QUOTE(martinbr @ Aug 20 2008, 11:07 AM)

I am just wondering if anyone other than myself is trying to get there spouses and kids to the U.S. without any money in there bank account. I live from paycheck to paycheck trying to get by here in this messed up economy. And to be truthful, I really don't know if it's a really good idea to bring them over here without any backup.
I am in such a financial mess right now with a ex-wife and the IRS, that it scares the hell out of me if I couldn't be able to take care of them. I qualify with my job for support but I will be losing my job next year due to outsourcing. I will be getting a buyout from the company in which I was going to use to get them over here, but I am having a hard enough time of taking care of myself let alone two other people. They might be better off staying where they are until I get it together. It would break her heart though since I know she is really counting on me getting her over here.
Has anyone else been through this situation and has made it work? I am just curious. I was almost thinking about just forgetting about getting them over here right now until things change for me financially. It looks like most people that just make the poverty guidelines have family to fall back on if something goes wrong. I have known whatsoever that I could depend on if things got really bad. I hate to sound so negative about this but I am just trying to be realistic and not make a huge mistake of getting my loved ones over here and them depending on me to take care of them and I won't be able to. I am have a hard enough time of taking care of myself right now.
I just don't know if I should just keep the process going and hope that things turn around for me or just put it on hold for now and wait a few years if she wants to wait that long for me.
martinbr
I can see from your timeline that your spouse is from the Philipines. You don't mention how old you are, or how many kids are coming over with her. I think you're doing a good job in thinking of their welfare and as Peggy says, being responsible. While you could change the actual visa to a CR-1 so that she could work right away, you'd have to consider how her job prospects look. Is she trained for anything? Is her English good enough to find a job here? Again, depending on how many children you have, daycare might be not affordable, and it may mean she can't work. However, if you can't find a job, and she could, then she could work and you could stay at home with the children.
It's sad to say that 90% of failed marriages in North America are over finances. Just barely getting by financially yourself is different than exposing your new wife and children to the same. Have you talked about this with her? She's your wife and should be part of this decision making process. I'm sure she would be sad and hurt, but if you both can get together a reasonable plan for some financial security for the future and work towards that, then it might not be that long before she can be with you in the USA.
Depending on your circumstances, you may want to look at you moving to the Philippines. I know there have been a few members that have left the USA to live there, and have started up their own business.
Would it be advantageous for you to move to another State to find better reemployment opportunities for yourself before bringing your wife and children over?
Sorry, again, I don't know your circumstances. I do feel for you however, and hope you
both can find a way to talk about this before her getting the visa. I think it woud be a shock to her to think one thing if you weren't honest with her about your financial situation, and to find out that you're getting food from the food bank after she arrives.