Joint sponsors - household or separate income?

[berber_wife 90]

My parents are joint sponsors in my husband's immigration application. Their finances are combined and they file their taxes jointly. They are both retired and have been for many years, so most of their income comes from investments. However, my father gets higher SS payments than my mother and my mother receives a small pension from her former employer. Can I just put down their joint income (since it's all combined anyways) or do I need to separate out their income?

Also, what proof should I offer that we are part of the same household?

[MaLo 15]

My parents are joint sponsors in my husband's immigration application. Their finances are combined and they file their taxes jointly. They are both retired and have been for many years, so most of their income comes from investments. However, my father gets higher SS payments than my mother and my mother receives a small pension from her former employer. Can I just put down their joint income (since it's all combined anyways) or do I need to separate out their income?

Also, what proof should I offer that we are part of the same household?

Since taxes are filed jointly, you cannot show separate income. You have to put the income that is on the IRS tax transcripts. Whoever makes the higher income fills the I-864 and the other one I-864A. You will need 3 years of IRS transcripts and documents showing current income.

No proof required for same household...joint sponsors can be anybody, no need to prove relationship.

[berber_wife 90]

So how do we do this?

A) I fill out the I-864, Parent 1 fills out a separate I-864 and Parent 2 fills out the I-864A

or

B) I fill out the I-864, Parent 1 fills out the I-864A and Parent 2 fills out a separate I-864A

I thought it was B but apparently it's A?

I thought the I-864A instructions asked for proof of common household.

Also, do my parents actually need three years of tax transcripts? The instructions say one year required but providing all three years is optional. My parent's income is well over six figures and I hate making them gather even more information if it's not actually required. They are already doing us a big favor here.

[berber_wife 90]

OK, I read further and it seems that the joint sponsor only files a I-864A when they are combining income with the household member, the primary sponsor. I will not be combining income with my parents because I currently don't have income. However, I was not claimed as a dependent on their last tax return because I was working and supporting myself all last year. I am only not working and financially dependent on them this year because I am undergoing cancer treatment. By the end of year, I plan to be living on my own with my husband and working again. Therefore, do I count as a dependent on all these forms?

[Cathi 5,624]

you only need one year tax returns for the i864 and i864a, 3 years is not a requirement. Good luck sweets

[KayDeeCee 4,892]

OK, I read further and it seems that the joint sponsor only files a I-864A when they are combining income with the household member, the primary sponsor. I will not be combining income with my parents because I currently don't have income. However, I was not claimed as a dependent on their last tax return because I was working and supporting myself all last year. I am only not working and financially dependent on them this year because I am undergoing cancer treatment. By the end of year, I plan to be living on my own with my husband and working again. Therefore, do I count as a dependent on all these forms?

You = I-864, household is you and your spouse

Parent 1 = I-864 as the only joint sponsor, household is themselves, spouse, intending immigrant and any other dependents claimed on their most recent tax return. As you stated, that would not include you.

Parent 2 = I-864A as household member of Parent 1

All of you only need to submit the most recent year's tax transcript and proof of current income. When it asks for the total income from the last 3 years of taxes, your parents will have the same amount listed on their forms, which is their combined total income. However, where it asks for their current annual income, those would be their individual income amounts they are currently receiving, and then those will be combined and listed as a total combined income on Parent 1's I-864 where it asks.

[berber_wife 90]

Thank you! You made things a lot clearer.