Thanks kennyandhandan!!!

I have a question about the affidavit of support:

Last year I made under the poverty level because I had just finished school and only worked for 1/2 of 2007 to take a break...however this year I am well above the 125% required...what do you all think will be required of me as far as paperwork goes and is it true current income has more bearing than previous income? Do they even want the w-2 from 2007???? Do you think I will need a co-sponsor (because I do not have anyone I could ask at all)? This is my biggest fear as far as this visa goes. Anyone have the same fear before and how did it turn out? I would love to put this fear to rest-hopefully...sigh

Thanks, Erika

Welcome and GL!

I hope you hear something soon

Hi Erika,
I can say from my personal experience that current income generally is more important...although your 2008 income might not be submissible until you have filed your taxes for the year (unless you have ALREADY surpassed the poverty level with your to-date income for 2008 and can prove it). In that case, you would need to submit copies of tax records for 2007 (including W2's) along with proof of your to-date income from 2008...along with a letter from your employer, etc.

This was my experience (with the affidavit of support for Adjustment of Status, not the affidavit of support for the Visa):

We filed for adjustment of status in November 2007 and I included an affidavit of support based on my 2006 income. In January, we received RFE stating that my affidavit of support was not acceptable because I didn't meet the income requirements in 2006. However, my 2007 income DID easily surpass 125% of the poverty level and I had just done my taxes for the year, so I just filled out a new affidavit and submitted it with my 2007 tax documents (as well as copies of the titles to both of our cars with Kelly Blue Book values, just to be on the safe side).

That's another possiblity...you can include certain assets to make up the difference if your income is too low. Check the rules and regulations to see what types of assets are eligible.

By the way, I believe the affidavit of support for the visa only requires you to earn 100% of the poverty level, not 125%. You'll be required to show 125% later when you file for adjustment of status.

Hope that helps...

Best of Luck!
Tanya

Thanks for the reply. I am worried even more because I DID NOT meet the requirement s for 5 people (I have 3 kids) for 2007-only $17,500 because I only worked 4-6 months out of 2007. I only now filed the I-129 on 5/29/08 so I will NOT have filed my 2008 of course until next year. So what will happen? I currently make $60,000 now that i am working full-time, but for years 2004-2006 I was in school or like I said-taking a break in 2007. I have no idea, but I am stresing over this bad. You were lucky because you had filed for 2007. I wonder what they will say in my case?

Anyone can help in the same situation or anybody knows what they will require because of my situation?

Am I correct to think one does not even need to provide income tax returns for previous years with the I-134 Affidavit of Support? I am filing for the K-1 visa and no where on the I-134 does it state to include tax returns (unless self-employed)-only letter from employer, bank statements (these two alone will prove for myself) and assests to prove 100% poverty level incme. I am confused with the what i read on the I-134 and what people are advsing me....what did everyone here initally send with their fiancee's Affidavit of support and was it sufficient???

Thanks so much....I am stressing

Hi Mina,

I did e-mail Athens (were are waiver is) and they just said the stock answer, " we have your papers. It is taking between 8-10 months and your fiance will receive an answer in writing". Monday was 9 months since we filed our waiver. All I can do is wait and Pray!!!

Thank you for asking.

I hope you are well and things have slowed down a bit at work.




Thank you




Hos Geldiniz!!!

Probably the best you can do is submit your 2007 tax documents along with proof of your year-to-date income (your most recent paystub) and a letter from your employer confirming your current yearly salary is as well as something to the effect that your employment with them is reasonably expected to continue on a full-time permanent basis indefinitely...etc. Also send a letter explaining the whole situation. Actually, for a family of 5, 100% of the poverty level is only $24,800. If you are currently making 60K per year, you are probably there already for 2008...or at least very close. Actually, I think your chances are probably pretty good as long as you show lots of proof of your current salary and employment.

I'll keep my fingers crossed for you...all of us here have been where you are now and stressing about one thing or another in this process. Hopefully you'll find, as I did, that what's meant to be will find a way

Good Luck,
Tanya

Actually, I believe you are correct. It has been a year since I had to fill the I-134 and I guess I was confused (the one you file for adjustment of status is a lot more extensive). I'm pretty sure I had to bring my tax documents to the interview though...can anyone else confirm this?


Am I correct to think one does not even need to provide income tax returns for previous years with the I-134 Affidavit of Support? I am filing for the K-1 visa and no where on the I-134 does it state to include tax returns (unless self-employed)-only letter from employer, bank statements (these two alone will prove for myself) and assests to prove 100% poverty level incme. I am confused with the what i read on the I-134 and what people are advsing me....what did everyone here initally send with their fiancee's Affidavit of support and was it sufficient???

Thanks so much....I am stressing
[/quote]

[quote name='tanyakaraman' date='Jun 19 2008, 07:48 AM' post='1943568']
Actually, I believe you are correct. It has been a year since I had to fill the I-134 and I guess I was confused (the one you file for adjustment of status is a lot more extensive). I'm pretty sure I had to bring my tax documents to the interview though...can anyone else confirm this?]

Thanks for the reassurance taanyakaraman...I know everyone stresses about one thing or another.....sigh I justt am trying to avoid giving my 2007 tax return because this is the year I took a "break" from working because I had just graduated in 12/06 and was burnt out....so if I can avoid it, I am not showing my measly 17,500 W-2 for 2007-if anything this would prove I didn't earn enough previously. I will bring it to the interview in case they ask, but if they do-I am screwed!!! I don't know what to do except drop it for now and worry later. I know the Affidavit of Support is a bit more complicated for the AOS, but I will be ok by then. 2008 is really my first year working full-time in my new career, so I have never had this income before because i was always in school and working at a job that was below or at the poverty level so.......
Anyway, I just need to stop stressing-whatever happens is whatever happens-

Sorry tanyakaraman! I mangled your name in my previous post

Erika, number 7 under "required documents" on the packet 3 instructions states that the most recent year's tax forms are required to be sent in with packet 3. You'll have to send them your transcripts for 2007 at the very least.

What is packet number 3 exactly? I have heard of it, but haven't got that far. Thanks.

Where can I find a detailed list like what you found on packet 3? ....I wanna be prepared. I had no idea packet 3 asks for more information about income when that is what the I-134 is supposed to do just that...I am learning more each day and I am glad you told me or I would be clueless until I actually had packet 3. Now, is packet 3 for the K-1 visa? Thanks again.

Hi, Erika.
After sending your K1 petition, you receive NOA1 that lets you know they have accepted your payment. Next, you receive NOA2 meaning that USCIS has approved your petition and forwarded it to NVC who, in turn, forwards your file to the embassy in Ankara. They do a little processing magic at the embassy and then send your fiancee what is referred to as packet 3. However, once you receive your NOA2, you and your fiancee can begin filling out the forms and collecting the appropriate documents before he will even receive the packet 3 in the mail. You can get those from the embassy website along with the instructions:
http://turkey.usembassy.gov/visa_forms.html

The US embassy in Ankara does things a little different from many other countries in that you submit everything to them by courier along with packet 3. This will include your tax crap and your fiance's birth certificate and translations and all of that. Reading the K1 instructions from that link above will probably answer most of your questions. Don't worry... it's pretty easy.

Thanks kennyandhandan and congratulations on your Visa..yay!!!!!!!!

Wow, it is very very quiet here lately where did everyone go???

Just stop by to see how everyone is doing and hope all is well with everyone too
Miss seeing everyone and hope to see more approvals for those still waiting or just starting out!

Yes, it has been very quiet..............nothing new here. Getting used to waiting and trying to prepare myself mentally for the craziness after we get the NOA2....work schedule...going to Ankara And probably moving at the same time.........

Merhaba! How is everyone doing? How is your summer going? Onur's interview is fast approaching! I am so excited and nervous!

A few questions:

His medical exam is in 4 days - what does he need to bring with him to the medical?

What does he need to bring to the K-1 interview? Ankara had us send most everything in with Packet 3 (All forms, I-134, tax transcripts, proof of ongoing relationship, etc.) He is going to bring a copy of all of the things we sent in with packet 3, and new proof of ongoing relationship (emails, chats, phone bill, etc.) Does he need to bring a new updated police certificate as the one we went will be almost 3 months old at the time of the interview? Anything else?

Thank you! Hope you are all enjoying the holiday weekend!

hey all - just checking in.

All going well here and we continue to wait on the removal of conditions. Hope everyone is doing well and enjoying the summer!

Hi everyone! I hope you are all doing well and enjoying the summer. Onur's interview is in 10 days and my nerves are killing me! I can't believe that the culminating moment of the last 8 months is finally here - I just hope and pray that it ends with a huge sigh of relief!

I am wondering what those of you who already went through the K1 interview process brought to the interview, as Ankara is a bit different and they have us send most everything in with Packet 3. I'm thinking Onur will just bring his medical report, visa fee receipt and new proof of ongoing relationship (since May when we sent in packet 3). He is also going to bring a copy of everything I sent in with the original petition and everything he sent in with Packet 3. Anything else?

Your input is appreciated!

Thank you!

Sounds like you are well prepared ...but don't forget to bring his passport! GL and keep us posted!

and speaking of interviews..Merk, if you read this, pls let us know how things are going since your visa approval! ;-)

Hey Turks & Turk-lovers

Just bumping the thread back to the first page...and counting down the hours until Onur's interview (10 hours and 45 minutes!)

I'll be checking in again soon!

Best of luck to you guys! We'll be thinking of you!!

Best wishes

Julia,
I will be praying for you and Onur that everything will go quick and smoothly at the interview and that he gets approved!!!
Hoping your worries will be at eased when Onur calls you with his good news, think positive and hope everything goes well! GOD Bless

Mina

Wendy,

I am also thinking of you and praying that you also hear something soon on Yilmaz's case!!!
GOD Bless

Mina

I also wanted to say Hi to everyone on our Turkish Forum!

Though it's been a little quiet here I am hoping to see some activities soon with some Good News and Approvals for all those still waiting, I really do miss seeing everyone here posting like it used to be before and keeping in touch with the latest news and updates!

Debra and John, Wendy, Julia, ErikaandHamit, kennyandhandan, awaterlily, tanyakaraman and to all the others couples, hope everyone is doing well, I miss you guys!

Anyway, Best of Luck to Julia tomorrow and take care everyone!!!

Mina

Tears are streaming down my face, and not happy ones

We are now in AP hell. Onur said the interview seemed to go fine, except for the fact that he was incredibly nervous, but the CO handed him the green slip which had Administrative Processing checked and told him to check Ankara embassy's website in 15 days for our case number, and when it appears to send in his passport with this refusal sheet.

I am so sad.

Wendy,

I am also thinking of you and praying that you also hear something soon on Yilmaz's case!!!
GOD Bless

Mina
[/quote]


Thank you so much Mina. You are so sweet!!! Still nothing. Just praying everyday, that is all I can do.

How is everything with you?




I am so sorry!!! We will keep you both in our prayers. Please keep us updated.

I am so sorry to hear the news. :::HUGS:::

On a very good note, it was NOT a denial. The green paper, I think, is a bit "friendlier" than the other colors - meaning they just need more info. His AP may simply mean the background checks are off sinc with the rest of the visa process. The fact that the CO continued the interview, said to check back on their site in a few weeks and when his # appears to send in the paper and passport is also very reassuring. They'll need the passport to issue the visa inside of it.

I imagine in light of the recent terrorist shootings/bombings in Istanbul (one at the American Embassy last month), that Immigration would take extra care with processing visas and respective security checks.

For whatever it's worth, hang in there, hun - this will all be behind you very soon.

Please KUP

Hi Julia,

I am so sorry to hear of your news!

Yes, as awaterlily also said it could be the extra precaution measures that the Embassy is taking now when sceening applicants at the interview due to the recent terrorist shootings/bombings in Istanbul. Also he was not denied either, so that is a good sign.

I always believe GOD has a reason for everything and everything will fall into place at the right time, so I believe that you and Onur will be together in some way, maybe not now but in good time soon!

I will keep you in my prayers for you and Onur to get your approval soon!
I know it's hard, but stay strong Julia and I am here if you ever need a hug

Mina

So sorry Julia, I hope it is resolved quickly!

Hi Everyone,

Just wanted to say "hi" and wish Juliaferno best of luck with the AP process. I am sure everything will be okay!!

Hi To awaterlily, tanyakaraman, and Mina. Hope all is going well with you. I haven't see both Debs on here for awhile, I hope all is well with them too!!

How are the "newbies" doing? I hope their visa process is going well. We all know this is a long and arduous journey!! Thank God we have this site and support of others that know exactly what we are going through!!

Take Care everyone and have a wonderful weekend whatever your plans maybe!!

Love and hugs,

Wendy

Hi to you too Wendy! Every time I sign on here, the first thing I look for is to see if there is an update for you and Yilmaz. I am hoping & praying your good news will arrive very soon! You two certainly deserve it.

Hugs!
Tanya

Tanya you are so very sweet and supportive. I am so lucky to have such a wonderful "Turkish family" here on visa journey!! It means a lot to me and I appreciate the thoughts and prayers very, (cok, cok) much!!

Love and thanks,

Wendy

hey all - just want to pop in and say "Merhaba!"...hope everyone is doing well.

Hi everyone! Glad to see everyone seems to be doing well.

Tanya - I love your new signature photo...you and Ozgur make such a beautiful couple!

Onur and I are still in AP but I've calmed down a bit and am back in the waiting mode. We're not really expecting an approval sooner than 2 months, although it would be a pleasant surprise. Miamiwife's husband has been in AP for 6 weeks now and I hope they will hear some good news very soon - insallah!

So I was reading a thread in the MENA forum that asked, if you had to move to your SO's country, would you? And I'm curious - would any of you move to Turkey indefinitely? After living in Turkey for 5 months last year, I would do it again only under certain conditions (where we lived, worked, being in a place where I could make friends with other English speakers, etc.) What about you all?

Hi Julia,

I thought and discussed this with my husband many times and agreed to move back to Turkey at the time of our retirement, but of course that won't be for another 15 to 20 years!
We hope to be able to buy a home there that we can use for a vacation home until we are ready to move there for good, this is just one of our plans so far. Like you I also would indefinitely move there under certain conditions too with where we would live and if there are other english speakers too.

This is still too far into the future, so for now we will stay put in the USA!

Hi Tanya, Wendy and awaterlily,

How is everyone doing? I am so glad to see you all here and postings being that our little Turkish forum has been kind of slow.

I come here everyday to keep myself busy and from missing my husband so much, believe me it has really helped alot!
I enjoy coming here and visiting the other forums and posting on the OT, since then I have met some of the other VJ'ers
VJ has alot of wonderful people and many have become dear friends. Of course I miss all of you too and wish I could get to see you all more here, but I do understand that everyone is busy or can't always come online.

Tanya, love the pic...you and hubby make a cute couple!

Wendy, how are you holding up? I am still praying you hear something soon!

awaterlily, how is everything with you and your little girl?

Well I hope you all have a Wonderful Week and Take Care

Tanya what a wonderful picture!!! Cok Guzel!!

Awaterlily, I love the picture of your little girl. What a beautiful little princess!!!

Mina, so glad to hear from you. Yilmaz and I have been waiting a year just on the waiver alone!! (it has been almost 2 years for this visa process!!) I talked to Yilmaz the other day and it is really getting hard to remain apart for so long!! I e-mailed Athens today to see if there is any word on how much longer. We shall see. Thank you so much for your continued prayers. My whole family and Yilmaz's too have been praying also.

Juliaferno, I hope you hear something soon on your AP!! I do remember all of us that our going through this process in my daily prayers!!

In answer to your question about living in Turkey. I do love Turkey, but I am afraid that I would not be able to get a job that could help support our family. I have a very good job here and great health benefits and belong to a wonderful retirement system! I just think Yilmaz and I would be able to have a better standard of living here in the US. Also, I don't think we would live in an area where there would be many English speaking people and I don't think I would be able to handle that. But of course if this is our only option, I would do it and give up a lot to be with my love!! I was really hoping that he could come here and we could start our life here and save money and eventually have a home in Turkey and split our time between the two countries. Time will tell!!

Best wishes to you all. My love and prayers to everyone!!

Wendy

Hi everyone and thanks so much for your kind comments on our pic! It's my favorite picture of us...taken at the beach in Istanbul where we stayed for a week in August '06 (the first time I traveled back to visit him after we met 2 months earlier). I remember how scared I was then....wondering if he'd really be waiting for me at the other end...amazing how far we've come since then

As far as moving to Turkey, I personally would love to! Ozzy initially invited me to move there to live with him and I would have loved to take him up on the offer. It presented a legal problem, however, because of my 3 children. There is no way their father would ever agree to me moving out of the country with them, and I would never attempt it any other way than legally. So, unfortunately, for now it is not an option for us. We do hope to move there someday though, after the kids become of legal age....or doing as Wendy said and splitting our time between here and there...

As far as me finding a job in Turkey...that is a subject we have given a lot of though to. I am still not anywhere close to fluent in Turkish (although I am making slow progress ). Ozzy says that I could easily get a job teaching English, and there are many English language schools in Istanbul. From what I have learned (Ozzy rented a room to 2 different roomates who were working in Istanbul as English teachers), they actually prefer to hire non-Turkish speakers, since that eliminates the temptation to teach the class partially in Turkish. I just don't feel I have the "teacher gene" though and don't think I would be happy doing that. Its a definite possibilty for anyone else who might enjoy it though...

On the other hand, I am currently 3 semsters away from getting my RN degree in nursing, but apparently nursing is not a very lucrative or prestigous profession in Turkey like it is here in the US (besides the fact that I would not only need to be fluent in conversational Turkish, but also medical Turkish) and it seems like sort of a shame to throw away all the time and effort I've put into getting that degree, ya know?

I have also given thought to possibly working in one of the US Embassies...or doing as I found another American Ex-pat married to a Turkish man in Antalya doing- she and her husband own a 150-ft sailboat and take vacationers out on day/week-long cruises during the tourist season! That seemed like ever so much fun

Otherwise, I'm not sure if I could be content with being a housewife in Turkey...I think I'd be willing to give it a try though

My best wishes to everyone...especially Julia & Wendy, my thoughts are with you guys!

Tanya

Merhaba Everyone,

It's been awhile......can’t explain how busy I am. Sorry for not coming around more often.

Julia I hope you hear something very quickly....(((Hugs))) Pardon my quick pm response. Right when I think I have a moment to write...seems I can’t finish anything I am doing at the moment. Did he find out anything regarding that issue?

Wendy....(((hugs))) to you also... I feel so bad for those of you who are in this position of having to wait to be with the one you love....

Mina...Happy belated Birthday. When is hubby coming home?
awaterlily......glad all is going well. Your daughter is sSsooo pretty!
Tanya I too Love your photo, how sweet!!!
For all those who are in the process.........best wishes....times can be very hard but the end result will take your breath away.

About moving to Turkey...........IN A HEART BEAT..! Yes, I could live in Turkey perfectly fine. Inshallah, maybe one day.

I would be perfectly fine being a house wife because I am dead tired of working and dealing with problem employee's............... got 1 issue that is horrible! Can’t seem to fire/terminate anyone anymore. I'm tired.!

My husband and I are doing well. I think the next process is citizenship which we should be able to do here in a few months. I need to start reading up on it more but finding time is hard right now. He wants to keep his citizenship with Turkey also...

We are in the process of buying a home...making allot of offers on short sales, so paperwork is non stop and they take forever...we lost a few because of being outbid...so ;-) Inshallah maybe one pans out. It's a buyers market for sure.

I am working part time for a friend of mine, she needed someone to do her business books...so...that's what I am doing in my spare time.

Other than the above...kids & husband... my time is limited ;-)

I better get back to work.....lots to do.

Best of wishes to everyone.
Debbie

Merhaba from Marmaris, Turkey!

I didn't know this part of the forums existed until Mina sent me a note yesterday! I am an American who has been living and working in Turkey for the past 3 1/2 years, got married, and applied for my husband's visa via the US Embassy in Ankara (we did DCF for CR-1). We just got back this morning from our interview in Ankara and we were approved! We applied in May and were approved yesterday, so it didn't take long.... now we just have to start planning when we'll move back to the US.



It seems many of you want to come live in Turkey so if you have any questions about it, feel free to PM me. I lived and worked in Istanbul for 3 years and had a variety of jobs: started as an English teacher, then became the manager/DOS, started writing for a newspaper, and now I'm in Marmaris and I have a part-time job doing market research in Turkey for a company in the US. It's a wonderful country to live in, but it's quite difficult to make ends meet, especially in Istanbul. The cost of living has risen exponentially in the little time I've been here, but wages tend to stay the same. If you find a cushy expat job and are recruited from abroad, you will have a much better salary and life is much more comfortable.

For me, I love Turkey and my husband does too, but I think we both agree that we will have far better opportunities in the US. Our goal is to move to the US, work hard, and hopefully come back in 10-15 years to a nice seaside town.

Anyway, I'm so happy and relieved that my husband will be receiving his visa in the mail!!! I can't wait to come back to the US and celebrate Thanksgiving and Christmas this year with my family.

Kendine iyi bak!

Camistanbul, welcome to to the Turkish forum and congratulations on your fast approval!!!!

I want to ask you...(and really everyone on the board!)...well, how fluent are you in Turkish and what affect did that have on your ability to get a job in Turkey? If you are pretty fluent, how long did it take you to become so?

I have been trying to at least get to the point where I can have a basic conversation for about 2 years now, and progress has been soooo slow. My husband's English is excellent so we usually just converse in that language. He teaches me little bits, and I pick up a lot more during our visits to Turkey....as well as watching Turkish movies on Youtube and fooling around with a Turkish Rosetta Stone CD I bought, but I'm still not able to carry (or understand) a real conversation with my in-laws, mostly because I have a really hard time with the verb conjugation.

It's very frustrating to me....

Tebrikler camistanbul! That's great news. I'm happy for you (and jealous!) I'm starting to think I should have stayed in Turkey as well and taken the CR-1/IR-1 route!

Where will you be moving back to in the states?

Keep us posted!

I speak very little Turkish and while I stayed there, was offered a permanent teaching position and one in sales. Had I taken the teaching position I would have made more $ than my Turkish sister in law, who is a teacher by profession and with a teaching degree.

If one is interested in teaching, what I recall is the schools do most recruiting in the school year for the next school year. And, I suppose some of the job availability depends on demand and your locality.

It seems there is more of a demand for American English than British - at least that was my experience. Perhaps due to saturation?

Schools do most of their recruitment before the school year begins and then again in the wintertime, though people are always coming and going and if you want to find a teaching job it's not too difficult. People who have a university degree, TEFL certification, or even better, CELTA or DELTA certification will be able to find the better, higher paying jobs. As the Director of Studies of a school, it didn't matter to me (or to my company) if someone was British or American. We tried to find a balance in the schools so students would be exposed to all kinds of accents. And yes, foreign teachers always make more money than their Turkish counterparts, even though the Turkish teachers are generally well-trained, speak good English, and have more experience. It's just the way it is, even though it doesn't seem very fair!

How fluent am I in Turkish? Well, considering I worked 6 days a week at a school and spoke no Turkish there, and went home to my English-speaking husband..... I'm not really where I'd like to be. I took a course at TOMER in Istanbul and it was good for the basics. I can understand well but speaking is quite difficult. We're staying with my in-laws now for the next 3 months (before we move back to the US!) so I'm trying to practice and it's coming along, but slowly. As far as jobs are concerned, most teaching jobs would not want you to speak Turkish with the students, in my experience. At my school, it wasn't allowed. I only know a couple of foreigners who are truly fluent, but they had boyfriends/girlfriends who couldn't speak English or hung out with people who never spoke English with them. I've tried to get my husband to do that, but he gets bored after a while.

That said, there are lots of jobs out there and I am fortunate to know many American women working in Istanbul doing everything from law, research, reporting, teaching, music, etc. If you really want to live in Turkey, it's possible -- just kind of far away.

Wow, that is very interesting and encouraging! Especially living in a country where we expect everyone who comes here to learn "our" language in order to get very far...

I have a very basic vocabulary of nouns and adjectives, a few common greetings, etc. (and Ozzy has taught me an assortment of curse words LOL), but the Turkish verb tenses just confuse the heck out of me!

My lack of ability to speak Turkish has led to some interesting situations sometimes, since Ozzy is really the only person in his whole family who speaks English. Sometimes he will run to the store or whatever without his cell and his mom or sister will call for him. I have a little "script" I memorized so I can tell them he's at the store, will come back in a few mins, and I'll tell him to call them back, etc. His mom worries that if "anything" ever happend to him, I wouldn't be able to tell them. But really, I just love his family and would love to be able to really pick their brains...or have a little "girl talk" with his sisters (without an interpreter)

Maybe someday...