Financial Requirements?

[newyorktooaxaca 0]

Hi everyone,

I am new to this forum, and I have to say that it is rad! I think it will be really helpful as I go through this process. I am a US citizen living in Mexico, and I work for en environmental nonprofit organization here. I earn very little money is US terms, and I have no savings (not to mention a few dents in my credit report more recently). My fiance is also poor having just completed school. He has no savings. We'll have the money for the processing fees, but I am wondering if the immigration authorities ask for any financial requirements for this visa? I read through all the stuff on this site, and I don't see any official forms about finances, but I read on a few other sites that the US citizens must have a minimum income. Is this true?

I look forward to your responses!

Thanks!

[Mew 0]

Hi everyone,

I am new to this forum, and I have to say that it is rad! I think it will be really helpful as I go through this process. I am a US citizen living in Mexico, and I work for en environmental nonprofit organization here. I earn very little money is US terms, and I have no savings (not to mention a few dents in my credit report more recently). My fiance is also poor having just completed school. He has no savings. We'll have the money for the processing fees, but I am wondering if the immigration authorities ask for any financial requirements for this visa? I read through all the stuff on this site, and I don't see any official forms about finances, but I read on a few other sites that the US citizens must have a minimum income. Is this true?

I look forward to your responses!

Thanks!

Yes, it's true. It'll be needed a bit later in the process when your fiance attends the interview in Mexico. I don't know how this works in Mexico, but you have to either be 100% or 125% above the poverty guidelines that you'll find here: http://www.uscis.gov/graphics/formsfee/for...iles/I-864p.pdf However, you can get a co-sponsor if you don't meet the financial requirements.

Another question: do you intend to live in the U.S. some time soon in the future? K1s are for that purpose - the USC petitions for the fiance living abroad so they can get married within 90 days as of the entry and live in the U.S.

[newyorktooaxaca 0]

Hi again,

Yes, we plan on going to the States when we can get a visa. So I must meet those poverty limits in the US huh? No, I don't even make that much here in Mexico (and I am living the most luxurious life I have ever lived!), and when I go back I plan on finishing my last semester of grad school. Does anybody know if the sponsor has to be a family member? Of can it be a friend? Also how far along in the process do we need to show our finances? Should we start now even though we don't meet that requirement and look for a sponsor?

Thanks again!

[Mew 0]

Hi again,

Yes, we plan on going to the States when we can get a visa. So I must meet those poverty limits in the US huh? No, I don't even make that much here in Mexico (and I am living the most luxurious life I have ever lived!), and when I go back I plan on finishing my last semester of grad school. Does anybody know if the sponsor has to be a family member? Of can it be a friend? Also how far along in the process do we need to show our finances? Should we start now even though we don't meet that requirement and look for a sponsor?

Thanks again!

As for the sponsor's question: it doesn't have to be a family member, it could be a friend too. You'll need it after some months. However, I believe you have to be currently living in the U.S. to apply for the K1.

Read through the guides and FAQs to have a better input on the available choices.

Edited July 28, 2006 by Mew

[kitkat1 5]

You actually can file the paperwork from another country and be living there during the processing. The key is you have to have a US permanent address where they will send paperwork - it's not much, just the first Notice of Action, any potential requests for evidence if they need more information from you, and your actual approval notice. Most other communication can be received via email or by checking your status online. So if you have all the paperwork you need available or can have it sent to you (i.e. a copy of your birth certificate, etc) you'll be fine if you use your parent's address. As long as you plan to return to the US within 6 months of his receipt of his visa and as long as you plan to get married within 90 days and continue the adjustment of his status in the US, it's fine.

As for the co-sponser, you'll have to read through the guides to get an understanding of that. You will need all of the financial information in time for his interview in Ciudad Juarez. You can review the "fiance packet" requirements on the CDJ website, specifically form OF-167 which is their equivalent of the affadivit of support (although most people use the standard I-134 form there as well)

http://usembassy.state.gov/CiudadJuarez/ww...ml#fiancepacket

Good luck.

[Mew 0]

You actually can file the paperwork from another country and be living there during the processing. The key is you have to have a US permanent address where they will send paperwork

Thanks, kitkat!

[newyorktooaxaca 0]

Hi again Kitkat,

I just sent in our packet to the Vermont center so we are finally on this journey! I am a little confused about the process in Mexico (maybe I am getting a little ahead of myself here.) Is the embassy in Juarez the only embassy in Mexico that processes K-1 visas? I am also a little confused about the fees. Will my fiance have to pay $383.00 for visa processing plus $135 for the medical examination? Wow, that seems like a lot of money. I would love any advice you have about the process in Mexico!

Thanks!!

You actually can file the paperwork from another country and be living there during the processing. The key is you have to have a US permanent address where they will send paperwork - it's not much, just the first Notice of Action, any potential requests for evidence if they need more information from you, and your actual approval notice. Most other communication can be received via email or by checking your status online. So if you have all the paperwork you need available or can have it sent to you (i.e. a copy of your birth certificate, etc) you'll be fine if you use your parent's address. As long as you plan to return to the US within 6 months of his receipt of his visa and as long as you plan to get married within 90 days and continue the adjustment of his status in the US, it's fine.

As for the co-sponser, you'll have to read through the guides to get an understanding of that. You will need all of the financial information in time for his interview in Ciudad Juarez. You can review the "fiance packet" requirements on the CDJ website, specifically form OF-167 which is their equivalent of the affadivit of support (although most people use the standard I-134 form there as well)

http://usembassy.state.gov/CiudadJuarez/ww...ml#fiancepacket

Good luck.

[kitkat1 5]

Hi again Kitkat,

I just sent in our packet to the Vermont center so we are finally on this journey! I am a little confused about the process in Mexico (maybe I am getting a little ahead of myself here.) Is the embassy in Juarez the only embassy in Mexico that processes K-1 visas? I am also a little confused about the fees. Will my fiance have to pay $383.00 for visa processing plus $135 for the medical examination? Wow, that seems like a lot of money. I would love any advice you have about the process in Mexico!

Thanks!!

Congrats on starting the process!

Yes, Ciudad Juarez is the only place in Mexico that processes K1s so that's where he'll have his interview.

The Visa Fee is $100.

Medical is $135.00 + tax and + cost of any necessary vaccinations. But you can wait and do vaccinations in the US or try bringing his medical records to show what he does and doesn't need - apparently they don't often pay attention to those but it's worth a try.

I'm not sure where you saw the $383.00 fee but that doesn't ring a bell with me.

The only other thing to add in is the cost of travel and accomodation in CDJ.

Hope that helps!

[Yodrak 7]

Mew,

It needs to be someone who the consular officer feels will actually put up the support money offered if the need arises, since there's no way to force them to. Some consulates tend to be more trusting than others - the consulate in Manilla comes quickly to mind as one consulate for which the anecdotal evidence indicates that they don't trust anyone other than perhaps an immediate relative of the petitioner.

Don't know what kind of a reputation the consulate in Mexico has. Do you?

Yodrak

Hi again,

Yes, we plan on going to the States when we can get a visa. So I must meet those poverty limits in the US huh? No, I don't even make that much here in Mexico (and I am living the most luxurious life I have ever lived!), and when I go back I plan on finishing my last semester of grad school. Does anybody know if the sponsor has to be a family member? Of can it be a friend? ...

Thanks again!

As for the sponsor's question: it doesn't have to be a family member, it could be a friend too. ...

[Mew 0]

Mew,

It needs to be someone who the consular officer feels will actually put up the support money offered if the need arises, since there's no way to force them to. Some consulates tend to be more trusting than others - the consulate in Manilla comes quickly to mind as one consulate for which the anecdotal evidence indicates that they don't trust anyone other than perhaps an immediate relative of the petitioner.

Don't know what kind of a reputation the consulate in Mexico has. Do you?

Yodrak

Good point, Yodrak. I've "assumed" things I shouldn't have.

People going through Mexico? Anyone?

Edited August 9, 2006 by Mew

[tamara143 1]

Mew,

It needs to be someone who the consular officer feels will actually put up the support money offered if the need arises, since there's no way to force them to. Some consulates tend to be more trusting than others - the consulate in Manilla comes quickly to mind as one consulate for which the anecdotal evidence indicates that they don't trust anyone other than perhaps an immediate relative of the petitioner.

Don't know what kind of a reputation the consulate in Mexico has. Do you?

Yodrak

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hi Yorak,

Is it true about what you said that the Consulate in Manila doesn't trust FRIENDS to be the co-sponsor of the K1 applicant? my bf had already asked his friend to be his co-sponsor. do you think i will have a problem in the end?

tam

[Yodrak 7]

tam,

Look for posts on this subject by people who have had to deal with the consulate in Manilla. Some of the ones that I have read seem to say that Manilla will not accept any sponsor other than the petitioner (although I find that too extreme to believe).

Yodrak

Hi Yorak,

Is it true about what you said that the Consulate in Manila doesn't trust FRIENDS to be the co-sponsor of the K1 applicant? my bf had already asked his friend to be his co-sponsor. do you think i will have a problem in the end?

tam

Edited August 9, 2006 by Yodrak