Will any previous debt in the USA effect my CR-1 visa case?

[mika__ 50]

Hi everyone

 

me and my husband just filed our CR-1 visa about 2 weeks ago (yay) im very excited

 

however I have a question...

• would any previous debt I may have in the USA affect my CR-1 visa case in away? like would it prevent being approved or not?

 

 

Ill explain abit

I used to live in the USA years ago back in 2013 and had gone there on a k-1 visa at that time (to be with my EX husband at the time). Things didnt work out and I gave up my Greencard and went back home to my home country of Canada. When I moved back to Canada I had realized I had abit of debt I racked up in the USA when I was still living in the USA. I believe I have everything paid off with the IRS there (since they contacted me via mail with a bill while ive been living in Canada and I did end up paying that all off that they gave me) however I believe I have a tiny bit of debt with Medical/department stores in the USA.

 

I do plan on paying any debt I have off within the next 2 weeks, to be debt free there. (I know I shoudlnt paid it all off before starting the filing for CR-1 visa)

However im curious if that would affect our case or not since it will be about 4 weeks since we filed for the CR-1 and I paid off my debt and I dont know if that is too late to pay off any debt or not incase it would affect our cr-1 visa or not

 

 

(I hope that all made sense)

 

we did talk to a lawyer and the lawyer said any previous debt wouldnt effect our case but im abit skeptical for some reason

Anyone have any similiar experience to me that can let me know?

 

 

Thanks so much!

[mushroomspore 3,044]

I don't believe debt will have much of an effect. When it comes to money and USCIS, they are more concerned about the US citizen petitioning the beneficiary. They want to make sure the beneficiary will not become a public charge or go into abject poverty immediately after being approved for permanent residency. They want to make sure the US citizen (and a joint sponsor if that is necessary) are able to support the beneficiary if need be. They do NOT seem to care much about the beneficiary's finances during the initial AoS. This changes for removal of conditions though as they want to see both partners contributing financially to the marriage in order to grant the long-term 10-year green card. If they were truly concerned, they would ask for paperwork like the beneficiary's individual (not joint with the American spouse) bank account statements and credit cards etc from within the US and/or from our home countries and/or run credit checks on us to see what debts we have or had. They do not ask for such things or do such things. 

 

I would actually be more concerned by the fact you had a previous K1 petition AND approved green card. That is more important to USCIS. You must provide all the paperwork related to the dissolution of that previous marriage to make sure they know you properly abandoned your green card and that your current marriage is bona fide and genuine. EDIT: Sorry I see you already filed so I'm sure you provided said paperwork. Like I said, your previous immigration petition will be more "weighty" to USCIS than your outstanding debt.

Edited May 31, 2018 by mushroomspore

[aleful 1,905]

hi

 

no, debt is irrelevant

[pushbrk 13,260]

1 hour ago, aleful said:

no, debt is irrelevant

Correct.  Neither debts or credit ratings are considered in this process.  If the "debt" is really a bad check you wrote, that is another matter, as it tends to be reported as a crime.

[NikLR 13,232]

I suppose one advantage is that your credit won't be starting from 0.  Just a low number instead.