CR-1 Visa Joint Sponsor

[tomuk 25]

I have question about joint sponsor: we are not able to prove income 125% of poverty guidelines so we are looking for joint sponsor. We are very confused:

 

* USC has 3 kids so that supposed to be household size 5

* joint sponsor lives with another person in his household - how much should we count? 3?

 

Confusion comes from USCIS website:

 

Quote

A joint sponsor is someone who is willing to accept legal responsibility for supporting your family member with you. A joint sponsor must meet all the same requirements as you, except the joint sponsor does not need to be related to the immigrant. The joint sponsor (or the joint sponsor and his or her household) must reach the 125% income requirement alone. You cannot combine your income with that of a joint sponsor to meet the income requirement.

If we understand correctly, joint sponsor has to prove income of $26,662 alone (as for size of 3)? Or do we need to calculate it differently?

[NikLR 13,234]

Is joint sponsor married or file a married tax return with this other person?  

A sponsor counts:

• The beneficiary
• A spouse (unless the spouse is the beneficiary and the sponsor is the petitioner)
• Any children they may have regardless of where they live or who is financially responsible for them
• any other dependents including any other I-864 

So for your joint sponsor, unless that other person is a spouse (including common-law) or a child, they count themselves and the beneficiary. 

 

[tomuk 25]

7 minutes ago, NikLR said:

Is joint sponsor married or file a married tax return with this other person?  

A sponsor counts:

• The beneficiary
• A spouse (unless the spouse is the beneficiary and the sponsor is the petitioner)
• Any children they may have regardless of where they live or who is financially responsible for them
• any other dependents including any other I-864 

So for your joint sponsor, unless that other person is a spouse (including common-law) or a child, they count themselves and the beneficiary. 

 

Joint sponsor is married since Dec 2018. Don't know if they filled jointly. They are both working.

 

So that means joint sponsor counts only 2 people (himself and beneficiary) even though he lives with another person in same household? And his wife only needs to submit I-864A?

[NikLR 13,234]

Just now, tomuk said:

Joint sponsor is married since Dec 2018. Don't know if they filled jointly. They are both working.

 

So that means joint sponsor counts only 2 people (himself and beneficiary) even though he lives with another person in same household? And his wife only needs to submit I-864A?

no joint sponsor is married so the household count is 3.  HIs wife should submit an I-864a with his I-864. 

[tomuk 25]

Just now, NikLR said:

no joint sponsor is married so the household count is 3.  HIs wife should submit an I-864a with his I-864. 

And household of the main sponsor is not considered at all in that case?

Thank you for your patience and all answers! Really appreciated.

[NikLR 13,234]

24 minutes ago, tomuk said:

And household of the main sponsor is not considered at all in that case?

Thank you for your patience and all answers! Really appreciated.

No. The joint sponsor is not responsible for the petitioner's household.  

[tomuk 25]

1 minute ago, NikLR said:

No. The joint sponsor is not responsible for the petitioner's household.  

Sounds good.
Last one: Because we are considering two of the sponsors, the other one has permanent residence in the same house as his grandmother. However, she is not dependent on him (from tax purposes). He is not married for now. In this case, will be the household size 2 (he and me) or 3 (including his grandmother)?

[NikLR 13,234]

Just now, tomuk said:

Sounds good.
Last one: Because we are considering two of the sponsors, the other one has permanent residence in the same house as his grandmother. However, she is not dependent on him (from tax purposes). He is not married for now. In this case, will be the household size 2 (he and me) or 3 (including his grandmother)?

household size would be 2.

 

It's not people who live in a house.  it's people who are financially dependent on each other, or could be, via taxes (plus children...)

Try not to think about how many people and the minimums... honestly pick the one that has the best income.  The closer you are or your joint sponsor is to the poverty guidelines the worse it is. 

[tomuk 25]

3 minutes ago, NikLR said:

household size would be 2.

 

It's not people who live in a house.  it's people who are financially dependent on each other, or could be, via taxes (plus children...)

Try not to think about how many people and the minimums... honestly pick the one that has the best income.  The closer you are or your joint sponsor is to the poverty guidelines the worse it is. 

Thank you very much! Now it's completely clear.

[tomuk 25]

On 6/18/2019 at 12:29 AM, NikLR said:

no joint sponsor is married so the household count is 3.  HIs wife should submit an I-864a with his I-864. 

Hey... you helped a lot so I would like to ask one more question: how is it with spouse of the joint sponsor and filling anything in the case (e.g. I-864A) that joint sponsor has sufficient income alone? Are there any responsibilities of the joint sponsor spouse in unlikely case that joint sponsor would pass away?

 

Sorry it’s still confusing.

[NikLR 13,234]

20 minutes ago, tomuk said:

Hey... you helped a lot so I would like to ask one more question: how is it with spouse of the joint sponsor and filling anything in the case (e.g. I-864A) that joint sponsor has sufficient income alone? Are there any responsibilities of the joint sponsor spouse in unlikely case that joint sponsor would pass away?

 

Sorry it’s still confusing.

To be honest Im not sure how it would affect a household member.  But here's the thing,  the joint sponsor would only be sued by the government if the primary sponsor is unable to pay for any means tested benefits used by the beneficiary while they are an LPR.  So the chances of a joint sponsor being sued intially is very small especially if the beneficiary is a trustworthy person who becomes a USC as soon as possible (at the 3 year mark.)  Really the chances are miniscule. 

[tomuk 25]

Just now, NikLR said:

To be honest Im not sure how it would affect a household member.  But here's the thing,  the joint sponsor would only be sued by the government if the primary sponsor is unable to pay for any means tested benefits used by the beneficiary while they are an LPR.  So the chances of a joint sponsor being sued intially is very small especially if the beneficiary is a trustworthy person who becomes a USC as soon as possible (at the 3 year mark.)  Really the chances are miniscule. 

I don't believe I understand. My wife's income is not enough so we need joint sponsor. The one in hour mind has spouse and living with her in one house. We assume that household will be 3 and income is sufficient in there. They filled jointly.

 

So the question is if his spouse has to be involved in any way and if so, how, and what does it mean for her (spouse of the joint sponsor) in the unfortunate even.

 

They both want to make sure that the spouse won't be involved in any way.

 

Thank you.

[JFH 12,195]

1 hour ago, tomuk said:

I don't believe I understand. My wife's income is not enough so we need joint sponsor. The one in hour mind has spouse and living with her in one house. We assume that household will be 3 and income is sufficient in there. They filled jointly.

 

So the question is if his spouse has to be involved in any way and if so, how, and what does it mean for her (spouse of the joint sponsor) in the unfortunate even.

 

They both want to make sure that the spouse won't be involved in any way.

 

Thank you.

The spouse of the joint sponsor doesn’t have to be involved if the joint sponsor earns enough. 

 

This was our situation. My husband was my sponsor but was unemployed. Joint sponsor had a household of 7 (wife and 5 children) plus me, so 8 people. Joint sponsor makes $180,000 (anyone wanting to make good money should consider mining) a year. His wife makes around $20,000 a year part-time because the children are young. Joint sponsor qualified without his wife’s income so we submitted just an I-864 for him. Nothing from his wife. All approved without question. 

[tomuk 25]

3 minutes ago, JFH said:

The spouse of the joint sponsor doesn’t have to be involved if the joint sponsor earns enough. 

 

This was our situation. My husband was my sponsor but was unemployed. Joint sponsor had a household of 7 (wife and 5 children) plus me, so 8 people. Joint sponsor makes $180,000 (anyone wanting to make good money should consider mining) a year. His wife makes around $20,000 a year part-time because the children are young. Joint sponsor qualified without his wife’s income so we submitted just an I-864 for him. Nothing from his wife. All approved without question. 

This is very helpful. So wife doesn't need to send any agreement what her husband is signing something like that? Is she out of any responsibilities even in the unfortunate case of death?

Edited October 6, 2019 by tomuk

[JFH 12,195]

3 minutes ago, tomuk said:

This is very helpful. So wife doesn't need to send any agreement what her husband is signing something like that? Is she out of any responsibilities even in the unfortunate case of death?

Yes, that’s correct.