Is something fishy going on?

[mkg265 2]

So my husband's niece wants to visit the United States with her new husband for Easter. All involved are Albanian by birth (except me!). Niece and husband live in London and she has an Italian passport (since she lived there for over 20 years) and new husband has an Albanian passport with a work visa for the UK. I just did the visas for my in-laws and I only had to fill out DS-160s for them on the internet and they got their visas quickly from Albania (I understand their ties are strong since they own their own home and are in their 70's and 80's). My husband's sister (my sister-in-law) says I need to fill out a I-134 (affidavit of support) for the new husband to come over. I didn't do this for my in-laws and I really don't want my social security number floating around on some random paperwork. 

 

Shouldn't he apply for a non-immigrant visa via an DS-160 first then see if they ask for an affidavit of support? Would someone need it before they applied for a visa?  I'm confused about when the affidavit of support comes into play. 

 

Thank you!

[Californiansunset 332]

3 minutes ago, mkg265 said:

So my husband's niece wants to visit the United States with her new husband for Easter. All involved are Albanian by birth (except me!). Niece and husband live in London and she has an Italian passport (since she lived there for over 20 years) and new husband has an Albanian passport with a work visa for the UK. I just did the visas for my in-laws and I only had to fill out DS-160s for them on the internet and they got their visas quickly from Albania (I understand their ties are strong since they own their own home and are in their 70's and 80's). My husband's sister (my sister-in-law) says I need to fill out a I-134 (affidavit of support) for the new husband to come over. I didn't do this for my in-laws and I really don't want my social security number floating around on some random paperwork. 

 

Shouldn't he apply for a non-immigrant visa via an DS-160 first then see if they ask for an affidavit of support? Would someone need it before they applied for a visa?  I'm confused about when the affidavit of support comes into play. 

 

Thank you!

The I-134 (affidavit of support) is not needed for a tourist visa. Maybe she got wrong information and thinks that you sponsoring him would help him getting the visa. Apart from the fact that this wouldn't require the I-134 to be filled out, having a US relative sponsor most of the time actually hurts your case instead of helping. 

[GreatDane 366]

26 minutes ago, mkg265 said:

So my husband's niece wants to visit the United States with her new husband for Easter. All involved are Albanian by birth (except me!). Niece and husband live in London and she has an Italian passport (since she lived there for over 20 years) and new husband has an Albanian passport with a work visa for the UK. I just did the visas for my in-laws and I only had to fill out DS-160s for them on the internet and they got their visas quickly from Albania (I understand their ties are strong since they own their own home and are in their 70's and 80's). My husband's sister (my sister-in-law) says I need to fill out a I-134 (affidavit of support) for the new husband to come over. I didn't do this for my in-laws and I really don't want my social security number floating around on some random paperwork. 

 

Shouldn't he apply for a non-immigrant visa via an DS-160 first then see if they ask for an affidavit of support? Would someone need it before they applied for a visa?  I'm confused about when the affidavit of support comes into play. 

 

Thank you!

I don't think it's anything fishy. I think they've just gotten their wires crossed at some point and misunderstood what was required.

 

In rare cases, they do ask to submit an I-134 form and it's better to not submit one unless specifically requested in the individual's unique circumstance. (https://www.murthy.com/2016/10/03/form-i-134-affidavit-of-support-for-b-1-b-2-visitor-visas/) 

Edited February 27, 2018 by GreatDane

[SusieQQQ 11,584]

Or rather than the website of an attorney trying to drum up business as the previous poster linked, you can go straight to the official US Dept of State website, which specifically says this will be disregarded:

 

Note: Visa applicants must qualify on the basis of the applicant's residence and ties abroad, rather than assurances from U.S. family and friends. A letter of invitation or Affidavit of Support is not needed to apply for a nonimmigrant tourist visa. If you do choose to bring a letter of invitation or Affidavit of Support to your interview, please remember that it is not one of the factors that we use in determining whether to issue or deny a nonimmigrant tourist visa.

https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/tourism-visit/visitor.html

 

[Boiler 43,437]

Probably not fishy, just misinformed.

[Cyberfx1024 7,978]

16 hours ago, mkg265 said:

So my husband's niece wants to visit the United States with her new husband for Easter. All involved are Albanian by birth (except me!). Niece and husband live in London and she has an Italian passport (since she lived there for over 20 years) and new husband has an Albanian passport with a work visa for the UK. I just did the visas for my in-laws and I only had to fill out DS-160s for them on the internet and they got their visas quickly from Albania (I understand their ties are strong since they own their own home and are in their 70's and 80's). My husband's sister (my sister-in-law) says I need to fill out a I-134 (affidavit of support) for the new husband to come over. I didn't do this for my in-laws and I really don't want my social security number floating around on some random paperwork. 

 

Shouldn't he apply for a non-immigrant visa via an DS-160 first then see if they ask for an affidavit of support? Would someone need it before they applied for a visa?  I'm confused about when the affidavit of support comes into play. 

 

Thank you!

Probably just misinformed as another poster has said previously. It is a common misconception that you will a I-134 or a Invitation letter for the visa interview in order for it to be approved.