Does it matter where co-sponsor lives?

[sparkles_ 456]

I have a quick question. My prospective co-sponsor is moving to Hawaii this summer, they are in the military. I am currently living in NC and have no plans on moving anything soon.

I know poverty guideline amounts. I am lost about the location issue. Since I am the primary sponsor, we won't have to meet Hawaii levels just for having a co-sponsor in Hawaii will we??

[pushbrk 12,103]

Yes, if you are using a joint sponsor, their income must meet the guidelines where they currently reside.

[sparkles_ 456]

Yes, if you are using a joint sponsor, their income must meet the guidelines where they currently reside.

So their income must meet Hawaii levels for all of us, correct? Or just the joint sponsor themselves? Sorry if this is obvious but I'm just not computing.

[Penguin_ie 5,984]

Their income must meet Hawaiian guidelines for their own household plus the immigrant. You as the US petitioner are not counted in their household.

[pushbrk 12,103]

Correct.

[sparkles_ 456]

Their income must meet Hawaiian guidelines for their own household plus the immigrant. You as the US petitioner are not counted in their household.

OK, that is not an issue. I have been having so much trouble understanding the I134 and I864's concept of household when it concerns a co or joint sponsor. Can you tell me then, the co sponsor basically just needs to show income levels for 2? The co sponsor person is single, plus the immigrant.

I assumed we would have to show Hawaiian levels for a household consisting of 5 of us; me, immigrant, 2 USC kids, and co-sponsor living in Hawaii.

I am so lost now. So I omit myself from all of this? How many people are we really needing to meet the level for?? Is the co sponsor only standing in to meet the level for the immigrant not the USC family? I recall seeing on here something like that. What is the difference between joint and co sponsorship exactly?

(I am so sorry for being this ignorant, I just want my facts straight in my brain)

Edited April 13, 2014 by beccabecca

[pushbrk 12,103]

OK, that is not an issue. I have been having so much trouble understanding the I134 and I864's concept of household when it concerns a co or joint sponsor. Can you tell me then, the co sponsor basically just needs to show income levels for 2? The co sponsor person is single, plus the immigrant.

I assumed we would have to show Hawaiian levels for all 5 of us; me, immigrant, 2 USC kids, and co-sponsor.

I am so lost now. So I omit myself from all of this? How many people are we really needing to meet the level for?? Is the co sponsor only standing in to meet the level for the immigrant not the USC family? I recall seeing on here something like that.

(I am so sorry for being this ignorant, I just want my facts straight in my brain)

Even though your profile says you filed for "other", since you are posting in an immigrant visa forum, I'm presuming it's an immigrant visa for a spouse, that you seek. If so, forget the I-134. It doesn't apply. Start by actually studying the I-864 instructions and the affidavit itself.

Intending immigrants are "sponsored". If there's just one immigrant, you, the petitioner, count the immigrant, yourself any of your children under 21 who are unmarried and anybody you have sponsored in your past, in YOUR household size, on YOUR I-864. Your qualified "joint sponsor" counts their own family size, then adds your spouse/intending immigrant. So, if the joint sponsor is single with no children and has never sponsored an immigrant before, their household is two.

US Citizens don't immigrate to the USA, so are not "sponsored".

[sparkles_ 456]

Even though your profile says you filed for "other", since you are posting in an immigrant visa forum, I'm presuming it's an immigrant visa for a spouse, that you seek. If so, forget the I-134. It doesn't apply. Start by actually studying the I-864 instructions and the affidavit itself.

Intending immigrants are "sponsored". If there's just one immigrant, you, the petitioner, count the immigrant, yourself any of your children under 21 who are unmarried and anybody you have sponsored in your past, in YOUR household size, on YOUR I-864. Your qualified "joint sponsor" counts their own family size, then adds your spouse/intending immigrant. So, if the joint sponsor is single with no children and has never sponsored an immigrant before, their household is two.

US Citizens don't immigrate to the USA, so are not "sponsored".

So the immigrant will be counted twice? Once in each household.

I am basically asking this. I will not make enough til after graduation to touch my family size poverty level. Should I be looking for my joint sponsor to make enough for 2, or enough for 5 (all of us)? I am aware I am sounding highly stupid at the moment but trust me I have looked at those instructions and this one thing I can't get my head around. I don't want some horrible surprise by my joint sponsor maybe not making enough for a household size of 5.

I get USCs don't need sponsorship but I believe we must show that we at least meet poverty guidelines for ourselves or have the joint sponsor cover us as well, correct?

[pushbrk 12,103]

Yes, the immigrant is counted in both households. There will two affidavits, one from you counting your household and one from the joint sponsor counting their household of 1, plus the intending immigrant. The joint sponsor is not agreeing to support or sponsor your family, only your spouse.

[sparkles_ 456]

Yes, the immigrant is counted in both households. There will two affidavits, one from you counting your household and one from the joint sponsor counting their household of 1, plus the intending immigrant. The joint sponsor is not agreeing to support or sponsor your family, only your spouse.

100x thank-you, I suppose I need stuff in plain terms like this. Much nicer to hear my joint sponsor will only have to meet levels for 2 versus 5....*sigh of relief*