What about a joint sponsor? (merged threads)

[FutureMrs 1]

I was going to sponsor my boyfriend (will be engaged in just under two weeks! So excited!). Well, we will be married September 30, so we are going for the spousal visa. Anyway, it looks like I need a joint sponsor.

Because this is new news to me that I will need one, because I don't have enough assets and whatnot, will you all help me figure out what to tell the prospective sponsor? He is a very, very good friend and wants to know all of the risks, what paperwork to fill out, what to expect, etc.

Thank you.

Crying my eyes out tonight wondering if it's all going to happen He is in England right now sleeping and I am in America wide awake

[AlexandraDiana 4]

Look for the form I-864 joint sponsor and they will explain what are the risks and responsibilities of being/ as a sponsor.

[Ash.1101 1,755]

Tbqh, in my case my fiance is coming in with a good amount of money saved up, so when I asked my mom to co-sponsor, I basically told her that the paperwork itself are means to an end and formality. Basically I just need to prove that between myself and my co-sponsor (my mom) that we make income wise, above the minimum requirement. That while we will never ask for any money from her, she would be held legally responsible if my fiance wanted to try to get on government assistance or ran into financial trouble. I assure her this won't happen, but it's all formality and paperwork.

She has to fill out this paper (in your case I-864) that asks her about her financial state, past three years of W2's, bank statement and employer statement saying how long she's worked there and her projected yearly salary.

I def would ask someone to co-sponsor if they make enough and have a stable job. There are a couple of people I could have asked to co-sponsor but didn't due to the shakeyness of their current job.

Edited May 22, 2015 by ash1101

[iamnobody 0]

I hope this helps:

"A joint sponsor is someone who is willing to accept legal responsibility for supporting your family member with you. A joint sponsor must meet all the same requirements as you, except the joint sponsor does not need to be related to the immigrant. The joint sponsor (or the joint sponsor and his or her household) must reach the 125% requirement alone. You cannot combine your income with that of a joint sponsor to meet the income requirement."

Also this is USCIS site: http://www.uscis.gov/green-card/green-card-processes-and-procedures/affidavit-support

[Ash.1101 1,755]

I hope this helps:

"A joint sponsor is someone who is willing to accept legal responsibility for supporting your family member with you. A joint sponsor must meet all the same requirements as you, except the joint sponsor does not need to be related to the immigrant. The joint sponsor (or the joint sponsor and his or her household) must reach the 125% requirement alone. You cannot combine your income with that of a joint sponsor to meet the income requirement."

Also this is USCIS site: http://www.uscis.gov/green-card/green-card-processes-and-procedures/affidavit-support

Welll looks like I was wrong and guess I have to prepare for that myself! Thanks for the info!

[iamnobody 0]

You are welcome. Congratulation on your coming marriage!

[FutureMrs 1]

Thank you for your answers.

Can someone white out for me the steps? I thought that the I864 had to be submitted at once, not at the end when he has his interview in London. Am I wrong on this? I'm a little confused on this point.

What is the first form that I filled out in the first place? And does the joint sponsor also fill out the exact same form? I think it is the CR-1.

[FutureMrs 1]

I was reading the I864 form and it said something about if the joint sponsor using another person within their household Their income, too. Can a joint sponsor do that?

For instance, let's say Mary and Joe live together and Mary wanted to sponsor my husband (I mean after we are married), but Mary doesn't meet the income requirement completely She is lacking $2,000 per year income. Could her husband, Joe, be included on the income part to meet it?

[FutureMrs 1]

Also, does anyone know if it helps more to have two sponsors?

In other words, if I have two friends who would like to sponsor my husband, would it look better to have that?

I do thank you all for your answers It's hard to understand the joint sponsor stuff. I pretty much have most of the other things down. It's just that the joint sponsor stuff is new to me. It wasn't even on the table to be talked about in the first place. Now it's a necessity.

[NikLR 13,220]

Also, does anyone know if it helps more to have two sponsors?

In other words, if I have two friends who would like to sponsor my husband, would it look better to have that?

I do thank you all for your answers It's hard to understand the joint sponsor stuff. I pretty much have most of the other things down. It's just that the joint sponsor stuff is new to me. It wasn't even on the table to be talked about in the first place. Now it's a necessity.

Not for this visa type, no.

I was reading the I864 form and it said something about if the joint sponsor using another person within their household Their income, too. Can a joint sponsor do that?

For instance, let's say Mary and Joe live together and Mary wanted to sponsor my husband (I mean after we are married), but Mary doesn't meet the income requirement completely She is lacking $2,000 per year income. Could her husband, Joe, be included on the income part to meet it?

yes that works. He is a household member to Mary and submits an I-864a with her I-864

[FutureMrs 1]

This is fantastic news that both Joe and Mary can include both of their incomes to meet the minimum! That's exactly the position I think I am in.

One person told me that assets have to be used I kept saying that no, the paperwork shows that for a joint sponsor, assets do not have to be included. They can, but not have to.

I'm still a little unsure of how much more the joint sponsor has to do. I know they both fill out the I 864 form, (well, the main sponsor the I-864 and then the husband that I-864a), send in a photo of themselves, three year's of tax returns, but after that, is there anything else they have to fill out later on down the road?

Because I don't live next to Joe and Mary, and they are in another state, is that problematic?

Because these are friends of mine and not family members, is that a problem at all?

Oh also, let's say Mary's income does not the entire 125% of poverty line and so Joe has to show his also. Okay, the other problem with Mary is that she doesn't have three years of tax returns. She has only two years. Why? Because one of the years she didn't work. She was laid off at her job because of a mass layoff. So, she collected unemployment for a time. If there's not three years back of taxes that's a problem, right? Because she was not employed.

Same with Joe. When he fills out that I864A, he and Mary had to move and during that time there was unemployment for him for a little bit because he was getting his family established in another state and so the three year's tax returns don't reflect all three years at one job. It shows two and half years of work and six months of unemployment because of the move.

Do all of the tax returns have to show the minimum income amount or is it only current income? Like let's say on the tax returns, neither one of them add up together as the 125% but are low of about $3000 on the tax returns. Or is the government only looking that they were actually employed?

Thank you so much! I have to get all of these answers to my possible joint sponsor very soon.

[NikLR 13,220]

This is fantastic news that both Joe and Mary can include both of their incomes to meet the minimum! That's exactly the position I think I am in.

One person told me that assets have to be used I kept saying that no, the paperwork shows that for a joint sponsor, assets do not have to be included. They can, but not have to.

I'm still a little unsure of how much more the joint sponsor has to do. I know they both fill out the I 864 form, (well, the main sponsor the I-864 and then the husband that I-864a), send in a photo of themselves, three year's of tax returns, but after that, is there anything else they have to fill out later on down the road?

Because I don't live next to Joe and Mary, and they are in another state, is that problematic?

Because these are friends of mine and not family members, is that a problem at all?

Oh also, let's say Mary's income does not the entire 125% of poverty line and so Joe has to show his also. Okay, the other problem with Mary is that she doesn't have three years of tax returns. She has only two years. Why? Because one of the years she didn't work. She was laid off at her job because of a mass layoff. So, she collected unemployment for a time. If there's not three years back of taxes that's a problem, right? Because she was not employed.

Same with Joe. When he fills out that I864A, he and Mary had to move and during that time there was unemployment for him for a little bit because he was getting his family established in another state and so the three year's tax returns don't reflect all three years at one job. It shows two and half years of work and six months of unemployment because of the move.

Do all of the tax returns have to show the minimum income amount or is it only current income? Like let's say on the tax returns, neither one of them add up together as the 125% but are low of about $3000 on the tax returns. Or is the government only looking that they were actually employed?

Thank you so much! I have to get all of these answers to my possible joint sponsor very soon.

1) They don't need a photo. The person who is the joint sponsor (generally the one who makes more money) signs a completed I-864. The household member signs a completed I-864a. They both include proof of current, ongoing income that meets or exceeds the poverty guidelines for their household size plus the immigrant, at least 2014 tax return or tax return transcript (preferred) and proof of their LPR or USC status. The joint return should show they are household members. They can include 2013 and 2012 taxes if they choose but 2014 is all that is required. Their household size, if they have zero children, will be 3. (husband, wife, and immigrant.)

2) a joint sponsor can be ANY USC or LPR domiciled in the USA. They do not have to be family, or friends, or live in the same state.

[FutureMrs 1]

Very quick question and then I will respond to everything else...

Joe makes $5,000 less than the 125%.

Mary makes also $5,000 less than the 125%.

I'm in the Visa Journey Facebook group and was told Joe and Mary have to have the 125% each ???

What I was told tonight:

"your sponsor has to meet the 125% income requirement all on their own - it can't be combined with anyone else' income."

Also told,

"The sponsor has to show they meet the income criteria for his family and the person who is being sponsored. If he and his wife file tax returns together, she'll be included in the family count. There is no way around this."

[NikLR 13,220]

Very quick question and then I will respond to everything else...

Joe makes $5,000 less than the 125%.

Mary makes also $5,000 less than the 125%.

I'm in the Visa Journey Facebook group and was told Joe and Mary have to have the 125% each ???

What I was told tonight:

"your sponsor has to meet the 125% income requirement all on their own - it can't be combined with anyone else' income."

Also told,

"The sponsor has to show they meet the income criteria for his family and the person who is being sponsored. If he and his wife file tax returns together, she'll be included in the family count. There is no way around this."

The correct part is that they do have to show for their family size. The incorrect part is that they cannot combine incomes together. They're married. They likely file their taxes jointly. They SHOULD combine their incomes. Their HOUSEHOLD income, when combined, needs to meet or exceed the guideline for their household PLUS the immigrant.

Mary = $15000

Joe = $15000

Together = $30000

If they have no children, before the immigrant, their household size is 2. Plus the immigrant = 3.

Currently for a household of 3, they need to make $25,112. So they make enough TOGETHER for Mary to joint sponsor your spouse and Joe to be her household member combining his income with hers.

If they were not married or related, they could not combine their income in this manner. But because you said they were married, they can.

[FutureMrs 1]

Ok, thank you.

They make enough together to meet the 125% minimum.

No assets necessary so they don't have to put them down, right? They own a house, a second and third car, etc. but they don't have to put them down if they meet the 125% from what I understand.

It is a husband, wife, and for children. So, on the 125% minimum, that shows as $45,912. They definitely make that per year.

Husband would be the main joint sponsor and the wife would fill out the I- 864A.

I know you said before that they don't need to show three years back in taxes, but when I went to the form shows three years back. Are you absolutely sure only one year back in taxes needs to be shown?

Also, do they have to show $45,912 for 2014 taxes? Or is that only current? What if their taxes show that they only made $30,000 last year? Is the government just looking to see that they actually worked last year or for the 45,912 last year also?