In their infinite wisdom, the Bangkok embassy has decided that I have not been employed long enough to financially qualify for my fiancees visa. yippee.

The only option of a joint sponsor are my parents, who are retired. (I know, I know, my parents are old enough to be retired, and I don't make enough?......yah yah, I spent 2 years vacationing in Thailand, and have only been back and employed for 3 months. My salary is well over the minimum requirements, but blah blah blah).

Anyway, a few questions about my folks.

First, they are retired, and don't work. So no letter of employment from any employer. Problem?

Second, they have been filing jointly for 50 years. Can you file a joint I-134, or will 2 be required?

Third. Is it even worth trying? They certainly have assets, savings, retirement income, etc. but no jobs.

Opinions highly appreciated.

Thanks,
Michael

Employment doesn't matter if they can still show assets, etc, that bring them to that required amount per year. Read the I-134 instructions again.

Bear in mind that ANYONE can be a cosponsor, doesn't need to be a family member. If that helps.

Yah, but the couple financially well-off friends I asked told me I was insane to even hope they would send that kind of sensitive information to a south-east asian country.

Think about it. Birth certificates, passports, bank accounts, tax returns, etc. A identity thief's dream come true. All trusted to FedEx and a mail sorter in Bangkok....

My friends said they would love to help, but that they found the info risk unacceptable.

Can't say I blame them. Whattaya gonna do?

Thanks for the response.
Michael

Michael,

Income from sources other than employment is still income. They just need to have enough of it, from ongoing sources.

Yodrak

Okay, I will give them a shot. I mean, what choice do I have? heh heh.

The other part of the question. All their stuff is joint money. Do I have them do 2 I-134s with only one set of supporting documents, or just have one of them do a form, and use joint data for just the one of them, having only one of them be the joint sponsor?

Thanks again,
Michael

well, you should read the instructions again. a cosponsor doesn't send a birth cert, or a passport. And bank accounts can have their account numbers redacted. in fact, all that's needed is a letter, could be done with "acct xxx-xxx-xx-4325" or whatever. tax returns are only needed if the person is self-employed. they still may not wish to help, but there are MANY ways to insulate oneself from identity theft and with the right cosponsor, there's a lot less needed in evidence than people tend to include.

You are correct regarding those items. I was mistaken. The lawfirm that is handling our case requested all those other documents be sent with the I-134. I am sure it is a case of shotgunning the embassy with paperwork overkill, but I sent an email raising your point.

Thank you so much for pointing this out.

Michael

What you really need to read up on is what the consulate in Thailand typically requires for the affidavit. They may indeed require tax returns - I have no idea whether they do or not, but some consulates do.

Really! ANYONE, TimsDaisy?

Daisy,


A sponsor does need to be a US citizen or LPR, and they should be prepared to prove it if asked


Tax returns may be needed as a supporting document to the I-134 only for the self-employed, but tax returns are perhaps the most frequently asked for finanacial document outside of the I-134. See DS-2000 (formerly OF-167) 'Evidence That May Be Provided To Meet The Public Charge Provisions Of The Law' - submitting an affidavit of support is optional at the discretion of the consular officer and is but one of a number of financial documents that may be requested.

The consular officers in Bangkok want the one most recent tax return from sponsors of K-visa applicants.

Yodrak

Yodrak,

Does the sponsor need to prove citizenship for the I134? I nearly corrected this myself as citizenship or status must be proven for the I864, but I did not think proof was required for I134.

Unless you're referring to 'if the question is asked'.

Becca

Becca,

Let's think about this for a moment. I-134 is being submitted in connection with an application for what type of visa? And what is one of the qualifications for the petitioner, which qualification has to be documented with the petition?

It should be unnecessary for a petitioner-sponsor to have to document their US citizenship as part of their financial sponsorship package, evidence of their citizenship is already in the case file.

I think it's quite likely that a sponsor other than the petitioner will be asked to document their citizenship or LPR status.

Yodrak

Y -

Oh I agree. But the silly form doesn't ask them to attach documentation as proof. It just asks for the A number or whatever is applicable.

Becca