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I'm going to be below the poverty line. What should I do?

J

josh000

Registered Users (C)
When my interview comes, I'm going to have $6k, maybe $7k in the bank.

I have a salary job earning 35k/year, but have only had this since February.

The reason I don't have more savings is because I was a student for a long time and because I have been traveling/backpacking a lot as well. I am 26 years old, if that makes a difference.

I'm from Australia so I speak fluent English. I have a bachelors and masters degree as well as a certification in my field, so will have absolutely no issues getting a job.

I don't want to get an AoS unless necessary because while I have friends in the US, I don't want to put them in that position which I think is unfair to do.

What advice can you guys give in this situation? What steps should I take to make sure I have the best chance for being approved?
 
I was asked to show proof of support, and gave them the I-134 notarized, bank statement of my friend, along with his proof of employment.

so if you have 6k, and you can get an I-134 showing that you have someone to go to for the first 5-6 months until you get settled and find a job, than you will be fine.


But don't go with only 6k, get a the affidavit of support letter with it.
 
Can you clarify about the I-134, as I have not heard of that. (edit nevermind, I-134 is the affidavit of support)

I really don't want to get the AoS because it makes someone legally accountable for me for 4 years (or more?) which is a lot to ask of anyone.
 
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josh000 said:
Can you clarify about the I-134, as I have not heard of that. (edit nevermind, I-134 is the affidavit of support)

I really don't want to get the AoS because it makes someone legally accountable for me for 4 years (or more?) which is a lot to ask of anyone.
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Hi,

Generally speaking, I-134 Affidavits of Support are unenforceable. However, that being said I understand completely the reasons for not wanting to ask for a I-134 from your mate in the U.S. It is very awkward and potentially embarrassing for both you and the potential sponsor in asking for such help by way of that specific approach. She/he may feel uncomfortable handing over copies of their tax returns. It's just rather unpleasant to ask of anyone, even family, and even if they'd be willing to do it.

Is it possible to borrow money from family or perhaps take a personal loan to cover the gap between your savings and the U.S. poverty line? I've heard anecdotally from this forum that the CO at the interview only concern themselves with recent bank statements anyway. The downside of course is this will leave you indebted to either family or a credit institution, which you may not want to do either.

The other thing of course is to chance it and simply go with just $6k. This seems massively risky to me though, you could be turned away and told to return with sufficient proof you have means to support yourself without recourse to public funds; this would preclude you from fluffing your account with loaned monies (without a very good explanation of how you managed to acquire such a sum to make the difference) and will basically mean you will have to get an I-134 from someone. At worst you will be outright denied there and then.

I’m sure you’ve thought of these things, but I’m just throwing ideas out there.

Good luck.
 
slash_dot said:
Hi,

Generally speaking, I-134 Affidavits of Support are unenforceable. However, that being said I understand completely the reasons for not wanting to ask for a I-134 from your mate in the U.S. It is very awkward and potentially embarrassing for both you and the potential sponsor in asking for such help by way of that specific approach. She/he may feel uncomfortable handing over copies of their tax returns. It's just rather unpleasant to ask of anyone, even family, and even if they'd be willing to do it.

Is it possible to borrow money from family or perhaps take a personal loan to cover the gap between your savings and the U.S. poverty line? I've heard anecdotally from this forum that the CO at the interview only concern themselves with recent bank statements anyway. The downside of course is this will leave you indebted to either family or a credit institution, which you may not want to do either.

The other thing of course is to chance it and simply go with just $6k. This seems massively risky to me though, you could be turned away and told to return with sufficient proof you have means to support yourself without recourse to public funds; this would preclude you from fluffing your account with loaned monies (without a very good explanation of how you managed to acquire such a sum to make the difference) and will basically mean you will have to get an I-134 from someone. At worst you will be outright denied there and then.

I’m sure you’ve thought of these things, but I’m just throwing ideas out there.

Good luck.
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Josh,

As a last option you could go with whatever you have and carry your last pay proof. Then if they make an issue about the funds you have you need to tell them that you will cover that difference from the next 6 months earnings before you go to the USA. May work but risky.

The other options of borrowing now and having cash in the account will probably be better.
 
josh000 said:
When my interview comes, I'm going to have $6k, maybe $7k in the bank.

I have a salary job earning 35k/year, but have only had this since February.

The reason I don't have more savings is because I was a student for a long time and because I have been traveling/backpacking a lot as well. I am 26 years old, if that makes a difference.

I'm from Australia so I speak fluent English. I have a bachelors and masters degree as well as a certification in my field, so will have absolutely no issues getting a job.

I don't want to get an AoS unless necessary because while I have friends in the US, I don't want to put them in that position which I think is unfair to do.

What advice can you guys give in this situation? What steps should I take to make sure I have the best chance for being approved?
Click to expand...

Not to give you false hope but I think there was a forumite from an african country who went for CP with about $9k and was given the visa. He genuinely didn't have any friends or relatives in the states so he just took the bank statements that he had and hoped for the best and got the visa.He had NO other option but to go with what he had.

I'm not saying you will get the visa with that but if that's what you can provide by the time of the interview then you have no other option but to risk it. However I think you should just ask your friends in America to provide you with an I-134 regardless of how uncomfortable it could be becoz that piece of paper could well end up being the deciding factor for being given the visa or not.
 
I went to my interview without any bank statement to show how much money I have...

While doing my interview, the consulate officer was asking for each paper one by one.

They asked me for proof of funds, so I did submit my I-134 from my friend.
Q: I was asked how do you know this person
A: He's my best friend from when I was studying in the U.S
Q: What kind of support, is he going to be willing to provide
A: My friend will be providing room/Board, and will help me with transportation to go do my job interviews.
Q: Do you work now?
A: Yes, Telecom
Q: So you will be working in telecom/ IT in the U.S
A: Yes, I already have some target job in my mind, when I get in the U.S I will be applying to those jobs.
Q: Where did you find those jobs
A: Monsters.com , I did chose the state where I will be living at my friend's house. (I had printouts of those companies, proving that they are hiring)
Q: good, good...

My English was perfect, and I was speaking with full confidence and straight forward. If i was going to get asked about proof of fund. I was going to answer that I am saving money now, and withing 4-5 months I will have enough to be able to support myself while having help from my friend. Straight forward and be honest.
 
jayo2k said:
how much money do we need to have in our bank at the interview?
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Lets say $20,000 to $25,000 if i maybe right?But even if you don't have this amount don't worry yourself as long as you still have properties like real estates,shares,stocks,company and schools.what the CO want is for you to show that you can be able to support yourself in the usa.
 
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Well thanks guys. I should be able to borrow extra money from friends and such.....I just thought that would look suspicious if there is a random large deposit in my bank account.

I guess I'll do that and then maybe get the Aos and only show it if asked or if it is necessary.


Schoolboy said:
Lets say $20,000 to $25,000 if i maybe right?But even if you don't have this amount don't worry yourself as long as you still have properties like real estates,shares,stocks,company and schools.what the CO want is for you to show that you can be able to support yourself in the usa.
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I thought you only needed to show you were above the poverty line? So 14k max is all that would be expected/required without an AoS.
 
josh000 said:
Well thanks guys. I should be able to borrow extra money from friends and such.....I just thought that would look suspicious if there is a random large deposit in my bank account.
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Depends how you do it, you could open a new account and put your loans/borrowed money into that account, transfer it as a block and simply say it's from your saving account.

Or you could simply put it all into your main account and state that you "called in the debts from your friends." ;)

It's really up to you, but I think the more monies you can show, the better the prospects, even if it's $2-3k more over and above the amount you had.
 
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