Baron,, I will be checking for that too. Perhaps it is because I have no debts, large bills, or because I am self-employed?
My Super atty was Larry Holms or Homes and Allan Lolly,,, perhaps the most popular?
big-d, have her take a cruise. land her in mexico or canada. have her miss the boat and blend in for a few months. then sneak her across the border. then after a couple years go for amnesty based on hardship. then when she is granted asylum she won't need you.
pretty shitty thought huh? DUDE, you are so young. .....
if all this is serious then go to VJ and look up all the facts.
You and your dad will both submit 134 forms, even if you declare no income, you still need to submit a form.
When you go to VJ and follow their guides you will learn that submitting copies of the last three years tax return forms (copies of all forms and attachments) or tax trasncripts (which can be ordered for free from the IRS....Google is your friend) and it is also suggested to attach copies of three most recent pay check stubs or summaries and a letter from your employer stating that you are employed with them.
Both you and your dad would submit any of the above attachments if they are available.
Ralph this sounds like a pretty crazy idea! How feasible is it? If she is caught, couldn't she be permanently banned from ever coming to the U.S.?
I cannot show a tax return for 2009 and 2010 because I was a student. Will this be a problem? Should I still file for those 2 years saying that I did not make any money?
Also, my dad has a stamp that he uses for signing documents. (He has a real estate business) Can he use this stamp for signing the I-134 form for co-sponsoring me? Also are a copy of his tax returns acceptable?
If you don't have them, then you don't have them. On your G235A form you will list your student activities were they ask for your previous 5 year employment history.
No stamps....an original wet signature in black or blue ink is required. Yes copies are fine but the free tax transcripts which are free no charge, no payment required, you can even order them up from online for free, no monies paid and due, are best.
But, if you don't want that, then yes copies are fine but they must be copies of his entire submittal, copies of the 1040 plus all attachments, copies of the W2, copies of all 1099s, everything.
If you haven't yet figured this forum out, it's not very helpful and is frequented by folks who like to bicker amongst themselves and/or derail threads with useless posts or misleading posts. He was joking by the way. Go to VJ and stay there with these questions; you'll get the straight answers.
Ralph might have been kidding, but it is not impossible. You can still take that cruise and then have her work under the table. Amnesty is not impossible, but it probably will not happen. A blanket amnesty for the 12 million illegal aliens has been talked about, but it probably will not happen. Yes, you can apply for an amnesty based on hardship, but it has to be for extreme hardship and you have to prove it. Even then, it is iffy because many others do it.
To get her legalized, she needs to go back to Russia and apply properly. She will have to go through immigration and passport control to enter Russia. For that, you will need to create travel documents for when she came to the US, approved by the Russian embassy.
I know this because I've seen it done, but it wasn't Russia.
BigD - DUDE - yes I was goofing. but at the end I said go to VJ. it is where you will find the answers. and you will not have any of the silliness that you find here.
Dude, use an immigration attorney now, save you bucks and heartache later. if there is a problem he can speak for you and will know the traps that the INS will set for you.
Once you marry, she is eligible to apply for a green card, and with the temporary card is allowed to live and work in the USA, it says it right on the temp card.
File your tax returns. INS won't be too concerned about money given your age, but if you scam the government they will likely deny you. Play fair.
bigD, one more thing about the affidavit of support. read the requirements very carefully, have your co-sponser (if you choose to do that) read it carefully as well. yes, you can do this without a lawyer involved. but have a lawyer explain to you what all this means. I'm sure your dad would be less likely to sign up. you are basically committing to support this person for many years. and if things go south which they often do and you split up, you are still required to support her for up to ten years (I'm pretty sure baron). unless there are some extenuating circumstances you just bought yourself years of giving away money if she splits on you. basically you are saying that she will not become a burden to the tax payers.
"if things go south which they often do and you split up, you are still required to support her for up to ten years"
The affidavit of support states you are to reimburse the government for any government assistance she gets up to ten years. You are not required to support her for ten years.
You never know until you ask. If your father says no, ask someone else. It doesn't have to be a relative. The income requirement is rather low. You can find people struggling and well over that income requirement. Offer them money.
Remember that government assistance usually come from the state government and USCIS is federal government. Quite often, they do not talk to each other. A forum member, Land of Oz, wife left him and went to a shelter. He was not billed. I asked him that question specifically. He said he very rarely heard of anyone getting billed. I also know a couple on public assistance when their children filled out an Affidavit of Support. This happened many years ago. They decided to cross the border to Mexico for shopping an sight seeing in Tijuana. They forgot to bring their green cards. The INS, as USCIS was called then found out they were on government assistance and had it revoked. Less than a month later, they re-applied for the assistance and got it. Their children were never billed.
One more thing... Yours and your co-sponsor's Affidavit of Support obligation ends before the ten years when she becomes an American citizen. This is something that she wants if she wants to petition her family to come to the US.
D: As I stated before, this forum is populated only by those who pessimists or whiners and moaners and those who have been scammed.
I know many more happy couples than these folks here. As stated, I have also refrained from commenting on your "relationship" but just to answer your visa questions, the 10 year support is WRONG and it takes lawsuits and such by the government to the individual to bring about this support. You should not consider that as an issue but....yes, this is serious business. Good luck.
You have research to do, BigD. You will see who knows what they're talking about. The government is detailed in its instructions and explanations when filling out any form, including the Affidavit of Support. I do not believe you need a lawyer. You might need clarification, but VJ can help you there. Otherwise, it is in English.
Lawsuits, Baron? Courts and lawsuits are for disputes. Does the government or any other competent entity make a form where there are is room for disputes? The Affidavit of Support is an agreement that you are responsible for her government assistance. What is your dispute if she goes on government assistance? All they need to do is bill you.
Think of it as a credit card. You signed a credit card in her name, but your credit. If she uses it and she does not pay, where is the dispute? When you don't pay, then there's a dispute.
This is probably moot anyway because I don't think they started billing for things like this. Still, it is a ten year agreement, and things could change.
Baron???? The person who first said; "and if things go south which they often do"
is one of the few here, who "IS" now married!!!
It's not being pessimistic, telling people; it doesn’t always work out,,,, if it seldom works out!!! Has everyone forgot the 1%?????? How many of us are in the 1%,,, only one that I know of is the new guy Niznaio?? A few of us are in,,, or,,, were in the 3%,,,, Baron, Ralph, FSUler,,,, myself,, and I think bowhunter!! How many people are on this site?? How many aren’t on this site, but are looking on their own??? Information is power,,, and everyone who thinks about doing this should be warned!!
Ten years of support,,,, “WRONG”????? Yes,,, in a way it is!! IT IS 40 quarters!!! If she goes home often, that time away could be added to that time!!
An attorney is a very good idea, and if you can’t spring for an extra 1,000 to 2,000 for this,,, don’t bother ever going!!!
The three years of tax returns is preferred,,, why??? So the case goes through without a hitch!! The attys don’t really do much,, they mail your forms to you, tell you what to write, when and where to mail it to! You do most of the work yourself, but if you have a problem, the atty will fix it for you and usually for the same price. It’s like insurance,, they know some cases won’t need any help,,, but some will!!
“the 10 year support is WRONG and it takes lawsuits and such by the government to the individual to bring about this support. You should not consider that as an issue but....yes, this is serious business. Good luck. “ Yes,,, this is serious,,,, so why would anyone invite the possibility of lawsuits???
Ralph,,,,, you were only joking????!! You shouldn’t fool around like that!! At this very moment, my girl is on a Russian fishing boat headed for Alaska!!! I’ve been packing my Jeep getting ready to go meet her. Now what should I do??? Damn you Ralph!!! Lol
LR, yes this forum is not populated by many who have been successful but doesn't mean we are the majority. On VJ, it is populated by maybe 90% who have been successful.
Problem with this site is that the majority of the discussion is about scammers and how to find them or how someone found them and then the threads degenerate from there. Any good advice gets lost and we never hear about a successful trip and meeting and any part of any journey beyond that.
I'd say that due to lack of moderation of the forum has allowed the lunatics to run it and it doesn't take any newbie much time to determine no real good information can be obtained here and they leave....leaving us few and the lunatics.
And.....US-wise, the entire visa process is really not that hard and 99% can do it themselves provided they have a real relationship. It really is not so hard.
And yes it's 40 quarters, not 10 years. That can be a big difference and from what I have read USCIS rarely pursues after someone who signed an affidavit for back-payment for governmental support. If you have other ifnoramtion, I loved to read it.
If something goes wrong, the attorney will surely fix it, by telling you how to fill out the forms which was sent to you, and get the necessary documents. The forms would most likely would have been sent to you. Again, you will have to do the legwork. USCIS will give you a detailed explanation specific to your needs. If an attorney who helps you understand what was sent ris worth $1-2K to you, then go for it.
"I disagree, unless you have special circumstances or a weird case or past history."
if you can’t spring for an extra 1,000 to 2,000 for this,,, don’t bother ever going!!!
"Yes agreed 5000%. The overall costs are quite substantial."
The three years of tax returns is preferred,,, why??? So the case goes through without a hitch!!
"Again disagree....many former students don't have this and go through no problem. If you have solid income now and can prove it then all will be fine on this subject."
The attys don’t really do much,,
"Quite an understatement.....that is what they usually do....as you describe next:"
they mail your forms to you, tell you what to write, when and where to mail it to! You do most of the work yourself,
but if you have a problem, the atty will fix it for you
"Like how? What kind of problems can they fix and you can not? They DO NOT have any special pull with USCIS, at least with USCIS, maybe in other countries they might. Big misunderstanding....unless you have that special case as stated in the beginning."
and usually for the same price. It’s like insurance,, they know some cases won’t need any help,,, but some will!!
"Most cases don't need any help....and too many times have I read where the attorney has mucked the filing up and caused delays.....that is most certain..
they will take your money
and they will make the process longer....the amount of time you need to gather your info and send it to them and then to have their aides do up the paperwork and mail it out."
Baron,,, I’m sure a lot of members who have been reading this thread will be checking out the VJ site. It does seem to have a lot of information,,, but they are not part of the USCIS,,, are they??
I’m not bothered at all, with all of the scammer talk,, in fact, I wish we had more posts of it! When I go to a new city or agency,,, I want to know the ways they scam guys! I just started to write to someone in Nikolaev,, I already found three red flags! 1st,, she has already sent me a slightly risqué photo,, shirt unbuttoned, but only PG-13. Has already mentioned about using an interpreter, even though she has a “6” for her English! Then today, she asked me what I am able to do for my beloved?? I’m sure she means gifts or money!!
We have some success stories here on the forum. But disappointment is a bigger motivator for negativity in the posts. It’s easy to spot someone with an axe to grind!
I think the forum is exactly what it’s supposed to be,,,,, to let members vent their frustrations. To appease the members, and letting them think this site is better, because we are able to compare notes. And there are just enough success stories to keep peoples hopes up,,, like a carrot in front of a horse.
Baron,,, I’ll bet you prepare your own taxes too??!! I don’t,,, I tally up my receipts, go through the check book, bank statements, and hand the list to the accountant. I always will.
Maybe 99% can do this on their own,,, but I’m not bothered by being in the 1%. It must be time consuming too,,, how thick is the instruction book??
I have a story about filing the forms from back in 1999. Irina and I met in Dec 98, were engaged Jan 17th 99, she arrived July 3rd, and we were married Sep 2nd 99. I don’t remember what form it was ( I let the atty handle it) and I’m not 100% sure when,,,,, but I think it happened during a fishing trip and not a hunting trip! Which trip it was,,, determines the date and if we were married yet!! Ira and I received the forms to be filed out,,, with the instructions,,, but it was not clear to which office it was to be sent to? Did the atty forget to tell us,,, or was the destination to be determined by our information and circumstances?? Both of us read the instructions several times, my parents even read them,, all of us thought the proper city was Lincoln, Neb!! Buzzzzz Wrong!! The forms were sent back, while I was in Canada. By the time the papers had returned,,, we only had a few days to get them to the proper office and city,,,, Milwaukee! She was in danger of being sent home!!! I don’t remember if we were able to contact the atty,,, or if he couldn’t help,,, but I know it would not have been enough. We called our US. Congressman from Wisc, and he was able to take care of it!! How many people have a Congressman or Governor on speed-dial??
Maybe the atty did drop the ball,,, but I do know, the instructions are/were very unclear and confusing!!
My Ira was an English tutor, with degrees in business and teaching!
Part-2
BigD does have special circumstances,,, and does not yet have a steady income.
Also,,,, just how many of us, right now today, or a couple years prior were college students??? Few guys start looking overseas so young.
What kind of problems can they fix and how??? There’s no way to answer that?! I just have to believe they know a little more about it than I do!!