I-134 affidavit of support

[Britsimon]

At the BNK embassy, in Packet 3 instructions it says:
"Diversity Visa applicants should submit a Form I-134 for himself/herself (including any dependents also moving with the DV winner) along with evidence of financial resources to support his/her transition to the United States. For applicants with limited financial resources, an I-134 completed by a friend or family member in the United States with evidence of his/her financial resources and proof of U.S. citizenship or legal permanent resident status may be provided in support of his/her own I-134."

Am I misunderstanding these two sentences, or they really say I should fill I-134 in my own name? (looking at the form - it only has options for citizens and residents)
Has anyone heard of anything like this?

I've already emailed the embassy, however, sometimes we just get standard responses that do not directly address all the subtleties of a question.

This actually makes sense - in fact it was something I was going to do when I first became aware of the I-134. I have my own assets etc and the I-134 provides a way to detail things in an organized format. Ifg the embassy get the applicant to fill one in and sign it, it is a way to get the applicant to declare the stated items as truthful - so listing the items would be perjury of it were not true. So - it's a wise use of the form - if a little odd for certain questions.

The second part (about the friend or family) is the more normal use of the form. So - do as they ask for the first part, and if that money is not sufficient you can do the second option....

 

[SusieQQQ]

This actually makes sense - in fact it was something I was going to do when I first became aware of the I-134. I have my own assets etc and the I-134 provides a way to detail things in an organized format. Ifg the embassy get the applicant to fill one in and sign it, it is a way to get the applicant to declare the stated items as truthful - so listing the items would be perjury of it were not true. So - it's a wise use of the form - if a little odd for certain questions.

The second part (about the friend or family) is the more normal use of the form. So - do as they ask for the first part, and if that money is not sufficient you can do the second option....

Yes, but you were resident in the U.S. already when you went for your DV interview. As sensei-San points out, there is no option for a non-resident on filling in page 1...

 

[Britsimon]

Yes, but you were resident in the U.S. already when you went for your DV interview. As sensei-San points out, there is no option for a non-resident on filling in page 1...

Yeah understood, and Q11 makes no sense - so the form will be "odd" and inaccurate - but still a nice document to have on file.

 

[Sensei-san]

BNK is not very busy with DVs. Each month there are 0-2 DV interviews scheduled. So I have not met anyone online. On the BNK website there is not a lot of information specifically to DV, apart from the piece I quoted.
I guess I'll wait for the embassy's reply. I also asked them if they think I-134 compulsory, and if they have any guidelines for the sufficient financial resources.

 

[Sensei-san]

Yeah understood, and Q11 makes no sense - so the form will be "odd" and inaccurate - but still a nice document to have on file.

Also in I-134, the important question about bank deposit specifically mentions "savings banks in the United States".
I would not have I-134 from a sponsor. I guess, it is not a problem to fill that form for myself, if they say so.
Would a working spouse be considered as a dependent to be included in Q8 of I-134 or not?

 

[Britsimon]

Also in I-134, the important question about bank deposit specifically mentions "savings banks in the United States".
I would not have I-134 from a sponsor. I guess, it is not a problem to fill that form for myself, if they say so.
Would a working spouse be considered as a dependent to be included in Q8 of I-134 or not?

Yes list the dependent. Don't drive yourself crazy questioning the wording of the questions - and don't just rely on the I134. Use it as an "index" to other documents. So - you have money in a bank account(s), list it on the I134 and take the bank statements also. And so on.

You should be aiming to show at least $10k per adult. Given that they are so inexperienced in DV cases, more would be safer.

 

[Sensei-san]

Yes list the dependent. Don't drive yourself crazy questioning the wording of the questions - and don't just rely on the I134. Use it as an "index" to other documents. So - you have money in a bank account(s), list it on the I134 and take the bank statements also. And so on.

You should be aiming to show at least $10k per adult. Given that they are so inexperienced in DV cases, more would be safer.

I have been saving 95% of my modest salary since May 2014. Could not get my wife do the same though.

 

[usamommy2015]

I have been saving 95% of my modest salary since May 2014. Could not get my wife do the same though.

I am surprised you were able to save your own. Assuminhg your wife is taking care of the house bills, because running the show on 5%, either your salary is more than modest or your wife has a phd in home economics. Lol.

 

[Sensei-san]

I am surprised you were able to save your own. Assuminhg your wife is taking care of the house bills, because running the show on 5%, either your salary is more than modest or your wife has a phd in home economics. Lol.

The salary is modest, but in the country we live in the basic expenses are modest too. That is if you don't have mortgage and auto loan payments or consumption life style. Besides, it is normal to save 90-95% for people of the jewish frugality .
My wife must have a phd in donations. I would imagine that this beautiful buddhist country would rank as one of the top countries in the world in donations to average income ratio.

 

[SusieQQQ]

The salary is modest, but in the country we live in the basic expenses are modest too. That is if you don't have mortgage and auto loan payments or consumption life style. Besides, it is normal to save 90-95% for people of the jewish frugality .
My wife must have a phd in donations. I would imagine that this beautiful buddhist country would rank as one of the top countries in the world in donations to average income ratio.

Uh, no. Half of New York and most of Israel doesn't agree with you. Maybe it's different for Buddhist Jews, all 5 of you

 

[vagees]

Hi , If the sponsor income is not meet the requirement of poverty guide line , jointly the applicant can show any asset value ( house or any property ). Is it possible?

 

[Sm1smom]

Hi , If the sponsor income is not meet the requirement of poverty guide line , jointly the applicant can show any asset value ( house or any property ). Is it possible?

Sponsors income cannot be combined with the applicant's assets to overcome the public charge requirements. If a sponsor is being used, the sponsor's income must meet the applicable required poverty guideline

 

[Sensei-san]

Uh, no. Half of New York and most of Israel doesn't agree with you. Maybe it's different for Buddhist Jews, all 5 of you

Most of "our" people would readily tell you that we hardly make any money, left alone savings .

Also, I would not put "Half of New York" and Israel in the same basket. As an indication - 10 prime-ministers and 7 presidents of Israel came from eastern europe, as opposed to only 1 from Western Europe .
Historical fact is that in the 19th and better half of 20th centuries Western European Jews looked at eastern european jews as bourgeois would look at a peasant. Due to life style differencies, Westerners were more of assimilationists as opposed to easterners. And thus may have aquired more local features than is warranted of a proper Jew.

 

[Sensei-san]

Maybe it's different for Buddhist Jews, all 5 of you

I am actually the Honorary Chairman of our settlements here in South East Asia. Though a self-appointed one, since I am the only Jew here so far.
Though people here have no ideia who Jewish people are, and the local culture is very accomodating, as a proper Jew, I have provoked anti-semitism already. (I will find anti-semitism on the moon, if you pay for my trip there)

 

[vagees]

Hi, my sponsor 2 years back sponsored for his parents, but now his parents have returned to home country. So poverty guide line requirement for total family members, I thing we can exclude them, is it correct?

 

[Sm1smom]

Hi, my sponsor 2 years back sponsored for his parents, but now his parents have returned to home country. So poverty guide line requirement for total family members, I thing we can exclude them, is it correct?

Did the parents formally renounce their LPR status by handing over their GCs and filing the required papers, or they simply returned home on their own? If all they did was to simply go back to their home country, then the affidavit of support submitted by their son is still in effect as far as the U.S. government is concerned, they must be accounted for in your sponsor's household membership. As a matter of fact, I believe there's a section on the form where the sponsor is required to indicate whether he's submitted an affidavit of support in the past or not.

 

[Sensei-san]

Just got the reply from the embassy about whether I should fill I-134 in my own name.
It is funny that I included the full quote from the Packet 3 in my email, asking 3 concise questions related to the quote. They replied with the same quote, only highlighted in yellow, no other information added.

 

[EURO2014]

Hello Sensei-San, What does the quote say, exactly?

 

[Sensei-san]

Hello Sensei-San, What does the quote say, exactly?

Shalom, shalom.
"Diversity Visa applicants should submit a Form I-134 for himself/herself (including any dependents also moving with the DV winner) along with evidence of financial resources to support his/her transition to the United States. For applicants with limited financial resources, an I-134 completed by a friend or family member in the United States with evidence of his/her financial resources and proof of U.S. citizenship or legal permanent resident status may be provided in support of his/her own I-134."

 

[EURO2014]

Shalom, shalom.
"Diversity Visa applicants should submit a Form I-134 for himself/herself (including any dependents also moving with the DV winner) along with evidence of financial resources to support his/her transition to the United States. For applicants with limited financial resources, an I-134 completed by a friend or family member in the United States with evidence of his/her financial resources and proof of U.S. citizenship or legal permanent resident status may be provided in support of his/her own I-134."

I see, thank you - had not noticed your original post. Most consulates have specific procedures, this one seems to be specific for BNK. I simply would follow instructions, as suggested by Britsimon above - you will need to show financial income/asset information anyway, using relevant parts of the I-134 to do so would not be a bad idea in any case. Good luck!