Fiancee visa requirement? Need advise..

[Michelangelo]

My girl friend was on the board and she was reading the suggestion from you guys. After all that reading, She sent me an e-mail today. This is how it goes
sorry, you shouldn't have quited your job!!!

Smart girl.

She is right. 

George chose work over his love life, and that was his choice.

But she deserves a man who puts her number one and supports her.

George, business is difficult. To succeed, it will take your total effort, and even at that, most businesses fail.

I'm really sorry it ended like this for you, George.  But it will give you an opportunity to reconsider your dreams and goals in life.

Good luck; I hope you make it work.

[George_123]

Thank you again guys!! I do accept my faith, so will see how it goes.
Turbeguy, this is for you...my company is at up as LLC.
Thanks have a great Happy Father day!!

[Turboguy]

jb,  yes, you are right.  I had not read your previous post for a while and I did misquote.  Of course it was your post she refered to as she broke it off.  There were a lot of things in that same post that you said he said, but he never really did say.

The truth of the matter as far as George's persuit of his goals we don't have enough information to really have a valid opinion.   I am including in that the feasibility of persuing an FSU woman at this time.  Perhaps if he posted a full description of his business, a complete set of financials, goals, business plan, competitive analysis etc (which he should not do, and I am not suggesting) then we might have a valid opinion of his prospects.  He should be at the point where his business is or has turned the corner if it is going to.   jb talks about shoestrings.  $ 200,000 is not a shoestring.  At least not on my $ 19.95 WalMart shoes.   He never asked if he could afford to persue an FSU woman.  He asked about getting a K-1 visa.   I think if his question was if he could afford it, that is what he would have asked.  If he is not concerned about being able to afford it then we should not be.

Also the comment about him choosing his career over his gal is also a supposition not based on facts.   We know he has been persuing his business dreams for two years, probably more since a new business takes planning and organizing.  If he has been persuing his gal for 3 years you are right.  If he has been persuing her for one year, then it was not a choice between them.  It was a choice to persue two dreams at the same time.  We don't have the facts to know he choose his career over his gal.  Perhaps he choose not to give up his dreams that he had poured a lot of thought, work and money in to chase another dream but that is the most we can say with certainty.

jb, you said "So what?  Do you honestly think I have no idea of what it takes to make a company successful?  Give me a break.  With all your posts indicating the amount of running and playing with the young chickie-babes you do, I'm pretty sure someone else is busy making your company successful, 'cause it sure as hell ain't you at the helm."

jb, I am sure you could go on for days about the subject.  Having ideas and having an understanding and good ideas are two different things.  Honestly I don't have any idea how much you do or don't know about running a business (I am assuming George has a small business but that is another thing we don't know)  My own personal opinion is that having worked for large companies as you have  (and as I suspect George has) makes the worst mindset for an entrepreneur unless they are starting a really big business with an ipo etc.  I try my best to avoid hiring someone who even spent much time working for a big business because of the mindset.

I am not saying you are not smart or don't have a lot of knowledge jb.  I just don't see this as your area of expertise and your posts show little understanding of the topic.  If someone wanted to know how to land a 747 on an icy runway, I took 22 hours of flying lessons back in the 70's.  I won't say I know nothing, but I have a feeling PeeWee would be the better guy to ask.  If someone wanted to know about sailing a boat across the Atlantic, TigerPaws could tell them better than me, and maybe you.  

As far as if someone else is busy making my business successful.  Delegating is a good ability for a business owner.   Yes, I have a gal that runs the office with little input from me and a guy who runs production with little need for me to be involved.  It is every business owners dream.  I limit myself to the creative side, designing new machines and creating our advertising.  I enjoy that part and can do it as I travel if I wish.  I can go a month without even calling in without a bit of problem.  Yes you are right.  It is other people who make my business successful.  I am just good at picking them and teaching them to make their own decisions.

Jet,  I have to agree with you totally about the FSU women wanting stability.  That is a good point.  The gals there have been through a lot with the economy there and with the job situation.  I agree one of the key factors is a secure life.   I think though security is not so much in a particular job or industry but more in the economy here as a whole and in our own abilities.  I live in an area that used to be a heavy steel producting place.  If you went back in time to 1977 and asked a steel worker what he liked best about his job he would tell you the job security.  Of course 5 years later they were on the bread line.  I worry about this country with us exporting all our manufacturing.  Can we survive as a service industry with vacations, doctors, assisted living facilities and restaurants forever being the driving force of our economy?  With the idiots we have in Washington will the screw up the whole economy before they are done?

Jet, I am not going to say I disagree with your statement about money.  I agree for those who have it, it is not that important and for others it controls every aspect of their life.  I do think that for a large number of those who allow money to control every aspect of their life it is because they do choose to allow it.  There are an awful lot of people who no matter how much they make, they will spend more, other people who can't control their own impulses well enough to not have money problems, people who just can't manage money and people who would rather put up with the money problems and bill collectors rather than trying to live within their income.  I see it all the time in my employees and in others.  Frankly if I gave up the idea of an FSU woman, I could live quite comfortably on $ 15,000 a year.  

Jet, I have seen guys who did not realize in time that they could not afford this and guys who were just in the dark.  My first romance tour one of the young guys who went was a tow truck driver from Denver who saved $ 50.00 a week for several years to afford his romance tour.  Fortunately he did not find anyone because I think it would have lead to heartbreak.  I have another friend who is in much the same situation as George.  Actually he had been trying to hide income to keep his x from going after it and is now wanting to do a K-1 with a terrific gal who has lead a terrible life and I hope they make it but it is not going to be easy.  There are guys who really need to take a hard look at reality.  I am not saying George is or is not one of those.  We don't know enough to say.  

One way or the other, I wish George the best.  

George, You might want to think about paying yourself a salary and then loaning the money back to the company.  At least you will have a 1040 with income.   Might cost you a little in Taxes but not that much.

[jb]

T/G,

I'm sure you have a dandy little business making fine little do-dads for landscapers, and yes, I've worked for some of the largest companies in the field.  The last company I worked for, the one I retired from, had over 120,000 employees worldwide and operations in over 100 countries, and is generally regarded as the very best of the best by anyone remotely knowledgable in the field. 

However, what has any of that to do with George being able to qualify for a K-1 visa application?  I can only remind you that this board is not about running a small business, so save the small business seminars for your other boards.  I don't dislike George, I don't even know him, but from what little he's posted here I'm sure he's a great guy.  All I can do here is to re-interate those things which are necessary to successfully navigate the various avenues of the USCIS for a positive outcome.  George understands that, why can't you?   

Seems very strange to me.

[Admin]

On a more personal note, why do you continue to pass out advice?  You are among the least successful guys in the RW wife-at-your-side department around here.  I don't think anyone should listen to the perennial failure.  For every reason one of the married guys gives a newbie on how to do things semi-correctly, you come up with a boat load of off the wall crap about how nobody should pay any attention to a guy who has actually done it. 

Seems very strange to me.

jb - we ALL have a voice on RWD. We ALL have something to contribute. The fact that Turbo is not yet married does not diminish the wealth of experience he has. While true he would be hard-pressed to describe changes in attitude in a RW over a 5-year marriage, he clearly has something of value to offer - both in terms of what has worked for him and what hasn't.

I am not a subscriber of the notion that someone being married to a RW for a number of years necessarily equates to them being a sole authority - just as I used to oppose the notion that getting across the line to being married constitutes a "success."

There is a LOT be learned here - and Turbo has been generous with sharing what he has learned - JUST AS YOU HAVE jb. On some matters, I pay closer heed to you than I do to Turbo - and on others, it is the reverse.

When you see something specific that you feel compelled to jump in and correct - please do so (like I HAD to tell you that, right  ) - but to attack him to say that he has nothing of value to offer the readers is a disservice to both Turbo and to the board members.

- Dan

[Turboguy]

T/G,

All I can do here is to re-interate those things which are necessary to successfully navigate the various avenues of the USCIS for a positive outcome.  George understands that, why can't you?   

On a more personal note, why do you continue to pass out advice?  You are among the least successful guys in the RW wife-at-your-side department around here.  I don't think anyone should listen to the perennial failure.  For every reason one of the married guys gives a newbie on how to do things semi-correctly, you come up with a boat load of off the wall crap about how nobody should pay any attention to a guy who has actually done it. 

Seems very strange to me.

George's question was about those things which are necessary to successfully navigate the various avenues of the USCIS for a positive outcome.   That was not the question you answered.  You created scenarios that had no basis in anything George told us (ie $ 200,000 "shoestring") and were giving him advice that he did not ask for.  After your post which was not very fact based his gal dropped him quoting the advice in your response.  Perhaps it is for the best, perhaps not.   George's situation could be much different than you are making out but you prefer to put your own interpretation on things.

I can't argue a bit with the fact that you have some experiences I don't.  You have made some posts that were very wise and well thought out.  I do pay attention to the things you say and don't always disagree with you.

Sometimes I have noticed you tend to read things into situations where there are no facts to back it up.  George's post is an example.  Another time I made a statement that I thought if two people really wanted to be together they would not let language be a problem.  Next thing I know you are going off that I was failing because I could not communicate with my gals.  I was talking hypothetically.  At that time I had no ladies of interest that were not fluent in English.  Right now I do have one.  I just talked to her on the phone this morning.  I couldn't understand a word she said and she couldn't understand word I said, but we enjoyed the conversation.  

jb, your response to Georges post was off the wall.  I do not dislike you.  I respect your opinion.  Actually sometimes I just enjoy disagreeing with you.   I think you have more good advice than off the wall advice.  Sometimes I have said a few things that I myself felt were a little off the wall but they were often in response to something you posted that was off the wall.  Sorry for drifting off topic but you got into the business things.  Sometimes things go off topic.  Don't I remember you posting photos of boats in a thread about photos of couples?  Wasn't talking about Georges ability to afford a wife off topic?

jb, you think I am not an expert.  I have more experience at how not to do things than anyone.  Hopefully others can learn from it. :noidea:

Dan, thank you.  I think this board would be missing something important if jb was not here, but that does not mean I always agree with him and I think we can all learn from looking at more than one side of things.

[KenC]

Just gonna stick my nose in here for a few. 

Dan,
I see your point but I also understand jb's. If Turbo wants to tell us all how the dating scene has changed in Russia over the last years, he just may be the highest authority on the board.  But he, IMHO, goes far beyond his area of expertise and even into areas where he has failed miserably.  I think that is what jb is talking about. jb tries very hard to stay away from discussions in which he has little or no knowledge. For example, he has very little input regarding agencies because he had never used any. I also try to stay away from subjects that I have little or no knowlege of, like K-1 visa applications.  It does get irritating, at least to me and obviously jb, when Turbo continues to cheer some hapless newbie down the path to disaster. He has proven in his posts and his track record that he does not have a clue as to how to make a success of this venture. He would be wise to stay clear of such discussions.

Turbo,
jb answered the question exactly as asked based on the information given.  Geez, talk about "off the wall!"
KenC

[Jet]

George's question was about those things which are necessary to successfully navigate the various avenues of the USCIS for a positive outcome.

I understand this was written to jb, but...
I painted George the most accurate picture I could, including examples. You backed me up on that post saying your research confirmed the same. I closed the post with:

As others have commented, there is the ethical question of whether you even *should* file for a K-1 at this time, but the above is merely a look at the mechanics of getting from where you are to where you think you want to be...

George replied by reposting his original question, as if in hopes of getting a more validative response, something that contradicted what was already written and fit his situation better. This was a very big "red flag" for me, hence my second reply which was noticeably more terse. At that point George gave the response I was hoping to elicit - he *seemed* to have 'gotten it'. This was about the time you started on a "damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead" tack. First, fighting to get her back does not eliminate the no income/no assets problem, and second, it will not remove the nagging doubts about her future financial security, which have already begun. The second is especially dangerous because there is no effective way to educate her whilst she still resides in Russia, and if the business has not REALLY turned the corner, the ups and downs could very well devastate a blossoming relationship. Turbo when I met Liliya, I owned a small business that did pretty damn well for itself for the previous ten years, offices on both coasts of FL, Fortune 500 clientele, etc... I now work for a mid-size company as a project manager. There is a reason for this, I had priorities and I followed them. Putting business before family is a hard sell if the woman you're involved with is really serious about the marriage IMO.

[KenC]

Jet,
Good post. I don't think anyone does the newbies any favors by validating their high risk choices. Sure they could work but in reality are doomed to failure.  Heck, even a blind squirrel can find a nut, but that doesn't mean blind squirrels have a good chance for survival.
KenC

[RacerX]

George_123

You pose an interesting situation, one that few of us have any experience with  but then you “complicate” things a bit more by having your g/f read this forum and actually LISTEN to the advice of the members!

With respect to the financial requirements for a K-1, in essence there are NONE. Reality however, is that the consular fellow is going to want to see some minimal earnings potential or some financial worth - but  from I read, you could easily be satisfy those from your business investment.  It might take a modicum of creative accounting to present the matter in a favorable light.

You seem to be quite honest with your prospective fiancee - OMG, even informing her about this forum!  I wonder how many other men have done this, or for that matter would have survived such scrutiny.  I would speculate that your g/f has realistically sized up the situation and feels it is not advisable for her to proceed at this juncture??

If so then you might consider yourself quite lucky to have met such an honest and open woman - there are many who first, would have not been so open, and second, you would have not kept you from making what seems to be a serious mis-step at this critical point in your life.

[jb]

I had this really cool post written.... It was a thing of beauty, most guys would have wept from the absolute brilliance of the logic.  Then I thought,,, why bother...  Turbo's next victim will be here soon to visit her brother and we'll all get to be entertained again as we witness his next train wreck. 

You guys have to admit, there is some fun in that.

[jb]

Racer,

I'm sorry if I wasn't clear enough for you.

Let me quote for you the law regarding income requirements for family based visa applications.

The law requires a sponsor to demonstrate an income level at or above 125 percent of the Federal poverty line, as published annually by the Department of Health and Human Services. To establish income level, sponsors must provide proof of current employment and copies of their Federal income tax returns for the 3 most recent tax years. The income of certain other household members may be added in computing income level if they sign a contract, Form I-864A, agreeing to make their income and/or assets available for the support of the sponsored immigrants. For active duty military personnel, the income requirement is 100 percent of the poverty level, if they are sponsoring their spouse and/or child.

If the sponsor's household income does not meet the income requirements, evidence of assets, such as cash in savings accounts, stocks, bonds, or property, may be considered in determining the sponsor's ability to support the immigrant.

If the sponsor cannot meet the required income level based on income and assets, another person may serve as a joint sponsor. The joint sponsor must meet all sponsorship requirements, other than being the petitioner, and be willing to assume legal liability for the sponsored immigrant(s) with the petitioning relative.

INS and DOS will not use a set formula to determine whether a person qualifies as a sponsor. The greatest weight will be placed on earnings from current employment. In most instances, sponsors will be found eligible if they are employed and demonstrate the ability, along with household members who sign a contact on Form I-864A, to earn income at or above 125 percent of the poverty line for the number of persons who will be supported.

The above is quoted directly from the USCIS Laws and Regulations Handbook.  Emphasis is mine.

[Turboguy]

I guess one of the hazards of stirring up a hornets nest and then having to leave for 4 hours is you get a lot of things to respond to.

Jet, let me start with you.  I thought your posts were excellent.  They were detailed, informative and factual.   Your question at the end about should he do it was well phrased and something that was very positive to ask.   I do think though there is a difference between asking someone if they should do it as you did and telling someone they should not as a few others did with no real information about the details.  Your posts are nearly always excellent, well thought out informative and helpful.  You are one of the people I respect most on RWD.

Before I move on to Ken, let me explain one thing I talked about earlier.   When I said that working for a big company does not give a good mindset for an entrepreneur.  I was not meaning that working for a big company is bad.  Actually I think someone who does that with their life is actually pretty smart.   I am sure you did well in your own business but I am sure you can find a lot of pluses to what you do now.  I could explain what I meant more but I think it is not important.

Ken, you are next.  As far as the first quote in your last post.  Those are actually jb's words that I cut and pasted from his post to make sure I said it right.

Usually when I jump in to something where I don't have at least some expertise it is because someone is going off on a tangent and crucifying someone who doesn't deserve it.   Most of those are opinions where no one has expertise.   

Show me some examples of where I jumped into something I knew nothing about.    This is your quote Ken.  "I also try to stay away from subjects that I have little or no knowledge of, like K-1 visa applications."   Ken, can I ask you a dumb question.  Go up to the top of the screen and look at the block that says Subject.  Have my eyes gone goofy or does it say "Fiancee Visa Requirement? Need advice"   Am I imagining you are here?  Do I have any expertise.  I did a K-1 visa last year and the forum after RWD where I have  posted the most is VisaJourney.  I have very fresh experience with it.  I spent a lot of time researching it and I don't consider it an area where I am clueless.   Find where I answered someone's question about AOS though.  Unless it is a really simple on that no one else answers I stay out of it because I have no experience.    When you guys were talking about boats the other day, show me my post.  I don't know beans about boats and I stayed out of it. 

Here is another quote of yours Ken.

Turbo,
jb answered the question exactly as asked based on the information given.  Geez, talk about "off the wall!"
KenC
Ok, now here is his original question.

Started my own business 2 years ago. First year i have lost over $31,000. So far this year, i am close to breaking even. I have no other income beside my personal saving. What is the chance of getting a fiancee visa or K-1  visa for her? Thanks for readingjb started off good.  His first posts dealt with the issue George asked about.  Then all of a sudden he got off imagining things he does not know.

jb said.

George has told us he's operating a new business on a shoestring and cannot even to afford to pay himself a minimum wage salary, in fact he is hemorrhaging money from savings just to get by the first year, and maybe, just maybe, will break even this year.

Show me where George said anything about shoestrings.  He says he has invested $ 200,000 and has lost 30,000.  That leaves him assets of $ 170,000  Show me where he said he is hemorrhaging money.  He never said that.  He said he lost $ 30,000 the first year and should break even this year.

Then he threw this out. " Is this yet another example of the Rah-Rah cheerleader section doing what they do best?  "  No one was cheering him on at that point we were just giving him the info he asked for.   How is this answering George's question as you say he did Ken.

Next was this.  "George, my best advice to you is to forget about a Russian wife at this time, you are just not prepared for it. "   Where was that in his question Ken.

Then came this.  "You have a choice to make, get a job or give her up."  Was some of Georges question written in invisible ink Ken?   I missed it when he asked that.

Ken, I am not faulting the advice that people have given to George.  You said all jb did was answer Georges question and I am showing you that you are wrong about that.  I am not arguing the point at all that perhaps he should get his business going and then find a gal.  The other thing I am disagreeing with is that some of jb's advice was based on imagination.  There was nothing about shoestrings.  To be honest for me to have an idea about if he should or should not give it up I would have to know a lot more than he has told us.  He could have a million in the bank and a paid for 10 million dollar house.  I don't think he does but from the information we have we just don't know.

jb.  I haven't wept for a long time.  Why don't you go ahead and post it.  I am sure we will all be weeping from your brilliance. 

[jb]

To be honest for me to have an idea about if he should or should not give it up I would have to know a lot more than he has told us.  He could have a million in the bank and a paid for 10 million dollar house.  I don't think he does but from the information we have we just don't know.

Actually, T/G, it is you who seem to have the over active imagination.  With a million in the bank and a paid for 10 million dollar house there is no way he would be here asking about K-1 requirements.  With those kinds of assets he would have simply turned to his attorney and said; "Do it for me".

Now to your other points:

in fact he is hemorrhaging money from savings just to get by the first year, and maybe, just maybe, will break even this year.

Actually he said he lost $31K the first year, to me that's bleeding money, but "hemorrhaging" seems to have a certain flair, don'cha think?

Then he threw this out. " Is this yet another example of the Rah-Rah cheerleader section doing what they do best? No one was cheering him on at that point we were just giving him the info he asked for.

Specifically, T/G, you were starting to cheer from the 10th post in the thread.  You wrote;

I researched this a bit for another friend in the same situation.  Supposedly it is just as Jet said.  If you have enough assets to cover her support it is in theory OK.  If you read the guidelines close enough they say that.

When, in fact, the guidelines say nothing of the sort.  I have posted the LAW above, it says exactly how much a sponsor/petitioner has to either earn, or have in personal convertable-to-cash, assets to qualify.  There is no way anyone who can read, can read the guidelines any *closer*.   "Close enough" counts in horseshoes and hand grenades, but not for the USCIS.
This is but one example of you advising in areas where you don't have enough knowledge.

In the 12th post of the thread, you wrote:

Since you have been living on your savings if you have around $ 30,000 or more left in your savings you have a chance of selling it to the embassy.  I would say 50%.  If you have a lot more than that left it would be an easier sale.

May we dare ask, 50% of what?  50% of 30K will not get a K-1, this is more mindless cheerleading.

In the 14th post of the thread I did lose my patience with you and peewee.  I am not repentant.

[Turboguy]

Point 1
I can't disagree that if he really had a million in the bank he probably would not have asked the question. 

Point 2  Yes, it does have more flair.  If his business is breaking even now then it is not bleeding money or hemorrhaging money.  It is breaking even.

Point 3.  Yes it does say that jb.  Here is the quote from your post.  "If the sponsor's household income does not meet the income requirements, evidence of assets, such as cash in savings accounts, stocks, bonds, or property, may be considered in determining the sponsor's ability to support the immigrant."  As far as part 2 of the post I am sorry if I was not clear.  The 50% I was talking about was his chance of selling it to the embassy.  I figured he had about a 50-50 chance.   I also said the more assets he had the more the odds improved.  I wasn't cheering him on.  I was telling him what I knew about the situation he was facing.  The facts are outlined in your post.  The law is not clear on the specific requirements for assets and it is usually up to the interpretation of the CO.  The general consensus us that they will ususally allow you to balance off the two year income requirement with assets.  My understanding is they do this on a case by case basis.  Lets say someone has an income that is short of that required but has assets and the reason he was short was that he just graduated from Medical school and his income came from a part time job at Mickey Dee's but he was starting his residency and his future looked good, it will likely fly right through.  It is a grey area jb.

[jb]

I'm sorry, T/G, I really am.  Not for what I have written, but for the fact that you cannot read so good.  If you look again at the quoted law in my post above, it says; "sponsors must provide proof of current employment and copies of their Federal income tax returns for the 3 most recent tax years."  Not 2 years as you seem to think in your latest.

Only after a shortfall with income does the law delve into assets, and there is says; "evidence of assets, such as cash in savings accounts, stocks, bonds, or property".  These are, and must be, tangible assets which can be converted to cash for living expenses if necessary. Some old car or household goods won't even be considered. 

T/G, I have spent months studing the Immigration Laws and Guidelines, if you are intent on arguing these points with me, at least let me work my way through this bottle of fine Father's Day vodka my Russian step-son has given me.  *hic*, you might get one of your silly ideas past me.

[Turboguy]

You are correct about the three years.  I am not sure why I typed two.  I knew it was three.

I agree with Only after a shortfall with income does the law delve into assets

That is what I was saying.  Enjoy the vodka.

[KenC]

Turbo,
You wrote:

Ken, can I ask you a dumb question.  Go up to the top of the screen and look at the block that says Subject.  Have my eyes gone goofy or does it say "Fiancee Visa Requirement? Need advice"   Am I imagining you are here?

Yes, that certainly is a dumb question as any fool can see I didn't post a lick about K-1 visas and only replied to your silliness.
KenC

[jb]

I decided to save some of the vodka for another day.

The bottom line of all this debate is that George can do one of several things.
1.)  He can disregard everything we have said here, and go ahead and file for a K-1 visa with what he has so far, and take his chances. Hey~! It might work.
2.)  He can try to sweet talk his g/f into sitting on the shelf for another 3 years as he builds up the required years of income above 125% of the poverty level.
3.)  He can forget about a Russian wife for the time being and concentrate on getting his business off the ground.  WTF, we may be talking to the next Bill Gates.  Wouldn't it be nice to be able to say; "I knew dear old George way back when he didn't have a pot to piss in,,, and just look at him now~!  My pal, George!!"
4.)  And my favorite,,,, he could visit with his family, explain the situation, and come up with a family plan to joint-sponsor the girl over on a legitimate K-1 visa now, and get the job done. 

You see, I was honestly touched by her e-mail, I think she really does love him.  She is being typically pragmatic, as Russians often are, but that's not a bad thing.  I think there is milage to be made from this mess, I think all is maybe not lost.  But I also don't think idiotic cheerleading is going to help, and I know for sure wild 50-50% plans are not the way to go. 

George needs to re-think his actions and get his priorities straight.  He's in the driver's seat, it's up to him. Only George knows what George wants.  Only George can get it.

Just my 2 cents.

[KenC]

Turbo,
You asked for examples of where you spoke about things you didn't know.  I will provide those here,  But more importantly, you mislead people by giving them false hope.  I too am a successful business owner for many years and I also realize that being an optimist is important to success.  Where we differ is that I do not see the value of misleading some poor sap into thinking he has a chance when he truly doesn't. I hate to confuse the issue with the facts, but most new businesses fail.  That is a fact not a pipe dream. Another fact to consider here is that it takes a lot of money to pursue a RW.  I wish it was more affordable, but it isn't and that you cannot deny.  Most of the real expense of this venture will come after the man has met the dismally low financial threshold requirements of a K-1.  How on earth can a man afford to relocate a woman into a foreign country and support her when he cannot prove an income of $16,500?  I don't think it is possible

Post #1:
I researched this a bit for another friend in the same situation.  Supposedly it is just as Jet said.  If you have enough assets to cover her support it is in theory OK.  If you read the guidelines close enough they say that.   In practice I have not heard of anyone actually doing it.   Most people in that situation try to get a co-sponsor.   I think you could expect some resistance about the value of your assets.   If you show a car that you say is worth $ 10,000 they may not be impressed.   If you show a CD worth $ 10,000 it will be an easier sale.   Remember the affidavit of support you file (I-134) at this point is worthless.  It is not a legal binding contract.   Therefore your co-sponsor is taking no risk at all.   However when you do the next one, for the aos  that is a legally binding and enforceable contract.  My suggestion if you are determined to go ahead is to find a co-sponsor now, but try to have enough income by the time you get to AOS to do it on your own.   The income requirements are not that high so if your business continues to improve you should be there, if not you can always work the night shift at Mickey Dee's to supplement your income".

Nice job here of giving poor George a good dose of "Turbo's false hope for the hopeless."  As other posters, more knowledgeable of the actual requirements have proven, your wishful thinking here is incorrect.

Post #2:
"I will stay with what I said before.  Since you have been living on your savings if you have around $ 30,000 or more left in your savings you have a chance of selling it to the embassy.  I would say 50%.  If you have a lot more than that left it would be an easier sale.  If your assets are less liquid then it will be a harder sale. 

The best bet still would be to get a co-signer".

Again, "hopeful" Turbo pulls numbers out of his butt and even adds an unwarranted and unfounded opinion that poor George has a 50-50 chance of succeeding when in fact, based on the information given, there is no chance at all.

Post #3:
" George, I have started a number of businesses and been in business for myself since I was 21.  Most all business start ups loose money the first year and sometimes the second.  Most frequently the third year is profitable if the business is ever going to be profitable.  Of course some business start ups never do make it.   You should have a pretty good feeling now for where your business is going.   Hopefully your future income will be fine.  You still have a problem with your timing.  I have to agree with the others it is not easy to do a business start up and persue an FSU woman at the same time. 

You have been honest with your gal.  If she can accept that it is good.  I really think you have two choices.  Put the gal on a real slow track and target a time two or three years from now to do a K-1 or get a co-sponsor.  You have not really disclosed how much savings you have left and that is personal anyway.  I would not expect you to.  If you still have a wad then that makes another situation.   Dreams can come true but you need to focus.  You are trying to focus on two dreams at the same time.  It is not always easy"

Here Mr. "Hopeful" does the best silver lining painting of the situation ever. THE MAJORITY OF NEW BUSINESS START UPS FAIL AND NEVER MAKE MONEY. Not "some" but "most." That would make George broke and destitute after the failure not with a future income that will be "fine."

Post #4:
"Well, I knew some of these guys consider themselves problem solvers George and I guess they solved your problem.   I think that was not quite the solution you were looking for.

I think you are probably not the first person to have a problem because their girlfriend or wife read the board. 

George, she still has feelings she just thinks it is going nowhere.  One of my observations about FSU women is that when it comes to money, finances, and related issues they are totally clueless.   I too lost the girl that I always considered to be the girl of my dreams when my business was at the same point yours is and over the same basic issue, money and my lack of income at the time.  My business went on to be very successful.  Actaully loosing my gal probably helped my business.  I just poured myself into it working non stop usually 130 hours a week or so.  I was trying to keep my mind off my former gal.

George, running a business takes a different set of skills than being a good employee and it takes a variety of skills all of which you must posses or find someone that does.  Numbers are only numbers and they can be massaged a lot.  You may need to make more personal sacrifices and fewer sacrifices to your savings account and try to manupulate things so you show a taxable income of at least $ 16,000 this year.  At least that is if you what an FSU woman our maybe even the one you probably just lost in your future.  Are you incorporated?  My reason for asking is if you are self employed you have to show 3 years taxes.  If you are an employee, and if you are incorporated you are an employee of the corporation and just happen to own the stock, then you only need to show one years taxes. 

You have three choices. 

1.  Try to get her back.  Get some income this year and you will be ok.

2.  Hunt for another gal and still you need to get your income up.

3.  Get your finances in order then start hunting for a gal.

If you can't get her back then # 3 is the best choice.  Good luck".

This is by far the best spinning of bad news into good as I have seen in a long long time. After George confirms that he has his last nickel invested in his new business venture and that his girlfriend has dumped him, Turbo blames his bad fortune on the board members that have informed George of the requirements for a K-1.  It isn't George's fault that he started a losing business, or that he pursued yet another high risk venture (marrying a RW) simultaneously, but it is the fault of the men here that are giving poor George a dose of reality regarding his situation.

And it gets even better, when Mr Sunshine (Turbo) tries to help guide poor George through some taxation fraud that most certainly will turn his luck around!

Post #5:
"
George, Shadow is one of the brightest guys here.  Even so, sometimes I disagree with him.  This time I don't.  He is right on about Russian mentality.   Here we turn on a faucet and expect hot water.  We get in a car and turn a key we expect the car to start.  We fall in love with someone and they tell us they love us, and we think we have a relationship with a future.

There, if there is no hot water they just shrug and say. "It's Russia"  If something seems like it is not going to work out, "it's destiny".   I think they have less knowledge about starting businesses and your potential if it does not work out.  You will be fine one way or the other and she would have been fine one way or the other.  You always have the option of working for someone else and settling for just making money. 

jb suggested you give it up and get a job.  jb is also a smart guy with a lot of good ideas but that was the worst advice of the thread.  jb has spent most of his life as an employee for a large company, yes, I believe he does some consulting now which is sort of like having your own business but it is also not quite the same.  It is extra income when it is there and otherwise the same as if he was retired which he is.  The mentality is just not the same as someone who really has their own business. 

Sixteen years ago I was right where you are but perhaps a thousand times worse since I did not have a few hundred thousand to tap on when I needed it.  I had twice I sat down and wondered if it was possible to go on.  I could see no options but to throw in the towel.  When I thought there was no hope something good always happened to get me through it.   I already mentioned I lost the gal I considered the love of my life during that period.   I have a lot of memories of the struggles I went through in those days.  When I drove up to my office the first thing I always looked for was to see if the sheriff had been by to padlock the place.   I had some unusual things happen when I had started which probably cost me close to that much or my struggles would have been much easier. 

George, I have a feeling you are a little down in the dumps right now.  You have been through a hard two years getting your business started and you are to the point where is should start making money and hopefully a lot of money.  You also think you may have just lost the gal you love.  I will tell you a little of how my business went, not to brag but in the hopes it might give you a little inspiration.  The third year my business started making money and then it started to really grow.  I manufacture a machine for the landscape industry.  We have now sold about 6000 of those machines,  in terms of units sold we are now the largest in the world and do sell them worldwide.  I even have units in Russia and Ukraine.  NASA, the Panama Canal, Pebble Beach Golf course, Wimbledon all own my machines.   I have had to expand 4 times and we will be breaking ground in 6 weeks to add 50% more to our manufacturing space.  My advertising budget is a quarter million dollars.  Money is something I don't have to worry about.

I will tell one more story about the early days before I hit the post button.  After I got my heart broken I did not date for a long time.  Then I met a gal I wanted to take out except I was fairly broke.  So I asked her out and we drove into downtown Pittsburg and there is a hill that overlooks the city with observation decks and benches.  We went there and talked,  rode a pretty neat thing called the inclined plane into downtown Pittsburgh  ($ 1.25 each round trip), walked around station square, rode the then new subway into downtown to all its three stops  ( $.50) ea did a lot of talking and wandering around and then headed back.  She scared me on the way back.  She said let's stop at Eat and Park restaurant and get something.  I was hoping she wasn't real hungry because I would not have been able to pay the check.  Fortunately she got toast and coffee and I was OK.  He comment at the end was that it was the most romantic first date she had ever been on and it cost me $ 8.00 which left me about two or three in my wallet.  That gal and I went together for several years and fortunately I had enough cash the following week to do a more conventional date.

George, don't give up on your gal.  You are a guy who is brave enough to lay everything on the line for your dreams.   It is not easy to focus on two dreams at once but you can do it.  Go for it George.   You can win her back".

Heart warming tales and advice, but realistic?  I think not.  There is no indication that George will be successful in his business or in winning back the heart of a woman he cannot afford.

I am all for being optimistic, but only if there is some reality involved.  The truth of the matter is, is that George should concentrate on his floundering business and forget about any Russian women in the near future. He is a minimum of 3 1/2 years away from being in the position to act on obtaining a K-1 visa and that is only if things go very well in his business from here on out.  There is no indication or practical evidence given here that would indicate that that is the case.  Sorry George, but no matter how much sunshine Turbo blows up your ass, you are in no position to seek love in Russia.
KenC

[Turboguy]

You guys are so funny sometimes. 


# 1.  It wasn't false hope.  It is immigration law expressed in general laymans terms for him.  Read jb's post about the law. 

# 2.  Not true at all.  If he can meet the requirements for assets which he may well be able to do he should be close to 100% chance of success.   We just don't have the details.

# 3.  Yes, the failure rate on new businesses is quite high.  The last number I heard was 50% failure rate for the first year alone.  Of course George has already made it through 2 years which is better than about 65% of people do.  At the two year point he should be now looking at about a 75% chance of success.

# 4.  That is not taxation fraud.  I said he could pay himself a salary and then loan the money back to the company.  There is nothing illegal or fraudulent from an income tax standpoint.  He does have to buy groceries so paying himself enough money to do that and then kicking the money from his savings that he would normally buy the groceries with back as a loan to his company is not unethical.

Going on to your final comment.  I agree there is no evidence that George will be successful in his business.  There is also no evidence that he will not.  There is no evidence as too his assets but you can put a case together for him having had $ 200,000 in cash and stocks.  My guess is that someone with that much in stocks probably has two or three times that in other assists.  I don't know that for a fact just as you don't know the things you are taking as facts.

My whole point in this discussion that seems to fly right over your heads is we don't have enough facts to have any idea what George should do

[Shadow]

One small comment can cause a real flood of people falling over each other.

Well let me get the gang going even more.
At this point I do not think gearge should start a K-1 even if she turns around. If he has told the truth about her having an apartment and a $1000 a month job for Coca-Cola company, I believe she can get a tourist visa on her own.
Then she can meet George and see what his business and life is about, make the decision to continue or not together.

[jb]

T/G,

Not to belabor the point, but from where I'm sitting, you do spend an awful lot of time blowing smoke.  You did, for example, much the same thing all during each of those terrible Photoguy threads.  I've come to understand that you see yourself as some sort of *defender* of the poor downtrodden types.  It's just your used cars salesman methods that get under my skin at times. 

All of these men who come here with their myriad of questions are all fully grown up adults, and as such do not need a big brother to look out for them.  What they need is straight forward honesty, not smoke blown up their backside.  The vast majority of our readership is men over 40, many with a recent divorce decree in his hip pocket when he wanders in the door. He's not in the best mental state at that point of his life, and he's just immersed himself in a sea of beautiful girls on a dozen or so MOB websites.  He can't believe his good fortune to be so lucky as to have *accidentally* discovered the mother lode. 

Jovial backslapping is OK to some extent, but head slapping is sometimes necessary in order to get the stars out of his eyes and to calm the fantasies about sweet, tasty, 20's y.o. sugarplums he sees in the MOB catalogs whose agency write up is often misleading, such as falsely claiming she'd be content with a man up to 60.  You are yourself a good example of the older man who has swallowed that myth, hook, line, and sinker.  You really believe that if you look long enough, write enough letters, make enough trips, spend enough money, your 25 y.o. dream girl will suddenly appear.  The only dreaming that's likely going on is that you don't realize you are every MOB agency owners dream come true.  Good Old Mr. Moneybags, Daddy Warbucks, comes to town and everybody profits.  The girls will date you for whatever their reasons, but mostly they are just pretty sure that they'll be better off at the end of the day than they were before.  It's a sad but true tale,,, you lose, they gain.  What the hell, it's just business.

[Turboguy]

Ok, jb.  I blow smoke and you tend to be blunt.  Some people look at your posts and consider them nasty, hurtfull or cruel, I just look at them as blunt and direct.  Some people think you are a real SOB.  I think everything needs to have some balance and different viewpoints.

Yes, you are right, in the photo guy threads when Photoguy was told his gal was worse than trailer trash, a low classed shop girl not worth fooling with, that she was so ugly that someone would vomit at the thought of having to go to bed with her and I jumped in and supported him and defended him that sure does make me a smoke blowing idiot. 

Some people like to try to help people in a positive way.  Others like to make themselves feel like big shots by tearing other people down and gloating with false superiority.  I prefer to think your motives are good ones.

[Michelangelo]

Gee-- I missed all this discussion yesterday and am reading it today.  Wow-- all this argument of who said what and what they meant! :-)

But let's get real-while it is important for us to advise George about "IF" he can qualify for a K-1 based upon his income and assets, the BIG issues is--

Should George be even thinking about doing a K-1 with a girl he doesn't' even know that well?

My response is NO.  George, spend more time getting to know her. 

George, visit her in Russia.  Go to Crimea with her.  The K-1 is a fiancee visa, and I can't see from what you have posted thus far that you know each other well enough to get married...