Low income qusetion

[abospirit 0]

Hello. I just married the lady of my dreams 3 weeks ago in the Philippines and want to bring her to the U.S.A to live with me. I’m in the very early stages of researching what I need to do and how to fill out the visa forms etc. I assume I will use form IR-1 to get the process rolling.

My biggest concern I have it that I’m very low income and bad credit.

Please correct me if I’m wrong, but I think I need to make about $14.000 annually to be the sole sponsor?

Let me see if I understand this correctly, the poverty rate for a 1 person household is $10.830, therefore 125% of the poverty rate would be $13.537.

Also do they take into consideration other factors such as credit? Or being behind in credit card/vehicle payments?

If my annual income is not enough, my brother said he will to co-sponsor me. I was wondering, even if my income is just barley enough, would it be safer for me to just go ahead and use my brother as a co-sponsor? …just to be on the safe side?

One more question, I need the last 3 years of tax returns. Do all 3 years of income have to be 125% of the poverty line? Or are they more concerned with my current income?

Thank you

[Inky 1,111]

You married 3 weeks ago so your not filing an IR-1 your filing a CR-1.

You need to make $18,212 for a family of two.

[catracha85 6]

I agree 100%. good luck

[sjr09 155]

Hello. I just married the lady of my dreams 3 weeks ago in the Philippines and want to bring her to the U.S.A to live with me. I'm in the very early stages of researching what I need to do and how to fill out the visa forms etc. I assume I will use form IR-1 to get the process rolling.

My biggest concern I have it that I'm very low income and bad credit. They don't look at your credit

Please correct me if I'm wrong, but I think I need to make about $14.000 annually to be the sole sponsor? Wrong the Poverty Guidelines for a family of two, no other dependents 18,212 and in my option you will need to exceed that amount if your the sole sponsor.

Let me see if I understand this correctly, the poverty rate for a 1 person household is $10.830, therefore 125% of the poverty rate would be $13.537.Read PG http://www.uscis.gov/files/form/i-864p.pdf

Also do they take into consideration other factors such as credit? Or being behind in credit card/vehicle payments? NO

If my annual income is not enough, my brother said he will to co-sponsor me. I was wondering, even if my income is just barley enough, would it be safer for me to just go ahead and use my brother as a co-sponsor? …just to be on the safe side? YES he will need to meet the requirements. income as well.

One more question, I need the last 3 years of tax returns. Do all 3 years of income have to be 125% of the poverty line? Or are they more concerned with my current income? Current income is what they go by but the last 3 years ITR will help show sustained income

Your going to need all the help you can get with your income.

READ the GUIDES

Edited December 29, 2010 by sjr09

[Deputy Purple 1,294]

My biggest concern I have it that I’m very low income and bad credit.

...

Also do they take into consideration other factors such as credit? Or being behind in credit card/vehicle payments?

Your income miscalculations have already been corrected so I won't address them.

What I do want to address is your immediate future expenses to get your new wife here.

I hope you are aware of the cost of this process. Even assuming that you're not going to spend a nickel to remain in contact with her just for the Visa process & her flight to the US you will be spending a few thousand dollars.

Bad Credit, even Bankruptcy will not have an affect on your Petition or her Visa approval.

The Manila Embassy is more skeptical of Sponsors who need a Co-Sponsor though. It does sound like they are easing-up a bit on that but I can't say just how much. As recently as a year ago it seemed only college student or recent grads just starting in their career were the only ones approved with a Co-Sponsor and they were tougher on K-1 cases than CR/IR-1 cases.

I hope you've explained your financial situation to your wife already as there are some cultural things in the Philippines specifically regarding financial expectations of Filipinos living/working abroad. Not all Pinays follow then but this also needs to be discussed.

Also, you need to be ready for your cost of living to increase without counting on her being instantly employed once here.

[sjr09 155]

Your income miscalculations have already been corrected so I won't address them.

What I do want to address is your immediate future expenses to get your new wife here.

I hope you are aware of the cost of this process. Even assuming that you're not going to spend a nickel to remain in contact with her just for the Visa process & her flight to the US you will be spending a few thousand dollars.

Bad Credit, even Bankruptcy will not have an affect on your Petition or her Visa approval.

The Manila Embassy is more skeptical of Sponsors who need a Co-Sponsor though. It does sound like they are easing-up a bit on that but I can't say just how much. As recently as a year ago it seemed only college student or recent grads just starting in their career were the only ones approved with a Co-Sponsor and they were tougher on K-1 cases than CR/IR-1 cases.

I hope you've explained your financial situation to your wife already as there are some cultural things in the Philippines specifically regarding financial expectations of Filipinos living/working abroad. Not all Pinays follow then but this also needs to be discussed.

Also, you need to be ready for your cost of living to increase without counting on her being instantly employed once here.

OP, don't take the well made points lightly

[Nataliya-Ron 7]

yes they are right

You need 3 year back taxes of over 18k per year if not your needing to have to have a co spnosor

later to do a I-864 for you to qualify after the NVC submits you file to the US Embassy.

Your going to need to show the Embassy your I-864 co sponsor or you wont get a CR-1 Visa.

A CR-1 Visa is for somebody who married in another country and is less than 2 years married

a IR-1 is for somebody married over 2 year and is filing to bring there spouse after being

married 2 years.

You need to file a I-130 CR-1 Visa to start the process for you to bring her later in about

4 to 8 month later after the process is done.

You need to also get yout income higher, take a 2nd job and show stability for USCIS or they wont think you make enough to support her here and than she become a libality to the US Government that why they want a CO sponsor incase you cant support her the I-864 operson who you get to support her will be abel to do it

Take these steps seriously its going to cost you 2 to 3k to bring her here plus more later to support her.

Good Luck

Happy New Year.

[Inky 1,111]

A CR-1 Visa is for somebody who married in another country and is less than 2 years married

The bold section is not true. It doesn't have to be married in another country to file for a CR-1. You just have to be married to file.

[Nataliya-Ron 7]

The bold section is not true. It doesn't have to be married in another country to file for a CR-1. You just have to be married to file.

It cant be in the USA (GETTING MARRIED ) so it must be in another country ? ? YOU HAVE TO GET MARRIED TO FILE FOR A CR-1 to someobdy from another country to file for a CR-1 AND IT HAS TO BE LESS THAN 2 YEARS.

YOU JUST HAVE TO BE MARRIED ( " in another country " ) TO FILE A CR-1. NOT THE USA.

[Nataliya-Ron 7]

THAN WHY NEED TO FILE A CR-1 IF YOU WERNET MARRIED YEAH YOUR RIGHT THAN

BUT IF YOUR MARRIED IN ANOTHER COUNTRY THAN YOU FILE A CR-1

TO BRING THAT PERSON FROM ANOTHER COUNTRY IF IT LESS THAN 2 YEARS.

IF WHAT YOUR SAYING IS TRUE THAN WHY NEED TO FILE A CR-1 FOR JUST BEING MARRIED.

GETTING MARRIED WHERE??? IN THE USA OR ANOTHER COUNTRY?

YOU DIDNT CLARIFY EVERYTHING

[milimelo 4,583]

THAN WHY NEED TO FILE A CR-1 IF YOU WERNET MARRIED YEAH YOUR RIGHT THAN

BUT IF YOUR MARRIED IN ANOTHER COUNTRY THAN YOU FILE A CR-1

TO BRING THAT PERSON FROM ANOTHER COUNTRY IF IT LESS THAN 2 YEARS.

IF WHAT YOUR SAYING IS TRUE THAN WHY NEED TO FILE A CR-1 FOR JUST BEING MARRIED.

GETTING MARRIED WHERE??? IN THE USA OR ANOTHER COUNTRY?

YOU DIDNT CLARIFY EVERYTHING

Please stop shouting and turn caps OFF!

One can certainly get married in the US and file for CR-1 visa - no restrictions on where the marriage took place. Have a friend who got married in the US, went to her home country to get her CR1 visa.

[Amy and Nick 37]

It cant be in the USA (GETTING MARRIED ) so it must be in another country ? ? YOU HAVE TO GET MARRIED TO FILE FOR A CR-1 to someobdy from another country to file for a CR-1 AND IT HAS TO BE LESS THAN 2 YEARS.

YOU JUST HAVE TO BE MARRIED ( " in another country " ) TO FILE A CR-1. NOT THE USA.

It seems most people do get married in the USA rather than in another country. I personally got married in the USA and am now back in England awaiting my NOA2 for the I-130. The CR-1 visa is for bringing a spouse who is a citizen of another country to the US

Again, PLEASE check your facts before kicking up a fuss and giving out incorrect information.

[canadian_wife 1,829]

A CR-1 Visa is for somebody who married in another country and is less than 2 years married

a IR-1 is for somebody married over 2 year and is filing to bring there spouse after being

married 2 years.

You need to file a I-130 CR-1 Visa to start the process for you to bring her later in about

4 to 8 month later after the process is done.

You need to also get yout income higher, take a 2nd job and show stability for USCIS or they wont think you make enough to support her here and than she become a libality to the US Government that why they want a CO sponsor incase you cant support her the I-864 operson who you get to support her will be abel to do it

Take these steps seriously its going to cost you 2 to 3k to bring her here plus more later to support her.

Good Luck

Happy New Year.

The bolded statement is simply not true and misleading. Married is married - whether that marriage took place in the US or overseas, USCIS does not discriminate - married is married

Good luck

[pushbrk 13,251]

You "start things off" by filing an I-130 "Petition for Alien Relative". IR1 is a visa category. The visa comes at the end of the spouse visa process. Unless your process takes more than two years, that visa will be CR1, not IR1. Your household is two people minimum, so you need 18.2k and change in income to meet the minimum requirements. Otherwise, you'll need a joint sponsor who does qualify for their own household size plus your wife.

[pushbrk 13,251]

A CR-1 Visa is for somebody who married in another country and is less than 2 years married

a IR-1 is for somebody married over 2 year and is filing to bring there spouse after being

married 2 years.

Please start reading and learning instead of posting erroneous information. It doesn't matter where the marriage took place. "Visas" are obtained abroad regardless of where the marriage takes place.

If it seems like I'm piling on late, I am. Again, please learn the process before giving advice. You do that by reading and asking questions, not by giving false answers.