U.S. visa for Filipina wife?

[lolokalbo]

Morning all,

First of all we live in Thailand and were married in the PI. We have a long term marriage and that is a different visa than short term/ fiance visa. We like to do the paperwork/process in Thailand instead of the PI. If anyone knows of a legal visa company that knows U.S. visa policies I would like that information. 

Thanks

[MikeShiva]

plenty of information on the internet.  Actually, its a little harder than a fiancee visa. Anyway, you have to fill out all the paperwork, including copies of your income tax for the last few years ( I believe it is five) to prove that you can support her in the United States.  If you haven't  paid taxes in the U.S. -- better seek a U.S.  lawyer.

Other things you will need, certified copies of marriage license. an pictures of the two of you together. And last and certainly the worst, Affidavit of Financial Sponsorship, which fundamentally says, if she gets divorced from you in the U.S. but cannot support herself - can't find a job for example- and she goes on the public dole, the United States government can in turn, turn to you to pay any money of the government funds, she has received.

Not trying to say, don't do it, but know this lovely document is valid for 10 years.

So for example, you sign it, she gets a divorce from you in two years,  then meets another man, shacks up with him and goes on welfare, claiming inability to work,, you are on the hook until the 10 years is up.

Whether she is a fiance, or you have been married in the Phillipines for 25 years, just be aware that the U.S. government takes sponsorship very seriously.

Oh, one more thing. She will need a police clearance letter from every region or  country she has ever lived in.  This means, if she has lived 5 places in P.I. she will need five different letters.

My former Russian fiance was married for a number of years to a Russian military officer before he died.  She had to travel a number of different places within Russia to get her police clearance letter.

Once you have all the paper work submitted and paid the fees,  (around 400 dollars) and it is approved, the U.S. government will arrange a time for her to go to the U.S. embassy in the Philippines, for grilling about all the paperwork and details. wi  Actually, they will send you the paperwork in an envelope marked to be opened only by the embassy, and you will then make the appointment.

If that all goes well, in about 6 weeks, the U.S will issue her a green card.  Once in the states, you have to go to immigration for further interviews.

 

[MikeShiva]

In short, can do the paperwork in Thailand but will probably need to return to the Philipines for the   wife to get Police clearance.. She will also need police clearance for Thailand as well.

Your main issue though, is do you meet the means for support.  Basically, you need  something like 2 and a half times the poverty rate.  Guessing now  that is about 26,000 per year, and that you declared that amount in US taxes ever year for the last 5 years.  If you don't have that, you can forget about the visa.

Can do it yourself, but an attorney will cost at least 2 grand. However, unlike Thailand, where you can bribe, an attorney will still require you to produce the taxes showing minimal support, and the police clearances.  Also your wife will require medical proof that a doctor has examined her and she doesn't have tb or anything like that.

[Recce]

Here’s a link that may be helpful to you. Good luck

https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/immigrate/family-immigration/immigrant-visa-for-a-spouse-or-fiance-of-a-us-citizen.html

[losgrad]

On 1/8/2018 at 17:24, lolokalbo said:

Morning all,

First of all we live in Thailand and were married in the PI. We have a long term marriage and that is a different visa than short term/ fiance visa. We like to do the paperwork/process in Thailand instead of the PI. If anyone knows of a legal visa company that knows U.S. visa policies I would like that information. 

Thanks

 

Permanent Resident Visa or Tourist Visa?

Do you plan on moving to the USA or just want to visit?

 

[MikeShiva]

I was somewhat wrong on the amount required and the years. Affidavit of support requires just three 

years instead of five, and the amount,  if she has no children is 20,300., as shown on the adjusted income rate on your taxes.

The second problem, assuming you have filed such taxes, is that your support must be continuous. Ie, lets say you ran a coffee shop in Thailand, and filed taxes showing income of 20,300.   That's not enough, because you wouldn't have that income when you return to the U.S.      You can use a letter of employment in the U.S. --but you'd have to have that at a minimum.

Also, when were you, the sponsor, last in the U.S.   If your main address has been Thailand, or the Phlipines for several years. you'll have to move back to the U.S. first.