q-panic

I-134 states that the affidavit of support is binding for 3 years.

The tips say it is valid for 5:

When assets are used, the assets must equal 5 times the difference between the annual income and the needed 125% of the poverty level, this is because the affidavit is in effect for 5 years. For instance, if you needed $15,500 income and had an annual income of $13,500, you would need an extra $2,000 of assets for 5 years, or a total of $10,000 in assets in addition to your income. In general, if you are deficient on yearly income for sponsorship and your assets are somewhat borderline, do not take chances--have a co-sponsor. If you do not

have a job or a steady income from other sources (such as retirement income), you will likely have to get a co-sponsor for your spouse, even if your assets are adequate. The USCIS looks VERY CLOSELY at current income and not just the assets.

What is the case?

So I guess, I need 3 times (or 5 times) 16.500 Dollars as savings to self-sponsor me. That's not going to happen anyway...

The poverty guideline speaks of "income". If I have 16.500 Dollars as "savings" in my bank account, would that be also acceptable?

The step-by-step guide says nothing of a certified copy of the birth certificate:

"Copy of the Birth certificate (front and back) for the US Citizen or a copy of ALL pages of the US Citizen's passport issued with a validity of at least 5 years or a copy of the US Citizen's naturalization certificate (front and back). This is used to establish citizenship."

Does it have to be?

About the passport: she does not have it yet. She applied for it and they took her birth certificate so we neither have the birth certificat as an original nor is the passport issued yet. If it gets issued I have both. However, right now, we are stuck. Any suggestions?

Thanks.

A question about NOA1: Me and my American love are about to send of the I-129f package (me = German; her = US citizen). We have a problem with her birth certificate. She applied for a passport to visit me in Germany in May and they still have her original birth certificate. I only have a faxed copy of it at hand and honestly, it looks pretty bad. What do you suggest, is it better to wait until I actually have the original to make a good, clean copy or is the faxed copy ok. What kind of forms does the USCIS usually demand originals for (RFE). Could we also just copy her driver's licence and simply send it along to make sure or would that look weird to the USCIS?

Another question about NOA2: Neither me and my love have a job right now since we are both still students (she has a part-time job on campus right now, though). That means we need co-sponsorship for the K1-Visa. Must the sponsor have enough money to support me and her, or just me? How much income would that be? I know it has something to do with the poverty line. Could somebody please post a link where the actual ammount we need is stated. That would be very helpful. I have some savings on an account in Germany. I know I would need to transfer this money to an American account so it could be considered in the process. However, this costs a lot of fees. I would only do it, if it actually made a difference. How much money should I have so that the USCIS actually accepts that as self-sponsoring?

Thanks for all the help. I'll post when we finally send the I-129F package of.

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Feb 2006 - we met for the first time while I studied as an exchange student in the USA

April 2006 - became a couple

May 2006 - I had to return to Germany

Oct/Nov 2006 - I visit her in the USA for 6 weeks

Feb/March 2007 - I visit her in the USA for 7 weeks

May 2007 - she graduates university (bachelor)

June 2007 - she visits me in Germany for 4 weeks

July 2007 - I graduate (masters)

Sept 2007 - plan to move to L.A. together and to get married

We are planning to file for a K1-Visa. I have been reading almost everything on this great site but could not find an answer to this question: what is the difference between the I-134 and the I-864? For a K-1 Visa application the I-134 has to be used, right?

And another question: I actually have some assets in my bank account in Germany. What form do I have to file that these assets are recognized in the process?

Thanks for the help.

Kurt