Visa and privacy?

[BIG E]

In reading an attorneys website, it says that the State Dept does a credit check on you and having excess debt, bankruptcy, or bad credit can cause the application for a fiance visa to be declined. WTF..AGAIN... what do money and credit have to do with love? Has anyone else heard this?

Then again, it could be a ploy for the lawyer to get money from someone.

Not much difference between a lawyer and a liar. -Abe Lincoln-

[Charlie640]

This makes perfect sense to me. Governments don't give a crap about your love life, nor should they. . As usual it boils down to $$$$. If a person can't handle his own finances how is he going to be able to handle them when he has another mouth to feed and cloth? I also think when you file for a visa for a woman ,that if need be, you will support this person and that this person will not become a charge on the state or seek welfare. The government does not want to be responsible for your mistakes and be stuck supporting the person you brought into the country via "public assistance" .

[Jook]

I researched this area quite a bit because I'm one of those persons who "can't handle his own finances." I filed bankruptcy a year ago. I'm not gonna go into details, but it was as a result of my restaurant going kaput. My fiance visa sources tell me that no credit check is done and I have no need for concern about the bankruptcy. In any event, my credit rating is making a quick recovery and my FICO score is close to average.

[BIG E]

Originally Posted by Charlie640

This makes perfect sense to me. Governments don't give a crap about your love life, nor should they. . As usual it boils down to $$$$. If a person can't handle his own finances how is he going to be able to handle them when he has another mouth to feed and cloth? I also think when you file for a visa for a woman ,that if need be, you will support this person and that this person will not become a charge on the state or seek welfare. The government does not want to be responsible for your mistakes and be stuck supporting the person you brought into the country via "public assistance" .

I understand that concept, however, I was curious as to the truth and called USCIS. They said that is false and wanted to name of the lawyer that had it posted on his website. The woman at USCIS said to get the complete truth to call the state department. She even gave me a number. When I want the answer, I stop at nothing to get it! So... I called them. They said that was 100% false. They also wanted to name of the lawyer. They care about domestic violence, felonys, and the proof of support, and a few other items that have nothing to do with credit scores.

Lawyers, for the most part, are idiots with a graduate degree and are some of the most dishonest people there are. This is the reason I did the first Visa on my own. It does NOT take a lawyer to fill out those papers. If you can follow directions, you can fill out those papers.

Im a firm believer in privacy, and I believe that governments get to involved in areas that they have no business.

[BIG E]

Originally Posted by Jook

I researched this area quite a bit because I'm one of those persons who "can't handle his own finances." I filed bankruptcy a year ago. I'm not gonna go into details, but it was as a result of my restaurant going kaput. My fiance visa sources tell me that no credit check is done and I have no need for concern about the bankruptcy. In any event, my credit rating is making a quick recovery and my FICO score is close to average.

Well, this afternoon I called a couple local immigration lawyers and they laughed at the question. They said it was simply not true. A couple immigration lawers websites, have listed under the section "Why use an immigration lawyer" high credit card debt and bankruptcy as a reason to use a lawyer. Typical crook... as MOST lawyers are... its a scam. Scare someone into paying for their service. What a load of crap....

[HonkyTonk]

The best people to ask about up to date info are those who have recently filed for a fiancee visa, and not the underlings at some Gov't office that might not know their ass from a hole in the ground.

I'm not saying they're giving you bad info, but if you knew the bull**** a friend of mine went thru, you'd understand. Get the facts from someone who recently did it.

PD: Why don't you post the name of that Immigration Lawyer on the Board?

[BIG E]

Originally Posted by HonkyTonk

The best people to ask about up to date info are those who have recently filed for a fiancee visa, and not the underlings at some Gov't office that might not know their ass from a hole in the ground.

I'm not saying they're giving you bad info, but if you knew the bull**** a friend of mine went thru, you'd understand. Get the facts from someone who recently did it.

PD: Why don't you post the name of that Immigration Lawyer on the Board?

Well, after looking at Gary Bala's, his site says the same thing. He uses it as a selling point. BUT... a good friend of mine brought his fiance here recently... he is bankrupt, and is in $50k credit card debt again... for the second time. His wages are garnished. So... it cant be true.

Refer to http://www.garybala.com/

It states:

SOME PEOPLE WHO SHOULD CONSIDER
USING AN IMMIGRATION LAWYER BECAUSE
OF POTENTIAL PROBLEMS IN CASE PROCESSING

*Petitioners and Visa Applicants who have Past or Present Criminal, Legal, Financial or Marital Problems: Criminal Histories, Lawsuit or Legal Problems, Past Domestic Violence or Sexual Harassment Issues, Medical Problems, Past Bankruptcies or Substantial Debt, or Extensive Marital and Divorce Histories, or Legal Issues concerning Father's Permission to Allow Lady Applicant's Minor Children to Use Visas to Exit the Country;
*People with Income Issues: Low or Uneven Income, typically Retired Persons, or Self-Employed Workers with extensive deductions which reduce qualifying income;
*People with Inconsistent or No Employment
*People with Tax Issues and Problems
*People with Past or Present Immigration Issues: Previous Visa and Immigration Histories or Current Difficulties, including lady visa applicants with extensive past travel in the U.S., or with relatives in the U.S. without immigration status;
*People who Prefer to Avoid Mistakes, Problems, Delays, Worries, and simply don't have abundant extra time, natural expertise or learning passion for the immigration process, and would prefer attorney assistance and can afford the fees.

[Charlie640]

Lawyering is all about words and semantics.
Gary uses the word "potential" problems.
In other words a .000001 % chance of it actually
happening can be considered a potential problem.

[BIG E]

Originally Posted by Charlie640

Lawyering is all about words and semantics.
Gary uses the word "potential" problems.
In other words a .000001 % chance of it actually
happening can be considered a potential problem.

But, according to the US State Department, it isnt true. Even using the word "potential" means its a possibility. According to everyone I have spoken with personally, it is not even a potential problem.

[HonkyTonk]

I'll take a SWAG at it; Scientific Wild Ass Guess. Bet Bala could give you at least one case where it caused a problem.

Azjet, I'm assuming you talked to the top brass at the USCIS. I can't remember the term where someone is always promoted to one level past their level of competency.

I CMA'd on that one; Covered My Ass. That means that whoever you talked to was one level past their level of competency