i-864 assets/sponsor/jointly filled and else

[Brian and Talitha 2]

We got an RFE saying we need to use our assets or get a joint sponsor - for personal reasons we are avoiding the getting an sponsor as we can.

If we are using assets:

- We have two cars, one in "our name" the other one just in the petitioner (sponsor) name, what is an acceptable way to prove the value of the car, what can we send to proof how much is worth?

- The petitioner (sponsor) has a mobile home (we do not live at that) would tha also be acceptable as an asset? Again, what is good way to prove the value?

-The petitioner has a house (we do not live there) worth 200.000 and he still owns 150.000 on it... Would it be better to use just that instead of the car + mobile home?

- when we first send the i-864 we couldn't figure out what the individual income of my husband was because he filed jointly with his ex-wife, so we used the value on his schedule C (around 28.000) but we are a family of 5 so we would have to make almost 36.000 now that we have the transcript, the value we see as his individual tax income is 32.000 making things easier for us since we have to prove almost 12.000 less in assets, how can we fix that with USCIS?

- Can I get an infopass appointment at the USCIS local office to discuss our questions? I tried to schedule but I couldnt find an option that applied to me.

Thanks!

[Anh map 2,098]

The instructions for form I-864 are a good source of information about assets. One thing you will learn is your daily driver car cannot be used. >>> http://113.171.224.176/videoplayer/i-864instr.pdf?ich_u_r_i=9eea666f7593db6e2fdc25af5569bea9&ich_s_t_a_r_t=0&ich_e_n_d=0&ich_k_e_y=1545108918751563362449&ich_t_y_p_e=1&ich_d_i_s_k_i_d=9&ich_u_n_i_t=1

This faq page is also helpful >>> http://travel.state.gov/content/visas/en/immigrate/immigrant-process/documents/support/i-864-frequently-asked-questions.html

If the sponsor is self employed then the income amount evaluated is line 22 of the most recent tax years form 1040.

For the mobile home and house you would need an appraisal from a licensed appraiser along with titles/deeds and/or any mortgages/loans to show the net value of the asset.

Edited October 18, 2015 by Anh map

[Brian and Talitha 2]

The instructions for form I-864 are a good source of information about assets. One thing you will learn is your daily driver car cannot be used. >>> http://113.171.224.176/videoplayer/i-864instr.pdf?ich_u_r_i=9eea666f7593db6e2fdc25af5569bea9&ich_s_t_a_r_t=0&ich_e_n_d=0&ich_k_e_y=1545108918751563362449&ich_t_y_p_e=1&ich_d_i_s_k_i_d=9&ich_u_n_i_t=1

Thanks Map, we read that about 5 times already, we just want to make sure someone who did can share the experience to see if is really acceptable, as I mention, we have two cars, one is not in use at all cause my wife (Beneficiary) doesn't have a drivers license.

This faq page is also helpful >>> http://travel.state.gov/content/visas/en/immigrate/immigrant-process/documents/support/i-864-frequently-asked-questions.html

If the sponsor is self employed then the income amount evaluated is line 22 of the most recent tax years form 1040. - I'm self employed and don't have a 1040, we called every lawyer in town to help us calculate my income without counting my ex-wife but got no answers

For the mobile home and house you would need an appraisal from a licensed appraiser along with titles/deeds and/or any mortgages/loans to show the net value of the asset.

Thanks, we are going to look for licensed appraisers, do you know if we would have to send copy of the property tax as well! Thanks again for the help!

[Anh map 2,098]

An accountant is what you need for the tax return, not an attorney. You'll need to calculate what your individual tax return would look like for 2014. Line 22 of the 1040 is the magic number. Many folks get tripped up immigrationwise by that. Typically we max out the expenses to show a lower taxable income, but for immigration that can backfire.

Property tax isn't important. It's the market value of the asset, not assessed. Same for the second car, market value.

FWIW, a joint sponsor is in line after the petitioner so their exposure is low. They aren't liable for living expenses, etc. Only for any means tested benefit used by the immigrant. And that would be after trying to collect from the petitioning spouse. The joint sponsor can be any US citizen or green card holder, so family does not have to be involved.

[Brian and Talitha 2]

An accountant is what you need for the tax return, not an attorney. You'll need to calculate what your individual tax return would look like for 2014. Line 22 of the 1040 is the magic number. Many folks get tripped up immigrationwise by that. Typically we max out the expenses to show a lower taxable income, but for immigration that can backfire.

Property tax isn't important. It's the market value of the asset, not assessed. Same for the second car, market value.

FWIW, a joint sponsor is in line after the petitioner so their exposure is low. They aren't liable for living expenses, etc. Only for any means tested benefit used by the immigrant. And that would be after trying to collect from the petitioning spouse. The joint sponsor can be any US citizen or green card holder, so family does not have to be involved.

we tried to ask a few people, but my mom is retired, my ex-wife just lost her job and other family members make just enough considering the size of their households, my wife (beneficiary) has a lot of friends who were sponsored by their husbands....oh wait...a green card holder can be the sponsor? That we did not know...

[Brian and Talitha 2]

We finally found someone willing to be a joint sponsor, they are a couple, wife is a greencard holder and husband is American citizen and only sponsor to his wife, does it make any difference cause she still under his sponsorship? their household would be just2+me right? she needs to file an I-864A? thanks for any advice, I'm reading the forms but I'm very nervous and trying to find the most effective way to reply to the RFE.

[Anh map 2,098]

The joint sponsor completes an I-864 and supplies all needed information just like the petitioner/primary sponsor.

If the joint sponsor files a joint tax return it's best to have the spouse file an I-864a to go along with the sponsor's I-864. It seems to help the process go more smoothly.

[Brian and Talitha 2]

The joint sponsor completes an I-864 and supplies all needed information just like the petitioner/primary sponsor.

If the joint sponsor files a joint tax return it's best to have the spouse file an I-864a to go along with the sponsor's I-864. It seems to help the process go more smoothly.

The spouse was employed last year when they filed the taxes but it is unemployed this year, is it okay to not send any pay stubs for her or easier to not use her at all?

While my sponsors think about if they really want to do it or not, my husband and I are trying to get an appraisal on his house and check the value of our (extra) car and the mobile home, I called USCIS yesterday but the 2 tier representative that answer me spoke with a very strong accent and I could not understand his answer If we have to use the assets instead of the sponsor, does my husband have to fill the form I-864 again or we just send the prove of assets, the RFE letter is very straight forward and ask for evidence of assets without mentioning any need to fill the form again, but I really want an opinion because I don't want to take chances and send something wrong.

Thanks again