B & C

I'll follow suit with an earlier poster and first list my "qualifications."
BA. Psychology, 14 years of behavioral observation, and 4 years living abroad with an ex (in what I had hoped was going to be a lasting relationship).
The first thing I want to say is how shocked I am at how many people jump right into the attitude of failure and futility. It's easy to say those things from behind a monitor and when you don't know the full story, particularly when you're exposed to so many bad endings during work or television...
Secondly, give the adjustment period its full consideration before you dismiss it. Everyone is unique, and as such, we respond to different stresses and stimuli in different ways.
When I first moved abroad, I had developed full blown PTSD and downright shut absolutely everyone out of my internal thinking for a very long time. This is an extreme example, but my husband also has the same tactic. When things are hard, he'll clam up for awhile until it either gets too hard or until he's found a way to relieve it. And he did have a difficult time adjusting for the first few months (a lot of it was guilt from leaving his family).
All marriages have rough spots, and relocating is a very stressful ordeal for most people. Perhaps he simply doesn't want to expose that kind of hurt to you to various reasons, and is more comfortable blowing off steam with his friend than exposing you to anything unpleasant. As twisted as it sounds, I know several people who are much more comfortable showing their vulnerability to people who don't matter than wanting to show that "weakness" to their loved ones. Those who relocate really do sacrifice a lot in the process, more than they often expect.
The only advice I can really give is to give him some time and space, try to make yourself available for whenever he's ready to start communicating, and know where your limits lie. The real trouble isn't the marital difficulties, it's the necessity of balancing it with immigration hurdles. I wish you the best of luck, and I hope you keep us all updated with the (hopefully) good news and outcome. What can I say, I'm an optimist.

several posts removed for tos violations - i.e. personal insults.
i really don't see a point to this thread and therefore it will remain closed. it's now filed under:
Make comments in a Post either direct or implied toward another member that are purposely designed to upset, antagonize, make fun of, belittle, or otherwise instigate an argument that takes away from the personal enjoyment of the Service by other users. http://www.visajourney.com/content/terms
do not restart this thread.

I know I am tired of seeing people who make it almost all the way through the process just to abandon it. You read these posts on here ALL THE TIME! Or people who obviously are in the mode of "what the heck? I think I will get married to a USC and move to America. Now who is the lucky candidate?" I think there are far too many people who aren't serious about what they are doing.
I don't think making it harder or more expensive is the answer. My fiance and I met online. We spent hours a day on Skype then after months of this, he came to stay with me for a month. Hours more of Skype later, I came to stay with him for a couple of weeks. Hours more of Skype later, we filed. I have kids, he has kids. I make a pretty good wage to support me and my kids. Their loser dad doesn't pay child support. So I just barely qualify to file for all of us. You want to tell me that as a USC I have less of a right to my love than you did to yours? As a female, statistically I will never make as much as a male. I find this really insulting. I worked very hard to get where I am, be who I am, and find a good man who will treat me and mine well. I just happened to find him in the most unlikely of places and not when I ever expected to find him-I wasn't even looking.
There are cultures who are not even allowed to meet their intended before marriage. Who are you to say this is wrong? It might even be a better way! If I had not picked my own ex, perhaps my parents might have picked a good one that would at least be there for his kids! I agree with the previous posters about how now since you made it through a tough process you want to make it harder for the rest of us?
I can't even post my thought on that.
I do like the idea of allowing more time between POE and marriage but if the marriage does not happen the fiance goes home. In England you can immigrate based on partnership. Why not do this as a trial period to truly date first.
A 2 year marriage is not very long...
I think the process is about the best it can be. Perhaps more training for the officers to spot those who aren't very serious about it. But I honestly think they probably are pretty good at spotting alot of those. This process has been incredibly difficult for us. I have to just not think about how much I miss him or I cry. He gets worried because I don't cry that perhaps I am chickening out. I mean there is alot of stress, struggle, frustration, and worry that goes in to this. I will not back out ever. When he is here we will work hard to make ours a great marriage. We spend alot of time discussing this. The process weeds out alot of fakes and insincerity as well just by how difficult it is-not the financial aspect but the lack of an immediate pay off and having to manage a relationship in light of the strife.
How dare you imply my relationship might not be as real as yours because I might not have spent as much time with him as someone who can afford to go visit their fiance more often or that I cannot take care of him until he can work just because I make less than you think they should require. Money does not equal better ability to love and nurture a marriage.
I am sorry but I expected to agree with your post based on the title. Maybe make people wait longer-which God, I hate the thought of that but I would wait for him forever. Don't make the process less accessible to people based on money which is all your suggestions are based on. In fact I think the process should be more accessible to folks with less money. I can tell you I learned how to be very darned creative at getting by when I was poor. I will take care of him just fine and we are paying the immigration fees just fine.

Actually thought you were being sarcastic when I read the subject line. So lets split this problem in two. the "Process" should be much simpler. Way too many forms and jumping thru hoops. Also depending on what country your coming from theres too many special trips for this document or that and lots of fun and confusion when an office expects one type of document but the instructions clearly expect another or an employee gives you incorrect instructions. The rocket that launched from NASA today will be in moon orbit in 3- 4 months but it takes me 8 or more to get my fiance here. Meanwhile this country has gotten so lax about illegal immigrants it makes me wonder why bother. I do agree people should spend more time together before filing a k1. As for income requirements if you can afford the current cost of visiting your fiance , all the special trips on your document adventure and paying for all the fees before and after she arrives as well as the plane ticket to get her here you probably can support her. Jim.

Ok, so here is my understanding of the situation:
The I-134 doesn't technically require you to have a copy of your most recent tax return. That requirement is actually tied to the I-864 which is a similar form but you file it during AOS rather than during K-1. They use the I-134 to pre-evaluate whether or not you would qualify under the I-864 requirements. Definitely you can also use a couple of other things as proof of income such as a few recent paystubs, a letter from your employer and a letter from your bank stating that you make a regular deposit of $X (your paycheck). I did a little bit of searching as well and someone else was recommended to write a letter stating that because they received no income for the years x - y they were not required to file a tax return, hence the lack of return. The thread can be found here: http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/268909-sponsor-did-not-file-tax-returns-in-all-of-the-last-3-years/
Hopefully someone else will come along who has done it before and can give you better advice. For now though, hopefully that helps.

Edit: That advice is probably sound for when you go through AOS but I did a quick re-read of the I-134 instructions http://www.uscis.gov/files/form/i-134instr.pdf as well as the affidavit of support tips http://www.visajourney.com/content/support and I'm no longer convinced that a copy of your tax return is actually required.

If your current annualized (not year to date) salary/earnings is over the requirement that is good. You will document that with a letter from your employer (position, time there, pay rate) and recent paystubs.
Regarding no prior tax returns, simply write an affidavit (Statement) to that effect and submit it with the I-134. You will need this same affidavit at the Adjustment of Status phase. See this part of the I-864 FAQ from the State Dept. website >> http://travel.state.gov/visa/immigrants/info/info_3183.html#30 along with the I-864 instructions for more information.

I suggest posting your question in the Europe and Eurasia regional forum to hear from others going through the same embassy. Also an email or a call to the US Embassy http://slovenia.usembassy.gov/contact.html to get a definitive answer.

The VJ Guides are your friend >>> http://www.visajourney.com/content/k1flow

Tax returns do not prove current income and that is what they base it on. Show proof of current income such as employment letter, check stubs, etc. Attach a letter explaining why you have no tax returns. Sleep well.
Turn off your CAPS and I will give you a correct answer.