Question about Financial Sponsorship by PhD student

[joies 0]

Hi everyone! I have a very specific question regarding my financial sponsorship of my fiance.

I am currently finishing a PhD in liberal arts, have a $33,000 fellowship through August 2019 related to my field, and am finishing my dissertation this year. I have had steady income as employed as a T.A. by my University, as well as research fellowships in the past two years. I do not have guaranteed employment for next year yet, as currently applying for postdocs and jobs (you can imagine how fun that is on top of the visa process...).
 

My fiance has a bachelor's degree in computer engineering, a U.N. fellowship for NGO volunteer work, and has been working on his masters for the past couple years. His interview will be at the Amman consulate.

Do we need my parent's financial co-sponsorship? I am leaning towards yes but am hoping to get other's perspectives (or pointed towards a forum where can receive advice). Thanks in advance for your advice and input. 

 

I-129F Sent :	2017-12-29
I-129F NOA1 :	2018-01-08
I-129F RFE(s) :
RFE Reply(s) :
I-129F NOA2 :	2018-07-20
NVC Received :
Date Case #, IIN, and BIN assigned :
NVC Left :	2018-08-11
Consulate Received :	2018-09-16

 

 

[geowrian 22,337]

The beneficiary's employment won't matter unless it continues from the same source once in the US. Their employability will not satisfy the sponsorship requirements.

 

Is the $33,000 your current employment? Is it paid in a lump sum or is it like a "normal" job where its divided into paychecks?

If so, then it should be sufficient to meet the minimum requirements. No guarantee if it will be sufficient for the CO - they look at the totality of the circumstances - but it may be sufficient.

If not, then you will almost definitely need a co sponsor.

 

Edit: Note that I-134 applies at the time of the interview for the K-1 visa. So "current" employment would be as of that date, not necessarily right now as implied above.

Edited October 15, 2018 by geowrian

[joies 0]

27 minutes ago, geowrian said:

Is the $33,000 your current employment? Is it paid in a lump sum or is it like a "normal" job where its divided into paychecks?

If so, then it should be sufficient to meet the minimum requirements. No guarantee if it will be sufficient for the CO - they look at the totality of the circumstances - but it may be sufficient.

If not, then you will almost definitely need a co sponsor.

Yes, from September through August of 2019 that salary/fellowship is my current employment, and it is divided into paychecks from my University, which I will supply.

 

We're trying to get information from our specific consulate (it's a pretty good one). My main concern is the fact that I do not have guaranteed employment after August 2019 as my academic job market is going on now thru February (already have had two interviews, but the big job postings aren't even closing and starting interviews until December). I understand that my advanced education degrees help overall circumstances, but am trying to cover all the bases here after we've come so far. Thank you!

[ham_hippie 4]

LOL I am in the same position.. except that I am trying to bring my wife and not fiance. So I have only been a PhD for one year though and the embassay said that wasn't enough. I sent them a follow up email; I am trying to avoid finding a co-sponsor. What happened on your end? I'm also from Michigan too hahah 

[joies 0]

On 11/7/2018 at 11:33 AM, ham_hippie said:

LOL I am in the same position.. except that I am trying to bring my wife and not fiance. So I have only been a PhD for one year though and the embassay said that wasn't enough. I sent them a follow up email; I am trying to avoid finding a co-sponsor. What happened on your end? I'm also from Michigan too hahah 

Hi, we ended up getting my parents to co-sponsor our K-1 visa just to be safe and make sure. Based on what the U.S. embassy told you, it sounds like the right idea to ensure we have enough proof of support