Help on I-134 Affidavit of Support

[dennis1964]

I've been trying to fill out the information for the I-134 form and it says to provide a letter from my bank with the deposit amount over the last year, the current balance and the date the account was opened.  Trying to get this from my bank has been hell to put it mildly.  Is this information absolutely necessary for the I-134 or can you just include the previous Federal tax returns?  Any help is certainly appreciated.

[dennis1964]

... in response to Help on I-134 Affidavit of Support, posted by dennis1964 on May 17, 2002

THanks you guys.  I hate to get mean but since the bank was jerking my chain, refusing to supply a simple letter, I used my black belt in complaining.  I wrote a letter to the President and CEO of the bank.  Talk about getting the ball rolling!!! lol!  I had that letter the next day. lol!

[Dave H]

... in response to Re: Help on I-134 Affidavit of Support, posted by dennis1964 on May 24, 2002

N/T

[Dave H]

... in response to Help on I-134 Affidavit of Support, posted by dennis1964 on May 17, 2002

Hi Dennis,

According to Doc Steen's Marriage Visa Information Pages:
http://www.mindspring.com/~docsteen/visainfo/visainfo.htm

"IF you qualify on income alone, you do NOT have to submit the evidence of other assets such as bank records/letter" with the I-134.

Check out the site, as it can answer most of your questions.

From I-134:
II. SUPPORTING EVIDENCE. The deponent must submit, in duplicate, evidence of income and resources, as appropriate:

A . Statement from an officer of the bank or other
financial institution in which you have deposits giving the
following details regarding your account:
1. Date account opened
2. Total amount deposited for the past year
3. Present balance

B. Statement of your employer on business stationery,
showing:
1. Date and nature of employment
2. Salary paid
3. Whether position is temporary or permanent

C. If self-employed:
1. Copy of last income tax return filed, or
2. Report of commercial rating concern

D. List containing serial numbers and denominations of
bonds and name of record owner(s).

----------------
I think the key words in I-134, Section II above are "AS APPROPRIATE."

I was cautious and tried to include everything they mentioned, but B, C, and D really didn't apply to me. Since I'm retired, I substituted my retirement letter and verification of retirement income, instead of an employment letter. I did submit the statement from the bank however. I was fortunate that the officer at the bank was an immigrant and very helpful. She had to add up the past 12 months deposits with a calculator. Then she printed the date that I opened the account, the total amount deposited for the past year, and the present balance on bank stationary and signed it.

Good Luck,

Dave H.

[The Mog returns]

... in response to Help on I-134 Affidavit of Support, posted by dennis1964 on May 17, 2002

Dennis, I did not even bother. I just sent 3 last years (notarized) tax returns (fed) and W-2's. The bank statement is usually need for people who are making borderline income to support a fiance/spouse.
They just want to MAKE SURE your mahal will not become a public charge when she is here. If you make over 23-25 thousand a year or more there should be no problem with not including the bank statement. I also threw in copies of employee 401K account, ROTH IRA statement, employer stock options etc, anything that you got.
Good Luck Dennis!

[SJ]

... in response to Re: Help on I-134 Affidavit of Support, posted by The Mog returns on May 20, 2002

You wrote "The bank statement is usually need for people who are making borderline income to support a fiance/spouse"... It's  requested documents regardless of income.
  You wrote ". I also threw in copies of employee 401K account, ROTH IRA statement, employer stock options etc, anything that you got".....In reality, those are optional items to send "for people who are making borderline income to support a fiance/spouse" not the other way around and are only taken into consideration if the assets are needed to bring income level up to minimums.
    Granted, they probably won't take a second look at the bank records, or even look for them, BUT, if they take a second look FOR them and the docs are not there.....what is overlooked in one file, they might notice in another. Actually lately, St. Lukes has neglected to include different required docs, BUT the petition is stopped dead at the embassy until the missing info is submitted.
  A call to a banks main branch for statements is a small inconvenience to satisfy requirements compared to the hoops the lady has to jump thru to travel half way around the world. At least the bank won't make you disrobe and then check every orifice.

[Jimbo]

... in response to Help on I-134 Affidavit of Support, posted by dennis1964 on May 17, 2002

Hi Dennis,

Yes the bank can be a PITA.  For me the branch office wasn't much help; they wouldn't do anything without talking to the main office first and waiting to hear back from them.  In my experience banks don't give you good service with non-standard requests and second hand communication, so I ended up going to the main office.  I spoke to a manager to get things going, telling them I was a customer of many years and such, and telling them exactly what I needed and why.  In about a week they sent me a 1 year history of my checking account along with a short letter which included the date it was opened.

Jim

[SJ]

... in response to Help on I-134 Affidavit of Support, posted by dennis1964 on May 17, 2002

Go to the bank, pay the few bucks and get a copy of monthly statement x 12. Ask branch manager for a print out of when account opened and balance. If the info is missing, you can bet they'll ask for it, add weeks to the process while you get the info and submit. If it's there, they'll probably not even take a second look. A little hell with your bank is nothing compared to the hell the INS/Embassy can offer you....