help! explain the poverty guidelines for the US

[lennie 0]

Hello all,

I am a new member here and hope someone can help me with a question I have. I have a fiancee in Kiev and plan on taking the plunge. I am getting into the paperwork, and it's quite abit. I have a question on the poverty guide lines. Can anyone explain this to me? I have asked several educated people and no one can answer what the government means. I guess you need a certain amount saved, but how much? before they will let her come here without being a burden to the US system I make good money, but I am not rich. My base pay is 40,000.00 per year, not counting over time. What do I need in saved assets. Any advice will be welcomed. Len

Edited January 31, 2006 by lennie

[diadromous mermaid 36]

Hello all,

I am a new member here and hope someone can help me with a question I have. I have a fiancee in Kiev and plan on taking the plunge. I am getting into the paperwork, and it's quite abit. I have a question on the poverty guide lines. Can anyone explain this to me? I have asked several educated people and no one can answer what the government means. I guess you need a certain amount saved, but how much? before they will let her come here without being a burden to the US system I make good money, but I am not rich. My base pay is 40,000.00 per year, not counting over time. What do I need in saved assets. Any advice will be welcomed. Len

Poverty guidelines are issued each year in the Federal Register. Many departments use them and for immigration purposes they use a factor of 125% as a requirement. Currently the poverty guidelines in place for immigration purposes are posted here. (Note: in a week or so, new guidelines will be published for submission from that point forward in 2006).

http://uscis.gov/graphics/formsfee/forms/i-864p.htm

Sounds like your income will be more than sufficient. Have a look at the posted link and keep in mind your fiancé is counted in addition to you and anyone else living in your household. For example, if you live alone, you need to meet the household poverty level of a household of 2 (you and your sponsored fiancé).

[Criag 0]

Hello all,

I am a new member here and hope someone can help me with a question I have. I have a fiancee in Kiev and plan on taking the plunge. I am getting into the paperwork, and it's quite abit. I have a question on the poverty guide lines. Can anyone explain this to me? I have asked several educated people and no one can answer what the government means. I guess you need a certain amount saved, but how much? before they will let her come here without being a burden to the US system I make good money, but I am not rich. My base pay is 40,000.00 per year, not counting over time. What do I need in saved assets. Any advice will be welcomed. Len

Hi

The support document I-864 on page 3 you have to record your income from the most recent tax year.

Then part D has you check the appropiate box which is usually the first one: 125% etc. Record in Part D #2 the size of your household which would be 2 (you and spouse)...the poverty guideline chart says for a family of 2 it is around 20,000 (look at the chart or search the web for poverty guidelines looking at 125%. You will succeed alot so you just write N/A part 4 page 4 when they ask for assets. Which is good you dont have to go out looking and recording all your assets....

[Peter Miami 0]

Hi Lennie,

In a nut shell you take the amount on the table at; http://aspe.os.dhhs.gov/poverty/05poverty.shtml. If you live and have no kids that you support and your fiancée has no kids you would look at the number 2 row “Persons on Family Unit”, the amount is $12,830 for most of the U.S. Then you would take that number times 125%. 12,830 x 1.25 = 16,037.50. This means you need to have a gross income of $16,037.50 per year. So you definitely qualify with room to spare, now if there are dependents involve look at that row and do the calculations using the new dollar amount x 1.25.

You only worry about savings, property, etc, if you do not meet the qualifications. This guideline are for 2005, the 2006 guidelines are out but I do not know if they are using them yet but there is not much of a change you are still alright at $40k a year. $370 increase from 2005 to 2006 on two people.

Good luck,

Peter Miami

Edited February 1, 2006 by Peter Miami

[diadromous mermaid 36]

I'd like to add that if lennie is pursuing a fiancé visa, the poverty guidelines per I-864 only come into play at the adjustment stage, unless he is working with a consulate that requires an I-864. Normally for the K visa, he would have to overcome the public charge issue, but knowing the benchmarks is a good guideline any way.