How long to have a job before applying for K-1 visa

[Raven22 0]

Hi all,

My fiance and I are a young couple of 19 and 20 (this year) and we are looking into applying for our k-1 visa sometime in the beginning of next year. I am a US citizen and am currently searching for a job. Once I get a job, I was wondering how long I need to have it before applying for the visa. I know they want your job to be stable enough so you can support your fiance and yourself. I was planning on having it till the beginning of 2016 (that is if I get one asap) and then applying for the K-1 fiance visa. Is a year long enough? We don't have a lot of money but if I get a full-time job and have a joint sponsor should that be enough? My fiance (UK citizen) also has an inheritance which he receives at 25 (he's 20 this year). If we mention that along with having a joint sponsor would that help? I just don't want us to get denied for any reason. Please help!!

[Pheebs1201 269]

Current income is key. So if it is a relatively new job, you can just use a letter from your employer stating your income and that your job is in good faith. London only wants one form of proof for the affidavit of support so it won't matter that your tax return etc will not reflect this due to being in the job for less than a year. Previous income is irrelevant. You could have been earning $50,000 last year but if you're unemployed and have no savings that information is essentially worthless. Having only had the job for a short time should not hinder you if you're able to get that employer letter. Hope that makes sense.

You could also use a joint sponsor. London even allows the beneficiary to self sponsor. I'm sure you will be fine.

I recommend reading the information in the United Kingdom forum, it is very helpful Good luck!

Edited January 16, 2015 by Pheebs1201

[Pheebs1201 269]

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/forum/99-united-kingdom/

[Raven22 0]

Thanks! I will definitely look at that! You've helped me be less worried about everything(:

[Pheebs1201 269]

Haha didn't realise both threads were you, hope that's helped anyway, sorry if I repeated myself a bit

[Raven22 0]

That's alright haha You answered my questions(: I have one more question (for now lol) I have no money saved as of right now, do they just count your income or do they want to know how much you have in the bank too? Like I mentioned before, my fiance does have an inheritance coming but that is pretty much all we have right now. Sorry for all these questions haha

[Al422 221]

Check the rules for your consulate. Most seem to want your latest tax return, and if that one shows enough income, you are good to go. Just watch out for the ones who want multiple year tax returns.

[Pheebs1201 269]

Including bank balance/savings is optional. If you were using savings to make up a discrepancy in income then it needs to be three times as much.

For example...

Currently you need 125% of the poverty level for a household of two, assuming you have no other dependents (look up form I-864 on USCIS for exact figures) but this is roughly $20,000 right now. So if you earned $18,000 the discrepancy is $2000 so you'd need $6000 in savings to make up for it.

Hope that makes sense.

Check the rules for your consulate. Most seem to want your latest tax return, and if that one shows enough income, you are good to go. Just watch out for the ones who want multiple year tax returns.

London happily accepts an employer letter and do not require multiple tax returns.

[Raven22 0]

So if I have a co or joint sponsor (what's the difference? lol) will it not really matter? because they will make up the difference right?

[Pheebs1201 269]

Yes a co sponsor and a joint sponsor is the same thing.

London will allow the co sponsor to make up the whole amount if necessary. My fiances mom is sponsoring me

[Raven22 0]

Are you a UK citizen moving to the US or opposite?(:

[Gary & Aubrey 23]

Luckily, London will allow you to have the joint sponsor (co-sponsor is same thing, different name) sponsor the beneficiary alone. My father is sponsoring my fiance. Joint sponsors need to have 100% of the poverty level, not 125%, so there's that. Because my father is married to my mom and has me as a beneficiary due to my schooling, our household would be 4, so the income level would have to be $23,850. Seriously look into, because if your parent helps sponsor, any siblings would be counted in their household if still living with them or claimed on taxes. Also, if it comes done to two parents who are both willing to sponsor, choose the parent with the higher income. My mom makes around $33k a year, which is more than enough, but my father makes over $70k, there should be no denial due to finances.

[Raven22 0]

Luckily, London will allow you to have the joint sponsor (co-sponsor is same thing, different name) sponsor the beneficiary alone. My father is sponsoring my fiance. Joint sponsors need to have 100% of the poverty level, not 125%, so there's that. Because my father is married to my mom and has me as a beneficiary due to my schooling, our household would be 4, so the income level would have to be $23,850. Seriously look into, because if your parent helps sponsor, any siblings would be counted in their household if still living with them or claimed on taxes. Also, if it comes done to two parents who are both willing to sponsor, choose the parent with the higher income. My mom makes around $33k a year, which is more than enough, but my father makes over $70k, there should be no denial due to finances.

Thank you for your help(: I am the petitioner (UK citizen), and my UK fiance will be moving here, will London be the main consulate or will it be the US one?

[Gary & Aubrey 23]

London is the consulate you will go through for the K1. If they are quite a distance from London, I recommend booking a hotel for the night before any interviews (medical and embassy interview are both in London, and on different dates) or staying with someone they may know.

[LORIEandPHIL 123]

The reason everyone says 125%, and not 100% is because you will need to show the 125% above poverty to adjust status once you are wed. Most people use the same co sponsors both times.