Co-Sponsor & 2009 Poverty Lines

[GJen 9]

I thought I read somewhere that it was 10%. Is this correct? I'm not sure if that's right, but would that mean:

my income + X% of co-sponsor's income will need to add up to being 125% over the poverty line?

Also, I'm having some trouble finding the 2009 Poverty Line list. Has it not been published it yet?

Thanks!!~Jen(USC)

[Jasman0717 9]

Their income must be 125% of the poverty level counting all dependants including the petitioner and beneficiary

[Old Dominion 26]

I thought I read somewhere that it was 10%. Is this correct? I'm not sure if that's right, but would that mean:

my income + X% of co-sponsor's income will need to add up to being 125% over the poverty line?

Also, I'm having some trouble finding the 2009 Poverty Line list. Has it not been published it yet?

Thanks!!~Jen(USC)

It will be published in March. A co-sponsor's income must meet the poverty guidelines for the two of you plus those in the co-sponsor's household.

[GJen 9]

Their income must be 125% of the poverty level counting all dependants including the petitioner and beneficiary

So what part does my income play in all of this?

[Sinergy 3]

all of it

[Anh map 2,098]

http://aspe.hhs.gov/poverty/09poverty.shtml

Here is the 2009 Poverty Guideline from US Health and Human Services website. 125% is $18,212.00

Edited February 8, 2009 by Anh map

[GJen 9]

all of it

That doesn't quite answer my question. Someone is telling me that my co-sponsor's income will need to meet 125% of the poverty line for himself, any of his dependants, myself, and my fiance. I see one thing missing here- my income. Which is why I asked what part my income plays in all of that.

Edited February 8, 2009 by GJen

[GJen 9]

http://aspe.hhs.gov/poverty/09poverty.shtml

Here is the 2009 Poverty Guideline from US Health and Human Services website. 125% is $18,212.00

Thanks! I thought before I had a link that listed 100%, 110%, 125% for all different numbers of households.. I can't remember where, though.

[Anh map 2,098]

Take the time and read the I-864 form instructions. They explain it very clearly.

http://www.uscis.gov/files/form/I-864.pdf

Quoting from the form instructions:

If your income alone is not sufficient to meet the requirementfor your household size, the intending immigrant will beineligible for an immigrant visa or adjustment of status, unlessthe requirement can be met using any combination of thefollowing:

Income from any relatives or dependents living in yourhousehold or dependents listed on your most recent Federaltax return who signed a Form I-864A;

Income from the intending immigrant, if that income willcontinue from the same source after immigration, and if theintending immigrant is currently living in your residence. Ifthe intending immigrant is your spouse, his or her incomecan be counted regardless of current residence, but it mustcontinue from the same source after he or she becomes a lawful permanent resident.

The value of your assets, the assets of any householdmember who has signed a Form I-864A, or the assets of theintending immigrant;

A joint sponsor whose income and/or assets equal at least125 percent of the Poverty Guidelines. See question belowfor more information on joint sponsors.

[dimanuni 1]

Forget where I read this, but

"The co-sponsor must have sufficient income on his/her own to qualify under the poverty guidelines, regardless of the petitioner's income. The co-sponsor must also be a US Citizen and at least 21 years old."

So in order for a co-sponsor to be legitimate, your income doesn't count. So I guess conceivably, you might be $1 shy of the 125% of poverty guideline (which for household of 2 is around $18,250), and still your co-sponsor would need to completely meet the 125% of poverty guideline for a household of THREE (you, your fiance, and the co-sponsor, plus maybe everyone else in the household).

Does that help?

[GJen 9]

Forget where I read this, but

"The co-sponsor must have sufficient income on his/her own to qualify under the poverty guidelines, regardless of the petitioner's income. The co-sponsor must also be a US Citizen and at least 21 years old."

So in order for a co-sponsor to be legitimate, your income doesn't count. So I guess conceivably, you might be $1 shy of the 125% of poverty guideline (which for household of 2 is around $18,250), and still your co-sponsor would need to completely meet the 125% of poverty guideline for a household of THREE (you, your fiance, and the co-sponsor, plus maybe everyone else in the household).

Does that help?

Very much! Thank you!

[lostinblue 1,989]

http://www.amazon.com/Fiance-Marriage-Visa...0163&sr=1-1

I have this book. It is very good overall. This is very clear in chapter 3 meeting income requirements

If your spouse cannot meet the financial minimum on his own the first step is to see if another member of the household is willing to include their income. (household member)or dependent. or joint filer.

One nice thing about using a household member's income is that it only has to be enough to make up the SHORTFALL in the main sponsors income .

Independent joint sponsor......Unlike household joint sponsors,joint sponsors from outside the household will need to make enough to cover the entire poverty guidelines minimum requirementsfor their own household and for the intending immigrants.. A joint sponsor cannot simply make up the main sponsors shortfall.

I think this was written so maybe parents who immigrate to the US can using a combined income maybe low wage can still manage to bring the children over.

[pushbrk 13,642]

all of it

That doesn't quite answer my question. Someone is telling me that my co-sponsor's income will need to meet 125% of the poverty line for himself, any of his dependants, myself, and my fiance. I see one thing missing here- my income. Which is why I asked what part my income plays in all of that.

That's right exept the petitioner doesn't count in the co-sponsor's household size unless they are actually a dependent of the co-sponsor. For K visas there is no combining of incomes or assets at the visa stage. The story changes for adjustment of status but only if the petitioner and joint sponsor are part of the same household.