How much money do I need to make for K1 Visa

[OliviaC 1]

I am wondering how much i should be making so that they approve my fiances visa

[Just Paul 4,591]

125% of the poverty line for 2 people

 

https://www.uscis.gov/i-864p

[Prizm123 1,084]

Persons in family / household	Fiance visa	Marriage visa
2	$16,460	$20,575
3	$20,780	$25,975
4	$25,100	$31,375
5	$29,420	$36,775
6	$33,740	$42,175
7	$38,060	$47,575
8	$42,380	$52,975

[OliviaC 1]

3 minutes ago, Prizm123 said:

Persons in family / household	Fiance visa	Marriage visa
2	$16,460	$20,575
3	$20,780	$25,975
4	$25,100	$31,375
5	$29,420	$36,775
6	$33,740	$42,175
7	$38,060	$47,575
8	$42,380	$52,975

So for 2 people is it the number in the first column or second column? Im sorry if that is a dumb question haha

[Prizm123 1,084]

1 minute ago, OliviaC said:

So for 2 people is it the number in the first column or second column? Im sorry if that is a dumb question haha

first column is for fiancee visa, the K1, the second column is for the already married visa, the CR1 or IR1

[Just Paul 4,591]

When you AOS it is the 2nd number.

[Lil bear 3,831]

1 minute ago, Prizm123 said:

first column is for fiancee visa, the K1, the second column is for the already married visa, the CR1 or IR1

Second column is also for AOS after K1 and marraige. 

[OliviaC 1]

2 minutes ago, Paul & Mary said:

When you AOS it is the 2nd number.

what is AOS

[Just Paul 4,591]

Adjustment of Status.   After you get married and file the paperwork for the Green card, Advanced Parole and Employment Authorization. . .  The good stuff that takes 4 to 12 months to get back.

[Lil bear 3,831]

1 minute ago, OliviaC said:

what is AOS

Adjustment of Status.. after a foreign fiancé arrives in the US on the K1 visa, they must marry within 90 days and then apply for AOS.. which is adjusting their status to become a permanent  resident .. get the Green Card . Initially the status will be conditional PR.. application to remove these conditions comes after 2 years of holding the GC 

[DaveAndAnastasia 2,078]

9 hours ago, OliviaC said:

I am wondering how much i should be making so that they approve my fiances visa

Probably more important in the long run than the legal requirements … you need to make enough to support yourself and your fiancé in a location you're okay with living at a level you're both okay with until he can legally work and finds a job.

[geowrian 22,335]

Short answer:

As much as is needed for everybody in your household to live.

Household size is at least 2, but can include others (children, parents if claimed on taxes, previous people sponsored, etc.). The I-864 instructions includes details on household size, which will work for the I-134 as well.

 

Longer answer:

The minimum is 100% of the federal poverty level, but some COs for some countries use 125% as a minimum for a K-1 anyway.

The CO looks at the totality of the circumstances to make a public charge decision. This means one could make over 125% of the income level and still be denied on public charge grounds, if there is reason for the CO to believe that the income, stability of income, etc. is insufficient.

[K & R 343]

11 hours ago, OliviaC said:

what is AOS

You should really check out the guides here on VJ and become familiar with the K-1/AOS process. You should also check out the guides for the CR1 spousal visa. The CR1 takes a little bit longer than the K1 but lately their processing times haven’t been that far apart. The CR1 would also allow the foreign spouse to work and get a greencard pretty soon after they enter the USA (no AOS required for the CR1). If finances are a concern I would definitely look into the CR1 route. Your fiancé would likely not be able to work for 4-6 months after filing AOS if you choose the K-1 route. 

 

Either way you can get a joint sponsor to help meet the financial requirement.

[Ash.1101 1,755]

Def do research.

I have seen that most expect you to make at least 125% of the poverty level, REGARDLESS of the income requirements for K-1 simply because you are expected to AOS and you can't AOS on only 100% of the poverty level.

If you want to be safe, you need to at least make $20,575. And as said prior, they do look at the totality of your situation, so even making that much may not be enough if you show any financial instability.

[Cryssiekins 976]

You’ll also want to factor in the costs associated with the K1, the marriage, the AoS process, any driver licensing, and other fees that may come up. 

 

PLUS consider the cost of actually supporting someone who cannot work for 4-8 months (or however long it takes) from the time your case is received, plus all the time before that.  For me, we had our marriage 2 weeks after I arrived and had our paperwork in 45 days after I arrived, and then I waited about 4 months for a work authorization.  In that time, my husband had to pay all the rent, all the utilities, other bills, gas for 2 cars, insurance for 2 cars, groceries etc.  I had a small savings that I brought with me to help bridge the gap (bc I thought I was planning ahead) and while it did help, things were tight for those 6-ish months.