NEED HELP!!!! Please

[JessicaAmber 0]

Hey Guys and a merry belated Christmas to all of you

So here's the scoop. I'm from Canada and me and my BF are planning on getting engaged this coming year and then applying for the k1 visa and getting married. We really need a lot of help and have a lot of questions about the process and the requirements and everything. Without going into too many personal details here are a few of our initial questions -

1. Is this a difficult process and is it a process that is possible for people who don't have a lot of money and work average jobs etc.? Meaning as long as he works, has a joint sponsor to help him meet the financial requirements and has a place for me to live once I get there we should be good right?

2. How much will the entire process cost from start to finish?

3. How long does the sponsor (my BF) have to have lived in the place of residence he plans to use on the forms? (He currently lives with his parents and wants to move into an apartment with a roommate just a few weeks before we apply.)

4. My Bf doesn't meet the income requirements and when we read up about the joint sponsor we both found it confusing. The part where it says "Whether you are a sponsor or joint sponsor you must meet all of the requirements" isn't the whole purpose of a joint sponsor to help you meet the financial requirements because you don't?

5. Can the joint sponsor live in a different state from my BF? (He has a family member in another state that we're sure will meet the requirements.)

6. Another thing I wanted to ask, even though I already spoke to a lawyer about this is will my lack of work over the past several years and lack of money and belongings affect anything? I've only worked a few different jobs for short periods of time over the past several years due to personal reasons. I never collected unemployment though and have just stayed with family. I also don't really own anything other than a few personal belongings and I only have a couple thousand dollars in the bank. The lawyer basically said that this would not be an issue and that the persons employment history and his potential employment future are not considered and that the employment history is only required for background check purposes. (Just double checking but is this true?)

We're both very nervous about this whole process and there are a lot more factors in our case that we need help with and a lot more questions we need answered. I'm not really comfortable putting much more personal information on this forum than I have and what I'm really hoping is that someone who has been through this process or knows a lot about it can kind of help us and guide us through and answer the questions we have. We DESPERATELY need help and if anyone would be willing to do so we would be forever grateful for it. If anyone is willing to help us my email is (email removed for your privacy and safety- please do not post emails, phone numbers, addresses, case numbers etc publicly- moderator).

Thanks a bunch guys and I'm really hoping to hear from you soon

<3 Jess

Edited December 27, 2014 by Penguin_ie

[jptl85 25]

Hey! My experience, in answer to your questions:

1. As long as you meet 125% of Federal Poverty Level you should be ok. That could be with the help of a sponsor.

2. The process can be costly. there are some variables, depending on where you live (how much it costs for a police certificate), however i believe it is $340 for filing the i-129F and $1070 for the AOS/AP/EAD (once you are married). I think the whole process ran us about $2000. I am scared to actually tally it up!

3. Not sure - others may be able to assist

4. I agree, i thought it was adding together all incomes.. again someone else may know more.

5. Yes, i am sure they can

6. True, prior employment and earnings for beneficiary will not matter. Current earnings for petitioner will count.

Good luck

[JessicaAmber 0]

Hey!!!! and thank you tons for taking the time to respond Does meeting the 125% of the poverty level include only his income or can he use what's in his bank accounts as well? I think he's pretty close with his income alone and if he can use his savings too we may not need a sponsor.

Thank you again and if anyone else could respond to my initial post I would really appreciate it

<3 Jess

[Penguin_ie 6,000]

Check out our Guide here: http://www.visajourney.com/content/k1guide

[JessicaAmber 0]

^{Thanks hun!!!}

Thanks hun!!!!! (now you can see it lol)

[JessicaAmber 0]

Reading a lot of this stuff confuses me UUUUGGHHHH!!! lol

[JessicaAmber 0]

Is there anyone that can answer my questions or that can contact me via email and assist me? I'd really appreciate it a lot.

[JessicaAmber 0]

Just realised they removed my email. If anyone is willing to help us please just message me on here. Thanks!!!!!

[baron555 934]

1. Is this a difficult process

No, just Read the Guides and Follow the Example Forms

and is it a process that is possible for people who don't have a lot of money and work average jobs etc.?

Yes

Meaning as long as he works, has a joint sponsor to help him meet the financial requirements and has a place for me to live once I get there we should be good right?

Yes

2. How much will the entire process cost from start to finish?

Finish meaning just coming here.....or just GC.....or US Citizenship?

3. How long does the sponsor (my BF) have to have lived in the place of residence he plans to use on the forms?

1 day

(He currently lives with his parents and wants to move into an apartment with a roommate just a few weeks before we apply.)

Sure

4. My Bf doesn't meet the income requirements and when we read up about the joint sponsor we both found it confusing. The part where it says "Whether you are a sponsor or joint sponsor you must meet all of the requirements" isn't the whole purpose of a joint sponsor to help you meet the financial requirements because you don't?

Yes

5. Can the joint sponsor live in a different state from my BF? (He has a family member in another state that we're sure will meet the requirements.)

Yes

6. Another thing I wanted to ask, even though I already spoke to a lawyer about this is will my lack of work over the past several years and lack of money and belongings affect anything? I've only worked a few different jobs for short periods of time over the past several years due to personal reasons. I never collected unemployment though and have just stayed with family. I also don't really own anything other than a few personal belongings and I only have a couple thousand dollars in the bank. The lawyer basically said that this would not be an issue and that the persons employment history and his potential employment future are not considered and that the employment history is only required for background check purposes. (Just double checking but is this true?)

The beneficiary's work history doesn't factor.

[JessicaAmber 0]

Thank you so much :) :)

As for question number 2, I was just referring to the K1 visa process but would you be able to tell me for each?

[JessicaAmber 0]

1. Also to elaborate on question 3, he either plans on talking to his parents and hopefully having them allow us to stay with them (which likely wont happen, don't want to get into too much personal detail here), or moving into an apartment with a roommate, or moving into shared housing where he would basically only own a room, or moving into one of those cheap hotel rooms where you pay so much a week or month and us living there. Would each of these options be possible?

2. If he were to use his parents address when filling out the forms (because that technically is where he lives) would we be able to look for a new place immediately upon my arrival or within a few days after arriving? He doesn't have a lot of money and he wouldn't actually want to move out of his parents house until I get there so would this be possible?

Thank you everyone for your help so far

You guys are awesome <3

[baron555 934]

1. Also to elaborate on question 3, he either plans on talking to his parents and hopefully having them allow us to stay with them (which likely wont happen, don't want to get into too much personal detail here), or moving into an apartment with a roommate, or moving into shared housing where he would basically only own a room, or moving into one of those cheap hotel rooms where you pay so much a week or month and us living there. Would each of these options be possible?

Yes

2. If he were to use his parents address when filling out the forms (because that technically is where he lives) would we be able to look for a new place immediately upon my arrival or within a few days after arriving?

Yes

He doesn't have a lot of money and he wouldn't actually want to move out of his parents house until I get there so would this be possible?

Yes

Thank you everyone for your help so far

You guys are awesome <3

[JessicaAmber 0]

Awww baron555 thank you so much for continuing to answer my questions You have no idea how much it means to me and how much of a burden I feel being lifted. I was so worried about all of this stuff.

A few more questions I have are -

1.If he fills out the form using his parents place of residence does that mean %125 of the poverty line becomes higher because there would be 4 of them (him, his parents and his brother)? Meaning if he lived in his own place he would only have to meet the amount for 2 people ($19,662) but because he's filling it out there it would be the amount for 4 people ($29,812)?

2. If he does fill it out from his parents place does that mean his income alone has to be $29,812 or the combined income of everyone in the house has to be $29,812?

3. Is he allowed to use his income for the year plus the money he has in his chequing account and his savings account?

4. The person we're thinking of using as the co-sponsor that lives out of state has 3 people that live with her as well so does that mean that she has to meet the amount for 4 people?

5. Can the sponsor and co sponsors incomes be added together to meet whatever amount is required (how does this work)?

Sorry for so many questions. I just find this stuff so confusing.

[baron555 934]

Awww baron555 thank you so much for continuing to answer my questions You have no idea how much it means to me and how much of a burden I feel being lifted. I was so worried about all of this stuff.

You'll have to Read the Guides for each of the steps of the process to determine the costs. The K-1 has costs for the 129 filing, for your medical, for the Embassy visa fee. Then you have to AOS, then ROC and then the N-400 citizenship. Figure all total to be around $3,000 or a bit more.

A few more questions I have are -

1.If he fills out the form using his parents place of residence does that mean %125 of the poverty line becomes higher because there would be 4 of them (him, his parents and his brother)? Meaning if he lived in his own place he would only have to meet the amount for 2 people ($19,662) but because he's filling it out there it would be the amount for 4 people ($29,812)?

Depends on the number of dependents he lists on his income tax return. I would guess that his parents do not count him as a dependent, so he would have just himself now and then you added when you immigrate.

2. If he does fill it out from his parents place does that mean his income alone has to be $29,812 or the combined income of everyone in the house has to be $29,812?

HIs income. If he doesn't have the required amount, then the cosponsor must have the full income required for their "hew household size".

3. Is he allowed to use his income for the year plus the money he has in his chequing account and his savings account?

Savings can be used but at a lower percentage...I think only 30%? Income is key.

4. The person we're thinking of using as the co-sponsor that lives out of state has 3 people that live with her as well so does that mean that she has to meet the amount for 4 people?

No, for 5.......you and the petitioner (since they can't fend for themselves plus you, the cosponsor needs to "provide" for both).

5. Can the sponsor and co sponsors incomes be added together to meet whatever amount is required (how does this work)?

Nope

Sorry for so many questions. I just find this stuff so confusing.

It's not really. If income is a big problem...then maybe you two should wait until he has adequate funding. This is not cheap (the income levels are pretty low) but how could he support you if he can not?

Edited December 29, 2014 by baron555

[JessicaAmber 0]

I find this stuff very confusing lol and I thank you so much for your patience and continued assistance You really have NO IDEA how much you are helping

1. So basically what you're saying is that he could use his parents place of residence on the form and he would still only be responsible for meeting %125 of the income requirements for the household size of 2 (the lowest number listed on the federal poverty guideline) because he is not responsible for his parents and brother?

2. If he still cannot meet those income requirements then the cosponsor, who I believe would technically only be responsible for herself because I believe her husband is responsible for himself and their two children, her income would then have to meet %125 for 2 or 3 people?

We've waited too long to be together already and don't want to wait anymore. I'm sure we can find a co-signer who meets the requirements and has the necessary funds. I'm still just a little unclear of what that actually means and how it works. The purpose of the cosponsor is to simply prove that if worst comes to worse the they can take financial responsibility correct? So the funds are just there as proof correct?

This is not cheap (the income levels are pretty low) but how could he support you if he can not?

I thought you said this was possible for people who don't have a lot of money and work average jobs lol

Can there be more than 1 cosponsor?

Edited December 29, 2014 by JessicaAmber