Embassy Process/Evidence Changes??

[payxibka 10,044]

There has been an unconfirmed rumor for a couple of months that there is a new "sheriff" in town as it relates to the Manila IV unit.  If true, this might explain the recent change to K-1 interviews on Thursdays ONLY .  The second item. is that there is am embassy review from  a 12/27 interview where the I-134 was asked for by name.  

 

With that said, any anecdotal evidence that has been floating around for the past few years needs to be re-validated.   There might be more items changing or changed that have not been reported back.  No more resting on our laurels or advising based on potentially out dated information until enough people get through the embassy interviews and a trend can be established.

[Greenbaum 12,258]

5 hours ago, payxibka said:

There has been an unconfirmed rumor for a couple of months that there is a new "sheriff" in town as it relates to the Manila IV unit.  If true, this might explain the recent change to K-1 interviews on Thursdays ONLY .  The second item. is that there is am embassy review from  a 12/27 interview where the I-134 was asked for by name.  

 

With that said, any anecdotal evidence that has been floating around for the past few years needs to be re-validated.   There might be more items changing or changed that have not been reported back.  No more resting on our laurels or advising based on potentially out dated information until enough people get through the embassy interviews and a trend can be established.

So USEM is going from 5 days and 4-6 windows to 1 day and the same amount of "windows"? How can that every process enough visas that are being applied for and approved from USCIS? I smell a LARGE roadblock up ahead.

[Hank_ 9,171]

Not being asked for the I-134 and supporting documents with the K-1 has been going on since 2014 .. the new "sheriff" in town  isn't the cause of this.   

 

NOTE -  the support evidence is still listed on the K-1 checklist from the embassy.   Embassy not asking for it is their choice.

 

FINANCIAL DOCUMENTS. Applicants must provide evidence that they will not become public charge in the U.S. You may visit the Department of State website for the proper Affidavit of Support information.

Edited January 2, 2019 by Hank_

[payxibka 10,044]

1 minute ago, Greenbaum said:

So USEM is going from 5 days and 4-6 windows to 1 day and the same amount of "windows"? How can that every process enough visas that are being applied for and approved from USCIS? I smell a LARGE roadblock up ahead.

Don't know about the number of windows but reports from the last two weeks indicate in interviews are done by noon

[payxibka 10,044]

1 minute ago, Hank_ said:

Not being asked for the I-134 and supporting documents with the K-1 has been going on since 2014 .. the new "sheriff" in town  is the cause of this.   

 

NOTE -  the support evidence is still listed on the K-1 checklist from the embassy.   Embassy not asking for it is their choice.

 

FINANCIAL DOCUMENTS. Applicants must provide evidence that they will not become public charge in the U.S. You may visit the Department of State website for the proper Affidavit of Support information.

Yes.  But one applicant last week was specifically asked for the i134 by name.   One instance doesn't make a trend but time will tell 

[Hank_ 9,171]

Interviews were completed by noon before ..

[Hank_ 9,171]

Just now, payxibka said:

Yes.  But one applicant last week was specifically asked for the i134 by name.   One instance doesn't make a trend but time will tell 

You are not talking about anything new ... most are not .. some are ... ASKED.   That has been the trend since 2014.      Solution is simply - Follow the embassy checklist.

[payxibka 10,044]

3 minutes ago, Hank_ said:

Interviews were completed by noon before ..

Yes but not 100 in a day

[Hank_ 9,171]

Same time frame .. more applicants  = more COs/Windows

[Greenbaum 12,258]

3 minutes ago, payxibka said:

Yes.  But one applicant last week was specifically asked for the i134 by name.   One instance doesn't make a trend but time will tell 

Hank is right, it has been 3 plus years that they haven't ask the majority of applicants. But once in awhile they ask. We still recommend to everyone that until it becomes "law" that they should carry all the necessary documents asked for from the checklist (P3) for the financials. Just so they are not caught with their "pants down" when asked.

[payxibka 10,044]

1 minute ago, Greenbaum said:

Hank is right, it has been 3 plus years that they haven't ask the majority of applicants. But once in awhile they ask. We still recommend to everyone that until it becomes "law" that they should carry all the necessary documents asked for from the checklist (P3) for the financials. Just so they are not caught with their "pants down" when asked.

I'm not talking about evidence but the actual affidavit itself.   There are some on here that say the actual affidavit is not required 

[Greenbaum 12,258]

3 minutes ago, payxibka said:

I'm not talking about evidence but the actual affidavit itself.   There are some on here that say the actual affidavit is not required 

They are somewhat right and somewhat wrong. If the CO asked for the financials this is what is requested:

 

EVIDENCE OF SUPPORT. You should be able to demonstrate that you will not become a public charge or be a burden on the U.S. taxpayers for financial support. A completed I-134 Affidavit of Support Form K1/K2 Interview Preparation Instructions – English (February 2014)  Page 3 of 9 with an original signature will be useful to the consular officer to evaluate your petitioner’s ability to be financially responsible for you. You should also submit your petitioner’s most recent U.S. Federal income tax return (Form 1040) and wage statements (Form W-2). Employment letters stating salaries and bank statements may be included to substantiate the I-134. Get the IRS transcript in place of the actual 1040 here: https://www.irs.gov/Individuals/Get-Transcript

 

If we look closer we see that the I-134 is part of the evidence. I think we are all talking about the same thing, but just now all the elements have been included in the discussion which they are now with my reference.

[payxibka 10,044]

2 minutes ago, Greenbaum said:

They are somewhat right and somewhat wrong. If the CO asked for the financials this is what is requested:

 

EVIDENCE OF SUPPORT. You should be able to demonstrate that you will not become a public charge or be a burden on the U.S. taxpayers for financial support. A completed I-134 Affidavit of Support Form K1/K2 Interview Preparation Instructions – English (February 2014)  Page 3 of 9 with an original signature will be useful to the consular officer to evaluate your petitioner’s ability to be financially responsible for you. You should also submit your petitioner’s most recent U.S. Federal income tax return (Form 1040) and wage statements (Form W-2). Employment letters stating salaries and bank statements may be included to substantiate the I-134. Get the IRS transcript in place of the actual 1040 here: https://www.irs.gov/Individuals/Get-Transcript

 

If we look closer we see that the I-134 is part of the evidence. I think we are all talking about the same thing, but just now all the elements have been included in the discussion which they are now with my reference.

What you indicate above is not what is on the Manila website though the affidavit is inferred on the current 

[Greenbaum 12,258]

5 minutes ago, payxibka said:

What you indicate above is not what is on the Manila website though the affidavit is inferred on the current 

If you were to follow all the links (from the USEM and TS.gov) you would end up on this page http://manila.usembassy.gov/wwwh3238.html where from the information was gleaned. Mid 2018 they changed the web address's and failed to update this link.

 

https://travel.state.gov/content/dam/visas/K1/MNL_Manila.pdf

 

If it were me I "wouldn't leave home without it".

[geowrian 22,335]

5 hours ago, Greenbaum said:

They are somewhat right and somewhat wrong. If the CO asked for the financials this is what is requested:

 

EVIDENCE OF SUPPORT. You should be able to demonstrate that you will not become a public charge or be a burden on the U.S. taxpayers for financial support. A completed I-134 Affidavit of Support Form K1/K2 Interview Preparation Instructions – English (February 2014)  Page 3 of 9 with an original signature will be useful to the consular officer to evaluate your petitioner’s ability to be financially responsible for you. You should also submit your petitioner’s most recent U.S. Federal income tax return (Form 1040) and wage statements (Form W-2). Employment letters stating salaries and bank statements may be included to substantiate the I-134. Get the IRS transcript in place of the actual 1040 here: https://www.irs.gov/Individuals/Get-Transcript

 

If we look closer we see that the I-134 is part of the evidence. I think we are all talking about the same thing, but just now all the elements have been included in the discussion which they are now with my reference.

Exactly. Unlike for an immigrant visa or AOS where the I-864 is required by law, the only requirement for the K-1 is to alleviate the public charge concern. The I-134 is just a tool for the CO to consider in evaluation of the public charge risk. This is why they can choose not to ask for it, not consider assets, not accept certain co sponsors, etc. It's just a formalized way of addressing the concern.