Please help me understand what me and my fiance should do

[megg91 0]

within the next year i want to file for a k-1 visa for my dutch fiance who is from the netherlands. currently we are both 20 years old. by the time i file we will each be 21. we met while i worked in the netherlands as an au pair. we've had a relationship for over a year. we want more than anything to be with each other and are trying to find out the best way to do this. before filing i want to be clear on all the requirements so our chances of being denied are lessened. i myself do not currently have sufficient income. so what is the deal with having another family member co sponsor my fiance? ive been on endless websites trying to figure all this out but its such a headache. im more than willing to do whatever it takes for me and my boyfriend to be together. can anyone please help me or can someone who's been through the process give me any advice.

greetings

meghan

[krautlaus 7]

hi meghan, congrats on your engagement and finding VJ

So USCIS requires for all permanent immigrants to show that they will not become a financial burden to the US.

Depending on your household size, you will have to prove income of about $15,000 to $20,000 for the two of you.

www.who-inc.org/downloads/PovertyGuidelines.pdf (it used to be 125% of the PG - not so sure what it is today)

If you need for someone to help you come up with that kind of money, your mom or uncle or whomever is willing to help, can fill out the I-134 as well - you will have to submit supporting evidence (e.g. 2011 IRS tax transcript for both, W2s for both, bank statements, etc.). We had no problem when my MIL filled out a second I-134 for us. All they care to see is the total number of income and if it matches up with the poverty guideline requirements and the provided evidence.

Good luck

Read the Guides on VJ as well as the instructions on USCIS - they are very helpful and self-explanatory http://www.uscis.gov/i-134

[Wed2Brazillian 0]

Meghan,

I wish you the best of luck in your quest. I can inform you about our procedure, but I would not recommend the same for you and your fiancé. My wife and I took calculated risks.

It is my understanding that any person may register as a sponsor for the immigrating person. I was fortunate enough to satisfy the requirements for the sponsor and I was able to sponsor my wife. I assume the process is easier if the petitioning fiancé(e) is also listed as the sponsor. My understanding is that any co-sponsor must satisfy the full requirement as the individual sponsor, meaning you cannot add your own and your co-sponsor's salaries to satisfy the requirement. I would recommend you contact a reputable immigration attorney. Our attorney consulted us for $150 for one hour, which turned out to be the best $150 I have ever spent, in addition to the $250 I spent to delay my wife's flight by one week for her to consider her options. We typed our questions so we would be prepared for the phone call.

Prior to my wife's final voyage to the U.S. and subsequent immigration, I spent a lot of time reviewing previous posts on the web. All the posts I saw cautioned against what my wife and I ended up doing. My wife traveled with me from Brazil to the U.S. with full intentions on returning to Brazil. She entered the U.S. using the tourist visa. One day prior to her scheduled flight back to Brazil, we contacted an immigration attorney to discuss our wishes and the possible implications of her not returning to Brazil and filing for adjustment of status with her living with me in the U.S. At the time of our decision, we were not married. The only thing we knew was that we did not want to be separated any longer.

We married, and with the assistance of our attorney were successful in attaining the permanent residence card for my wife.

The process we took was risky, but our attorney informed us we should not have a problem. I was employed and satisfied the requirements as the sponsor and my wife is well-educated and left a good job in Brazil to be with me. I think that was significant in the approval process we achieved.

Sincerely,

Shaun

[Dan & Jenni 457]

Meghan,

I would recommend you contact a reputable immigration attorney.

if your case is straight forward and you can read guides and fill in forms then an attorney really is a waste time and money. we contacted an attorney before coming on vj and was told a few things that where completely wrong.

read the k-1 guide on here, look through all the sample forms and then decide whether you are capable of filling them out yourself... they really are quite easy. plus anything you get stuck on just ask.

the main requirements of the K-1 are that you have met in person within the last 2 years and that you or a cosponsor can satisfy the financial requirements of 125% of the poverty guideline but that isnt necessary until time for interview.

http://www.visajourney.com/content/k1guide

[megg91 0]

thankyou all for the kind advice. im so glad i found this site. we all share a common goal and interest here. trying to be with the ones we love. me and my boyfriend want to go as far as we can without an attorney but perhaps after completeing all the forms it might be nice to have them checked over to make sure all the proper documentation is in order.

greets

meg

[* Kristin * 49]

Meg:

Honestly - no need to pay an attorney for ANYTHING.

VisaJourney is a tremendous resource, and no matter how many times a question is asked or someone asks to 'check something over', there are always tons of people willing to help.

Save your money - you'll need it in the future It's not a cheap process.

thankyou all for the kind advice. im so glad i found this site. we all share a common goal and interest here. trying to be with the ones we love. me and my boyfriend want to go as far as we can without an attorney but perhaps after completeing all the forms it might be nice to have them checked over to make sure all the proper documentation is in order.

greets

meg