Poverty Guideline for co-sponsor

[Ladylethal 12]

Ok, my father-in-law is co-sponsoring me. When looking at the poverty guidelines, it says the sponsor must be within the 125% of the poverty guideline. When they give the household size, for us to check what minimum income our sponsor must be, is the fiancee included? Or just HIS household before sponsoring?

[yassmine2878 1]

I think it's with the fiance(e) included. Im not exactly certain about the co-sponsor guidlines (so someone please speak up if I am wrong). But the poverty level the sponsor has to exceed is for however many people he/she has to support once you guys get married. Hope that wasn't too confusing, Im having a big fat Monday!

[TracyTN 237]

I think it's with the fiance(e) included. Im not exactly certain about the co-sponsor guidlines (so someone please speak up if I am wrong). But the poverty level the sponsor has to exceed is for however many people he/she has to support once you guys get married. Hope that wasn't too confusing, Im having a big fat Monday!

That's my understanding as well.

[mrswooten4ever 0]

Yup that's how I interpreted it too

Adele

[rebeccajo 14]

It will include all those dependants declared on the sponsor's tax return plus the beneficiary. It doesn't include the petitioner.

[Priscila and Christopher 0]

That's it... But just in another words:

Your co-sponsor must follow the poverty guidelines in the following way: Example: If he has a family with three members to support (counting him), he must do 125% of the poverty guideline for a family with 4 people!If his family has 2 members, he must do 125% of the poverty guideline for 3 people... And so on...

Hope it helped!

[silverbutterfly228 0]

That's it... But just in another words:

Your co-sponsor must follow the poverty guidelines in the following way: Example: If he has a family with three members to support (counting him), he must do 125% of the poverty guideline for a family with 4 people!If his family has 2 members, he must do 125% of the poverty guideline for 3 people... And so on...

Hope it helped!

This confused me a bit. So if his family has two people you have to do 125% of poverty line for THREE people because you would than include yourself, the fiance, as that other person right? So three total people for 125% for three people? right?

It's just me and my fiance so our family is 2 and 2 is about $16500 based on 125% of poverty line. i think....

[Priscila and Christopher 0]

That's it... But just in another words:

Your co-sponsor must follow the poverty guidelines in the following way: Example: If he has a family with three members to support (counting him), he must do 125% of the poverty guideline for a family with 4 people!If his family has 2 members, he must do 125% of the poverty guideline for 3 people... And so on...

Hope it helped!

This confused me a bit. So if his family has two people you have to do 125% of poverty line for THREE people because you would than include yourself, the fiance, as that other person right? So three total people for 125% for three people? right?

It's just me and my fiance so our family is 2 and 2 is about $16500 based on 125% of poverty line. i think....

Hummm... In this case, it's considered the CO-SPONSOR family, not you and your fiance! Your co-sponsor must do 125% of the poverty guideline for those ones that he supports (including himself) PLUS the beneficiary of the petition. So, one person more!

In my case, my father-in-law lives alone and supports only himself... So, he'll need to do 125% of the poverty guideline for two people! It would be to himself and ME (the beneficiary)...

Got me, dear!?

[Ladylethal 12]

Right. Would it be a problem that we´re right on top of the minimum? I mean, my co-sponsor makes US$34,000 a year, and he´s father of 3. With me he needs to support 6 people, and this year´s guide for 6 is 33,500. Would that be ok?

[TracyTN 237]

Unfortunately, only the officer reviewing the case at the interview can give you a definite yes or no answer.

All you can do is the best you can do and hope it goes in your favor.

[Priscila and Christopher 0]

I don't think you would have problems, but just make yourself sure that your father-in-law does this $ 33,500 amount taking into consideration all the taxes or else, in the day of the interview, they could ask you to find another co-sponsor, and you'd have to schedule a new interview, as happened to a friend of mine at Rio Consulate!

[Ladylethal 12]

What do you mean? 33,500 must be after paying all taxes?

And one more time just to be sure, is it 100% impossible to use my father as a co-sponsor? 'Cus the Embassy site says if you can't provide proof of your own you should have your fiance do it. So I can't use my father and say that he's gonna be supporting me in US?

Edited May 2, 2006 by Luis&Laura

[TracyTN 237]

I think the cosponsor has to be a US citizen. Though I would mention on your fiance's I 134 that your father will also be contributing to your support - can't hurt!

[Ladylethal 12]

Now I am getting scared of this Affidavit, 'cus first Luis said his father made at least 40,000 a year, so I wasn't worried at all, but yesterday he said it's actually 34,000, so we're barely above the guideline, and now with myself having to be included, and taxes, and I don't know what else I am getting nervous that we'll be told to have another co-sponsor, and I have no idea who we could get.

Should K-1 fiance(e) visa applicants use the I-864 or the I-134?

Since fiance(e)s are nonimmigrant visa applicants, they should use the I-134. They will need to submit an I-864 to BCIS when they adjust status to conditional immigrant in the United States after they are married.

Do the same income requirements apply to all immigrant visa applicants even if they use the I-134?

No. The 125 percent minimum income requirement, the need for the last three years income tax returns and other requirements only apply when an I-864 is needed. Applicants using the I-134 will need to show that their sponsor's income is 100 percent of federal poverty guidelines as required under Section 212(a)(4) of the INA.

Is this applied to our K1 cases?

Edited May 2, 2006 by Luis&Laura

[TracyTN 237]

To my understanding, yes. The 125% is enforced for the I 864, but is more a 'rule of thumb' for the I 134, and a guideline for CO's to use.

But, that said, you'd still want to be in the ballpark, as you will need the same amount in the few months after receiving the K1 - so why not get your ducks in a row in advance?