Income Requirement

[eternalcompanion 3]

Hello everyone. I was bothered when i read the other day, May 2, that a Filipina was denied visa because of income requirement and her ready co-sponsor documents were not accepted. I tried to send her a mail asking her how much is the income or pension of her petitioner so at least I have an idea but she has no response. I am worried because my petitioner has only an 18,000 pension and we will be using a co-sponsor. I received some advise here to go on because hers was below the poverty guideline and used a co-sponsor and was approved. Others say my chances would be very slim and should take the spousal visa. We already filed our petition last April 30, 2012. Any advise is greatly appreciated.

[Anh map 2,098]

For the income requirements click the link in my signature below labeled: Current I-864P Poverty Guidelines.

Typically the Manila embassy has accepted joint sponsors that are close relatives of the K visa petitioner. In the past year or so, it's seemed that the embassy has been accepting more joint sponsors that are not immediate family members.

You should do more reading here in the Philippines regional forum to get a sense of what has been accepted recently.

[eternalcompanion 3]

For the income requirements click the link in my signature below labeled: Current I-864P Poverty Guidelines.

Typically the Manila embassy has accepted joint sponsors that are close relatives of the K visa petitioner. In the past year or so, it's seemed that the embassy has been accepting more joint sponsors that are not immediate family members.

You should do more reading here in the Philippines regional forum to get a sense of what has been accepted recently.

Yes, that is why i posted here. I wanted to hear from others who had gone thru with the same situation. Since my petitioner is already 67 years old, it would be difficult for him to find a regular job. He is on a part time job of driving but not enough to meet the income requirement of 23,800 which is 5,800 less of the 18,000 he is receiving as pension. I told him to try to look for a regular job until after our petition is granted. I will be helping him when i get there.

[Tahoma 2,291]

What is his total monthly income, including both his pension and his driving job?

[eternalcompanion 3]

What is his total monthly income, including both his pension and his driving job?

It varies because he is an "on call" driver. He sometime takes home 500, sometimes more sometime less than in a month. He works 2 times or 3 times in a week. Sometimes 8 hours but usually 4 to 5 hours. His pension is 1,500 a month. Our "would be" co-sponsor is a church member, not a relative or family who has 40,000 income.

[Tahoma 2,291]

He's very close to qualifying on his own. Maybe he can work a few more hours per week on his current job. Or, like you suggested, maybe he can get another job.

I doubt that the U.S. Embassy Manila would accept a joint sponsor in your case because of the petitioner's age and because the joint sponsor is not a close relative. Just my opinion...

[southcalhog 43]

He's very close to qualifying on his own. Maybe he can work a few more hours per week on his current job. Or, like you suggested, maybe he can get another job.

I doubt that the U.S. Embassy Manila would accept a joint sponsor in your case because of the petitioner's age and because the joint sponsor is not a close relative. Just my opinion...

I would have to agree with Tahoma.......

[eternalcompanion 3]

I would have to agree with Tahoma.......

Will his house as an asset be counted? What is the multiplier? Is it times 3 or times 5? He own a house in Florida fully paid which i asked him now to check the market value. And one house in Georgia still under amortization. But the market value of the house in Georgia is going down and is now less than on what he owed on it. The value is nose diving fast the past several years. Before its 120,000, then 79,000, then 65,000 last year and now 54,000. He owed 75,000.

[Hank_ 9,171]

I have to agree with Tacoma also, the Manila embassy is very funny about accepting a co-sponsor. Your fiance is very close, http://www.uscis.gov/files/form/i-864p.pdf You need $18,912 for two people, if his pension is $1,500 ... with that alone you are only $912 short, his part time job should be more then enough.

I think you are good to go.

[eternalcompanion 3]

I have to agree with Tacoma also, the Manila embassy is very funny about accepting a co-sponsor. Your fiance is very close, http://www.uscis.gov/files/form/i-864p.pdf You need $18,912 for two people, if his pension is $1,500 ... with that alone you are only $912 short, his part time job should be more then enough.

I think you are good to go.

Our initial plan is to bring my daughter with me who is 20 years old, an engineering graduate. I am a court stenographer by profession. Reason why we are trying to hit the 23,800 income requirement. Can we try to take chances of including my daughter and if in the interview it would not be possible, can i tell them to forego with her. Is that possible?

[Darnell 8,478]

there can be other assets, besides the house, such as a savings account, stocks, bonds, etc.

his asset on the house in florida is a good asset to use, IMO, because he has TWO houses and he can show that selling it would not be a hardship on his lifestyle (no house to live in) as he's got the house in Georgia.

Since it's his asset, the 1/3 rule applies in making up the difference on the amount he needs .

study the I-864 instructions, the VO at the IV unit will use the math outlined there in computing HIS I-134.

re: current market conditions/price - nope - he needs an appraisal from a licensed appraiser in Florida.

Good Luck !

[eternalcompanion 3]

there can be other assets, besides the house, such as a savings account, stocks, bonds, etc.

his asset on the house in florida is a good asset to use, IMO, because he has TWO houses and he can show that selling it would not be a hardship on his lifestyle (no house to live in) as he's got the house in Georgia.

Since it's his asset, the 1/3 rule applies in making up the difference on the amount he needs .

study the I-864 instructions, the VO at the IV unit will use the math outlined there in computing HIS I-134.

re: current market conditions/price - nope - he needs an appraisal from a licensed appraiser in Florida.

Good Luck !

The assessed market value in the Zillow listing is 29,000 but in the property tax for 2011 the assessed value is only 20,900. His house in Georgia is not yet paid and he has still a $75,000 balance and the assessed value is going down for this year, its 54,000, much lesser than what he owed

[Hank_ 9,171]

Our initial plan is to bring my daughter with me who is 20 years old, an engineering graduate. I am a court stenographer by profession. Reason why we are trying to hit the 23,800 income requirement. Can we try to take chances of including my daughter and if in the interview it would not be possible, can i tell them to forego with her. Is that possible?

The paid for house would probably be more than adequate, you need only to cover the difference between what he makes and what is required over 3 years (I think, not sure if it 3 or 5 years without looking it up). but I am pretty sure its 3 years so with the paid off house you should still be in excellent shape. To use the house you will need to get a certified appraisel.

Don't think I would delay with your daugther as once she turns 21 the rules change.

Edited May 6, 2012 by Hank_Amy

[Hank_ 9,171]

The assessed market value in the Zillow listing is 29,000 but in the property tax for 2011 the assessed value is only 20,900. His house in Georgia is not yet paid and he has still a $75,000 balance and the assessed value is going down for this year, its 54,000, much lesser than what he owed

assessed value is not market value, market value is normally higher (I was a real estate broker for over 30 years)

[Caryh 5,206]

assessed value is not market value, market value is normally higher (I was a real estate broker for over 30 years)

With the housing market lately, I've seen many times where the market value is below assessed value. At least where I live, the home prices have dropped so fast that the assessed value is constantly lagging behind leaving it higher. My current home is like that now. The plan is already in place to drop the assessed value by 14,000 next year, which just might be close to current market value, but by then I'm expecting a little more market drop.