Zahra23

Thank you Anh_map for your reply. The current request is for the last three years of tax returns; however, I was a F/T postgraduate student during this time. The job opportunity I lost was in my field, which could have served as income proof over the poverty line. So my task is now to look for a job to show this as proof, since I have neither tax returns to show nor a co-sponsor.

I will ask that the post be moved to the CR-1 forum. Thank you again for replying.

Thank you *Len* for your reply. A co-sponsor is not an option in my case, hence if I don't get a job in time wonder if there's a deadline until when I can submit this information after getting employed. If I am not mistaken if an application comes to the point where income needs to be verified and it doesn't meet the sufficient mark the petitioner has SIX Months to resolve this and not lose the first application. But, I wish someone could verify this.

I had planned on sponsoring my husband back in January when I would have started a new job. Unfortunately, I became quite ill and had to pass on the oppportunity. I am able to work now and want to send the initial documents, but fear in this economy I will not find one in time before the second part (requiring the i-864) will be requested. My question is how long a timeframe from submitting the first part (bio docs) till the check on income takes place...generally speaking? And if by that time I have not found employment will the process start all over again (lose the first petition), or will they give me some months to get a job and provide this information?

Thank you,

Zahra

Thank you Jonah VD!

Does the letter of employment (detailing position/salary information) need to be directly addressed to the government, or can it be a general "TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN" one?

Thanks Dave...interesting to know this occurs in Vietnam, as with other countries.

I have seen credit card forms where there's a section for authorized users without the need of a SSN. So I don't know if you'll be able to add a foreign spouse to such an account. Although not a bank account, it can be a way of showing mixed finances, but of course check with the bank first to double check if allowed.

texascamelqueen, North Africans (Magrebian particularly) are very good at picking up languages. It's true that once he is exposed to an English-speaking environment things will improve drastically. Speaking from experience, when I met my husband he would be lost at times in the middle of our conversations...and I am not referring to slang or any form of cultural expressions/jokes, but fairly basic English. After a few years my husband and I speak on a very high level with no problems with the exception of a word here and there. However, even in our own native languages we are constantly learning new words, too! Look at the positive points of your relationship. Currently your SO's level of English is not as you wish it to be, but surely there are a lot of other things that have benefitted your life by marrying him (like you becoming familiar with another culture). Communication is one of the most (if not THE MOST) important thing in any type of relationship, but lack of it can happen even with two people that are fluent in a same langauge. In all relationships there are times where patience is a virtual, and I think you will find that your conversations will be on a more equal footing if you give it some time.

Great!

Mahalo Haole. Just noticed it on the N-400 form:

"I have been a Lawful Permanent Resident of the United States for at least three years, and I have been married to and living with the same U.S. citizen for the last three years, and my spouse has been a U.S. citizen for the last three years."

So THREE is the magic number. Yikes!

I am about to start the filing process for my husband. Come the beginning of February my husband and I will have been married two years. Now the I-130 will be handled as for a IR-1 visa after the marriage date is noticed, but once my husband enters the country does he have to wait three years from this date to be eligible for U.S. citizenship ---OR--- does the three years start counting from the marriage date while also meeting a minimum of residing in the U.S. for a year?

Thank you pushbrk for the example.

Yes pushbrk, the bullet point format is quite an efficient way to detail a packet of documents...straight to the point and easier on the eyes .

Although optional, I do see where there is an area to list the sponsored immigrants' assets. This would be an additional way to enhance the case a bit or a lot, because my husband has a decent savings account in his country of origin, and also owns some land.

morocco4ever, no problem at all. Your information has been very informative and I will walk on the side of caution, because no two cases are the same no matter the similarities, or even when dealing with the same consulate...stories here alone have proven this matter. Best regards to you.

When we did ours they required a 3 year history of adequate wages. Perhaps they have loosened up their requirements. Just to be on the safe side I think I would include a cover letter explaining your prior student status.

There's place on the I-864 to indicate three years of income history but there are no direct requirements related to the history. The I-134 has no such information request. I'm saying the case is likely to be approved based on the recent new job contract following the completion of a post graduate program. The issue is whether the intending immigrant is likely to become a public charge. I'm confident anybody evaluating the case will be convinced there's no public charge issue of concern.

There have been cases in the past of members that met the current requirement but not in the past. They were requested to have a co sponsor. I agree that the case looks good, and the reason for the lack of prior income is explainable, but I stand by my suggestion. Why take chances just because some members here (who are not consular officers) think all is hunky dory? Why not just take that extra step that might take an additional 5 minutes? Foresight is better than hindsight.

Explaining the prior student status is fine but is probably already clear from the petition and G325a. I took no exception to the cover letter, but needed to correct the assertion about a "requirement" for three years prior income.

I would assume that if the I-864 requests 3 years then you sure as heck better be prepared to show 3 years worth, don't you think? And yes, they did ask for all 3 years for mine. Besides if you had read what I stated you would have understood that this is what was required when I went through it, and maybe they have eased up on the requirements. If the form requests 3 years worth of income don't you think the wise person would be prepared to either provide 3 years or an explanation as to why it wasn't there? One other note, the petition and G325a is what you send to the USCIS not the consulate. Do you know for a fact that they send it to them with the approval notice? And if so, are you confident that that would be enough to satisfy them? I have heard in the past, granted only what I have been told, that since the USCIS is the Department of Homeland Security and the Consulate is the Department of State, that they struggle with each other, and to count on them to share anything further to assist is adjudicating would be foolish on our parts.

Final note, better to be prepared than sorry. None of us commenting here are immigration lawyers, and no 2 cases are the same, so use your best judgement. It does sound like your case should be pretty simple, but never fall into the over confident trap.

I responded directly to the following statement.

When we did ours they required a 3 year history of adequate wages. Perhaps they have loosened up their requirements. Just to be on the safe side I think I would include a cover letter explaining your prior student status.

There has never been a hard requiremnt to have three years of adequate wages. There's only a place to provide information about three prior years of income. This petitioner, if filing an I-864 three months from now would show inadequate income for all three years, while showing an adequate current income supported by a contract and pay stubs. Three years of adequate income are not now and never have been a general requirement for approval of an I-864 or I134.

I agree with the cover letter idea but your assertion of a three year requirement is simply inaccurate, so I corrected it. Ok?

Pushbrk are you an immigration lawyer or consulate officer? Has it occured to you that each consulate is different? They did in fact request me to send 3 years of my tax returns. I doubt you were there, so when I state that they requested it why can't you just take my word for it and simply say that they didn't request it from you? Like I stated, each case is different. GEEZ...done with you.

To the OP, sorry that we derailed your thread and best wishes. I am sure all will turn out fine.

I did see where to write in the three prior years of income on the I-864, but if providing proof of the second and third years there is an optional box to check. However, I do agree to be overly confident (heck, this applies to all areas of life ) is not a good thing; therefore, all advice/tips have been well taken.

Thank you once again waithatter.

Thank you waithatter. I may be misunderstanding you, but yes I know that the civil marriage (not religious, or any other marriage ceremony) date is what is considered. My question is if the date of the actual wedding is used, or once finally registered. You see, mine has two dates on it. The top part has the day of the ceremony and on the bottom a filed date. I hope your wait is not prolonged...best wishes to you and your SO!

As per immigration purposes, is the marriage date the actual day of the civil wedding, or when the license was filed? There is almost a month difference in my case, which is not a big deal, but just curious nonetheless.

Thank you Zee Bee! Nice to know someone else went through the same thing I will embark on soon, and things turned out well. I know each case is a new frontier , but it is comforting to read your good news.

morocco4ever (shukran gazillan) it has crossed my mind to include a letter explaining my prior student status, along with the one from my employer and recent bank statements, which will show deposits from work and additional funds.

Thank you again pushbrk. Mahalo Haole.

Thank you forchika and Jim&A.D. for the warm welcome!

Thank you pushbrk. Could you please elaborate if possible.

I have been a full-time postgraduate student for the past few years and did not work other than a bit earlier this year (which totals a figure way below the required income level to sponsor my husband). However, come January I will start at a professional position and will be able to provide proof of my contract indicating an annual salary of over 40K. I will begin the immigration process once I start my job in a few weeks, but wondering if there will be a problem come time to submit the I-864 because of a lacking/proven past income record?