I am really confused and I need VJ's help!

[MichelleandCraig 1]

That's right..I didn't think of one major thing..you are just filing..so by the time you actually have to prove this stuff, you should probably be ok!! M.

PS..the only thing I disagree on..is say, she had to go to the interview in a month. I think they would want more proof than say..4/5 months wages..even London. I know that won't be the case for the OP tho, and I'm glad!

[Fandango 1,440]

Even if I had like 20-25 grand in the bank?

Hey people, who wants to buy or sell a house? cmon now, I got a target to meet

[MichelleandCraig 1]

yep that's true..forgot that too..you can prove you can sponsor with assets..but they have to be four or five times the amount of money you would need in a year... I'm sure you'll be fine tho, I forgot you were just filing, so by the time it rolls around you'll have a lot more of your job history under your belt M.

[rebeccajo 14]

I believe the beneficiary can 'self-sponsor' at the interview in the UK even with a K1. Check with meauxna on this one.

That won't work for the AOS however. And AOS is what you need to be planning for in the long run. However, if your fiance has been LIVING IN THE US 6 MONTHS by the time the AOS interview rolls around, and he IS EMPLOYED IN THE US by that time, you can count his income at AOS.

You can use a co-sponsor for the interview and dump them for AOS. If the stars all align (ie six months till interview, he has a job, etc.) You don't have to keep them forever.

Yes, your assets need to be 5 times the poverty limit. And the poverty limit will change this spring (probably announced in March and effective May 1). It changes annually. It is adjusted for inflation.

[gwenneh 7]

PS..the only thing I disagree on..is say, she had to go to the interview in a month. I think they would want more proof than say..4/5 months wages..even London. I know that won't be the case for the OP tho, and I'm glad!

Not so. I've only been working since mid-August, as I've just graduated college, and we had no problem getting approved at all with no co-sponsor necessary. They didn't even ask to see my tax returns, but then again I'm not self-employed and I had the bank letter and employer letter ready to go.

[pax 0]

That won't work for the AOS however. And AOS is what you need to be planning for in the long run. However, if your fiance has been LIVING IN THE US 6 MONTHS by the time the AOS interview rolls around, and he IS EMPLOYED IN THE US by that time, you can count his income at AOS.

That's a good point. The standards for the I-864, the affidavit of support you file with AOS, are more stringent and less subjective. By that time you WILL need to show a tax return (hopefully you'll have '06 under your belt by then) and you WILL need to prove that your income is consistently above the poverty level for your family size. But as Rebecca says, if your then-husband is employed and has been living in the States with you for six months by the time he interviews, you can count his income.

[Fandango 1,440]

ok so I think in one of my beginning posts I was saying AoS when I meant affidavit of Support....see, I told you guys I needed you! From now on. I'll refer to it as the I-134/

I'm not concerning myself with the actual AOS process at this point..we'll cross that bridge when we come to it...and like you guys said here, by that time his income can be counted. ...Also by that time, I'll have had a full year of working with a good tax return to show in case they want it.

Being that we don't really have to start filing right now, it gives me some months' leeway to get on the stick. I think my broker would also write a letter for me stating that I work there, and make X amt. I am self-employed, but the law states that I need to hang my license with a broker in order for it to be considered active..so even though I am self-employed, I still work for a very big & prominant RE firm here in Central FL. Maybe that might do the trick!

I'd like to hear what you guys say about the whole thing of him sending me money...should it stop? Sol is right, it looks bad! But at the same time, don't other couples help each other out in times of financial need?

[pax 0]

I really don't think you need to worry about it; the London consulate is not going to scrutinize your financial records in intense detail unless something looks seriously amiss. Ewen and I have sent money back and forth for various expenses, and it was never asked about or mentioned during his interview.

This is an issue, unfortunately, through posts which have higher fraud rates, and one party of a couple might actually be "paying" another, rather than simply sending money as a gift or to cover expenses, which is what Sol is talking about. Again, going through London, it's unlikely you'll face intense scrutiny on that.

[rebeccajo 14]

I'm not concerning myself with the actual AOS process at this point..we'll cross that bridge when we come to it...and like you guys said here, by that time his income can be counted. ...Also by that time, I'll have had a full year of working with a good tax return to show in case they want it.

Lisa please don't dismiss the AOS process. You do need to think about it if for no other reason than to make things easier when you do file it. It is, after all, the 'home run' of this entire process.

Also, not to burst your bubble, but don't ASSUME that you will be able to count his income by the time you do adjust his status. The criteria is that he must be here in the US for 6 months and that he be working. I know our case may be a rarity, but when Wes has his upcoming interview on March 9, he will have been here 25 weeks - one week short of the 6 month requirement.

I'm only splitting hairs with you here to see how you need to plan for the worst (maybe using a co-sponsor) and then be tickled if things work out better. It's far better to come to terms with application requirements now than be arm-wrestling them at the 11th hour later on.

[pax 0]

Listen to the wise woman! AOS is very important and you absolutely shouldn't trivialize it. It might not be a terrible thing to keep your parents informed of how everything is unfolding, and ask them now if they'd be willing to step in as co-sponsors just in case. You can tell them your plan, which is not an unreasonable one, and tell them that while you plan to be able to have everything covered yourself, you might need them to back you up if you fall a little short.

You don't want to start this process without a clear idea of how you're going to finish it. Learn from Dubya and have an exit strategy.