Salary requirements for I-134

[bolin786 21]

I am getting ready to help my stepdaughter complete Form I-134 for her fiancé in the Philippines.  Her salary is just shy about $100 from the Federal Poverty Guideline of $16,910.00 for two persons.  She is getting a letter from her bank detailing her checking and savings account as well as a letter from her employer, and submitting her 2018 IRS return. I am planning to be a co-sponsor, just in case.  My question is if my wife, who is employed and files a joint return with me, should she also fill out the co-sponsorship since we file  jointly.  Should we both complete the co-sponsor I-134 form, or complete 2 separate I-134 forms as co-sponsors?

Edited January 16, 2019 by bolin786
spelling error

[payxibka 10,044]

7 minutes ago, bolin786 said:

I am getting ready to help my stepdaughter complete Form I-134 for her fiancé in the Philippines.  Her salary is just shy about $100 from the Federal Poverty Guideline of $16,910.00 for two persons.  She is getting a letter from her bank detailing her checking and savings account as well as a letter from her employer, and submitting her 2018 IRS return. I am planning to be a co-sponsor, just in case.  My question is if my wife, who is employed and files a joint return with me, should she also fill out the co-sponsorship since we file  jointly.  Should we both complete the co-sponsor I-134 form, or complete 2 separate I-134 forms as co-sponsors?

Is the interview in Manila?

[Ian&Leia 4]

I'm not experienced but I've been looking into the same thing so take my response with a grain of salt. My mother who is a W2 employee, is cosponsoring my K1 and is married to my father who is self-employed. I chose my mother because she is W2 and the paperwork seems to be more straight forward and consistent. They file jointly though.

 

On the actual instructions for i-134, all it says is to include tax returns if you're self employed, OR a letter of employment if you're an employee. If that's the case, then your employment letter will just show yours not your spouses income, but everyone here seems to always bring a whole library of tax returns, pay stubs, w2s, etc.  I guess it's better to have and not need than need and not have.

 

I'm guessing if you qualify with your own income you could go that route. Employment Letter, Paystubs, W2, all for your own personal income and even bring the tax returns just so you have it.

 

If you're wanting to include your spouses to show it being higher I'm not sure how that works.

 

Sorry If I'm not much help. I'm just a guy in the same boat trying to sort it all out. I feel your pain bro.

 

[bolin786 21]

Payxibba,

Yes the interview will be in manila.

17 hours ago, payxibka said:

Is the interview in Manila?

Yes, the interview will be in Manila.

[payxibka 10,044]

5 minutes ago, bolin786 said:

Payxibba,

Yes the interview will be in manila.

Yes, the interview will be in Manila.

You have a couple of potential problems.   Historically,  Manila does not allow assets to make up any income shortfall,  nor have they been known to accept co sponsors 

[bolin786 21]

2 hours ago, payxibka said:

You have a couple of potential problems.   Historically,  Manila does not allow assets to make up any income shortfall,  nor have they been known to accept co sponsors 

payxibba,

Is the salary amount pre-tax or post-tax?  My  stepdaughter makes $10.00/hr for a 40 hr week. Therefore, her salary is actually $18,200.00, (pre-tax),well over the 2019  Federal Poverty Level of $16,910.00 for 2 persons. I would greatly appreciate your input. Please make suggestions.  She also babysits on a part-time basis but she has not declared this income in her taxes.  If need be, she can start reporting this as income as of January, 2019. 

bolin786

[payxibka 10,044]

1 hour ago, bolin786 said:

payxibba,

Is the salary amount pre-tax or post-tax?  My  stepdaughter makes $10.00/hr for a 40 hr week. Therefore, her salary is actually $18,200.00, (pre-tax),well over the 2019  Federal Poverty Level of $16,910.00 for 2 persons. I would greatly appreciate your input. Please make suggestions.  She also babysits on a part-time basis but she has not declared this income in her taxes.  If need be, she can start reporting this as income as of January, 2019. 

bolin786

May I suggest visiting the Philippines regional forum.  Many very familiar with the ins and outside of the consulate 

 Manila may actually use 125% of the poverty.   In reality the standard is the the CO must be "convinced " which is an ambiguous standard 

[bolin786 21]

I will be assisting my stepdaughter complete her K-1 Visa application for her fiancé.  I would like to know in details all information on the income requirements for her for the Manila Consulate.  She makes around $20,800.00 gross pay.  I believe the 100 %  2019 Federal Poverty guideline for 2 is $16,910.00.  According to what I have read already, she is way over the 100% requirements.  Am I correct, or does Manila requires 125% of the Fede3ral Poverty Guidelines?  Do they accept assets or co-sponsors? Please help with suggestions.

Thanks,

bolin786

[geowrian 22,335]

Manila typically does not request an I-134, although it is recommended to have one anyway in case they do. There's a small handful of reports that it is being asked for more regularly now.

 

Manila COs usually do not consider assets, and only accept a co sponsor for the K-1 on a case by case basis. A close family member may or may not be alright.

 

The CO looks at a totality of the circumstances to determine if there is a public charge concern.

[Hank_ 9,172]

6 minutes ago, bolin786 said:

I will be assisting my stepdaughter complete her K-1 Visa application for her fiancé.  I would like to know in details all information on the income requirements for her for the Manila Consulate.  She makes around $20,800.00 gross pay.  I believe the 100 %  2019 Federal Poverty guideline for 2 is $16,910.00.  According to what I have read already, she is way over the 100% requirements.  Am I correct, or does Manila requires 125% of the Fede3ral Poverty Guidelines?  Do they accept assets or co-sponsors? Please help with suggestions.

Thanks,

bolin786

Embassy in Manila used 125% the same as required for AOS (I-1485 for conditional green card) which is $20,575  if gross income is over that all is good.    https://www.uscis.gov/i-864p     

 

Embassy does accept co-sponsors on a case by case basis with the K-1.  They will want the co-sponsor to be a close family member - parents or siblings to even consider them.

 

Has she completed the I-129F petition process and are now ready to complete the actual visa application at USEM?

 

 

[Hank_ 9,172]

1 minute ago, geowrian said:

Manila typically does not request an I-134, although it is recommended to have one anyway in case they do. There's a small handful of reports that it is being asked for more regularly now.

 

Manila COs usually do not consider assets, and only accept a co sponsor for the K-1 on a case by case basis. A close family member may or may not be alright.

 

The CO looks at a totality of the circumstances to determine if there is a public charge concern.

The I-134 and supporting documents are listed as required on the K-1 Checklist , whether the embassy asks for financial support documents is solely at the embassy discretion.    Embassy does not consider assets.

 

And yes I agree the embassy does not always ask for it with the K-1 .. but the applicant needs to be prepared.

[Greenbaum 12,258]

34 minutes ago, bolin786 said:

I will be assisting my stepdaughter complete her K-1 Visa application for her fiancé.  I would like to know in details all information on the income requirements for her for the Manila Consulate.  She makes around $20,800.00 gross pay.  I believe the 100 %  2019 Federal Poverty guideline for 2 is $16,910.00.  According to what I have read already, she is way over the 100% requirements.  Am I correct, or does Manila requires 125% of the Fede3ral Poverty Guidelines?  Do they accept assets or co-sponsors? Please help with suggestions.

Thanks,

bolin786

Your just over the poverty guides at 125% so she should be good to go. They look at line 22 of the most current 1040 for that number. If she still is good and since she is so close, it would be prudent to send her the co-sponsor information in the event she needs it. Like others have said it's been number of years that they have asked for financials but again best be prepared.

[payxibka 10,044]

5 minutes ago, Greenbaum said:

Your just over the poverty guides at 125% so she should be good to go. They look at line 22 of the most current 1040 for that number. If she still is good and since she is so close, it would be prudent to send her the co-sponsor information in the event she needs it. Like others have said it's been number of years that they have asked for financials but again best be prepared.

For 2018 and beyond it will be line 6

[bolin786 21]

5 hours ago, Greenbaum said:

Your just over the poverty guides at 125% so she should be good to go. They look at line 22 of the most current 1040 for that number. If she still is good and since she is so close, it would be prudent to send her the co-sponsor information in the event she needs it. Like others have said it's been number of years that they have asked for financials but again best be prepared.

Thanks for your comments,

bolin 786

[bolin786 21]

5 hours ago, Hank_ said:

Embassy in Manila used 125% the same as required for AOS (I-1485 for conditional green card) which is $20,575  if gross income is over that all is good.    https://www.uscis.gov/i-864p     

 

Embassy does accept co-sponsors on a case by case basis with the K-1.  They will want the co-sponsor to be a close family member - parents or siblings to even consider them.

 

Has she completed the I-129F petition process and are now ready to complete the actual visa application at USEM?

 

 

Her fiancé has yet to complete his actual visa application.  She just mailed her I-129F but we are planning ahead to avoid any possible problems. You state $20,575.00 as 125 % over the Poverty Guidelines.  I wonder where you got the figures, since I thought that  100% was $16,910.00 so 125 % would be $21,137.00. 

Thanks,

bolin786