My wife came over on a K1 visa recently and all was going good. I was making about $25,000 per year etc... To make a long story short, I lost my job and don't have the education / skills to get a job (that I can find anyways) paying that much. I found a position making $9 per hour and barely can get by. People keep telling me about all these programs for government assistance, but we havent files AOS yet.

Since I sponsored her, will we have no shot of obtaining assistance? We did use a co-sponsor aswell when we filed. We are desperate. some help with rent or food or anything would be nice. I am looking for a 2nd job now, but no luck. Any ideas?

The way I understand it is, if you are the USC then as such you are entitled to assistance by virtue of being a United States citizen.

Wish you to find a job soon!!

I'm not the one looking for a job

You can file for whatever assistance you require as you are the USC. Aren't you getting unemployment since you lost your job? That should help with the bills at least temporarily.

If you file AOS your wife will have EAD in about 90days, and then she can go out & work to help out also. Don't despair, just pick yourself up and research ALL your options. Good luck

Go file unemployment, use it that is what it is for when people like you lose a job at no fault of their own. Good luck.

Man, I feel for you. I only make $35000.00 per year and my ex is sucking 1300 per month out for child and spousal support. That leaves me with $230 per week to live on. Not a lot of money in the S.F. bay area. Especially with gas reaching 5.00 per gallon

My petitions were just approved for the first stage and to tell you the truth, I am deathly scared about bringing them over here. I am having a hard enough time taking care of my self let alone two other people.

I am getting booted out of my job next summer just about time the process is wrapped up providing I don't run into any problems. She wants to do care giving. Which would help, but I am 56 yrs old without no skills as well being phased out of jobs that don't need my kind of labor anymore so it's really a difficult call for right now to even keep going with the petitions or should I wait a few years until I get the child support off my judgment from my divorce. My kid is 16 so I have two yrs on that. I guess then it's college money.
martinbr

You can get assistance for yourself but not your wife. Let me clarify, you should not request assistance for your wife, because what many states do is provide the assistance and then bill the sponsor. In your case the sponsor can't pay, so they'd go to the co-sponsor. It's a slap in the face for your co-sponsor to get billed from the government. It would be better for you to ask them directly for help. Especially since the government bills them more than they paid out to you and your wife because of administrative expenses.

If your wife can start working that would be great. Have you filed the AOS? I know money is tight, but it should be a priority right now so that your wife can get EAD and begin to assist in maintaining the household financially.

Getting unemployment money and government assistance for yourself is ok. It is when you apply for assistance for your wife where it will be a problem. She can not get any type of government assistance or else the sponsor or co-sponsor will be billed for it.

I am sure your wife will be a big help to you. Nannys are getting $10-15/hour depends on the city. And it is cash. She might be a breadwiner for sometime.

Hi! i really feel what u feel right now when my hubby was fired without reasons. We were confused that time on how to file AOS especially the payment was high. But, thankfully God hears our prayer and he was able to save money for AOS payment. He also receive unemployment but its not enough for expences so its really hard. I was really keep praying that God will hear us and that he could find job at least for the time we need it for interview. Its kinda hard if the interviewer will ask you like employment letter or paystubs if you dont have ( God forbid). The interviewer never asked anything even if we're already prepared. So, just keep on praying i know God will hear you. You can do it and I'll pray for you. I been through with what u experience now thats why i cant resist not to post here. You can do it !

but what about the AOS interview? Won't they wonder how I am sponsoring my wife, and getting government assistance at the same time? so confusing. I spent like 3 hours or so on Google and can't find many solid answers

From what I read; at the time of filing for your wife to join you your income met the requirements, to bring your wife here. Now she's here and you lost your job ? I'm just trying to clarify.

thats correct

Is it just the two of you in your family or are there also dependants?

http://www.uscis.gov/files/form/I-864P.pdf

If there are just two of you, at $9 an hour you should qualify.