How to bring my husband to America

[Sorelle 0]

I lived and worked in Egypt for 2 years. I was married to my Egyptian husband in September, returned to the US in December, but he is still in Egypt.....obviously, or I wouldn't be on this site! I have extensively reviewed the criteria for bringing him here and am feeling overwhelmed, as I'm sure we all are. My biggest issue now is that I worked abroad for 2 years and have only been here 3 days so there is no proof of income to show for the affidavit of support. I need him here to help get established again, but that is the catch 22. I want the aid of an attorney on this, but, once again, that requires money. Ugh!! I just don't know where to begin. Any advice???

[Transborderwife 4,666]

The best way to begin is to read the guides on this site. You need to get yourself established to bring him on a cr1. Find work that is 125% above the poverty line to support the both of you.. You're still required to file your taxes in the USA while living abroad so you have that proof.

It will be roughly a year to get him here permanently.

[icv21 110]

As a U.S. citizen you are still required to fill your taxes while working abroad.

So even if you get a joint sponsor or find a job now you still have to show taxes from the past years..

[JohnR! 5,495]

You can begin in the guides section. There is a ton of information you need to know there and you can also find links to the form and other resources you will need for the process.

http://www.visajourney.com/content/guides

Good luck!

I lived and worked in Egypt for 2 years. I was married to my Egyptian husband in September, returned to the US in December, but he is still in Egypt.....obviously, or I wouldn't be on this site! I have extensively reviewed the criteria for bringing him here and am feeling overwhelmed, as I'm sure we all are. My biggest issue now is that I worked abroad for 2 years and have only been here 3 days so there is no proof of income to show for the affidavit of support. I need him here to help get established again, but that is the catch 22. I want the aid of an attorney on this, but, once again, that requires money. Ugh!! I just don't know where to begin. Any advice???

[msbau764 245]

I lived and worked in Egypt for 2 years. I was married to my Egyptian husband in September, returned to the US in December, but he is still in Egypt.....obviously, or I wouldn't be on this site! I have extensively reviewed the criteria for bringing him here and am feeling overwhelmed, as I'm sure we all are. My biggest issue now is that I worked abroad for 2 years and have only been here 3 days so there is no proof of income to show for the affidavit of support. I need him here to help get established again, but that is the catch 22. I want the aid of an attorney on this, but, once again, that requires money. Ugh!! I just don't know where to begin. Any advice???

you don't need an attorney. they can make things harder for you and you are basically paying them to fill out a form. I am sure you are capable of filling out forms, right?

the community here can help you with anything you need.

[mccartna 19]

First, don't worry! You've gotten to a great site that will definitely help you out!

Second, you need to confirm that you make more than the poverty limit (in whatever you filed with the US taxes last year and are making in the USA as taxable income!!) OR find a sponsor to back you financially and sign the required paperwork on your and your husband's behalf.

There's a ton of information and knowledgable people on here!

[Pitaya 2,576]

Welcome to the forum.

[TBoneTX 43,195]

you don't need an attorney [...] the community here can help you with anything you need.

The above can turn out to be perilous advice. We have no way of knowing the OP's full situation.

*** Thread moved from Introducing Our Members forum to the CR-1 Process forum, where questions such as the OP's are regularly discussed. ***

[Dohan 133]

You have 3 years to file your taxes, so even though you were away for two years you can still file now. I believe the time to ask for an extension has passed, I was in a similar situation, but I filed and they seem to have accepted it.

So long as you were living abroad this whole time, and had a bank account you might be able to write off as expenses things such as rent and utilities, which will diminish your income (unless your employer covered these costs for you).

Also, every year there are individual allowances for every person filing income tax, which again allows you to write a certain portion of the income. Finally, there is also a certain amount up to which you can earn so you will not have a tax liability, this amount can be confirmed via IRS website or calling them. Do not be afraid to ask questions, I have found them very helpful (I know, shocking).

There are numerous programs online like TurboTax and many many others, depending on your needs, which can aid you in doing the taxes yourself and give you a step by step guide, and you can call them as well if you have any questions.

This is indeed a very long process but with patience and love you will get through it, you are never alone in this, we are all here to help!

[Sorelle 0]

Thanks everyone for the advice and for your support It's going to be more involved than I thought but good to have others who have been down this difficult and twisted road to chat with! Sooooooo....my poor husband is beside himself at the news that it could take up to a year, as are we. As far as the taxes go, in Egypt all the schools I worked in paid us cash monthly with no invoice or statement as to earnings, so I wonder how this will work with the IRS?? Also, the Egyptian pound is 7 to the dollar so, when I do the math I didn't make much which is not going to help me when it comes to establishing my ability to prove I can support us. I'm literally starting over here which sucks because it only delays the process further. I haven't had a chance to check out the guides section yet but will do so ASAP! Thanks again to all of you for your help! I wish all of us the best

[Darnell 8,478]

remember - 'proof of monies' not to be shown until NVC Doc intake,

which currently is about 7 to 9 months after submitting the I-130.

Even then, can show updated/corrected stuff to the Consulate, on interview day, 11 to 14 months after filing the I-130 -

so

you've time, to amass the funds/income proof that you need to show. IT IS NEVER SHOWN with I-130 submittal, so don't let that stop you from filing the I-130 this week. [remember, photocopies on extra stuff with the I-130, never need originals]

[KMR&MHAH 11]

Thanks everyone for the advice and for your support It's going to be more involved than I thought but good to have others who have been down this difficult and twisted road to chat with! Sooooooo....my poor husband is beside himself at the news that it could take up to a year, as are we. As far as the taxes go, in Egypt all the schools I worked in paid us cash monthly with no invoice or statement as to earnings, so I wonder how this will work with the IRS?? Also, the Egyptian pound is 7 to the dollar so, when I do the math I didn't make much which is not going to help me when it comes to establishing my ability to prove I can support us. I'm literally starting over here which sucks because it only delays the process further. I haven't had a chance to check out the guides section yet but will do so ASAP! Thanks again to all of you for your help! I wish all of us the best

Hi Sorelle,

I just wanted to send good vibes your way! My hubs and I opted for the K1 route instead of marrying in Egypt, but either way the process takes about a year. Once you get the taxes figured out you should determine if you have anyone in your life that is willing to be a joint sponsor. I have a dear friend that did this process of bringing her husband to the US and she got a job that earned enough to appease them literally 2 days after USCIS requested a more information regarding the financials. SHe just sent her offer letter on and it made them happy enough to approve the case. It can be complicated.

At the end of the day please do be encouraged that everyone here is super helpful and cheering each other on!

I can certainly understand the challenge, especially here in the DC metro area (we are in alexandria). We need more income to survive and it suuucks.

Anyway, let us know if you need anything!