SCOREAU

1 hour ago, Trellick said:

The UK consulate seems to be far more comfortable with beneficiaries self-sponsoring using assets than other consulates. So you should be okay with that. If you do a search you will find many UK members on here who have done that and might be able to give you more advice. 

 

But if that's your only concern for denial don't get too stressed. You'll have options for fixing it before a denial, including the back-up plan of finding co-sponsor / or your wife going back and establishing a job above the required income level. 

 

 

Thanks. I'll see what happens. We have several plans; if it does indeed get accepted first time, based on assets here ( house, pensions, lump sums etc ), then we'll look to them moving over there and settling. I'll go over for a while just to get my visa stamped, and come back to sell the house, work a bit longer , get my matters all settled and go over for giid. We sold the house, and cancelled but we'd sell it again no problem - and the assets requirement does say money that is readily available within a year. It does say don't sell your house or leave your job before a decision, so we are doing it a better way now, I think.

Just now, Boiler said:

Others have options you will not.

If my wife gets a job with company healthcare......

If not, I'll do without, frankly.

4 minutes ago, gregcrs2 said:

I'm early retired and loving it for 6 years already.  I understand you completely!  Have you considered anything relating to health insurance?  

Looked into it already. I am aware it is expensive. My daughter's covered till 18. It's not a good situation over there, I appreciate. We'll work it out somehow. I'm only planning on getting residence and will keep my uk citizenship, for now. We'll just deal with it like others do, somehow.

Average cost is about 16000 dollars a year, so a sizeable sum! Still, there are 'free' hospitals around.

1 hour ago, HuberKimFamily said:

My husband is the same way like you. I think that is the more reasonable road to take. One should not throw themselves under the bus and be in financial ruin. You made the right choice to hold onto the house and letting your wife and daughter go over. Hopefully she will find a job quickly.

 

Maybe have her apply for jobs and do Skype interviews? I did that for my job and it was a hassle, but I also felt like I needed a job before moving a family back to the states. 

 

I am not sure what your occupation is but it definitely will be a bit hard until you get the green card or just job hunting in general. So not sure how high on the list being a SAHF (Stay at home Father) is for you. But definitely look into the job avenues. 

 

I am hoping for my husband's sake that HQ in Switzerland will allow a branch transfer or something. If not, fires will be lit in our household >_<.  Not literally.

 

But yes, take things step by step! DO NOT GO INTO FINANCIAL RUIN~

 

 

 

No, I plan on not working. I have 35 years worth of pensions, the proceeds of house sale and on that alone we would meet the income/assets required. I do not want to work, and don't need to. My wife can get a job if she wants, so call it fair dos, seeing as I'm fine with moving there and leaving uk behind. I'll get a green card, but will just be living on pensions etc. I just want to have a few years of work-free enjoyment; hanging out with my family and hers, and not be a wage slave anymore. It's not too much to ask. I'm not high maintenance, and will spend some time doing up the house and eventually maybe move to the coast somewhere. Pensions will be taxed in uk, so I'll be fine in that respect, I think ( spoke to HMRC).

15 minutes ago, HuberKimFamily said:

I know I am a little late in the game with a response...But I sound exactly like your wife. HAHAHA >_<

 

I am the USC who has student debt too and living abroad in Switzerland with my husband. My student loans are being handled by a lawyer right now to make a deal about reducing the % or we come to an arrangement where I pay an X amount in cash. Therefore it has been deferred. 

 

I am a stay at home mom, but filed taxes in the USA through an accountant based in the US. (I did not have a job here. All I have are properties and my student debt in the USA). Also my husband allocated X amount for my USA bills (netflix, amazon, etc.). 

 

Our life is definitely comfortable in Switzerland because of my husband's job and I know he will be giving that all up to move to the USA with me. I am just unhappy here. Therefore my husband is also making the sacrifice too. If it happens to go up in flames, I know that I have to be 110% there for my spouse. 

 

However, I am actually getting a head start by moving myself and our son over and working as we go through the process.

 

Maybe your wife can go on ahead and settle down??? Try to look for a job that meets the income requirement.

 

I know that you are in the latter stages, but the initiative may help. 

 

Also, I think it is very nice of you to give up everything for your family. I hope that you will find happiness over in the state side.

 

It's all very emotive. We had our house up for sale ( had a buyer ), but I took it off because I was literally halfway through the process and it didn't seem the right moment. We have decided this: my wife and daughter ate going over for a month, to suss it all out, get a feel for it, see how my daughter reacts, check out the house we would buy from her sibling, and in the meantime I will pursue the spouse visa as it stands, and if it gets accepted, then fine, and if it doesn't, we'll see about them going over there to settle while I carry on working to support them and take it from there. I have to give my wife hope; I am trying to just not open us up to financial ruin at the end of the day.  I'm a typical Englishman who just wants to do things the right way and not place us in a bad situation and less stability for our daughter.

I am really trying. I am living with the problems every day, and it weighs heavily on my conscience because I just want to do the right thing ultimately.

8 hours ago, carmel34 said:

If your fear is that the visa application ends if you are denied at the interview, it does not die with a spousal visa like with a K-1 denial.  If the reason for rejection is financial, you will be given the opportunity to submit more documents, get a co-sponsor, your spouse may have to move to the US and get a job that earns enough to satisfy them, whatever they ask you provide.  So if you really want to get approved after a denial you should be able to if you want it badly enough.  Then you'll have a decision to make whether or not to go because of your wife's outstanding debt in the US.

Thank you. Yes, I don't want to close the door on it, so having the extra option of her and my daughter moving there and my still having an avenue to get there by her establishing over there ( with my help from here ) gives me/us hope. I have to have a plan. I appreciate it.

2 hours ago, Jorgedig said:

Is the petition already approved?  I got the feeling you were just starting the process.

I am st the medical/final interview stage

Just now, gregcrs2 said:

Well, you can only provide what you have.  May as well go through the motions with the interview.  At least if it gets rejected, your wife will know you did all you could.  As you stated in previous posting, you would rather stay where you are.  

Thanks for that. My first post was done whilst in a very stressful state. My wife is desperate to move there, and I am keen to see it happen. The subject of her student debt doesn't faze her; she says loads of her friends etc over there are in the same boat. I feel bad for her, and have had a few days to ponder. Life's too short, and I don't want to subject her to a what if situation. If it gets rejected, then at least I know I tried, which is sonething. Having thought long and hard, I am ultimately willing to give it my all, for her. If we get there ( together ), and we are financially ruined by her student debts legacy, then at least I'll have the confort of knowing I gave her my all.

2 minutes ago, gregcrs2 said:

Someone correct me if I am wrong but I think required assets located outside the US are at 5:1 rather than 3:1

It's 3. It's listed under exceptions. I thought it was 5 but read this. Either way, we'll meet it.

5 minutes ago, missileman said:

The consulate officer looks at the whole financial picture when considering the public charge issue.......

I know that much. I would basically turn up with everything and provide her last 3 yesrs' income ( she was a homemaker before that ), and all I can say is she didn't earn enough. Whether that will be acceptable, I'm at a loss - and wondering whether it's worth my even going. Even if she goes over, and settles, and then I follow, the issue of her non-filing is still a spanner in the veritable works.

4 minutes ago, aleful said:

hi

 

she had to provide a joint sponsor, so if the joint sponsor is fine you'll be approved, regardless of her income

 

if she didn't make enough, she needed a joint sponsor and I'm assuming she did or you wouldn't be at the interview stage

 

 

I'll clarify. I would retire and the assets of my pensions and property here are well over the poverty line requirements ( $26662 x3 ). Basically, it's all based on my assets here., i864 filled out ready.

Hi, all. I am about to arrange the medical and then the interview, as a spouse of a US citizen living in uk for last decade. My question is, my wife has not filed tax returns to the IRS since she's been here - and didn't earn enough to pay taxes prior to that (in the usa ). She is going to provide me with her P60s from her employer and they will show that her income has been low, being part-time. If I just turn up at my interview and show them her earnings, will they just reject the application ( barring other reasons - although I have prepared very well for all the other facets of the paperwork I need, I feel )? Would it mean, also, that my hopes for moving there will be quashed for good, or have we got the possibility of coming back/ keeping the application open in some way?

We are thinking about my wife going over, and I support her until she's settled and in a job etc. We have a daughter, born in usa, but been here since 6 months old, so want to do the best for her as well obviously. It's all very difficult, and I don't know the best way to do it, and possibly prejudice future attempts if I pursue this original one.

Thank you for any advice given. It is appreciated.

17 minutes ago, SCOREAU said:

 

 

I told my wife but she doesn't want to know lol. Anyone'd think it was my debt.

8 hours ago, N-o-l-a said:

That's useful. She can give her phone no. So they can start ringing her again.

8 hours ago, N-o-l-a said:

She can find out the original amounts here: https://nslds.ed.gov/nslds/nslds_SA/

 

It lists all the reported student loans and what type they were, etc.

2 hours ago, SCOREAU said:

We decided to pursue it to the end and see what happens. At least we'll know I tried. Better to have tried and lost than to have wondered what if.

Tbh, I'm only carrying on to show the cracks in it. The money will be well-spent! I have done all the preparation singlehandedly, and basically sponsoring myself! Big lol.

On 6/10/2019 at 5:04 AM, databit said:

😨 You will NOT like this story, but here goes. Immigration status is actually irrelevant in this story. I have a personal family link to this event.

Happened in California. This will become important later.

 

Man had defaulted on his Federal student loan and was in payment arrearage. But then he got a steady job, and notified the Feds (as required for any change of income), and he began to have payments deducted (garnished) from his salary. 

 

Woman had perfect credit and a good job. They met and married. Since the couple's income was now combined, Man again notified the Feds, expecting that his payments would be higher. He was okay with that.

 

BUT THAT'S NOT WHAT HAPPENED!

 

Instead, Woman got a letter from the Feds saying that they would be garnishing HER salary, too, since the couple was living in a Community Property State, and therefore, their new income was joint income. To avoid embarrassment at her job, she paid off her husband's loan from her savings account. 

 

So YES, a new spouse CAN be held liable for the other spouse's debts in certain circumstances. 

 

 

Oh well. More reason.

4 minutes ago, RLA said:

Oh but he is (was) willing to make the sacrifice of moving countries. 

 

He just isn't willing to also sacrifice their financial stability.  Especially as it doesn't seem as if she would be of any help with maintaining or restoring the family's finances after the move.

Look, all the advice I've received is appreciated. If I had been the one who moved countries, having a student debt and phone calls most days, living at home, working a menial job to make ends meet, and I had the chance to move abroad, bring our child up with financial stability, and no money worries, it would be tempting. Without the debt, I would have jumped at it. I'm too sensible, unfortunately, and not willing to expose myself and my wife to it - even though she's genuinely unfazed by the prospect. She doesn't even know how much it was originally#$$#$.

Just now, Jorgedig said:

Even if she does not earn enough to owe anything, she should file.  Just part of getting the ducks in a row for US immigration.

We decided to pursue it to the end and see what happens. At least we'll know I tried. Better to have tried and lost than to have wondered what if.

On 6/9/2019 at 8:38 PM, Jorgedig said:

Probably for the best, as I'm sure she also has not been filing US taxes, as required for Americans living abroad.  https://www.irs.gov/individuals/international-taxpayers/us-citizens-and-resident-aliens-abroad-filing-requirements

You guessed right. She works here, but earns little. I've done all the paperwork and spent hours on it, but it's hard work doing it by myself.

I have submitted the form online and am in the process of getting my required vaccinations beforehand; I'm having 2 courses of MMR with a required 1 month gap, which is the main delay. My question is, do I have to get the rest of the process, including final interview, done within a strict timespan? I know there will be one, of course, but having difficulty finding an answer.

12 minutes ago, Lemonslice said:

It's easy to say you'll retire early and live a better/more financially secure life as a family when you/she hasn't been paying her debt. 

Mathematically, we'd all be much better off not paying debts and saving that money instead lol.

 

 

 

 

Yes, it's easi -er.

1 minute ago, Jorgedig said:

You're married and have no credit history here.  Her bad credit will affect you, even if you attempt to keep things "separate."  Also in some states, marital property is marital property.

Well, it's all looking like a 'not going' situation. Thank you for your invaluable info. An hour well spent.

6 minutes ago, Lemonslice said:

It's easy to say you'll retire early and live a better/more financially secure life as a family when you/she hasn't been paying her debt. 

Mathematically, we'd all be much better off not paying debts and saving that money instead lol.

 

 

 

 

It was a debt incurred many years ago. Cutting to the chase, I am not risking it. End of.

4 minutes ago, SCOREAU said:

Thank you. I'll read it.

I had a read. Basically, the property in America would be in my name and we'd have separate accounts.

2 minutes ago, Jorgedig said:

https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/repay-loans/default   <-----  Just in case you thought there were no consequences for defaulting on student loans in the US.

Thank you. I'll read it.

1 hour ago, gregcrs2 said:

Hope you realize family and money usually don't mix well.  And "we" would not be buying a house, it would be you buying it.  I just see potential problems.  Maybe she should go live with her parents for a while.  I know that the more I see some of my relatives, the faster I want to run away from some of them.

Good point. It's all to do with financial security and what's best for our daughter. Family are vital, but they don't come before clear and present financial stability. It's a cruel world.