Confounded

[ThomVIII 3]

The having met in person at least once within the last 2 years is a non-negotiable K-1 requirement of USCIS. They ONLY grant exceptions when it is traditionally NOT permitted that the husband and wife meet prior to marriage, which is not a tradition in either the US or Mexico, so that is out.

That said, you are in Texas. She is in Mexico. I know they are both large but they also share a border. Hop in a car, bus, etc. and get down there for a (long) weekend. She may have to travel to her side of the border as well, but you got to do what you got to do, right? I know it's not free but you can scrape up a couple hundred dollars, right? Even after meeting the requirement to have met in person, as someone else mentioned, this process ain't cheap! About $2500 so far in our case, USCIS/Visa fees ONLY (not including travel costs).

You'll find a way...

Thank you for your kind encouragement! As Murphey's Law requires I am at the top of Texas and she is at the bottom of Mexico! lol

I like that you left it on the positive note of 'finding a way'.

[rhein 451]

Thank you for your candor and pragmatism. I totally agree this is a "game" contrived by the U.S. government to garner money. If "In God We Trust" were a fact in 2014, then God's method for uniting two spiritual people would still stand. In the mean time I will play by their "rules" while at the same time excercise my 1st ammendnemt rights under the same government to advocate change and simplification. In the long run I am comforted by the fact that Daniel 2:44 will come to pass and no longer will two people be denied each other's company to satisfy an unduly exasperating bureaucratic contraption.

It isn't to 'garner money.' The fees you pay fund the immigration process, there's no profit being made.

I'll have to check out Dan Savage's 'Savage Lovecast' episode 244 that you mention, I don't remember that one.

[ThomVIII 3]

Sorry to tell you that the God doesn't approve petition or issue visa.

Back to the reality world, to see if you meet the poverty guidelines to sponsor your potential fiancee & step daughter.

http://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/files/form/i-864p.pdf

Thank you for the response. While I respect your opinion to see only what is evident to the physical eyes, I chose to enrich what my physical eyes see with the eyes of my faith - "A king’s heart is like streams of water in Jehovah’s hand. He directs it wherever He pleases." Proverbs 21:1

Having said that I also understand God expects us to help ourselves and work with him and the temporary powers that be.

Regarding the guidelines, I commented earlier that I have reviewed that page and believe I slide in under the wire with my regular job's income. Do not know whether they will consider the Gallery an asset or liability until I have income statements from it in due time.

[ryna 132]

Thank you for the response. While I respect your opinion to see only what is evident to the physical eyes, I chose to enrich what my physical eyes see with the eyes of my faith - "A king’s heart is like streams of water in Jehovah’s hand. He directs it wherever He pleases." Proverbs 21:1

Having said that I also understand God expects us to help ourselves and work with him and the temporary powers that be.

Regarding the guidelines, I commented earlier that I have reviewed that page and believe I slide in under the wire with my regular job's income. Do not know whether they will consider the Gallery an asset or liability until I have income statements from it in due time.

If your "day job" gives you enough income for a household of 3, they won't consider the gallery at all. Your most important first step is meet each other in person. Nothing can happen until that happens. When you do meet in person, make sure you take a lot of pictures and save any and all receipts that place the two of you together in the same place at the same time.

[ThomVIII 3]

I know what you mean. Sadly, the spirit of "Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free" is no longer here...

If I remember well, I-864 has a field in one of the sections (7 or something) for the assets of the sponsored immigrant, so - value of the asset you can count in (proportionally), but not the rent income, pension or any other income (assuming that if she sells the asset, there will be no income, and other income will cease once she moves here...).

Z

Thank you! What a golden nugget of information. I take from your adivice that we should list her house as the asset ( which itself can be sold and liquidated = the importance in the eyes of the USCIS ), and not the income form the rent. A follow up to this would be: will the assets' ( house's ) value be factored in against the 2014 HHS Poverty Guidelines?

[ThomVIII 3]

If your "day job" gives you enough income for a household of 3, they won't consider the gallery at all. Your most important first step is meet each other in person. Nothing can happen until that happens. When you do meet in person, make sure you take a lot of pictures and save any and all receipts that place the two of you together in the same place at the same time.

Thanks, great advice! Yes, we will plan on meeting first thing, then take on the paperwork. Meanwhile being forewarned is being forearmed and I appreciate sites like this and all the various input.

[ThomVIII 3]

It isn't to 'garner money.' The fees you pay fund the immigration process, there's no profit being made.

I'll have to check out Dan Savage's 'Savage Lovecast' episode 244 that you mention, I don't remember that one.

Thank you for your interest and your point of view which I think makes my point that the "process" is far too convoluted and intrinsically complicated. Kind of a vicious cycle...the more complicated they make it, the more money it costs.

Furthermore, who here believes it actually takes as much money as they are having to pay to actually perform the functions of the USICS ( Thousands of dollars for paperwork? ), and what about the taxes everybody is saying will be bilked if a poor person is admitted and let on the dole for food? Does no tax money go to the "services" this entity performs? For that matter will anyone here stand up and say "Of course taxes are fair and wonderful in the U.S."?

The Dan Savage reference just flew over my head I'm sorry. What I was referring to was the relief God will freely give, without taxes or fees, which can be found in the Bible book of Daniel at chapter 2, verse 44: “In the days of those kings ( Human governments ) the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed. And this kingdom will not be passed on to another people. It will crush and put an end to all these kingdoms, and it alone will stand forever..."

[Marco&Bettina 502]

All this quibbling over whether the system or our government is just or not is pointless. Irregardless, there's a process to follow. //end thread.

Edited April 25, 2014 by Marco&Bettina

[rhein 451]

Thank you for your interest and your point of view which I think makes my point that the "process" is far too convoluted and intrinsically complicated. Kind of a vicious cycle...the more complicated they make it, the more money it costs.

Furthermore, who here believes it actually takes as much money as they are having to pay to actually perform the functions of the USICS ( Thousands of dollars for paperwork? ), and what about the taxes everybody is saying will be bilked if a poor person is admitted and let on the dole for food? Does no tax money go to the "services" this entity performs? For that matter will anyone here stand up and say "Of course taxes are fair and wonderful in the U.S."?

The Dan Savage reference just flew over my head I'm sorry. What I was referring to was the relief God will freely give, without taxes or fees, which can be found in the Bible book of Daniel at chapter 2, verse 44: “In the days of those kings ( Human governments ) the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed. And this kingdom will not be passed on to another people. It will crush and put an end to all these kingdoms, and it alone will stand forever..."

I am no fan of the immigration process in U.S. - not by a long-shot. However, I believe it really does cost that much, when you take into account all the employees and offices necessary to sustain the bureaucracy.

Yeah, sorry about if the Dan Savage reference was oblique to you. I sometimes erroneously assume that whatever informs my beliefs must be what informs everyone's beliefs.

[ThomVIII 3]

Thanks so much for the input from everybody. I'm out for the weekend maybe longer....need to earn more money to get my honey here!

[Marco&Bettina 502]

Thanks so much for the input from everybody. I'm out for the weekend maybe longer....need to earn more money to get my honey here!

That's the spirit!

[ryna 132]

Thanks, great advice! Yes, we will plan on meeting first thing, then take on the paperwork. Meanwhile being forewarned is being forearmed and I appreciate sites like this and all the various input.

One more thing... Since the I-129F (K-1 petition) requires an original letter of intent to marry from both of you, have it ready when you meet her because it requires an original signature from her. My (now-)wife and I filled out the I-129F and her G-325A when we were together in Colombia and she signed her letter while I was there with her (on was my 3rd or 4th trip there.) It's easier than having it FedEx'd up to you at a later time.

Thank you for your interest and your point of view which I think makes my point that the "process" is far too convoluted and intrinsically complicated. Kind of a vicious cycle...the more complicated they make it, the more money it costs.

Furthermore, who here believes it actually takes as much money as they are having to pay to actually perform the functions of the USICS ( Thousands of dollars for paperwork? ), and what about the taxes everybody is saying will be bilked if a poor person is admitted and let on the dole for food? Does no tax money go to the "services" this entity performs? For that matter will anyone here stand up and say "Of course taxes are fair and wonderful in the U.S."?

The Dan Savage reference just flew over my head I'm sorry. What I was referring to was the relief God will freely give, without taxes or fees, which can be found in the Bible book of Daniel at chapter 2, verse 44: “In the days of those kings ( Human governments ) the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed. And this kingdom will not be passed on to another people. It will crush and put an end to all these kingdoms, and it alone will stand forever..."

Actually, USCIS is (I beleive) 95% self-sustaining. The fees cover their budget and that's why, during the government shutdowns, they continued processing petitions and other immigration-related cases.

[Marco&Bettina 502]

One more thing... Since the I-129F (K-1 petition) requires an original letter of intent to marry from both of you, have it ready when you meet her because it requires an original signature from her. My (now-)wife and I filled out the I-129F and her G-325A when we were together in Colombia and she signed her letter while I was there with her (on was my 3rd or 4th trip there.) It's easier than having it FedEx'd up to you at a later time.

Actually, USCIS is (I beleive) 95% self-sustaining. The fees cover their budget and that's why, during the government shutdowns, they continued processing petitions and other immigration-related cases.

That is remarkable. I didn't know that. Good to know.

[ThomVIII 3]

All this quibbling over whether the system or our government is just or not is pointless. Irregardless, there's a process to follow. //end thread.

One half of your union or his relatives might still be a slave here in the Southern U.S. if more nobler minded people had not overcome in the Civil War through accelerated "quibbling". Change does not come through acquiescence, and you are not authorized to prohibit my exercise of free speech during my search for solutions. If you do not like me or my thoughts is it necessary that you pay any further attention to me? Is there a charge for the pages this thread is occupying? If so, state the amount I owe to the webmasters. Otherwise, I have received some good and friendly advice and would enjoy continued interaction with those that would encourage me.

[Marco&Bettina 502]

One half of your union or his relatives might still be a slave here in the Southern U.S. if more nobler minded people had not overcome in the Civil War through accelerated "quibbling". Change does not come through acquiescence, and you are not authorized to prohibit my exercise of free speech during my search for solutions. If you do not like me or my thoughts is it necessary that you pay any further attention to me? Is there a charge for the pages this thread is occupying? If so, state the amount I owe to the webmasters. Otherwise, I have received some good and friendly advice and would enjoy continued interaction with those that would encourage me.

Check your private messages.