Financial Institution Having a Hard Time Providing Evidence for I-134

[silentbear 4]

Hello, I'm at the point in my K1 journey where my fiance needs me (the petitioner) to fill out form I-134. The instructions in that form ask me to provide evidence of my finances, which is not a big deal at first, but my main financial institution is having a really hard time trying to fulfill this request of evidence.

 

I've given them the exact instruction from the I-134 instructions: 
"File evidence of income and resources, as appropriate:
1. Statement from an officer of the bank or other financial institutions with deposits, identifying the following details
regarding the account:
A. Date account opened;
B. Total amount deposited for the past year; and
C. Present balance."

 

For the last threes weeks, the update I've requested weekly from an agent at my financial institution is "we're reaching out to our higher ups to figure out how to provide this information."

 

I'm wondering if current petitioners filling this form out or past petitioners that have, also had a hard time with this?

 

[JeanneAdil 7,471]

when you opened the account the bank gave u documents (maybe a small folder) that has copy of your application for the account,  the date u opened the account,  type of account and all the services plus costs and fees /look into your files for this  (cross out account number when you send a copy as they only need name and address 

 

that's all you probably need from the bank but add copy of bank statement (cross out account number as they do not need that )

[JD2 258]

2 hours ago, silentbear said:

the update I've requested weekly from an agent

Who did you request this from?  Was it a relationship banker at a branch or a teller or did you call the 1-800 phone number?  This should be a very simple letter they can write up for you on their letterhead.  Relationship bankers do it all the time.

[silentbear 4]

1 hour ago, JeanneAdil said:

when you opened the account the bank gave u documents (maybe a small folder) that has copy of your application for the account,  the date u opened the account,  type of account and all the services plus costs and fees /look into your files for this  (cross out account number when you send a copy as they only need name and address 

 

that's all you probably need from the bank but add copy of bank statement (cross out account number as they do not need that )

 

I opened the account online and plus that was over a decade ago, so I don't have a folder or any of that paper work. Plus it says the statement from the financial institution needs to be signed by an official of the bank, and that probably includes them dating their signature.

[silentbear 4]

54 minutes ago, JD2 said:

Who did you request this from?  Was it a relationship banker at a branch or a teller or did you call the 1-800 phone number?  This should be a very simple letter they can write up for you on their letterhead.  Relationship bankers do it all the time.

 

I scheduled an appointment in-person with a relationship banker from the financial institution. I wrote in the the comments for the appointment about needing the evidence for the I-134, and they called me and asked me to clarify further. Then I've been exchanging calls and emails with the same banker for a few weeks now. 

 

I understand that should be an easy fulfillment, since really they only have to write a statement. I'm partnered with one of the top financial institutions in the country, so I'm surprised that they've never received a similar request like this before. It might be because of the state I'm from and the branch, where they've never received a request like this before, but I'm still very surprised at this. You would think another bank within the state would have knowledge about what I'm asking, but apparently they don't.

[Edward and Jaycel 2,491]

Are you using assets to qualify financially on the I-134 or is your income enough? If your income is enough, you do not need to bother with this.

[JD2 258]

2 hours ago, silentbear said:

I'm partnered with one of the top financial institutions in the country

I bank at a small local bank but they do these types of letters for me all the time for various non-immigration reasons.  You might want to try to do another appointment and don't mention it's for immigration just describe what you need it to say.

[TBoneTX 49,155]

Thread is shifted from the K-1 Case Progress subforum to the K-1 Process forum.

[silentbear 4]

15 hours ago, Edward and Jaycel said:

Are you using assets to qualify financially on the I-134 or is your income enough? If your income is enough, you do not need to bother with this.

 

Are you sure about this? From the instructions of the I-134, it seems more that they want to know about everything I have in order to make sure my fiance isn't reliant on government programs after he immigrates here. My income from my 1040/W-2 and other tax documents is way over enough.

[Crazy Cat 46,218]

1 hour ago, silentbear said:

 

Are you sure about this? From the instructions of the I-134, it seems more that they want to know about everything I have in order to make sure my fiance isn't reliant on government programs after he immigrates here. My income from my 1040/W-2 and other tax documents is way over enough.

@Edward and Jaycel is correct.   CURRENT annual income is always king.  There is no need to use both income and assets.

 

Notice what the I-134 instructions say:

"Item Number 18. Assets. Provide information about any assets you will use to support the beneficiary for the anticipated period of his or her stay. List only assets that can be converted into cash within 12 months and that will be used to support the beneficiary while the beneficiary is in the United States. Provide the value of all assets listed in U.S. dollars, regardless of whether they are held in the United States or outside of the United States. Do not include assets from any individuals named in Part 3."

 

Fun Fact:  The I-134 for a K-1 is valid for only 90 days, and is actually not enforceable or legally binding.  The I-864, which you submit after marriage, is valid much, much longer, and IS enforceable.  Three separate courts have held that the Form I-134 was not enforceable against a sponsor by a state agency seeking to recover the medical costs incurred by the sponsored immigrant.1 The courts held that that affidavit of support does not form a legal contract but represents only a moral obligation.

Having said that, most all consults will require an I-134 to help determine if the visa holder will become a public charge.  This is to protect the visa holder and taxpayers.

If current annual income is sufficient, I would skip the assets declaration.

 

Edited 13 hours ago by Crazy Cat

[Edward and Jaycel 2,491]

39 minutes ago, silentbear said:

 

Are you sure about this? From the instructions of the I-134, it seems more that they want to know about everything I have in order to make sure my fiance isn't reliant on government programs after he immigrates here. My income from my 1040/W-2 and other tax documents is way over enough.

@Crazy Cat explained it better than I could, but yes, having gone through the K-1 process I am sure 

[JeanneAdil 7,471]

18 hours ago, silentbear said:

 

I opened the account online and plus that was over a decade ago, so I don't have a folder or any of that paper work. Plus it says the statement from the financial institution needs to be signed by an official of the bank, and that probably includes them dating their signature.

Online or in person the banks must follow the Truth in Savings Act providing you with the info u need and should have sent this when u opened account even with your copy of your online application 

 

Go to the following site and take a copy to your bank asking for your proofs under the 1030.3 General disclosure Act

https://www.consumerfinance.gov/rules-policy/regulations/1030/3/

 

 

(a) Form. Depository institutions shall make the disclosures required by §§ 1030.4 through 1030.6 of this part, as applicable, clearly and conspicuously, in writing, and in a form the consumer may keep. The disclosures required by this part may be provided to the consumer in electronic form, subject to compliance with the consumer consent and other applicable provisions of the Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act (E-Sign Act) (15 U.S.C. 7001 et seq.). The disclosures required by §§ 1030.4(a)(2) and 1030.8 may be provided to the consumer in electronic form without regard to the consumer consent or other provisions of the E-Sign Act in the circumstances set forth in those sections. Disclosures for each account offered by an institution may be presented separately or combined with disclosures for the institution's other accounts, as long as it is clear which disclosures are applicable to the consumer's account.

[pushbrk 14,309]

5 hours ago, Edward and Jaycel said:

@Crazy Cat explained it better than I could, but yes, having gone through the K-1 process I am sure 

I'm sure too.  If you are employed making a good income, just leave the asset portion of the form blank.  You don't need anything from the bank or other financial institution.