Financial debt and K1 Visa

[corvusheart 163]

Hi I am the US Sponsor petitioner for my foreign fiancee who is british. We are about to file in two weeks for his immigration but I still have a couple of concerns.

He's in a bit of financial debt. 550 pounds worth. He's in debt to the Pension and Disablity Service because they accidently kept paying him after the person he was taken care of passed away. Also has a 150 pound debt to the library. He has no criminal record whatsoever.

Will this hinder him or cause problems in his immigration?

[lost_at_sea 995]

£150 in debt to the library? How long so you have to keep an overdue book to owe that much?

His financial status/debt never really comes up during immigration processes. It shouldn't cause an issue.

Although that isn't a huge amount of money, so he should square that away before he leaves. I assume either can forceably claim the debt (debt collection) or take him to civil claims. He should check what he needs to do to settle his debts, for peace of mind if nothing else.

Edited December 1, 2013 by lost_at_sea

[lost_at_sea 995]

There's a little bit about overpayments on here: https://www.gov.uk/benefit-overpayments

No mention of forceable reclaiming, so I guess they can't do that (so ignore me) but they can add a penalty in certain circumstances by the looks of things.

Edited December 1, 2013 by lost_at_sea

[JRF 124]

If only the USG were that efficient at tracking debts owed...

[corvusheart 163]

So will this effect his immigration or give him a criminal record?

There's a little bit about overpayments on here: https://www.gov.uk/benefit-overpayments

No mention of forceable reclaiming, so I guess they can't do that (so ignore me) but they can add a penalty in certain circumstances by the looks of things.

[lost_at_sea 995]

So will this effect his immigration or give him a criminal record?

No. I mean, if they prosecuted him for benefit fraud I suppose it might, but they're not going to do that because they just made a mistake and overpaid (it's really common). He should pay his debts (it sounds like if he contacts the people he owes, he can set up a payment plan if he doesn't have the full amount readily available), but this isn't going to come up during this process. Don't worry.

If only the USG were that efficient at tracking debts owed...

I used to work for the UK government. They really don't know what's going on with their debts that their citizens have. I could tell you stories...

[corvusheart 163]

Yeah he wrote a letter to them and they have set up a payment plan with him. Could he still pay it off from the US if it came to that?

No. I mean, if they prosecuted him for benefit fraud I suppose it might, but they're not going to do that because they just made a mistake and overpaid (it's really common). He should pay his debts (it sounds like if he contacts the people he owes, he can set up a payment plan if he doesn't have the full amount readily available), but this isn't going to come up during this process. Don't worry.

I used to work for the UK government. They really don't know what's going on with their debts that their citizens have. I could tell you stories...

[lost_at_sea 995]

Yeah he wrote a letter to them and they have set up a payment plan with him. Could he still pay it off from the US if it came to that?

Yeah, probably. They just want their money.

[Jawaree 719]

He should get a payment plan and pay back govt over-payments

these cash strapped govts these days will take action at times,

its a small amount ...don't let it bite him in the ####### later.

[Sarah Elle-Même 660]

If only the USG were that efficient at tracking debts owed...

It's called a credit report.

[Zeeshanish 9]

lol no it wont

[2ndMessiah 184]

Please sing the following to the tune of "I did it my way"

UK debts, I had a few

But then again to few to mention.

I did what I had to do, I saw it through without exemption.

I planned each bill repayment, each careful step along the way

And much more than this, I paid it MY way.

Pay back the pensions and disabilities.(avoids benefit fraud but as other said unlikely to go to court)

Make arrangements with the library to pay it off. You could plead poverty and get them to reduce the bill.

If your credit history is in the pan (and I mean shot)in the UK, moving to the US makes it marginally better(Its all relative).

You start with NO credit worthiness what so ever. Generally with a SSN and a US address the credit agencies do not appear to be able to put two and two together unless you link your credit history.

Get a US credit card (capital one) with a $500 limit. Use it and PAY it off monthly and after a year you might just have a credit rating that is marginally useful.