Requirements to qualify as fiance's sponsor

[RosaMystica7 0]

I had asked here what I need, bare minimum, to qualify as my fiance's sponsor. We can't find a co-sponsor and have 2 ideas left for possible people, but doubt they'll agree. I'm in the hunt for a new job that pays more and wanted to know what the minimum that I need to be making is, from a visa standpoint. I got varying responses - 100% of the poverty guidelines, 125% of the poverty guidelines, tax returns needing to show money, etc. So I asked Laurel Scott in her free chatroom today. I thought I'd share the answer with you in case it can benefit anyone else. Just keep in mind that I'm bringing in my fiance from France, and Laurel knew that, so I'm not sure if her advice would be different for other countries.

She told me that 125% of the poverty guidelines - in my case, 16,500/year - is the absolute bare minimum. Anything under that and it's no good. Realistically, she said, I need more than that to support us both - but that's the bare minimum from a visa standpoint. My tax returns do NOT need to show anything in particular. If he's asked about them he can just explain that I've been living with my parents and in college. At the time of his interview I need to have held the job for at least 3 months to show them that I'll be steady and dependable. And she advised that we put as much money in the bank as possible so I can claim my money in the bank as an asset. So she said, overall, that if I'm making at least 125% of the poverty guidelines and have had my job for at least 3 months, I'll be fine.

So... I'm happy, and that's a big worry off my shoulders. As you all know, I'm a worrier, and I was worried about not being able to qualify as his sponsor. So now I can shift my focus to watching the prices of apartments to see what they go for, and finding a job that can support us both. :D

Edited August 2, 2006 by aselano

[Thingee 0]

Awesome news for you, and thank you so so much for sharing the info!

[Erik 0]

I've never heard of having to have your job for 3 months, what happens if someone gets a new, better job before the interview, they are suppose to turn it down, or ask the employer if they can hold the job for them until the visa process is over? I agree with the rest of the things she told you, but not sure about this one.

Hope you can find new work soon!

[samir_shannon 0]

ok here it goes... you only need to be 100% above the poverty guidlines for a non immigrant visa. you will want to meet 125% above the poverty guidelines because of when he gets here he will have to adjust status. also it goes by your household size which would include you him and if you have any children at all.

if your children do not live with you they are still counted as your household because the government considers you financially responsible for them. hope this helps

[RosaMystica7 0]

Awesome news for you, and thank you so so much for sharing the info!

Thanks, and gladly! The people here have done so much to help me out, if I can help in any way in return I'd love to.

I've never heard of having to have your job for 3 months, what happens if someone gets a new, better job before the interview, they are suppose to turn it down, or ask the employer if they can hold the job for them until the visa process is over? I agree with the rest of the things she told you, but not sure about this one.

Hope you can find new work soon!

*shrug* That's just what she told me. It might different if the person evaluating the form could see a consistent history of work. But in my case, I'm a 21 year old college student and this is my first full time job. My previous job was a substitute position, and before that.... umm... I don't even REMEMBER what was before that. So maybe that's why she told me the 3 month thing.

ok here it goes... you only need to be 100% above the poverty guidlines for a non immigrant visa. you will want to meet 125% above the poverty guidelines because of when he gets here he will have to adjust status. also it goes by your household size which would include you him and if you have any children at all.

if your children do not live with you they are still counted as your household because the government considers you financially responsible for them. hope this helps

It would, if I were asking a question about that. But I was posting to share the response I got from an immigration attorney on the matter. Thanks anyway though!

Edited August 2, 2006 by aselano

[Erik 0]

Awesome news for you, and thank you so so much for sharing the info!

Thanks, and gladly! The people here have done so much to help me out, if I can help in any way in return I'd love to.

I've never heard of having to have your job for 3 months, what happens if someone gets a new, better job before the interview, they are suppose to turn it down, or ask the employer if they can hold the job for them until the visa process is over? I agree with the rest of the things she told you, but not sure about this one.

Hope you can find new work soon!

*shrug* That's just what she told me. It might different if the person evaluating the form could see a consistent history of work. But in my case, I'm a 21 year old college student and this is my first full time job. My previous job was a substitute position, and before that.... umm... I don't even REMEMBER what was before that. So maybe that's why she told me the 3 month thing.

Could very well be

[Yodrak 7]

Erik,

Keep things in context, the 'totality of the circumstances' is significant.

aselano indicates that she was previously an unemployed college student now working what may be her first job. Someone in that situation needs to demonstrate that they can hold a job, and often entry-level jobs come with a 'trial period' (there's a better word for it, can't think of it at the moment). Someone with a longer and steady work history who has recently changed jobs to make a career advancement should not have a problem because they've just started that new job.

Yodrak

I've never heard of having to have your job for 3 months, what happens if someone gets a new, better job before the interview, they are suppose to turn it down, or ask the employer if they can hold the job for them until the visa process is over? I agree with the rest of the things she told you, but not sure about this one.

Hope you can find new work soon!

Edited August 2, 2006 by Yodrak

[RosaMystica7 0]

Erik: It works out well for me anyway because I need to get used to full time work being a consistent thing. It's a lot of stress, and I wouldn't want this combined with moving him here and marriage. Plus I really do need to put money in the bank, so the time will be good for that. Once we apply it'll probably be at least 3 months til his interview anyway, depending on VSC's mood, so we just won't put in the application til I've started my new job. We need time to gather things anyway.

Yodrak: Yes that's what I think it is. This isn't my first job, persay, but it's my first full-time job, which is probably what you meant. Like I said to Erik, I need the time as much as they need to see it anyway.

[Mew 0]

ok here it goes... you only need to be 100% above the poverty guidlines for a non immigrant visa. you will want to meet 125% above the poverty guidelines because of when he gets here he will have to adjust status. also it goes by your household size which would include you him and if you have any children at all.

if your children do not live with you they are still counted as your household because the government considers you financially responsible for them. hope this helps

Actually, each consulate has a difference policy regarding the poverty thing. In Brazil, for example, we use I-134 (unlike El Salvador or New Zealand, for example), and the sponsor is asked to be 125% above the porverty guideline.

[RosaMystica7 0]

ok here it goes... you only need to be 100% above the poverty guidlines for a non immigrant visa. you will want to meet 125% above the poverty guidelines because of when he gets here he will have to adjust status. also it goes by your household size which would include you him and if you have any children at all.

if your children do not live with you they are still counted as your household because the government considers you financially responsible for them. hope this helps

Actually, each consulate has a difference policy regarding the poverty thing. In Brazil, for example, we use I-134 (unlike El Salvador or New Zealand, for example), and the sponsor is asked to be 125% above the porverty guideline.

You know, I read samir_shannon's comment wrong before. The lawyer told me 125% for the interview, not 100%. Maybe it's just the French consulate's rules. *shrug*

[Mew 0]

Actually, each consulate has a difference policy regarding the poverty thing. In Brazil, for example, we use I-134 (unlike El Salvador or New Zealand, for example), and the sponsor is asked to be 125% above the porverty guideline.

Different policy. Damn spelling...

[*Robert* 2]

ok here it goes... you only need to be 100% above the poverty guidlines for a non immigrant visa. you will want to meet 125% above the poverty guidelines because of when he gets here he will have to adjust status. also it goes by your household size which would include you him and if you have any children at all.

if your children do not live with you they are still counted as your household because the government considers you financially responsible for them. hope this helps

Actually, each consulate has a difference policy regarding the poverty thing. In Brazil, for example, we use I-134 (unlike El Salvador or New Zealand, for example), and the sponsor is asked to be 125% above the porverty guideline.

You know, I read samir_shannon's comment wrong before. The lawyer told me 125% for the interview, not 100%. Maybe it's just the French consulate's rules. *shrug*

The 100% is ONLY for ACTIVE DUTY MILITARY. I don't know why people keep throwing that number out there. Regardless, 125% is required for AOS, unless, once again, the sponsor is Active Duty.

The word Yodrak was looking for is "Probation Period".

[no name 1]

The 100% is ONLY for ACTIVE DUTY MILITARY. I don't know why people keep throwing that number out there. Regardless, 125% is required for AOS, unless, once again, the sponsor is Active Duty.

The word Yodrak was looking for is "Probation Period".

Why mess around? CYA for 125%!!!

Probation period or temp-to-perm!