Affidavit of Support

[ukgirl]

My fiance filed an I-129F on August 22nd and we are waiting for our NOA2. I am currently trying to prepare for my meeting at the London consulate (obviously not booked yet, I am just getting organized). He is the US citizen, I am the alien.

My fiance is a student and does not work. I have been spending the last two years in and out of the US and so do not have a reliable income. We both have savings, however most are in my name.

At the London consulate meeting I shall take an I-134 with my fiance's saving and summer job income on. Should I also fill one out for myself or is the I-134 just for US citizens?

Our savings together amount to 3 times the us poverty level for a household of two people - although most are in my name.

Do you think this will be adequate proof of funding? Or should we get a joint sponsor? We have people we could ask to joint sponsor but would rather do it on our own if possible.

Thank you in advance.

[barbarajlw]

My fiance filed an I-129F on August 22nd and we are waiting for our NOA2. I am currently trying to prepare for my meeting at the London consulate (obviously not booked yet, I am just getting organized). He is the US citizen, I am the alien.

My fiance is a student and does not work. I have been spending the last two years in and out of the US and so do not have a reliable income. We both have savings, however most are in my name.

At the London consulate meeting I shall take an I-134 with my fiance's saving and summer job income on. Should I also fill one out for myself or is the I-134 just for US citizens?

Our savings together amount to 3 times the us poverty level for a household of two people - although most are in my name.

Do you think this will be adequate proof of funding? Or should we get a joint sponsor? We have people we could ask to joint sponsor but would rather do it on our own if possible.

Thank you in advance.

Well from our experience the petitioner is supposed to be sponsoring you. The I-134 is for the US citizen. Considering you both have enough in accounts I don't think that will be enough. They look at income to see if he can support you and your life. Someone else I am sure will help you more but a co sponsor sounds the answer here to me.

[BigJoe5]

At this early stage, it is not that big of an issue. Your K-1 status will be as a nonimmigrant authorized for a 90 day stay. AFTER you get married, then you have to deal with the I-864 Affidavit, so you have time to gather more information and a co-sponsor.

[ukgirl]

Thank you for the replies.

I will get my fiance to fill in a I-134 with all the supporting documents and shall bring my own bank statements and tax returns.

Would a letter from his parents stating they are happy to file a I-864 when the time comes be a benefit?

[nichole]

Contrary to what Big Joe advised, the I-134 will be a big issue at the London consulate. That's about their only concern. They don't look at any further evidence of your relationship or photos or proof of your engagement. Don't even bring that kind of stuff. DO bring a solid I-134.

The I-134 is only filled out by the USC. London will ask for a photocopy of his 2009 tax return with W-2 form (or 2010 if your interview falls after Apr. 15, 2011.) Other evidence could be a letter from his employer stating when he started work, part or full time, average number of hours worked/mo., and his rate per hour. Also 3-6 of his most recent pay slips. Also a series of bank statements showing his savings or investments. It shouldn't be just one so it looks like somebody just slipped him some cash to look good. Some people get letters from the bank telling how long the account has been open and the average monthly balance over the last year. If his studies are toward some high salary occupation like engineer, lawyer, accountant...then perhaps a letter explaining his studies, when he will graduate, etc could help influence the IO interviewing you. By that, I mean if he's going to be a chemical engineer by the end of 2011, then the IO might surmise his income should increase a great deal very shortly and that might soften up his judgement if it sounds impressive enough. The task is to convince that one guy because he uses his judgement to some extent.

London will also allow self-sponsorship, meaning you can show your savings. Any job you have or salary information won't count because it won't continue in the US.

So I would suggest if you are borderline on scraping up enough money to meet the 3X poverty thing, get a joint sponsor to also fill out an I-134. Take their evidence like the above things. At the interview, when called up to the window the first time, present your documents and only your fiance's I-134 packet. Later when you are called to go into the back room to another window, that's your interviewer. If he doesn't think he can give you a visa based on your fiance's I-134 plus your savings, he will suggest a joint sponsor. THEN you pull out the joint sponsor things you have in your folder. That way, if you qualify on your own they won't even know or obligate your joint sponsor.

Now you could wait until you are rejected and then go gather joint sponsor stuff. They will give you time to do that and will tell you they will issue you visa in 3-5 days after you send the stuff in. In actual fact, they don't get back to your case as soon as you think they will. I don't know if the mail piles up and it doesn't make it to the IOs desk or if it gets buried and forgotten in his backlog. But many report hearing nothing back for a couple of months. So that's why I suggest having a joint sponsor's papers with you to pull out and hand him so he can approve you on the day of your interview.

[ukgirl]

Thank you for your detailed reply Nichole, you have given us lots of ideas of things we can gather.