CR-1 visa questions

[Lalo & Susana 50]

My husband and I have a friend who is a US citizen and has been living in Chile with his wife for several years. He wanted to apply for a marriage visa for her and went to the embassy who tells him he needs to fill out the I-130 and some other forms and nothing more. I said well what about ur I-864 and he said the embassy said I don't need that. I explained he needed to either be employed by a US company or show he is employed and will continue that employment in the USA or else his wife cannot come he has to show income coming in. The embassy said I am wrong. Can someone here please explain what is needed. And how does he file bc the embassy says he needs to send everything to Chicago and it will be approved there then an interview in Chile. But the problem arises with him not having a job or a co-sponsor. I thought I read somewhere he has to be in the USA established for 6 months with a job before he can apply for a I-130. Am I wrong? Is the embassy right he doesn't have to prove income. I don't see how that is possible. Please let me know. Thanks

[lost_at_sea 995]

I think maybe your friend just didn't get the full story.

So, first he needs to file the I-130. At that stage, he does not need to show financial coverage.

Then, when the I-130 is approved, his wife applies for her CR-1 visa (or IR-1 if they've been married more than 2 years at that point) at her local US embassy. At *that* stage, he needs to complete the I-864, and if needed, a joint sponsor can complete one too (they would need to be someone in the US, over 18 who is a US citizen or legal permanent resident).

For financial sponsorship, he either needs to have a job with enough money to support his whole household + wife, have enough assets/savings, or he needs a joint sponsor. If he cannot find enough money alone or with joint-sponsorship, he cannot sponsor his wife and they'll have to wait until he does have enough money/joint-sponsor. If he gets a job, he doesn't need to have held it for a certain amount of time, but he should prepared to present good evidence of his new job (contract, pay stubs etc) along with all his recent tax returns.

This is the guide he needs to read and understand: http://www.visajourney.com/content/i130guide1

And here's some more information about the I-864: http://travel.state.gov/visa/immigrants/info/info_3183.html

Edited July 24, 2013 by lost_at_sea

[jkelly07 120]

download the 1-864p poverty guide lines form

[stevie b 141]

My husband and I have a friend who is a US citizen and has been living in Chile with his wife for several years. He wanted to apply for a marriage visa for her and went to the embassy who tells him he needs to fill out the I-130 and some other forms and nothing more. I said well what about ur I-864 and he said the embassy said I don't need that. I explained he needed to either be employed by a US company or show he is employed and will continue that employment in the USA or else his wife cannot come he has to show income coming in. The embassy said I am wrong. Can someone here please explain what is needed. And how does he file bc the embassy says he needs to send everything to Chicago and it will be approved there then an interview in Chile. But the problem arises with him not having a job or a co-sponsor. I thought I read somewhere he has to be in the USA established for 6 months with a job before he can apply for a I-130. Am I wrong? Is the embassy right he doesn't have to prove income. I don't see how that is possible. Please let me know. Thanks

everything you are asking is clearly outlined by the US online .. start here and follow all the links within

http://travel.state.gov/visa/immigrants/types/types_1326.html

[NikLR 13,227]

Does Chile do DCF?

[Ryan H 3,812]

Does Chile do DCF?

No

[squirrelisan 23]

My husband and I have a friend who is a US citizen and has been living in Chile with his wife for several years. He wanted to apply for a marriage visa for her and went to the embassy who tells him he needs to fill out the I-130 and some other forms and nothing more. I said well what about ur I-864 and he said the embassy said I don't need that. I explained he needed to either be employed by a US company or show he is employed and will continue that employment in the USA or else his wife cannot come he has to show income coming in. The embassy said I am wrong. Can someone here please explain what is needed. And how does he file bc the embassy says he needs to send everything to Chicago and it will be approved there then an interview in Chile. But the problem arises with him not having a job or a co-sponsor. I thought I read somewhere he has to be in the USA established for 6 months with a job before he can apply for a I-130. Am I wrong? Is the embassy right he doesn't have to prove income. I don't see how that is possible. Please let me know. Thanks

I said well what about ur I-864 and he said the embassy said I don't need that

You don't need an I-864.....yet. But you will after the I-130 gets approved. Semantics...

I think you have something like a year limit, after your I-130 gets approved, to send in the rest of the docs needed for a CR-1 visa.

I explained he needed to either be employed by a US company or show he is employed and will continue that employment in the USA or else his wife cannot come he has to show income coming in. The embassy said I am wrong.

They are wrong. You are correct. Although...a lot of people have this same problem of proving US-based income, so they get co-sponsors or figure something else out. You'll have to ask others how that works exactly. Not familiar with that part.

[Lalo & Susana 50]

Thank you everyone for your help. One more question. His brother who is a marine in the USA is going to sponsor him (Luis) and his wife. Can the brother sponsor them both 100% or does he (Luis) still need to find a job here to show partial income? I am not to familiar with that part of it. Thank you!

Edited July 27, 2013 by Lalo & Susana

[lost_at_sea 995]

Thank you everyone for your help. One more question. His brother who is a marine in the USA is going to sponsor him (Luis) and his wife. Can the brother sponsor them both 100% or does he (Luis) still need to find a job here to show partial income? I am not to familiar with that part of it. Thank you!

His brother can sponsor completely if he so chooses.

[Lalo & Susana 50]

Awesome! Thank you so much!