Difference between form I-864 and I-864A?

[CitizenJ 5]

Form I-864 is titled "affidavit of support" and form I-864A is titled "contract between sponser and household member". I am my wife's sponser but I am using my father as a co-sponser (because I am currently in China with my wife). Since I am using my father as a co-sponser, should I just fill out form I-864A (contract between sponser and household member) or should I fill out both forms (or just form I-864)? Thanks a lot.

Also, how do I update my signiture? I'd like to document my progress.

[Stressed Out 81]

Do you live with your father? An example of proper use of the I-864/I-864a forms is how we did it...

I, the petitioner, submitted my own I-864

My dad, my "only joint sponsor", filled out his own I-864

My mom, my dad's "household member of sponsor" (in this case meaning also joint sponsor), filled out an I-864a to combine her and his incomes shown on their joint tax returns.

PS - signature can be updated by going up to the top right corner of the page where it shows your username and a white arrow to the right of it. Click that then "My Settings". Then you'll see "Signature" as one of the fields you can edit there.

[KayDeeCee 4,891]

You need to fill out an I-864 and your father, the joint sponsor needs to fill out their own separate I-864. The I-864A is not for a joint sponsor. It is for a qualifying household member that you reside with to combine their income with yours in order to meet the requirement together.

If your father is married and files taxes jointly, then his wife may need to fill out an I-864A to go along with his I-864.

[CitizenJ 5]

Thanks a lot guys! Really appreciate it.

[CitizenJ 5]

Wait - if I currently reside in China do I even have to fill out an affidavit of support ? The questions on the form make it seem like I should not be filling out the form if I do not live in the US. Can anyone chime in? Thanks.

[Ryan H 3,790]

Wait - if I currently reside in China do I even have to fill out an affidavit of support ? The questions on the form make it seem like I should not be filling out the form if I do not live in the US. Can anyone chime in? Thanks.

You have to fill out the form.

[CitizenJ 5]

You have to fill out the form.

Ya, that's what I thought. I just started second guessing myself because the questions on the form seemed as if they would only accept if the sponser was in America (prompting you to choose an American state, only accepting a 10 digit phone number, etc.). Thanks for the quick response.

Edited December 20, 2014 by CitizenJ

[CitizenJ 5]

The form is very confusing. I have listed my current household income as $0 (that's what it is here in China) and no where does it ask where my intended address in America is (my father's address).

[Stressed Out 81]

You'll give them your intended US address on the DS-260. And are you simply unemployed?

[CitizenJ 5]

You'll give them your intended US address on the DS-260. And are you simply unemployed?

yes

[Stressed Out 81]

Well I was unemployed for 3.5 out of my 4 years in Europe, so I wasn't required to file taxes (you have to include a written statement saying so). I wrote in those three income boxes for the past few tax returns "NOT REQUIRED TO FILE - NO INCOME" and for your current individual income I would just write NO INCOME. There's something about writing "$0" that they just don't like. I've seen too many people get checklists for that, which is why I did it like I did. Had no problems.

[CitizenJ 5]

Well I was unemployed for 3.5 out of my 4 years in Europe, so I wasn't required to file taxes (you have to include a written statement saying so). I wrote in those three income boxes for the past few tax returns "NOT REQUIRED TO FILE - NO INCOME" and for your current individual income I would just write NO INCOME. There's something about writing "$0" that they just don't like. I've seen too many people get checklists for that, which is why I did it like I did. Had no problems.

Thanks

[Darnell 8,478]

any news? get an interview date set yet? Hope all is well !

[CitizenJ 5]

any news? get an interview date set yet? Hope all is well !

Thanks for checking up man. To be honest I haven't made any further progress...since it's around Christmas time my dad's been busy so hasn't been able to finish the form yet. He also keeps asking me questions about the form that I haven't been able to answer yet which only further delays progress.

The form seems to be trying to make the sponsors specify that they live together (because it's forcing us both to specify that we live with the immigrant). I know that it can't be trying to do that though because if every sponsor lived together then joint sponsors would never be required to fill out form I-864 (only form I-864A).

I read the instructions to try and get some clarification but by doing so I only became more confused:

"Part 5 asks you to add together the number of persons for whom you are financially responsible. Some of these persons may not be residing with you."

So the name of the section is "Household Size" but the people listed do not necessarily have to reside with you? Well if that were true it would solve the problems I'm having understanding the form but I just can't get around the title "Household Size". I have no clue what to do. Can anyone make sense of this? Thanks a heap.

Edited December 28, 2014 by CitizenJ

[Stressed Out 81]

Your dad would count the intending immigrant, his spouse (if he has one) and himself as 3 people. On your I-864 you'd just count yourself and your spouse as 2 people.