Anyone buy a house while AOS'ing? - VA Loan

[Krikit 1,163]

OP is AOSing from an L-1, which authorizes work and the issuance of an SSN, so that's not the problem.

I believe she was asking with regard to her own circumstances.

People who are AOSing from a non-immigrant status like B-1 wouldn't qualify until they had an EAD and SSN and most likely a credit history.

The above is incorrect. (See my previous post.)

[grrrrreat 109]

I believe she was asking with regard to her own circumstances.

The above is incorrect. (See my previous post.)

We were referring to the requirements of gov't backed mortgages. Gov't backed mortgages require an SSN and authorization to work. It didn't have anything to do with your previous post, as the post I was replying to was talking about gov't backed mortage requirements.

Edited May 9, 2012 by grrrrreat

[VanessaTony 3,567]

I am not sure if this is an issue-but did anyone have trouble securing their mortgage while being here on a "temporary" status here in the US? I have all these random questions coming from our loan officer, like, well, where is her "resident" card...rather than my visa that I provided them.

We did a VA loan. I was asked questions about my status but just so they could mark a box. I told them I was here on a fiance visa and was pending AOS. They didn't want to see my NOA1 or anything so they put "non-resident alien" or something like that... It really wasn't a big deal. I was NOT on the mortgage but I AM on the deed as the spouse of the mortgage holder.

Don't stress about it, just tell them what you know. You're here legally, nothing to worry about. Plus you don't NEED to be on the mortgage... check with your bank if that's an issue.

Aside from that - agree! VA was a life-saver. While our house was and is not "my dream home" it definitely feels good to own our own house, to be paying less for my mortgage a month than my sister in Aus does a week on her rental, and we can make changes and sell the house when it's all good (or rent it out). There are guidelines for how long we need to live here before we can on-sell (due to the VA and FHA stuff) but it's not a huge deal.

Good luck and congrats!!

[ALuciansWifey 0]

We are also looking into purchasing a house within the next few months. I have an interview with someone tomorrow afternoon as a matter of a fact. When speaking with a different lender, the guy told me that since my husband we wouldn't count him on the mortgage, but he would be on the rest of the information. Overall, there shouldn't be a problem getting a home if at least one of you has good credit. We'll see how this appointment goes tomorrow though

[Mrsaveemac 0]

Not a problem for us as I did not include my wife on the loan as she had no credit history and I had an excellent credit score. Why would I do something that is financially not a good idea and would have cost me maybe a hundred thousand dollars over the life of the loan due to the significantly higher interest rate. I have no problems with including my wife in my life and combining our lives, but I will not let the USCIS dictitate to me how I should or should not do things just to satisfy them to prove my relationship is bona fide.

You might want to start the loan process over with only your husband unless your credit is better than his. I do not know how Canadians are treated in that regard, but I would look into what the interest rate would be with you on the loan and without you. If the loan officer tells you that you must be on the loan, find a new loan officer as no one must be on a loan if the other qualifies.

Good luck,

Dave

Dave, we must have had the same thought at the same time. i cried with my hubby yesterday after seeing i wil get an rfe. I bought a home in 2010 on an h1b. visa. my husband has owned his home for 5 years. his credit is horrible and mine stellar. it stressed me that uscis would dictate to us to do something financially unnecessary as adding names to deeds and opening/editing lines of credit to prove a bonafide marriage. he sympathised with me but i know he will never comprehend what it feels like to prove love and committment to an agency through money.

[Aur0ra 5]

Hi Everyone,

I can contribute my experience here. Hubby (US citizen) and I did purchase a home while I was AOS'ing. What needed to happen was that I needed to be excluded from the loan as I was not yet a permanent resident AND I had no credit score in USA. THey tried to initially include me but then we were getting into foreign income and all that messy stuff that makes the loans risky. Hubby successfully secured a loan because he had a golden credit score and we had enough money down.

Good luck!

[juliava 80]

We closed on a house in 2009 in Wash DC area while my AOS was pending and I was the main applicant for the loan. They asked me for my EAD, as I didn't have a GC then. I would say be prepared to show proof of legal status if necessary.

[DandT14 272]

Hi Everyone,

I can contribute my experience here. Hubby (US citizen) and I did purchase a home while I was AOS'ing. What needed to happen was that I needed to be excluded from the loan as I was not yet a permanent resident AND I had no credit score in USA. THey tried to initially include me but then we were getting into foreign income and all that messy stuff that makes the loans risky. Hubby successfully secured a loan because he had a golden credit score and we had enough money down.

Good luck!

Thank you, that answers my question. Same deal, my husband has no credit score so I was wondering what they'd do. Mine's not quite golden...maybe gold plated? Hopefully good enough.

[Joshuaching 11]

If you can carry the mortgage on your income then you are better off being the only person on the loan as they will charge you a higher interest rate if they have to add someone who has no credit history.

I bought a house in California and had no problems doing it. The loan was VA sponsored and the whole process took a little more than 60 days. I was the only one on the mortgage contract. They key is to have an excellent credit rating, an income that would be more than enough to pay for the mortgage, and permanent source of income to show stability of living standards.

And this was done before I filed my I-130 for my wife and son. Now I'm thinking of having the house rented out because it looks like I'm going to be in for a long wait.