Concerns about the I-134...

[thejoz 0]

So the time has come, we just received the oh-so-wonderful NOA2 which means it's time to move forward.

Well, now it is time to face my concerns over the I-134, the affidavit of financial support.

I am a college student, 21. I am, essentially, broke. I used to have a job with a furniture store, but was laid off. I had only worked there for about 5 months as it was. I now have a job with the university, but again, it doesn't pay a whole lot.

I know that you can have co-sponsors if you don't meet the requirements. I've had both of my parents say they can and will sign one to help show their support for my her. Both of my parents make decent money, my father about $50k a year, my mother, roughly $60k. They are divorced, so it's not like we have one household with over $100k a year.

My brother is going to be living with my mother, and I with my father, at least for the time being. So $50k for two people is definitely well above the poverty line.

I am concerned, because, quite frankly, I look rather pathetic as a 'sponsor'. I have next to no money, no good paying job, and absolutely no assets to fall back on save for my truck really, and even that is worth diddly in the grand scheme of things.

Let's say, all three of us fill out one of these things. We have two well-off individuals with a son who's getting married who has little to no money of his own. Will the fact that I am incredibly poor yet have two people willing to put their well-being on the line, with the money to back it up, matter to the embassy?

I mean, I imagine that the government isn't really in the business of going, for example, "Sorry we don't think you're fit to marry because you aren't doing things in a traditional way / you're too young, try again later". My parents have pledged to give her and I a place to stay until we can get out on our own. Both of them on their own have sufficient income to support themselves, myself, and my future wife.

It is not as if I am completely, 100% dependent on my parents. I pay bills, I have responsibilities. I am just not making 5 figures a year because being a full-time student is not compatible with making that kind of money at this point in my life. I am not able to pay my own rent yet, but hope to be able to within a year or two's time. With the help of my fiance, who will bring several thousand dollars into the US, and will be able to work full time, we will be able to get going relatively soon.

So, without any judgment, without any pre-disposed opinions about how young I am or how I may or may not be in the best position to do this.

If my family and I collectively submit 3 I-134's with more than enough income and support between the three of us to support one foreign fiance, will that matter to the government(s)? Will it matter that on my personal I-134, I will have practically nothing to show for myself, with next to nothing in the bank, with a job that I have barely been at, when both of my/her co-sponsors definitely have the assets?

Part of me almost thinks I am worrying too much, but maybe I am not worrying enough either.

We have this all planned out in our minds, and barring some catastrophe, there is no worry that she will become a public charge. I just don't want any government to look at our documents and particularly, me, from afar, and think I am out of my mind and therefore not fit to do what I am doing.

To anyone who actually read through this, and replies without even thinking of trying to impart any parental-like 'wisdom' on me simply because you're actually older than me and have a job, etc, I appreciate it.

[Jesse and Hema 2]

I don't have any experience with this, so this is just my opinion.... But I think that if you have your parents co-sponsor, you'll be fine. When they sign the I-134, they are basically legally binding themselves to supporting the immigrant...

Most VJ'ers are mature enough to not cast judgement on someone just for having low income. That'd be absurd. Besides, I eat ramen every night, and can say that no brand can compare to Maruchan©......

Good luck!

[MR2nice 0]

I agree with Jesse. As long as you have your parents for co-sponsors you shouldn't be too concern. I know in some country, like Vietnam they're very strict about accepting co-sponsors. Seeing that you're going through UK Consulate that shouldn't be a problem. You'll be fine.

[mox 298]

The best thing to do around here if someone "prejudges" you is just to ignore it. Someday I'm going to take some of my own advice.

The answer to your question is pretty simple. The government cares if you meet the requirements for a co-sponsor. If you exceed the requirements, I don't know that it buys you any extra brownie points. If your co-sponsor meets the qualifications for sponsorship, then you have no problem. I don't know what the rules are on multiple sponsors, you should probably look into it. But it sounds to me like any one of your sponsors will more than meet the requirements, so even if you have to go with just one then it's still not a problem.

Best of luck to you!

[thejoz 0]

The only reason I feel the need to even try and earn any 'brownie points' is simply because my own credentials are so pathetic.

If it seems like I can really get by with just the one, then I guess I will just go with one.

[AUBGER 0]

I agree with the first two posts. If they co-sign, you'll be fine

[mox 298]

The only reason I feel the need to even try and earn any 'brownie points' is simply because my own credentials are so pathetic.

If it seems like I can really get by with just the one, then I guess I will just go with one.

Don't sell yourself short. Your situation is more common than you think. People without incomes fall in love too. (and wow, that was the sappiest thing I've ever said. To a dude, even. *ahem* How about that local sporting event, quite a game huh? )

[thejoz 0]

The only reason I feel the need to even try and earn any 'brownie points' is simply because my own credentials are so pathetic.

If it seems like I can really get by with just the one, then I guess I will just go with one.

Don't sell yourself short. Your situation is more common than you think. People without incomes fall in love too. (and wow, that was the sappiest thing I've ever said. To a dude, even. *ahem* How about that local sporting event, quite a game huh? )

Hahahaha

I don't know, i just. I have had relatively no reason to obsess over...anything, cause were stuck in VSC hell just waiting for an NOA2.

...Now that we have NOA2, it's time to move forward with real worrying, and here we go.

I kinda wish I could go to the interview and personally explain the situation to the embassy officials, but I guess not huh?

[HannahP 119]

Don't worry. You'll be fine.

I was in the same situation -- college student making $8 an hour, living paycheck to paycheck. My dad co-sponsored and nobody batted an eye. The only problem was trying to work with my dad to get all of his required documents in on time.

Good luck!

[thejoz 0]

Don't worry. You'll be fine.

I was in the same situation -- college student making $8 an hour, living paycheck to paycheck. My dad co-sponsored and nobody batted an eye. The only problem was trying to work with my dad to get all of his required documents in on time.

Good luck!

How long had you had that job? Like I said, I had one for 5 months, got laid off, and have been with the university a whopping month if that.

Should I fill out another one saying I had a better job and lost it involuntarily? Or just the one is enough?

[StoryAngel 4]

thejoz, please don't worry yourself about this. I am speaking from experience here... I'm the foreign fiancée and we have a co-sponsor for our case. My interview is in 2 weeks' time so I'll be able to let you know how it goes soon! My USC fiance doesn't meet the guidelines because he's on SSI as he has terrible back pain. I know he finds it terribly hard, wishing that he was in a better position to support me/us... but as mox said, people without income also fall in love! I totally get what it feels like to know you have to go the co-sponsor route, and all the negative feelings associated with that. But really, the US gov just wants to know that you're not going to become a public charge. As long as your co-sponsor meets the guidelines then they'll be ok. The only person giving you a hard time about your situation is... you. No need, my friend!

[athena_ny 1]

If you don't have a job, and have a cosponsor, why worry about it? I-134 isn't a legally binding document anyway, and the London embassy (which it looks like you'll be going through? Not sure?) generally accepts co-sponsors. If you didn't have a cosponsor, then I would worry.

At AOS, when you do the I-864, that IS a legally binding document and if you made no money but had a joint sponsor, you'll be fine there too. (I was fine, there.)

I mean, really, there's nothing to worry about.

And the 50K has to cover three people, not two, if you're completely dependent on your parents and you live with the parent, as far as I know. You'll be fine though

[Shub 78]

I as well encourage you to stop worrying. My now-wife was a college student and had less than a grand in her bank account, no job, and nearly a hundred grand in outstanding student loans when she applied. Likewise, I'd just graduated from college and had no job of money. My widowed mother-in-law, who makes 60k a year, signed the affidavit and we were fine, no questions asked. Further along the process, we still are fine with the updated affidavit my mother-in-law signed for the green card application.

[SHELLYandFCO 0]

As long as you have a sponsor and they have their precious Affidavit of Support, you'll be fine.

[Caladan 19]

You still have to fill out the I-134 (as the fiance, you're the primary sponsor), but you can have a co-sponsor to help you meet the income threshold. Your situation isn't uncommon; lots of people meet while students and broke.