more poverty guidelines confusion

[Luther]

... in response to Leaving California?, posted by Howard on Sep 12, 2004

Howdy Nephew,

As a matter of fact, when my training is complete (or complete enough) I intend to deliver Jovie and I from this high-priced yuppie trap and go find a place to establish the kind of extended family that I have always dreamed of.  Portland is one possibility but all my relatives up there are so absorbed in their nuke-clear families that...

Philosophically speaking, as a young boy (euphemism for black sheep being used as a vent for a dysfunctional "nuclear family,")I dreamed that my Aunt Ruth would adopt me.  She's the one who fostered over 300 babies and children in her home while they were up for adoption.  Then as a young hitch-hiker in my second adolescence, I discovered "the commune," or communal household, and at times I thought I had found heaven.  A place where a person's social needs could be met no matter who he happened to be (within reason.)

Now my perspective is that the extended family is not a thing of the past, we United Statesians are merely experimenting with doing without it to see how screwed up we can get before putting Grandpa and Grandma back in charge, back at home, and doing away with this "nuclear family" DISASTER that modern society has foisted on us.

Part of the appeal of the Filipino society is that the extended family is apparently alive and well.  While my siblings (who are living as far apart from each other as possible) wonder why they are losing interest in life, the more nieces and nephews I gain through the process of being engaged to a Filipina, the more I think I know what my siblings are missing.

Michigan, eh...?  Lots of jobs up there for a machinist, I spose...

Unc

[stefang]

... in response to Re: Leaving California?, posted by Luther on Sep 12, 2004

With the auto industry machining does have a lot of jobs. The other thing
is that many Michigan machinists are baby boomers and older so they
will need replacements.

Here is the State of MI website for job descriptions and wages.

http://www.michigan.gov/careers/0,1607,7-170-22526_23422
-63097--,00.html

For myself I hope the telecom industry starts cranking again because my
out of state job may not be around much longer and Michigan is slow in
telephone and data communications industry.

[Luther]

... in response to Re: Re: Leaving California?, posted by stefang on Sep 12, 2004

Thanks for the tip and good luck with your career too.  I searched the area around Detroit for machinist jobs and found 21.  Then I searched San Francisco (ever heard of that place?) and found ZERO!  Some in the outlying areas...but it costs big to live in that area, up to $1000/mo for a studio apartment.  I guess you have to be essentially overpaid to live there, or be an architect, engineer, or doctor, what a system.

There are 27 jobs for machinists listed in the Portland metro area.  Entry level pay is better in Detroit.  Portland is a trendy west coast city so cost of living is probably higher there.  Last time I was there I paid $600/mo for a tiny house in the suburbs.  In Calif. I'm now paying $600/mo for a studio apt in a forested retirement community.  There's community services for Filipinos in Portland...probably in all cities?  Lots of immigrants on the west coast.  Where I live the Catholic church is locked, I thought Catholic churches had to be open all the time for people to come in and pray.

[Luther]

... in response to Re: more poverty guidelines confusion, posted by david hagar on Sep 11, 2004

Following that logic, I should not seek ANY  woman for a wife!  Thanks for your opinion though...if you can elucidate I would appreciate it.  Or change your mind, that would be even better!

My current income is OK!!!  As long as the social security check is counted fully, and if anyone has specific knowledge on this issue, let's hear it.  It is the past IRS  returns that threatens to rear up its ugly head and bite me in the yingyang...

As Jovie, says, "the passed is the passed"...now if only she were the Secretary of Immigration for this fine country we live in where the rich and the poor live and work side by side with no class consciousness, complete acceptance of our differences....ha.  Or as my new nephew Howard would say, HaHahahahahahaha.

If Beattledog is right, it's been nice knowin' y'all, I'm moving to the Philippines!  If I can't have a foreign wife, I will become a foreign husband!

[shadow]

... in response to more poverty guidelines confusion, posted by Luther on Sep 11, 2004

Ray altready submitted the correct info for the visa, so I won't touch on that.

I have made several three week trips on under $1300, INCLUDING airfare and lodging. Depending on what area you are going to, usually a reasonably decent place to stay can be found for $10-$20 night. You can feed two quite well on $10 day. Figure in another $10-$20 a day for other interests and you come up around $50 day.

If you want to stay at the Shangi-La, however,...

If you need recomendations as to places to stay, just say so.

Larry in Dumaguete.

[Ray]

... in response to more poverty guidelines confusion, posted by Luther on Sep 11, 2004

[This message has been edited by Ray]

Luther, what the attorney told you sounds about right. For a K-1 or K-3 visa, you submit an I-134 Affidavit of Support (AOS) and the official guideline for that affidavit is 100% of the poverty line, or $12,490 for a couple in most cases. For a CR-1 spouse visa, the I-864 AOS is used and it requires an annual income of 125% times the poverty level, or about $15,612 for a couple. Since the I-864 will be required eventually anyway because K-visa holders will use it to adjust status, I recommend that you try to meet the 125% standard if possible. Keep in mind that the annual income is based on CURRENT income, which is not necessarily by calendar year, but rather an extension of your current monthly income (x12).

As far as that $100/day guideline, that's more for staying in a nice Western style hotel, eating in fancy restaurants, and doing some tourist stuff too. If you stay in her family’s nipa hut and eat fish heads and rice every day, you could probably get by an about $5/day. It depends on what you are comfortable with.

Ray