Salutations to all,
I have a quandary.
I am an unemployed full time student, graduating in May of '08.
My personal income monthly is about $1600 per month (not including my fluctuating child-support which amounts to $1100 monthly when its consistent).
I have 2 co-sponsors lined up (my mother who lives instate and my uncle who lives out of state).
When using a co-sponsors income to meet the "income guidelines" are they referring to the income guidelines of the petitioners state of residency or the income guidelines of the co-sponsors state of residence?
[further information - my uncle lives in the "south" and he makes "well above" the poverty guidelines for "his" state of residency, but his income is "just above" the poverty guidelines for "my" state of residency.]
Oh, another thing, I also receive financial aid disbursements, do I use that as a source of income as well and if so, do I go to the F.A. office at my school and request my tuition reward letter to submit?
Any and all constructive comments are welcome.
I thank you in advance.

Hi,
I don't think I can answer all the questions, because of the financial aid from your school. However, you filed your taxes for last year and the income you stated there is only part of the equation. I am not clear if you can use child-support as income. Just be careful what you list in case you have to justify it to the IRS later on. The income guidelines that they use are the Federal Guidelines. The new guidelines should be out in early Spring for next year, so you may be using the one for 2007 or 2008


2007 HHS Poverty Guidelines
Persons
in Family or Household 48 Contiguous
States and D.C. Alaska Hawaii
1 $10,210 $12,770 $11,750
2 13,690 17,120 15,750
3 17,170 21,470 19,750
4 20,650 25,820 23,750
5 24,130 30,170 27,750
6 27,610 34,520 31,750
7 31,090 38,870 35,750
8 34,570 43,220 39,750
For each additional
person, add 3,480 4,350 4,000

SOURCE: Federal Register, Vol. 72, No. 15, January 24, 2007, pp. 3147–3148



Here is a link on VJ that explains the income guidelines further : http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.ph...mp;page=support

I do not file income taxes. I am unemployed. My mother and uncle file taxes. My income is non-taxable.

When looking at the income guidelines there are just 3 areas, the 48 contiguous states, Alaska and Hawaii; it does not go state by state. Here are the 2007 poverty guidelines: http://travel.state.gov/visa/immigrants/info/info_1327.html

I am not sure about financial aid and how that all fits into the income equation.




Just FYI, you also have to fill out an I-134 even if you are unemployed.

Thanks, I guess I'll keep looking for clarification concerning the F.A. aspects.

Are your financial aid awards grants? If they are loans, you can't use them at all. If they are grants, are there restrictions on them, like you have to use them for educational purposes? If so, then you can't use those either. If it's money that you use as personal income to care for yourself and your family, then you can use it.

The poverty guidelines are not the state guidelines, is the DOS guidelines that are issued annually. Zee posted the link for you. You should aim for 125% so that you have what you need for AOS later on. It would be the number of people in your family, including your SO, plus the co-sponsor's family. You all have to complete affidavits of support even if you are unemployed.

Good looking out Zee .