Brand New - No Proposal, Worried about not meeting financial requirements.

[Nicole_1228 5]

Brand new to this, been reading up a lot on the K-1 Visa...

My story:

I am from Canada and have been dating a guy from California for almost a year now, have no problem proving our relationship as we have seen each other countless times and talk endlessly... We are 22 and want to get married and start a life together. He does not meet the financial requirements, but has a friend who does and is willing to sponsor me... Will it matter that the friend is also only 22? ...Will we have a better chance of approval if I have a job lined up before I go? Want to get our own place together but almost think it would be better to be living at his parents house as then we would not have many financial worries and it would be easier to prove that if we both end up working minimum wage jobs we would be able to support each other easier, I have a decent job here at home and wondering if it matters at all if I was to save up a lot of money before applying?

...On another note also wondering about when the K-1 is in process of being approved and we want to visit what are solid ties back to Canada, I am currently living at home, have car insurance, work a full time job, and have a bank account as well as a cell phone contract and a student loan? ...Couldnt imagine not being able to visit him for months while waiting for the approval

With no actual proposal as this was more a mutual decision that we are ready for the next step, is this looked at as an issue/concern?

Any advice is helpful!

Thank You

[Ryan H 3,790]

The age of the friend will not matter.

[-=Mai and Timmy=- 12]

just do whatever you think its best for you guys

[JimVaPhuong 4,863]

The friend only needs to be 18 or older to sponsor. As long as he's a US citizen or permanent resident who is domiciled in the United States, and he meets the financial requirements, then he can be a sponsor.

No, it will not help if you have a job lined up before you go. You're not authorized to work in the United States yet. If you even mention you have a job lined up then it only opens up possibility for the CO to suspect your motive is more to get a job than to start your married life. Feel free to put out some feelers looking for a potential job, but don't make an issue out of that with the CO. It's not relevant to your case.

It will certainly help you start your life together if you've got some savings. It won't make any difference with the affidavit of support at the consulate, but it may help with the affidavit of support when you apply for your green card.

The CBP officer who screens you for entry will decide what constitutes strong ties. There are no hard and fast rules. What's good enough for one office might be woefully inadequate for another. When you say "living at home" I presume you mean your parent's home. That doesn't help. Everything else you listed is good, though. Bring as much evidence as you can.

A formal proposal is a big cultural deal in some countries, but not in Canada. It shouldn't be an issue.