New I-134 Questions

[slavaskii 885]

Hello!

 

I'm filling out the new I-134 for my fiancee and had a few questions as I go through. 

 

1. Question 24 asks if "I intend to make specific contributions to the beneficiary." Naturally, I plan to provide everything for my fiancee after she arrives, but the following explanation box only allows for a small number of characters and seems to suggest things like 'allowances' or 'room and board.' Do I just select 'yes' and handwrite in that I'm going to support her completely? 
2. I have sufficient assets (savings + stocks) to be over the 5x minimum wage threshold. Nonetheless, I recognize that when assets are used it's helpful to have a joint sponsor, and my mother has happily agreed to fill out another I-134 for us. When she answers Question 24, should she select 'no' because I am the one providing everything? Or does that make it sound like she wouldn't help if needed?
3. I am on a full-ride scholarship to my law school, which allows me to still support my fiancee while studying. I want to include proof of my scholarship (so that the embassy knows I can afford everything after they ask my fiancee what I "do"), but was wondering if I could put this anywhere on the I-134 so they recognize this up front. I don't think it can be included as an asset, so maybe I just need to attach it separately?
4. By the time we have the interview, I will likely have started my summer clerkship. In anticipation of this, should I list it as employment on the I-134? 

 

Thank you kindly in advance! 

Edited May 8, 2022 by slavaskii

[Mike E 11,723]

5 minutes ago, slavaskii said:

Question 24 asks if "I intend to make specific contributions to the beneficiary." Naturally, I plan to provide everything for my fiancee after she arrives, but the following explanation box only allows for a small number of characters and seems to suggest things like 'allowances' or 'room and board.' Do I just select 'yes' and handwrite in that I'm going to support her completely? 

This has long been a divisive issue on Visajourney.

 

The law says K-1 sponsors can leave it blank and indeed the example form from Visajourney (https://www.visajourney.com/examples/Form-I-134.pdf) leaves it blank. Some put N/A. 

 

However some VJ members have encountered head winds:

 

I opted to follow the guideline in the above thread.

 

[slavaskii 885]

Just now, Mike E said:

This has long been a divisive issue on Visajourney.

 

The law says K-1 sponsors can leave it blank and indeed the example form from Visajourney (https://www.visajourney.com/examples/Form-I-134.pdf) leaves it blank. Some put N/A. 

 

However some VJ members have encountered head winds:

 

I opted to follow the guideline in the above thread.

 

Thank you for this! I will look through this and other threads. I assumed it was a new question because I didn't recall it from when I looked at the old form; I've heard this version has been giving people problems, particularly the "how much will the beneficiary contribute" question. 

 

I don't see the downside in putting "yes" and then a short explanation that this is K1; I'm shocked to see people putting "no," to me that raises red flags immediately. Very interesting.

[EatBulaga 252]

1 hour ago, slavaskii said:

Hello!

 

I'm filling out the new I-134 for my fiancee and had a few questions as I go through. 

 

1. Question 24 asks if "I intend to make specific contributions to the beneficiary." Naturally, I plan to provide everything for my fiancee after she arrives, but the following explanation box only allows for a small number of characters and seems to suggest things like 'allowances' or 'room and board.' Do I just select 'yes' and handwrite in that I'm going to support her completely? 
2. I have sufficient assets (savings + stocks) to be over the 5x minimum wage threshold. Nonetheless, I recognize that when assets are used it's helpful to have a joint sponsor, and my mother has happily agreed to fill out another I-134 for us. When she answers Question 24, should she select 'no' because I am the one providing everything? Or does that make it sound like she wouldn't help if needed?
3. I am on a full-ride scholarship to my law school, which allows me to still support my fiancee while studying. I want to include proof of my scholarship (so that the embassy knows I can afford everything after they ask my fiancee what I "do"), but was wondering if I could put this anywhere on the I-134 so they recognize this up front. I don't think it can be included as an asset, so maybe I just need to attach it separately?
4. By the time we have the interview, I will likely have started my summer clerkship. In anticipation of this, should I list it as employment on the I-134? 

 

Thank you kindly in advance! 

Remember that the I-134 is for the consulate/embassy to determine if you or your fiancée are at risk to be on government assistance or public charge. It may be included in the brown envelope that your fiancée takes to the Port-Of-Entry. USCIS probably sees it during the AOS process at which time your financial situation may have changed and the I-134 is then superseded by the I-864. I will certainly be filling out the I-864 to show continuity and consistency with the I-134 in case USCIS compares the two. Since each consulate/embassy may interpret things differently, I would rather volunteer the form to show financial support than not and risk further delays regardless of what the law says. So what I would do for:

 

1. Part3, Item Number 24, I would put down "intend", and put in the limited space "living expenses".

 

2. Since the joint sponsor is also accountable for the fiancée in the US, the joint sponsor putting down "intend" only helps the case.

 

3. I would think scholarship is part of your income and that you can include the scholarship info like you would an employment verification letter? I would explain that in Part8 Additional Information that in lieu of current employment status, you have the scholarship, and I would compare the scholarship amount to the HHS Poverty Guidelines.

 

4. You can list any potential future employment in Part8. If the clerkship developed by the interview, you can send a copy of the employment verification as support for that Part8.

 

I've also posted more at

https://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/783115-k1-i-134-beneficiary-income/?tab=comments#comment-10668287

and

https://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/758635-march-2021-k1-i-129f-filers/page/158/?tab=comments#comment-10668577

 

Good luck!

Edited May 8, 2022 by EatBulaga

[slavaskii 885]

Hi! I hope I'm not necro'ing this 'old' thread, but there's one question on the I-134 that's still unsettling me. In Part 3 Question 15 (from the Petitioner's perspective), it says that "information about assets that are not based on employment should be added in item Number 15, and not in Item Number 20." 

 

This makes little sense. Item 20 then proceeds to ask about "assets available to you," and the drop-downs are all assets that aren't related to employment (i.e., bonds, savings accounts, etc.). What, then, is the instruction in 15 asking me to do there? Presently I have written "$0" as income contribution to the beneficiary annually in 15 but that doesn't sit well with me; I've read the other threads as suggested and I'm afraid the embassy will just look at the number in Item 15 rather than including Item 20 (but if that's the case, what's the point of the Asset section)?

 

Separately, do we already count our fiancees as dependents for the purposes of the form? Thank you so much in advance.

[slavaskii 885]

Figured everything else out (thank you so much for the help!), but last question - does the beneficiary sign the certification in the I-134? The instructions clearly state that if someone else is supporting they should not sign, but there is a huge arrow next to the signature spot which is missing from the latter sections. I'm definitely overthinking this, but just want to ensure we should ignore it and I should only sign the following section. TIA

[Austin&Olga 66]

On 5/29/2022 at 8:09 PM, slavaskii said:

What, then, is the instruction in 15 asking me to do there? Presently I have written "$0" as income contribution to the beneficiary annually in 15 but that doesn't sit well with me; I've read the other threads as suggested and I'm afraid the embassy will just look at the number in Item 15 rather than including Item 20 (but if that's the case, what's the point of the Asset section)?

 

Did you figure out what to do here yet? I'm filling it out on behalf of the beneficiary. There are two sections, Part 2 17 and Part 3 15 that ask for "Income contribution to the beneficiary annually". For the first one if I'm filling out on behalf of her, would I put the annual amount of income I plan to contribute to her from my own income? And then the same goes for Part 3 #15. They worded parts of this doc awfully to the point no one actually knows what they are asking for. I'm wondering if I should just put my full salary in there for both lol.

[nekotakacho 60]

7 hours ago, Austin&Olga said:

Did you figure out what to do here yet? I'm filling it out on behalf of the beneficiary. There are two sections, Part 2 17 and Part 3 15 that ask for "Income contribution to the beneficiary annually". For the first one if I'm filling out on behalf of her, would I put the annual amount of income I plan to contribute to her from my own income? And then the same goes for Part 3 #15. They worded parts of this doc awfully to the point no one actually knows what they are asking for. I'm wondering if I should just put my full salary in there for both lol.

I am in the same situation. This is a new form and completely different than what I filled out in 2019 for my wife’s K1.

 

I am filling out an I-134 for my in-laws for a B2 visa. I am so confused about Part 3 #15 and #20. I am unsure what to put down as “income contribution to the beneficiary annually”. Is this an estimation? Should it list my entire salary? Should it list a portion of my salary I expect to set aside for the beneficiary? This is a terribly designed document and is a hot mess.

Edited June 7, 2022 by nekotakacho

[slavaskii 885]

18 hours ago, Austin&Olga said:

Did you figure out what to do here yet? I'm filling it out on behalf of the beneficiary. There are two sections, Part 2 17 and Part 3 15 that ask for "Income contribution to the beneficiary annually". For the first one if I'm filling out on behalf of her, would I put the annual amount of income I plan to contribute to her from my own income? And then the same goes for Part 3 #15. They worded parts of this doc awfully to the point no one actually knows what they are asking for. I'm wondering if I should just put my full salary in there for both lol.

Hi! So we were just approved yesterday (Warsaw embassy, same as yours) so I’ll try to update my old questions and answer yours here. 
 

1. Beneficiary does NOT sign the certification if the Petitioner fills it out on their behalf.

 

2. Part 3 Items 15 is worded strangely, but if you are using assets to substitute for income, include those ONLY in the following asset section (iirc Item 20). Even if your answer to 15 is $0, the asset section may alone be sufficient.
 

3. The form uses the word “beneficiary” in multiple ways, but a careful reading of Part 2 and 3 makes clear what you need to do. For Part 2 Item 17, write ONLY what the beneficiary can contribute and to whom (their ‘beneficiaries’). For K-1, this should be nothing. For Part 3, it’s asking what someone else can contribute to the beneficiary. Part 3 is all that’s consequential for the K-1. 
 

The form is to be used for multiple visa types, but imagine that parts of it are ‘struck’ based on your answers to the previous questions and who you’re sponsoring. If you’re filling out Part 2, they’re interested in the ‘beneficiary’s beneficiaries’ because this shows how many people are dependent on them already and increases the amount of money they need to prove.
 

And to answer @nekotakacho’s question about the B2, however, the B2 does NOT need an I-134 and it’s not worth filling out. I know online it’s mentioned as something you can do, but it’s never asked for by the embassy. B2 interviews are very short and most people are surprised about how little the consul actually asks for.

Edited June 7, 2022 by slavaskii

[Austin&Olga 66]

@slavaskii All of this is super helpful. Thanks so much!

[slavaskii 885]

Just now, Austin&Olga said:

@slavaskii All of this is super helpful. Thanks so much!

You’re welcome! The new I-134 just takes some time getting used to, just read the instructions super carefully and, when in doubt, follow what’s logical. Like I said there seems to be an inherent contradiction in the instructions for Part 3 Item 15, but other than that, everything else was okay. Best of luck and thanks to everyone here for the assistance!

[danli 25]

On 6/7/2022 at 10:01 AM, slavaskii said:

For Part 2 Item 17, write ONLY what the beneficiary can contribute and to whom (their ‘beneficiaries’).

So I should just leave this part blank? Or put $0 for contribution amount?

 

It's confusing, because when they ask for relationship, this is how they defined:

"Relationship to the Beneficiary (Type or print “Self” if you are filing for yourself as the beneficiary or “Beneficiary” if someone is agreeing to support you in Part 3.)"

I'm assuming someone is "US citizen", so write down "beneficiary" would just mean the beneficiary himself/herself. 

 

 

[Vero91 0]

Hii!!

I'm new here. 

We sent our I-129F on October 2021 but we wanted to prepare ourself in advance so we would not rush at the last minute. 

And part 3 item 15 is very confusing haha. So i just wanted to clarify that question, if i understood correctly, my fiance can't add his salary on that question ? What if we only want to add his annual income and not assets ? Because i think with his salary alone, we should be fine.  I'm the beneficiary but my fiance will fill out the form as the petitioner providing for the beneficiary. 

 

Thank you in advance!!

 

[chivaschivas 33]

Just this discovered this thread and...wow.

The new form is really confusing. My luck is having the interview just a couple days before June 27.

So if I, the Ukrainian fiancee, don't work because of the war (but intend to work in the US once I get EAD) and have pretty modest savings, it will make me more likely to be denied? Because they will deem me a potential public charge?.. I'm panicking right now.

[chivaschivas 33]

14 minutes ago, chivaschivas said:

The new form is really confusing. My luck is having the interview just a couple days before June 27.

Meant after June 27, of course. Pardon