UCS income....

[Lara86 0]

My husband does not make much money and he wants to sponsor me - I am in Australia and I make a good salary, and can work in America once I get my green card - how will we show this to the US gov't to advise them that I will not be a burden :S I have a degree and I am specialised in my field... will this help with my case?

[NikLR 13,232]

Unless you have assets you can share, there is nothing you can do to help with the AOS. If he doesn't make the required amount and doesn't have the assets, then he'll need a co-sponsor. It sucks that they're so tough on this, but it's also understandable. Also your degree in Austrailia may get you the kind of job there that you have now, or employers may not care about it at all.

[amykathleen2005 441]

Just because you have a degree doesn't mean you will easily get a job. Many people have degrees and no job, or being way underpaid for their qualifications.

[Lara86 0]

Unless you have assets you can share, there is nothing you can do to help with the AOS. If he doesn't make the required amount and doesn't have the assets, then he'll need a co-sponsor. It sucks that they're so tough on this, but it's also understandable. Also your degree in Austrailia may get you the kind of job there that you have now, or employers may not care about it at all.

Oh, what is the minimum income?

[Penguin_ie 5,997]

How many in your household? Ie do either of you have any kids, did he previously sponsor?

[Khal_Drogo 50]

Here are the minimum povery guidelines for 2013: http://aspe.hhs.gov/poverty/13poverty.cfm

He must make 125% of the poverty threshold income, unless your spouse is in the U.S. military, in which case it's 100%.

If it is just you and him, and he is a civilian, he must be making at least $19,387.50 a year to sponsor you on his own.

If he is in the military, he must be making $15,510 a year to sponsor you on his own (although even an E-1 with less than four months of service makes $16,836 a year with a raise after, of course, four months).

If you have kids, go to the table, add together the total members of your family, find which income level corresponds with that number, and multiply it by 125% (if civilian), and you'll have what he needs to be making to ensure a clean AoS.

You won't be able to convince the government that you won't be a burden on them no matter what you say; it's like a complete stranger knocking on your door and saying, "Can I move into your guest room, I promise I won't be a burden!" Unless you got a roommate who can say, "Hey, no worries, I know this guy, I can vouch for him," you probably ain't gonna let him past the door.

[Lara86 0]

How many in your household? Ie do either of you have any kids, did he previously sponsor?

there will only be two of us

[NikLR 13,232]

The USCIS doesn't have new guidelines posted yet on their website but the other posted works for this as well. Its really not much, an $11/hr job generally makes the cut. :-)

[Khal_Drogo 50]

there will only be two of us

Then he will need to be making at a minimum $19,387.50 per year to sponsor you, or $15,510 if he is in the military.

As long as he meets that requirement, you should be fine.

[Lara86 0]

Then he will need to be making at a minimum $19,387.50 per year to sponsor you, or $15,510 if he is in the military.

As long as he meets that requirement, you should be fine.

Oh awesome - i have enough savings to meet that requirement as it is. Excellent. Thank you!

[Penguin_ie 5,997]

That's not savings, that is income.

If you want to sponsor on assets (ie savings), you need three times as much, absolute minimum.