I-129f Questions/Help

[PETER858 0]

Hello All,

 

Thank you in advance for any help you provide!

 

I have a few questions on filling out form I-129f

 

1. Page 2, Question 13 (YOUR EMPLOYMENT HISTORY). 

• If I have been unemployed for the past 5 years what do I put down here? Unemployed or N/A or leave blank?
• Does not being employed hurt chances of approval? I will have a co-signer for the i-134 affidavit of support.

 

2. Page 5, Question 16 (YOUR BENEFICIARY'S EMPLOYMENT HISTORY).

• If the beneficiary has limited work history does this hurt chances of approval?

 

3. Page 7, Question 49a (BENEFICIARY'S NAME AND ADDRESS IN HER NATIVE ALPHABET).

• If I am doing the form on a computer, do I need to get a keyboard in that language or can I handwrite this part?
• If I handwrite here does the rest of the form need to be handwritten as well?

 

4. Page 8, Questions 54 (DESCRIBE CIRCUMSTANCES OF YOUR IN PERSON MEETING/ATTACH EVIDENCE)

• I saw Youtube videos that says to attach a document for this explaining your relationship, how you first met, what you did, how you continue your long distance relationship, etc. I plan to do this as well. My question is does anyone have best advice on what to include here? and what evidence to attach? I have pages and pages of Facebook messages, as well as pictures of us together, etc but don't want to overwhelm the person reviewing the document with too much and don't want to give too little and be denied.

 

5. I may have missed this in the fine print but is there a certain font size, paper type, format I have to print out the I-129f form. I know it has to be filled out in BLACK FONT.

 

 

 

Thank You all so much for any help advice on this!

[JeanneAdil 6,606]

 1.  put unemployed

if reason for unemployment is studying in college ,  and now graduated ,  then probably not

so,  the reason for not working is important

 

2. Bene employment not important especially since on K1 they can't work for about a year'

but it is important to show simialiar educational backgrounds -same as all likes and dislikes

 

3.  google translate for the address in native language -just cut and paste it

 

4.  one page _ i did it  in outline form on meeting and decide to marry/  limit photos (i did about 20 copied 3 to 8x11 paper and ID people and month and year

few chats just show keeping in touch over the time 

 

5.  don't know

[beloved_dingo 1,981]

22 minutes ago, PETER858 said:

Hello All,

 

Thank you in advance for any help you provide!

 

I have a few questions on filling out form I-129f

 

1. Page 2, Question 13 (YOUR EMPLOYMENT HISTORY). 

• If I have been unemployed for the past 5 years what do I put down here? Unemployed or N/A or leave blank?
• Does not being employed hurt chances of approval? I will have a co-signer for the i-134 affidavit of support.

 

2. Page 5, Question 16 (YOUR BENEFICIARY'S EMPLOYMENT HISTORY).

• If the beneficiary has limited work history does this hurt chances of approval?

 

3. Page 7, Question 49a (BENEFICIARY'S NAME AND ADDRESS IN HER NATIVE ALPHABET).

• If I am doing the form on a computer, do I need to get a keyboard in that language or can I handwrite this part?
• If I handwrite here does the rest of the form need to be handwritten as well?

 

4. Page 8, Questions 54 (DESCRIBE CIRCUMSTANCES OF YOUR IN PERSON MEETING/ATTACH EVIDENCE)

• I saw Youtube videos that says to attach a document for this explaining your relationship, how you first met, what you did, how you continue your long distance relationship, etc. I plan to do this as well. My question is does anyone have best advice on what to include here? and what evidence to attach? I have pages and pages of Facebook messages, as well as pictures of us together, etc but don't want to overwhelm the person reviewing the document with too much and don't want to give too little and be denied.

 

5. I may have missed this in the fine print but is there a certain font size, paper type, format I have to print out the I-129f form. I know it has to be filled out in BLACK FONT.

 

 

 

Thank You all so much for any help advice on this!

1. Put unemployed. If you have an adequate joint sponsor you will likely be fine but where does the beneficiary live? Advice for K1 varies between consulates (some very easy, some very tough). 

 

Also, please understand that you will have to support your fiancé for at least 6 months after they arrive in the U.S. Will you be getting a job or do you otherwise have sufficient funds to do this? 

 

2. Limited work history of the beneficiary won't matter. 

 

3. It can be typed or printed. You can mix handwritten and typed, just use black ink for anything you handwrite. 

 

4. We did not include a letter explaining our relationship, but many people do. For evidence of our relationship and proof of meeting, we included photos, documentation of trips, airline bookings, passport stamps from his passport (proving he came to U.S.), chat logs, a facebook post announcing our engagement with the comments in response, and a copy of the certificate of authenticity for my engagement ring. If you have a mix of things like photos and showing time spent together you should be fine. However, this is one of those things that depends on location (London consulate you could probably send 5 pages and be fine, Morocco would be a whole different ball game). 

 

5. Print on regular printer paper. You do need to make sure the bar code prints out. People have had issues with this in the past so double check that. Otherwise, nothing special is needed or required. 

[PETER858 0]

16 minutes ago, beloved_dingo said:

1. Put unemployed. If you have an adequate joint sponsor you will likely be fine but where does the beneficiary live? Advice for K1 varies between consulates (some very easy, some very tough). 

 

Also, please understand that you will have to support your fiancé for at least 6 months after they arrive in the U.S. Will you be getting a job or do you otherwise have sufficient funds to do this? 

 

2. Limited work history of the beneficiary won't matter. 

 

3. It can be typed or printed. You can mix handwritten and typed, just use black ink for anything you handwrite. 

 

4. We did not include a letter explaining our relationship, but many people do. For evidence of our relationship and proof of meeting, we included photos, documentation of trips, airline bookings, passport stamps from his passport (proving he came to U.S.), chat logs, a facebook post announcing our engagement with the comments in response, and a copy of the certificate of authenticity for my engagement ring. If you have a mix of things like photos and showing time spent together you should be fine. However, this is one of those things that depends on location (London consulate you could probably send 5 pages and be fine, Morocco would be a whole different ball game). 

 

5. Print on regular printer paper. You do need to make sure the bar code prints out. People have had issues with this in the past so double check that. Otherwise, nothing special is needed or required. 

Thank you for all the advice dingo it is appreciated.

 

To answer your Question in #1. The beneficiary is in Cambodia and I am in USA.

[PETER858 0]

31 minutes ago, JeanneAdil said:

 1.  put unemployed

if reason for unemployment is studying in college ,  and now graduated ,  then probably not

so,  the reason for not working is important

 

2. Bene employment not important especially since on K1 they can't work for about a year'

but it is important to show simialiar educational backgrounds -same as all likes and dislikes

 

3.  google translate for the address in native language -just cut and paste it

 

4.  one page _ i did it  in outline form on meeting and decide to marry/  limit photos (i did about 20 copied 3 to 8x11 paper and ID people and month and year

few chats just show keeping in touch over the time 

 

5.  don't know

Thanks you so much Jeanne!

 

1. What if the reason for not working is not because in school/graduated? What if the sponsor just hasn't worked within the last 5 years? Do they grill you on this question in the interview? Is it a deal breaker even if I have a sponsor?

[JeanneAdil 6,606]

29 minutes ago, PETER858 said:

Thanks you so much Jeanne!

 

1. What if the reason for not working is not because in school/graduated? What if the sponsor just hasn't worked within the last 5 years? Do they grill you on this question in the interview? Is it a deal breaker even if I have a sponsor?

some of the answer is country / embassy dependent

and other part is "why hasn't the USC worked?   School ,  age  ,  disabled , uneducated or lazy

 

there are jobs available now / all over the place

[Marieke H 2,523]

54 minutes ago, PETER858 said:

Thanks you so much Jeanne!

 

1. What if the reason for not working is not because in school/graduated? What if the sponsor just hasn't worked within the last 5 years? Do they grill you on this question in the interview? Is it a deal breaker even if I have a sponsor?

They will look at the totality of your circumstances and determine if the beneficiary is likely to become a public charge. It will depend on your circumstances, and having a joint sponsor does not always resolve the issue. For example, if a petitioner is temporarily "in between jobs" but has an otherwise consistent work history and a qualified joint sponsor, the visa is likely to be approved. Someone who has not worked for years, has no or very limited income and no assets/savings, may not be approved, even with a qualified joint sponsor. You will have to show that the financial needs of the beneficiary will be taken care of. There is no way to predict if you will be approved in your particular case; if you are able to work, that would definitely help your case once it reached the consulate.

[EatBulaga 340]

1 hour ago, PETER858 said:

Thanks you so much Jeanne!

 

1. What if the reason for not working is not because in school/graduated? What if the sponsor just hasn't worked within the last 5 years? Do they grill you on this question in the interview? Is it a deal breaker even if I have a sponsor?

For the I-134, you and the joint sponsor need to show 100% of the poverty guidelines (based on the number of dependency) by the K1 interview.

https://aspe.hhs.gov/topics/poverty-economic-mobility/poverty-guidelines

The I-134 is just for the US consulate/embassy to approve the K1 visa.

 

The real binding contract between you and the joint sponsor to the US government is the I-864, which needs to show 125% of the poverty guidelines (based on the number of dependency) by the AOS filing. The I-864 will list the consequences if you and the joint sponsor fail to provide financial support and become public charge (depend on government assistance).

 

So do they grill you? That is the risk you accept by being a sponsor. I've seen some applicants get RFEs about income, and I've seen some applicants on government disability successfully petition a K1 beneficiary. Good luck!

Edited July 25, 2022 by EatBulaga

[PETER858 0]

37 minutes ago, EatBulaga said:

For the I-134, you and the joint sponsor need to show 100% of the poverty guidelines (based on the number of dependency) by the K1 interview.

https://aspe.hhs.gov/topics/poverty-economic-mobility/poverty-guidelines

The I-134 is just for the US consulate/embassy to approve the K1 visa.

 

The real binding contract between you and the joint sponsor to the US government is the I-864, which needs to show 125% of the poverty guidelines (based on the number of dependency) by the AOS filing. The I-864 will list the consequences if you and the joint sponsor fail to provide financial support and become public charge (depend on government assistance).

 

So do they grill you? That is the risk you accept by being a sponsor. I've seen some applicants get RFEs about income, and I've seen some applicants on government disability successfully petition a K1 beneficiary. Good luck!

Thanks for the info!

 

I'm assuming it will help my case if I get a job while submitting the I-129f?

 

Or do you think it doesn't matter as long as the Joint Sponsor is able to show proof of meeting poverty guidelines + willing to provide financial support if the beneficiary becomes a public charge?

 

Our situation is unique as I have been taking care of a family member/living free with them. I am not disabled in school or a fresh graduate. All of this can be explained at the interview but if I will be denied an interview or denied the K-1 visa based on unemployment in the I-129f form I would rather know now and go get a job while we wait for this process to prove responsibility.

[EatBulaga 340]

45 minutes ago, PETER858 said:

Thanks for the info!

 

I'm assuming it will help my case if I get a job while submitting the I-129f?

 

Or do you think it doesn't matter as long as the Joint Sponsor is able to show proof of meeting poverty guidelines + willing to provide financial support if the beneficiary becomes a public charge?

 

Our situation is unique as I have been taking care of a family member/living free with them. I am not disabled in school or a fresh graduate. All of this can be explained at the interview but if I will be denied an interview or denied the K-1 visa based on unemployment in the I-129f form I would rather know now and go get a job while we wait for this process to prove responsibility.

The K1 interview is with the beneficiary.

You send the I-134 and the joint sponsor I-134 to the beneficiary to take to the K1 interview.

https://www.uscis.gov/i-134

The two or more I-134s (one from each joint sponsor) show the US consulate/embassy that the financial support responsibility is assumed for the beneficiary upon entry to the US with the K1 visa so that they will issue it.

 

The only time the US citizen spouse will have a chance to interview with the USCIS is the AOS interview, and you will have already submitted the I-864 with the I-485 (AOS) by then.

https://www.uscis.gov/i-864

 

So your only real chance to explain your situation is thru the I-129F (addendum to the employment history using Part8), or RFEs should they request income information? The risks may be longer wait times, or denial should you fail to respond adequately to the RFEs? Or denial at the K1 interview should the I-134s not be adequate?

 

But do go thru the I-134 and I-864 forms and see the information and conditions so you have a better idea of the accountability of the sponsor(s), and if you can fulfill them? I believe the I-864 explains the penalties along with reimbursing the government should you and your beneficiary become public charge or the sponsor(s) fail in financial support?

 

So to answer your question about "get a job", yes having a job is better than not, at least thru the AOS (I-485) or the Removal Of Condition (I-751), which by then the foreign spouse could be working already.

Edited July 25, 2022 by EatBulaga

[PETER858 0]

28 minutes ago, EatBulaga said:

The K1 interview is with the beneficiary.

You send the I-134 and the joint sponsor I-134 to the beneficiary to take to the K1 interview.

https://www.uscis.gov/i-134

The two or more I-134s (one from each joint sponsor) show the US consulate/embassy that the financial support responsibility is assumed for the beneficiary upon entry to the US with the K1 visa so that they will issue it.

 

The only time the US citizen spouse will have a chance to interview with the USCIS is the AOS interview, and you will have already submitted the I-864 with the I-485 (AOS) by then.

https://www.uscis.gov/i-864

 

So your only real chance to explain your situation is thru the I-129F (addendum to the employment history using Part8), or RFEs should they request income information? The risks may be longer wait times, or denial should you fail to respond adequately to the RFEs? Or denial at the K1 interview should the I-134s not be adequate?

 

But do go thru the I-134 and I-864 forms and see the information and conditions so you have a better idea of the accountability of the sponsor(s), and if you can fulfill them? I believe the I-864 explains the penalties along with reimbursing the government should you and your beneficiary become public charge or the sponsor(s) fail in financial support?

 

So to answer your question about "get a job", yes having a job is better than not, at least thru the AOS (I-485) or the Removal Of Condition (I-751), which by then the foreign spouse could be working already.

Thanks so much for the thorough info! This is quite handy.

[SalishSea 18,074]

9 hours ago, PETER858 said:

Thanks you so much Jeanne!

 

1. What if the reason for not working is not because in school/graduated? What if the sponsor just hasn't worked within the last 5 years? Do they grill you on this question in the interview? Is it a deal breaker even if I have a sponsor?

How will you support the immigrant?  She won't be able to work for up to 8 months.

 

The CO looks at the totality of circumstances.   They will take everything into consideration, not just a joint sponsor's income.

[Palawan 131]

19 hours ago, PETER858 said:

4. Page 8, Questions 54 (DESCRIBE CIRCUMSTANCES OF YOUR IN PERSON MEETING/ATTACH EVIDENCE)

• I saw Youtube videos that says to attach a document for this explaining your relationship, how you first met, what you did, how you continue your long distance relationship, etc. I plan to do this as well. My question is does anyone have best advice on what to include here? and what evidence to attach? I have pages and pages of Facebook messages, as well as pictures of us together, etc but don't want to overwhelm the person reviewing the document with too much and don't want to give too little and be denied.

 

I would use the space provided and give a quick description, such as I meet XXXX at airport on xxx date, or I met so and so at McDonalds on xxxx date.  That's all you need, keep it simple.