I-134 Question for Interview (K-1)

[Florence and Tim 0]

Hello,

I've read a lot of threads on the I-134 and perhaps after reading so many I start to feel even more nervous about what is right and what is wrong. I wanted to sort of run through everything to see if I'm on the right track. First here's my situation:

I'm a full time student graduating in December. My fiance hopes to come to U.S. in August (we've had NOA2 already and the packet 3 should be arriving for her soon). I do not have much of a yearly income. I will be starting a summer internship that pays well, but in only 12 weeks, I will not make 125% of the poverty line for a year (close though, so I still want to offer this information to the consulate). After December I will be starting a full time job that is not known at the time, but going by salary averages for my major from my school and my past experience, I am confident we won't have any problems. My parents are offering to co-sponser, but they're not sure how to go about filling out the I-134 jointly since it has blanks for one person who has one job. Their income and value in their house and bank accounts should be enough to cover the requirement, and since their relation is going to be parents in law to my fiance when she comes, we think their sponsorship will be looked on favorably. We hope anyway.

So my questions are:

Is the fact that my co-sponser is the only one that matters going to hurt me? I will include information from my internship once it starts, but it is a temporary job. Should I try to put a letter explaining I'm graduating in December? Also, should I explain that I already have the rent for my apartment which is of considerable size for two people paid? To be honest, its hard to buy food for one person as it is, and I usually have trouble not wasting it when I shop, so I don't see us being in any kind of trouble just living off my student loans (my fiance also has some savings since she can't work right away). How else can I explain this to the immigration officials, or should I even try?

How do my parents file a I-134 jointly since there's only blanks for one name? Should they just try to squeeze everything in with a "and" in between it? I'm sure an attached letter explaining the situation would be helpful. Is this the route we should go?

Last question is, is my situation likely to get denied since even though my co-sponsers can cover it, my situation won't really be looked at as stable?

Thanks a lot for any answers you can give me. This has been really hard for me to figure out, so any help from other's experiences I can get helps to make me worry less and will get me on the right path in gathering all this information. Thanks!!!

-Tim

[Raspect 0]

geez man, that was alot to read

hahaah

about buying food for one and buy for two

ayyyyyyyyy

ok, from what i gather, and maybe carla-justin will come here and tell me how it is, but i am willing to take that risk to help you

hahaha a ruff one

but i think, from what i have read, as i did not use a cosponsor and so do not know first hand, that it doesnt matter what you will make, what you can make, what others from your program make, how much food costs, and all that. the thing that matters is how much you make now. so, again i am just trying to let you know what i think from browsing here. but that you dont fill anything out for the I-134, that if you cant provide sponsorship, you dont matter, in their eyes of course. I think that you should remove your name and only put that of your parents(co-sponsor)

i really dont think you have to attach a letter telling them why you dont make enuff now, how you will make enuff, where the money will come from, how you will work overtime(no sleep for 3 months) if you need to for your baby. Just get your cosponsors who do make enuff and that will be suffiecient.

only according to me. where is YODRAK when i need him/her

hahaah

good luck!!

[Yodrak 7]

Tim,

A couple of important points:

- It's current, sustainable, income that is most important. Expressed on an annualized basis.

- Income history is often an indication of sustainability, but sometimes (as in your case) not.

- Future income is not a certainty. You may like your odds for getting a future job, the government wants more certainty in the form of a job in hand.

- Income (or assets that can be readily turned into cash) is what is under consideration, expenses are not under consideration.

- I-134 is not the document for demonstrating financial ability to sponsor, it is a document for demonstrating financial ability to sponsor - one of many documents that can be submitted. Submit whatever is necessary and appropriate to accurately depict the proposed sponsor's financial situation.

From the information that you have presented in your post it appears that you are not going to be your fiancee's sponsor for her visa - you do not have the means. Your parents may be suitable sponsors.

Yodrak

Hello,

I've read a lot of threads on the I-134 and perhaps after reading so many I start to feel even more nervous about what is right and what is wrong. I wanted to sort of run through everything to see if I'm on the right track. First here's my situation:

I'm a full time student graduating in December. My fiance hopes to come to U.S. in August (we've had NOA2 already and the packet 3 should be arriving for her soon). I do not have much of a yearly income. I will be starting a summer internship that pays well, but in only 12 weeks, I will not make 125% of the poverty line for a year (close though, so I still want to offer this information to the consulate). After December I will be starting a full time job that is not known at the time, but going by salary averages for my major from my school and my past experience, I am confident we won't have any problems. My parents are offering to co-sponser, but they're not sure how to go about filling out the I-134 jointly since it has blanks for one person who has one job. Their income and value in their house and bank accounts should be enough to cover the requirement, and since their relation is going to be parents in law to my fiance when she comes, we think their sponsorship will be looked on favorably. We hope anyway.

So my questions are:

Is the fact that my co-sponser is the only one that matters going to hurt me? I will include information from my internship once it starts, but it is a temporary job. Should I try to put a letter explaining I'm graduating in December? Also, should I explain that I already have the rent for my apartment which is of considerable size for two people paid? To be honest, its hard to buy food for one person as it is, and I usually have trouble not wasting it when I shop, so I don't see us being in any kind of trouble just living off my student loans (my fiance also has some savings since she can't work right away). How else can I explain this to the immigration officials, or should I even try?

How do my parents file a I-134 jointly since there's only blanks for one name? Should they just try to squeeze everything in with a "and" in between it? I'm sure an attached letter explaining the situation would be helpful. Is this the route we should go?

Last question is, is my situation likely to get denied since even though my co-sponsers can cover it, my situation won't really be looked at as stable?

Thanks a lot for any answers you can give me. This has been really hard for me to figure out, so any help from other's experiences I can get helps to make me worry less and will get me on the right path in gathering all this information. Thanks!!!

-Tim

Edited May 31, 2007 by Yodrak

[Florence and Tim 0]

Tim,

A couple of important points:

- It's current, sustainable, income that is most important. Expressed on an annualized basis.

- Income history is often an indication of sustainability, but sometimes (as in your case) not.

- Future income is not a certainty. You may like your odds for getting a future job, the government wants more certainty in the form of a job in hand.

- Income (or assets that can be readily turned into cash) is what is under consideration, expenses are not under consideration.

- I-134 is not the document for demonstrating financial ability to sponsor, it is a document for demonstrating financial ability to sponsor - one of many documents that can be submitted. Submit whatever is necessary and appropriate to accurately depict the proposed sponsor's financial situation.

From the information that you have presented in your post it appears that you are not going to be your fiancee's sponsor for her visa - you do not have the means. Your parents may be suitable sponsors.

Yodrak

So then should I consider not filling out an I-134 at all for myself? I was under the impression that the I-134 was required on a list of papers to bring in packet 3 for the interview. My other question still is for my parents, since they are married, how do they go about filling out at I-134 jointly? Fill in both names on each blank? They share bank accounts, but they each have a separate substantial income. My dad's alone is probably enough, but I think that having my mom's present would also be helpful since their relation to my fiance is more distant than mine. I read in the pinned post that the relation of the sponsor is important as well as their financial ability. Is future father/mother in law a good relation?

Thanks for your help so far!

-Tim

[Raspect 0]

Tim,

A couple of important points:

- It's current, sustainable, income that is most important. Expressed on an annualized basis.

- Income history is often an indication of sustainability, but sometimes (as in your case) not.

- Future income is not a certainty. You may like your odds for getting a future job, the government wants more certainty in the form of a job in hand.

- Income (or assets that can be readily turned into cash) is what is under consideration, expenses are not under consideration.

- I-134 is not the document for demonstrating financial ability to sponsor, it is a document for demonstrating financial ability to sponsor - one of many documents that can be submitted. Submit whatever is necessary and appropriate to accurately depict the proposed sponsor's financial situation.

From the information that you have presented in your post it appears that you are not going to be your fiancee's sponsor for her visa - you do not have the means. Your parents may be suitable sponsors.

Yodrak

So then should I consider not filling out an I-134 at all for myself? I was under the impression that the I-134 was required on a list of papers to bring in packet 3 for the interview. My other question still is for my parents, since they are married, how do they go about filling out at I-134 jointly? Fill in both names on each blank? They share bank accounts, but they each have a separate substantial income. My dad's alone is probably enough, but I think that having my mom's present would also be helpful since their relation to my fiance is more distant than mine. I read in the pinned post that the relation of the sponsor is important as well as their financial ability. Is future father/mother in law a good relation?

Thanks for your help so far!

-Tim

Well i would follow what Yodrak says in his reply, he knows his stuff. Follow that advice and you wont go wrong! The I-134 is required, as far as I know, on the list of papers to send in for the interview. But since YOU can't sponsor, then you still fill it out but put your SPONSORS on the I-134. If your dads income is enuff (check the requirements to know) Then just put him down. The government is not going to care if you have a back up plan or how nice you are or how much you want this or anything. All they want is for you to have *1* sponsor that meets the requirements. That is all you need. And of course a father in law is of course a suitable relationship. hahaha of course

take it easy a little my man, you may be thinking about this too much. Just do what it says. Make SURE you do that, and if you do that, give ALL that is asks for, you will be fine.

[Yodrak 7]

Tim,

I think it would be prudent for you to have your own sponsorship package available in the event that it is asked for. The consular officer may ask to see it, since you are the petitioner, and determine for themself that you are not a suitable sponsor before moving on to someone else.

Use of I-134 is optional at the discression of the consular officer. They seem to exercise their discression to require it 100% of the time when a sponsor is involved. But that's not my point - my point is that I-134 is only 1 of many documents that can make up the sponsorship package.

Good question as to how to use one I-134 when two people whose finances are co-mingled are involved. I would say yes, fill in both names where a name is asked for, and provide a combined total where numbers are asked for. Use an attachment to show the makeup of the total when necessary or desireable to promote understanding. All numbers provided will have to be supported with appropriate documentation.

Yodrak

Tim,

A couple of important points:

- It's current, sustainable, income that is most important. Expressed on an annualized basis.

- Income history is often an indication of sustainability, but sometimes (as in your case) not.

- Future income is not a certainty. You may like your odds for getting a future job, the government wants more certainty in the form of a job in hand.

- Income (or assets that can be readily turned into cash) is what is under consideration, expenses are not under consideration.

- I-134 is not the document for demonstrating financial ability to sponsor, it is a document for demonstrating financial ability to sponsor - one of many documents that can be submitted. Submit whatever is necessary and appropriate to accurately depict the proposed sponsor's financial situation.

From the information that you have presented in your post it appears that you are not going to be your fiancee's sponsor for her visa - you do not have the means. Your parents may be suitable sponsors.

Yodrak

So then should I consider not filling out an I-134 at all for myself? I was under the impression that the I-134 was required on a list of papers to bring in packet 3 for the interview. My other question still is for my parents, since they are married, how do they go about filling out at I-134 jointly? Fill in both names on each blank? They share bank accounts, but they each have a separate substantial income. My dad's alone is probably enough, but I think that having my mom's present would also be helpful since their relation to my fiance is more distant than mine. I read in the pinned post that the relation of the sponsor is important as well as their financial ability. Is future father/mother in law a good relation?

Thanks for your help so far!

-Tim

[Florence and Tim 0]

Tim,

I think it would be prudent for you to have your own sponsorship package available in the event that it is asked for. The consular officer may ask to see it, since you are the petitioner, and determine for themself that you are not a suitable sponsor before moving on to someone else.

Use of I-134 is optional at the discression of the consular officer. They seem to exercise their discression to require it 100% of the time when a sponsor is involved. But that's not my point - my point is that I-134 is only 1 of many documents that can make up the sponsorship package.

Good question as to how to use one I-134 when two people whose finances are co-mingled are involved. I would say yes, fill in both names where a name is asked for, and provide a combined total where numbers are asked for. Use an attachment to show the makeup of the total when necessary or desireable to promote understanding. All numbers provided will have to be supported with appropriate documentation.

Yodrak

Thanks a lot for your help. Aside from squeezing in two names on all the blanks, I think this gives a good idea of how to complete the I-134 for my parents. I'll also provide my own so that they have it for reference. One last question my dad asked me was about assets in the form of funds my parents have through their jobs. My mom and dad both have assets through work that have cash value if they wanted to cash them in, and they can provide the documentation stating the value, but there's only one blank on the form. If they put the total of theirs combined and then write on an attachment how this total is divided up and provide the documentation, would this be clear enough? Though I have my own apartment, they also wish to put that they'd be willing to offer room and board at my house - even though we won't really need it, is it still good that they put this down? We won't need to use it, but they do have the space here.

Also, I'm kind of in transition from being a dependent to a non-dependent of my parents (by their next tax filing, I'll no longer be a dependent, but I was on the last one). I do live at my own place and I am pretty much entirely supported by student loans and scholarships. i do go home from time to time and sleep on the couch and eat their food. Would it be smart for me to be a partial dependent on their sheet just to be safe? I know that their income will cover both myself, my fiance, and them, so it shouldn't cause a problem with the money part. Just not sure the right way of declaring myself.

Heh, it feels sort of strange because actually, when I go to HK, my fiance supports me (she graduated a year earlier than I will and has already been working for a while). I feel more like she should be able to prove that she can come and take care of me to make sure I don't become dependent on the state =/

Thanks again for all your help!

-Tim

[Yodrak 7]

-Tim,

If you can document that you are no longer dependent on your parents then they do not have to declare you as a dependent.

If your fiancee can demonstrate that she can support herself for a while in the USA then she should not need a sponsor for her visa. A number of UK folks have done that. But she will still need you to sponsor her for adjustment of status.

Yodrak

Thanks a lot for your help. Aside from squeezing in two names on all the blanks, I think this gives a good idea of how to complete the I-134 for my parents. I'll also provide my own so that they have it for reference. One last question my dad asked me was about assets in the form of funds my parents have through their jobs. My mom and dad both have assets through work that have cash value if they wanted to cash them in, and they can provide the documentation stating the value, but there's only one blank on the form. If they put the total of theirs combined and then write on an attachment how this total is divided up and provide the documentation, would this be clear enough? Though I have my own apartment, they also wish to put that they'd be willing to offer room and board at my house - even though we won't really need it, is it still good that they put this down? We won't need to use it, but they do have the space here.

Also, I'm kind of in transition from being a dependent to a non-dependent of my parents (by their next tax filing, I'll no longer be a dependent, but I was on the last one). I do live at my own place and I am pretty much entirely supported by student loans and scholarships. i do go home from time to time and sleep on the couch and eat their food. Would it be smart for me to be a partial dependent on their sheet just to be safe? I know that their income will cover both myself, my fiance, and them, so it shouldn't cause a problem with the money part. Just not sure the right way of declaring myself.

Heh, it feels sort of strange because actually, when I go to HK, my fiance supports me (she graduated a year earlier than I will and has already been working for a while). I feel more like she should be able to prove that she can come and take care of me to make sure I don't become dependent on the state =/

Thanks again for all your help!

-Tim