Cwood81

I have implemented every bit of your advice. Thank you so much. I believe we are on our way now!

Have a great weekend!

Hi friends - here's a template you can use. Cheers!

American Consulate General

<US consulate address>

Re:Employment Verification of <your name>

Dear Sir or Madam:

This letter is to confirm that <your name> is employed with us on full time as a <position title> since <employment start date> and his annual salary is <annual salary>. His employment is permanent. He is performing the following duties:

<list of duties or employment skills and scope>

Please feel free to contact us if your office should require any further information.

Sincerely,

<signature, name and designation of company officer>

<company name>

From the affidavit of support tips found through the guides section here >

Basically, your employer letter should state "To whom it may concern: (first name,last name) has been employed
full-time with the XYZ Company since 200_ as a (name of your job), and is an employee in good standing with an
annual salary of $XXXX. Signed, John Doe, Supervisor (or whatever title)" The letter should be on company
letterhead.

http://www.visajourney.com/content/support

Your HR department should have a standard template they use.

Ideally, it must contain the following:

Your name

Title

Annual salary (usually not including any bonus, stocks, etc.)

Date the letter is issued (this is important to know that your employment is current)

HR manager/personnel that is issuing this letter

contact info for this HR person

It would be also good to have...

Your start date

Your full / part-time status

In my letter it also contained...

A short description of the company

And brief mention that I am in good standing with the company

Lastly...

Try to get this on a company letterhead (with company logo)

If you google, you can find many sample templates for this.

Concerning the evidence of support that will be provided with the I-134, is there a proper format as to how the "letter of employment on letterhead including salary and start date" should be? I would be asking someone to draft this letter so I want to make sure it has all the necessary information. For this business, this is the first time they have been requested to provide this type of information.

Is there a template or anything? What elements does it need to have?

Thank you so much in advance. This forum has always been incredibly helpful.

Yeah, I know. It's silly but it's difficult to argue when he would be doing a favor for us.

Yes KDC, that was the same packet that we received.

I appreciate the opinions and the advice.

I think my brother is paranoid overall. Most of it also has to do with that he works in a business where he is constantly alerting his clients that they need to take measures to protect their identities. He is not paranoid about the government, just hackers and other evildoers that might see the returns.

Thank you all

Currently, I am a graduate student with no income. Consequently, I have asked my brother to co-sponsor and submit the I-134 document. However, for fears that someone may steal his identity or that his private information may fall into the wrong hands, he is averse to presenting his last year's tax returns. He stated that he is willing to sign a release to the embassy or State Department so that they could pull them; but he does not want copies of the returns floating around. I understand this release scenario has no chance of happening.

Another question, what kind of complications/problems/anything can arise if we proceed with a K-1 visa, and while we are going through the process, my girlfriend finds a job and the visa/work permit can be obtained through her work?

She recently informed me that an old boss said there were a couple of positions opening up now in LA and she has sent resumes and applied. Can I begin the paperwork (I-129) while she sorts this out and then abandon getting a K-1 if she gets hired or is it if we begin the work towards a K-1, that is the only way she will be able to immigrate?

Thank you!

A sponsor or joint sponsor must be domiciled in the US. If abroad, they would need to show that the reason for this is temporary.

well there goes that plan! Thanks! Is there an FAQ or very informative thread about co-sponsors. I briefly looked yesterday and didn't find one.

No the only repercussions for a joint sponsor is if the beneficiary uses means tested benefits and if the main sponsor (petitioner) cannot pay.

No the CR1 is most than $903. That is just the payments to the USCIS and NVC. There is the cost of the medical (varies by country and doctor), of obtaining documents, mailing of forms (or use of courier services), travel expenses etc...

Good to know.

Just to be clear, first the financial responsibility would fall on me (even though for now I cannot show proper income) and then afterwards on the co-sponsor?

Thanks again everyone. If I would have created this thread 2 weeks ago you all would have saved me 5 headaches and some anxiety attacks.

Anyone know if a co-sponsor can be a US citizen who does not currently live in the US?

She will be able to visit while you're going through the process, but being from Argentina she will need to apply for a B-2 visa, and when she visits she will have to show that she has ties to Argentina and reasons to go back and not stay illegally in the US. Here's a thread which also applies to CR-1, and a link to the B-2 process.

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/67796-yes-you-can-visit/

http://travel.state.gov/content/visas/english/visit/visitor.html

Nice link. She went with me to the US last year. She used a Spanish passport to enter. I don't think there will be a need to get the B-2 visa.

I can't say just yet. We are only 2 months into the process, so still waiting on NOA2. So far we've only had to pay the $420 to file the I-130.

good luck and hang in there!

To clarify: this does not mean you'll be together inside 6 months. There are still places to go, consulates to visit, after the service center. (Also, worth noting that just because the service center is running fast now is no guarantee it will continue running fast. Last year, our K-1 was processed at TSC in super-fast time; about three weeks later it turned into the morass it is now. So,...)

uff.... sorry to hear that. I'm starting to understand how big of an undertaking this all is.

Unfortunately I have to leave her in the middle of September which will mean being apart for awhile.

I've read that with a CR-1 Visa she wouldn't be able to enter the US while we are involved in the process of obtaining the visa. So if we wanted to see each other, I would have to return here or meet somewhere outside the US?

Is this the same for a K-1 Visa? A few months from now while everything is being processed, could she come visit me on a tourist visa?

Another thing to consider as you're going to be a student with little to no income is that if you file for a K-1 and then AOS after you get married, meaning you wife won't be able to work for that initial period, either, that costs quite a bit more (I believe) than the CR-1. For the K-1 you have to pay all of the filing fees, and then when you AOS you have more fees to pay at that time, too.

As much as it sucks, my husband and I chose to go the CR-1 route because while it does mean we are apart now, he can continue to work in England while we're waiting for the process since he's not the type that would have been able to handle sitting around for 3-5 months doing nothing, waiting on an EAD if we had gone the K-1 route.

Thank you for pointing this out. We are considering this. I think she really wants to leave her current job and may use the 90 days for other projects.

In your experience, did the CR-1 come out to be $903 in total fees after everything was finished as stated in the comparison chart?

If you want to be together sooner rather than later I suggest you go the K1 route because if you're in LA you will be processed through the CSC which takes less than 6 months.

As far as your taxes go they ask for the past 3 years of taxes. If you fall under the required income which currently is something like $19,500 (folks please correct me if I'm wrong on the number) you do need a co-sponsor.

A co-sponsor can be anyone, they do not have to be related to your or your girlfriend. However they need to be made aware that if they are going to co-sponsor it's not just signing a piece of paper but officially stating that in case your girlfriend needs financial support they are willing to take it on. The co-sponsor would also have to sign and submit an I-134 (this happens after the NOA2) together with 3 most recent years of income tax or they can submit 2 years of income tax and most recent pay stubs.

Thank you for this information. I will begin looking for a co-sponsor. I will also investigate further for the burdens and qualifications.

This will NEVER happen, but are there any repercussions for the co-sponsors for other things like if she were to commit a crime? Are there others besides financial burdens? I just want to let potential co-sponsor know everything they are getting into.

Depends what they mean. If they mean it takes that long for a certified copy, then yes, it might be an issue.

Any which way, you guys are looking at being apart for a while. (I'd guess 5+ months at a minimum, but who knows with the issues USCIS is having at the moment.) And given your financial situation and that you cannot prove you can support her right now, you're probably going to need a co-sponsor. (You have no current job in the US, no proof of income for now, and no proof of income for the last few years. I don't really see how you can get around the needing a co-sponsor thing.)

Thank you for pointing this out. What is required of a co-sponsor?

What kind of burdens will a co-sponsor have?

You realize that if you don't have any income you likely do not need to file taxes?

No you need the marriage certificate. Can you get married in another county that doesn't take 2 months?

Thank you

I thought you needed to file anyway.

I'm sure we could get married in another county. I think we would have the certificate/license on the day of the wedding and could make a copy if we get married in LA. It just wouldn't be "on the books" there apparently for 2 months. I don't know if that is important.

I know I am obligated to file taxes while abroad. When I was making money for the first few years, I filed. Lately after just living off savings, I haven't. I believe I am 4 years behind. I know this is incredibly stupid. I just didn't. I'm a derelict. My girlfriend has helped put an end to that behavior and I am now starting graduate school. If you have any pointers for handling the back taxes situation other than to just get them done, I'd love to her them! Hope I don't end up in jail or blow our opportunity to move to the US.

If she enters on a K-1 visa, when applying for an EAD and an AOS simultaneously, a copy of the marriage license will do, correct? I am asking this because I called the LA county clerk's office today and they mentioned something about the marriage certificate needing 2 months before it is "properly registered" at their office in Norfolk. I am concerned that we will have to wait an additional 2 months before using the certificate for her immigration papers. I may have misunderstood all of this. Does you or anyone else have any insight to this?

BTW, thank you again!

I know I am obligated to file taxes while abroad. When I was making money for the first few years, I filed. Lately after just living off savings, I haven't. I believe I am 4 years behind. I know this is incredibly stupid. I just didn't. I'm a derelict. My girlfriend has helped put an end to that behavior and I am now starting graduate school. If you have any pointers for handling the back taxes situation other than to just get them done, I'd love to her them! Hope I don't end up in jail or blow our opportunity to move to the US.

If she enters on a K-1 visa, when applying for an EAD and an AOS simultaneously, a copy of the marriage license will do, correct? I am asking this because I called the LA county clerk's office today and they mentioned something about the marriage certificate needing 2 months before it is "properly registered" at their office in Norfolk. I am concerned that we will have to wait an additional 2 months before using the certificate for her immigration papers. I may have misunderstood all of this. Does you or anyone else have any insight to this?

BTW, thank you again!

First of all, Thank you very much!

whoa.... visa fraud!!!! Sounds serious! I didn't know that!

As I said, I've been living off my savings for a while. I haven't made much at all and for some years it is under $18k. How does this affect us?

Do I need to have my taxes in order before we file a I-129 or I-130? Can we file those documents and then I start the process of wading through my taxes? What part during the process do I need to submit tax information?

Thank you again.

Hello, I’m new here and I thank you in advance for any help you may provide. I’ve found a lot of good information here. I recognize some of my questions might be answered by searching the site. I have read a lot here but maybe I am not properly processing it as I’m very stressed (I assume we all are here!)

I am a US citizen and currently live in Buenos Aires, Argentina. I have lived here for 8 years, however I don’t possess proper residency here in Argentina. My girlfriend and I have been together for over 2 and a half years. I start graduate school in Los Angeles in the middle of September. After I was accepted, we thought she could easily transfer through her job at a large international corporation and they would handle all of the immigration hassles. Those avenues appear to have dried up. We are now investigating getting married.

The way I understand, we have 3 options: apply for a K1 Fiance visa, get married here (there is a waiting time of about 2 weeks) and apply for a CR-1 spousal visa, or get married in the US while my girlfriend is on a tourist visa (she has already been to the US with me before and has all the necessary visas/EU passport to enter) and start the immigration process from there.

I’ve read the comparison chart. We have several issues we would like to wade through.

1. Time: I have to leave for Los Angeles in less than two months. How can we begin these processes so we are apart as little as possible?

2. Do I have to be in the US with her waiting in Argentina to file either the I-129 (k-1) or I-130 (Cr-1) forms and begin either process?

3. It is important that she isn’t without work for very long as I will be a full-time student and not making much money. If she enters on a K-1 visa and we get married immediately, how long does it take for the EAD to become valid so she can work? How much of a gap is there between getting the EAD and obtaining Legal Permanent Residence status for purposes of work?

4. Where can I obtain information about getting married in the US while she is on a tourist visa? Would she have to leave the US and/or return to Argentine in order to immigrate? How long would she be unable to work under this circumstance?

I have another issue too. I realize I’m a screw up for this but I haven’t filed taxes in about 4 years. I know it is awful. I was planning on sorting this all out when I moved but I didn’t anticipate that we were going to get married. I haven’t made much money in this period and have mostly been living off my savings. How much can this hurt us?

I have no way of showing past results, but working in the summer when school is out and part time work while in school should be more than enough to get over the $18k-$20k poverty standard that I've read here.

Are there any other obstacles that I may be missing?