Financial Aid Question

[Eli 0]

Hey hey! I posted about this a couple weeks ago in the embassy forum, and I don't know if a.) it doesn't get enough traffic or b.) no one has much of an answer for me. I am going to summarize but the original thread is here and has some more specific info from me. I know that there are a lot of Affidavit of Support questions that float around, but please bear with me!!

My fiancé (the USC) is currently a college student. He works on the side, and is set to earn roughly 11,000-13,000 this year (to date he's earned roughly $8,000+ I think). He also received about $10,000+ in financial aid this year. He contacted the USCIS and was told the financial aid does count as income. However, I have an extremely hard time trusting their information, and was hoping someone here had experience or advice on this matter. He needs to meet the poverty line for 2 people: $16,500. With the financial aid we will be fine, but if they don't accept the financial aid as income, either at the interview or adjustment of status, we're in trouble. He only started the job last fall, and the financial aid is not taxable, so he has no tax forms to use as proof of ability to support me. So far all the evidence we could possibly collect is a letter from his financial aid office, a letter from his employer (he gets an hourly wage though, not salary, so it wouldn't say anything about how much he earns, right?) and paystubs/bank statements. This is really losing me a lot of sleep ... I just expect to get to the interview and get denied because they won't recognize the financial aid as income... We don't have anyone who could act as a co-sponsor... please, someone help me sleep!!

-Eli-

ps- at the very least, thanks for letting me continue to get this out ... There's no one that I can talk to about this process (family just keeps asking "have you heard anything back on your papers??)! That's why this forum rocks!

[Alanlvsjudy 0]

I would personally dig deeper for a co sponsor...Im relatively sure the financial aid will not count. Sorry to say, but better forewarned.

Best of luck

[Mew 0]

This document shows the benefits that can be used to prove income:

http://www.uscis.gov/graphics/formsfee/for...iles/I-864p.pdf

Yes, it says "I-864", but they're also applicable to I-134. Hope it helps.

[Eli 0]

Thanks Mew, I don't understand the breakdown of benefits under the guidelines. It would seem that the financial aid isn't a means-tested benefit ... therefore it's income?

[Alanlvsjudy 0]

Thanks Mew, I don't understand the breakdown of benefits under the guidelines. It would seem that the financial aid isn't a means-tested benefit ... therefore it's income?

Eli, the financial aid is most probably to help pay for school, no? also its not neccesarily a recurring

stipend, I honestly would bet against it qualifying, surely he can find SOMEONE willing to co sponsor?

[Eli 0]

also its not neccesarily a recurring stipend, I honestly would bet against it qualifying, surely he can find SOMEONE willing to co sponsor?

It's need based. This is the second year he's been awarded the financial aid. His need isn't going to change; he'll keep getting it unless his income skyrockets for some reason next year or the year after. Thanks for the replys ... maybe there's someone in the know I could ask ... anyone know of an immigration lawyer or something who I could ask the question to? Without having to HIRE them?

[Mew 0]

also its not neccesarily a recurring stipend, I honestly would bet against it qualifying, surely he can find SOMEONE willing to co sponsor?

It's need based. This is the second year he's been awarded the financial aid. His need isn't going to change; he'll keep getting it unless his income skyrockets for some reason next year or the year after. Thanks for the replys ... maybe there's someone in the know I could ask ... anyone know of an immigration lawyer or something who I could ask the question to? Without having to HIRE them?

You can chat online for free with an immigration lawyer. PM aselano and Andymisiu, they have their names and would instruct you how to contact them.

[Eli 0]

You can chat online for free with an immigration lawyer. PM aselano and Andymisiu, they have their names and would instruct you how to contact them.

THANKS MEW!!!

[RosaMystica7 0]

Yay, I'm famous! Laurel Scott, an immigration attorney, has a free chat room for questions every Wednesday starting at 11am CST. I tried VJ first for answers, and the people here have been incredible, but there was just one question that I was getting differing answers to. I started looking around at lawyers but nobody would even answer a question for me without a $100 consultation fee. I was bored and surfing around the VJ forums and found a link to Laurel Scott's website somewhere. She straightened that question right out for me.