August 20, 2016 by Penguin_ie

[Penguin_ie 5,993]

***** Moving from CR1 spousal visa to Philippines regional forum as question on co-sponsors is country specific, and edited simply to remove a lot of empty space *****

USEM does sometimes accept co-sponsors in cases like yours; ie the petitioner has good employment prospects soon, when he graduates, and the co-sponsor is a close family member.

[Konor94 6]

***** Moving from CR1 spousal visa to Philippines regional forum as question on co-sponsors is country specific, and edited simply to remove a lot of empty space *****

USEM does sometimes accept co-sponsors in cases like yours; ie the petitioner has good employment prospects soon, when he graduates, and the co-sponsor is a close family member.

Is this referring to the K1 or CR1?

[Penguin_ie 5,993]

The K1- for the CR-1, they have to accept cosponsors.

[Konor94 6]

The K1- for the CR-1, they have to accept cosponsors.

Ah, so you're saying it is a maybe for both. I was under the impression that our odds were very good with the CR1, and bad with K1.

[teddy k 35]

Hi konor I would get married in the Philippines alot cheaper than the us plus bring your mother along that way she can meet the family and have a vacation too and after that you file for the CR1 VISA

[Konor94 6]

Hi konor I would get married in the Philippines alot cheaper than the us plus bring your mother along that way she can meet the family and have a vacation too and after that you file for the CR1 VISA

That is exactly our plan actually haha. I'm just worried about our approval given my situation? can anyone shed some light on that?

[teddy k 35]

You go the CR1 route and you have a green light all the way no worries

Being your mother as a co- sponsor

[Konor94 6]

You go the CR1 route and you have a green light all the way no worries

Being your mother as a co- sponsor

Wow really? This is what I was hoping to hear! Thank you for your reply.

[Greenbaum 12,259]

@Teddy is right. Marry in the Philippines. File for a CR-1. Use your mother in law as the sponsor and you're home free. And invite your MIL for a trip to the Philippines to be involved with her son and to meet the future in-laws and to have a better understanding where you grew up and what the cultural is like. Can't loose with these options.

BTW USEM must take a co-sponsor (of course they have to meet the requirements) on a CR-1. The K-1 is iffy. K-1 can be done but if you don't mind the wedding in the PI then go for the "for sure" path of CR-1.

Edited August 20, 2016 by Greenbaum

[Dennis8 6]

Hello Konor! We filed for the CR-1 visa. At the time of filing and up to completion I had no work, was going to school full time in the USA, and was living with my brother (I was in the Philippines for 12 years, where I met and married my wife). Being in the Philippines for a very long time I had no income tax returns or properties in the US. He was my sole joint sponsor and there were no hitches at all. I believe you will find more difficulties with a K-1 visa. As others have stated, get married in the Philippines and file for CR-1 (take lots of pictures together and save things for evidence later!). Good luck!