Self Sponsorship

[Damian P 92]

Was just reading a thread in the K1 section of the board, and somebody brought up the subject of self-sponsorship, which is apparently an option with the London embassy. How much (in cash) do you need? Can anyone put a figure on it?

[English Muffin 59]

Was just reading a thread in the K1 section of the board, and somebody brought up the subject of self-sponsorship, which is apparently an option with the London embassy. How much (in cash) do you need? Can anyone put a figure on it?

I'm afraid the Embassy won't put a minimum figure on it - they'll just make a determination on the day. I ended up (successfully) self-sponsoring back in January because my husband started a new job a week before my interview and we couldn't get a new I-134 together in time. If you want to go this route the only thing you can do is try and see what happens.

[Damian P 92]

Was just reading a thread in the K1 section of the board, and somebody brought up the subject of self-sponsorship, which is apparently an option with the London embassy. How much (in cash) do you need? Can anyone put a figure on it?

I'm afraid the Embassy won't put a minimum figure on it - they'll just make a determination on the day. I ended up (successfully) self-sponsoring back in January because my husband started a new job a week before my interview and we couldn't get a new I-134 together in time. If you want to go this route the only thing you can do is try and see what happens.

If you don't mind my asking EM, how much did you have when you were approved? You can PM me if you prefer?

[English Muffin 59]

If you don't mind my asking EM, how much did you have when you were approved? You can PM me if you prefer?

I don't mind, I think I've already mentioned it before somewhere. I had £45,000 - profit from selling my flat.

People have self-sponsored with much less though. I know someone who did it with £9000 and someone with £5000 (but that one was a few years ago now).

[Damian P 92]

If you don't mind my asking EM, how much did you have when you were approved? You can PM me if you prefer?

I don't mind, I think I've already mentioned it before somewhere. I had £45,000 - profit from selling my flat.

People have self-sponsored with much less though. I know someone who did it with £9000 and someone with £5000 (but that one was a few years ago now).

Mmmm, I'm only gonna have around £6,000 - and that'll be in March when I plan on leaving. Oh well, I guess I'd better just hope that the queen of procrastination ('er indoors) comes through for me here!

[Chelle62 0]

I am also curious about this as I cant find a cosponsor for my fiance. I am american and he is british. Is it possible for him to sponsor himself to come to america as I dont make enough money and noone will help us? If so then how does he go about this. thankyou for your replys in advance

ChelleKeith

[Nich-Nick 3,353]

From London Embassy FAQ. It is mostly talking about the I-864 Affidavit of Support, but I think the guidelines apply to the I-134 as well.

My British pension cannot be counted as income, but can it be counted as assets?

Yes, you may take your British pension into consideration when calculating your assets.

Do I just total up my assets and add it to my income?

No. To be counted, the cash value of your assets must be at least five times the difference between your income and the 125% of the poverty line for your household size. Example: Your household size is four and you have an income of $18,000. 125% of the poverty line for your household is $21, 312. Therefore the value of your assets must total at least five times the difference between $18,000 and $21,312, i.e. $3,312 X 5 = $16,560.

Reference: http://www.usembassy.org.uk/cons_new/faqs/....html#income009

And the poverty guidelines: http://www.uscis.gov/files/form/I-864P.pdf

And this shows what to use to prove Applicants Own Funds: http://www.usembassy.org.uk/cons_new/visa/iv/faffidavit.html

Edited September 3, 2008 by Nich-Nick

[Damian P 92]

I am also curious about this as I cant find a cosponsor for my fiance. I am american and he is british. Is it possible for him to sponsor himself to come to america as I dont make enough money and noone will help us? If so then how does he go about this. thankyou for your replys in advance

ChelleKeith

Reading Nich's post, it looks like 10 grand* in English money will do the trick, Chelle. That'll take a bit of saving for an ordinary working man, but it's not impossible.

*Unless your poverty line is higher, of course.

Edited September 3, 2008 by Damian P

[Chelle62 0]

It is Me and my daughter so am not sure what the income has to be. I am not good at figuring that out lol. Keith is home now and we have talked and we both agree we will do whatever it takes to be together so I am feeling better and I need all the information I can get to do with this.

Thanks again

Chelle

[weedebz 0]

I am the one that self sponsored with 9K (almost $18K at the time). I think as long as you can show you have enough to survive on thats fine.

[English Muffin 59]

I am the one that self sponsored with 9K (almost $18K at the time). I think as long as you can show you have enough to survive on thats fine.

Thanks for coming along Debz, I didn't feel it was my place to mention you by name.

[NickyMcMillan 0]

There was a guy not so long ago on the brit expat forum who got approved with 5k. This seems reasonable as the K1 visa is not a immigrant visa. But you would need to consider the next stage. How you go about meeting the AOS financial requirements, if you can't get a sponsor.

[MargotDarko 0]

There was a guy not so long ago on the brit expat forum who got approved with 5k. This seems reasonable as the K1 visa is not a immigrant visa. But you would need to consider the next stage. How you go about meeting the AOS financial requirements, if you can't get a sponsor.

Exactly. You don't need to show as much at this stage because they're only approving you for 90 days technically. But by the time the next stage came around, hopefully you'll have a job that makes enough.

I would have thought you'd have a chance with 6,000 GBP actually. I would try to get someone at the embassy to talk to you about it.

[English Muffin 59]

I would have thought you'd have a chance with 6,000 GBP actually. I would try to get someone at the embassy to talk to you about it.

I tried to do that and they wouldn't. I'm not saying that someone else shouldn't try, just be prepared for them not to give you a straight answer or a minimum amount.

[Damian P 92]

There was a guy not so long ago on the brit expat forum who got approved with 5k. This seems reasonable as the K1 visa is not a immigrant visa. But you would need to consider the next stage. How you go about meeting the AOS financial requirements, if you can't get a sponsor.

Exactly. You don't need to show as much at this stage because they're only approving you for 90 days technically. But by the time the next stage came around, hopefully you'll have a job that makes enough.

I would have thought you'd have a chance with 6,000 GBP actually. I would try to get someone at the embassy to talk to you about it.

The problem is, that I won't be able to show I have the 6k at interview - I'll only have that come March. And anyway, the other posters are correct re the AOS stage.

Nevermind.