Permanent resident's financial requirements to sponsor my wife

[myaumyau 4]

Hello everybody,

I am a permanent resident and my wife is on F1 visa status. We got married and filed I-130 on September 2017. When should we expect to hear anything from immigration regarding my wife's AOS? Also, how much money should I be making for me to be able to show I can support her and for what year will I need to show my income? Will it be just one year or will they look at multiple years? I am asking this because I am planning to go to school starting next month, December 2018 and wont be making as much money. If I do not make a lot of money starting next month, what can I do to make up for it? Will bank savings work?

Thanks

[nightingalejules 678]

They look at multiple years, but they’re most concerned with whether you make enough at the time of interview. So you might be in trouble. 

The amount is (as I recall) a minimum of 125% of the poverty line. (For you plus your wife plus any other dependents) You can do a google search for that. 

If you don’t make enough, you can use savings but you need 5x the difference in savings. So if you need 25000 income and you only make 20000 the difference is 5000... You’d need 25000 in savings (5k x 5) to use assets. 

You might want to look for a joint sponsor.

[geowrian 22,337]

On 11/17/2018 at 12:35 PM, myaumyau said:

We got married and filed I-130 on September 2017. When should we expect to hear anything from immigration regarding my wife's AOS?

You'll probably hear back on the I-130 in a few more months.

That said, your PD likely won't be current until around Sept. 2019. The petition won't proceed past NVC until the PD is current.

 

On 11/17/2018 at 12:35 PM, myaumyau said:

Also, how much money should I be making for me to be able to show I can support her and for what year will I need to show my income? Will it be just one year or will they look at multiple years?

https://www.uscis.gov/i-864p

That has the minimum income level. There is no maximum level or a minimum level to guarantee that it will satisfy the IO.

The CO looks at the totality of the circumstances. That said, current income is king, and you must at least meet the minimum level with current income.

If you change jobs to one that makes less - or reduce hours - then your current income will be affected accordingly. Current income for an employee is how much they make in a 12 year period (which can differ from what they are expected to make at the end of the tax year).

 

Assets can be used in lieu of, or in conjunction with, income.

On 11/17/2018 at 12:51 PM, nightingalejules said:

If you don’t make enough, you can use savings but you need 5x the difference in savings.

It's a minimum of 3x for a spouse Edit: of a USC.

Edited November 18, 2018 by geowrian

[databit 328]

2 hours ago, myaumyau said:

I am asking this because I am planning to go to school starting next month, December 2018 and wont be making as much money.

Many, many Americans go to school AND work full-time (they work weekends) or nearly full-time. Maybe rethink you priorities--this is your wife!

[nightingalejules 678]

3 hours ago, geowrian said:

You'll probably hear back on the I-130 in a few more months.

That said, your PD likely won't be current until around Sept. 2019. The petition won't proceed past NVC until the PD is current.

 

https://www.uscis.gov/i-864p

That has the minimum income level. There is no maximum level or a minimum level to guarantee that it will satisfy the IO.

The CO looks at the totality of the circumstances. That said, current income is king, and you must at least meet the minimum level with current income.

If you change jobs to one that makes less - or reduce hours - then your current income will be affected accordingly. Current income for an employee is how much they make in a 12 year period (which can differ from what they are expected to make at the end of the tax year).

 

Assets can be used in lieu of, or in conjunction with, income.

It's a minimum of 3x for a spouse.

Right! Shoot! I always forget that. Thanks!

[myaumyau 4]

19 hours ago, geowrian said:

You'll probably hear back on the I-130 in a few more months.

That said, your PD likely won't be current until around Sept. 2019. The petition won't proceed past NVC until the PD is current.

 

https://www.uscis.gov/i-864p

That has the minimum income level. There is no maximum level or a minimum level to guarantee that it will satisfy the IO.

The CO looks at the totality of the circumstances. That said, current income is king, and you must at least meet the minimum level with current income.

If you change jobs to one that makes less - or reduce hours - then your current income will be affected accordingly. Current income for an employee is how much they make in a 12 year period (which can differ from what they are expected to make at the end of the tax year).

 

Assets can be used in lieu of, or in conjunction with, income.

It's a minimum of 3x for a spouse.

Thanks. Could you please provide a link for where it says I need to have 3 times the difference in savings?

[SusieQQQ 11,586]

3 hours ago, myaumyau said:

Thanks. Could you please provide a link for where it says I need to have 3 times the difference in savings?

https://www.uscis.gov/greencard/affidavit-support

subsection “If You Can’t Meet the Minimum Income Requirements”

Actually this says it’s only 3 times if the person being sponsored  is a spouse or son/daughter of a citizen.  As you are a LPR, nightingalejules was originally correct and the 5x rule applies:

You may add the cash value of your assets. This includes money in savings accounts, stocks, bonds, and property. To determine the amount of assets required to qualify, subtract your household income from the minimum income requirement (125% of the poverty level for your family size). You must prove the cash value of your assets is worth five times this difference (the amount left over).

 

 

Edited November 18, 2018 by SusieQQQ

[geowrian 22,337]

Good catch. Yes, spouse of an LPR still goes by the 5x rule.

[myaumyau 4]

22 hours ago, SusieQQQ said:

https://www.uscis.gov/greencard/affidavit-support

subsection “If You Can’t Meet the Minimum Income Requirements”

Actually this says it’s only 3 times if the person being sponsored  is a spouse or son/daughter of a citizen.  As you are a LPR, nightingalejules was originally correct and the 5x rule applies:

You may add the cash value of your assets. This includes money in savings accounts, stocks, bonds, and property. To determine the amount of assets required to qualify, subtract your household income from the minimum income requirement (125% of the poverty level for your family size). You must prove the cash value of your assets is worth five times this difference (the amount left over).

 

 

Thank you. Thanks guys