Got laid off my job but my petition for wife got approved.

[Chipz 3]

Hi,

 

I need help and advises. I live in New York as a green card holder and my wife and son lives in the Philippines. I lost my job and then my wife and son's petition got approved. Now I'm trying to fill up the affidavit of support I-864. I know that I will need a joint sponsor to help me with their petition which is my mom.

 

Now my questions are:

1. Do I still fill need to fill out a I-864 as the petitioner and to add my mom's I-864? If yes, what do I put on the question "My current individual annual income is?" Do I leave it blank? Or should I put the amount that I am getting from my unemployment claims benefit?

2. So if my mom will sponsor me, what will be our house hold size? My dad lives here in the US who is also working and my brother too. Do they all add up to the household size calculation even though they're not dependent to my mom? Would that be total of me, my wife and son, my dad and bro is total of 5?

3. Any tips and advises for our petition goes smoothly? 

 

Thank you very much in advance for the help!

[JFH 12,189]

You are still the sponsor, no matter what your income is. Answer the question about income truthfully. Multiply your weekly unemployment check by 52 - that’s your current annual income. Do not include anything like food stamps that you may be receiving. 
 

How many dependents does your mother claim on her tax return? Her household size is her, her husband, any dependents she claims, anyone she is already sponsoring and the intending immigrants. 

[Quarknase 1,072]

Since your wife’s visa category is currently suspended, you could also delay the process at NVC stage - if things go well you find a new job quickly and safe yourself the hassle of joint sponsor. Of course it’s understandable if you want to proceed as soon as possible, but wanted to mention that option as well.

[Chipz 3]

1 hour ago, JFH said:

You are still the sponsor, no matter what your income is. Answer the question about income truthfully. Multiply your weekly unemployment check by 52 - that’s your current annual income. Do not include anything like food stamps that you may be receiving. 
 

How many dependents does your mother claim on her tax return? Her household size is her, her husband, any dependents she claims, anyone she is already sponsoring and the intending immigrants. 

Thank you so much. She claim my 1 brother as her dependent. So I will make my I-864 form and my mom will make her own for me as join sponsor correct?

[JFH 12,189]

1 hour ago, redmoon24 said:

Thank you so much. She claim my 1 brother as her dependent. So I will make my I-864 form and my mom will make her own for me as join sponsor correct?

Correct. Each of you will complete your own I-864.

[Chipz 3]

On 7/19/2020 at 5:31 PM, Quarknase said:

Since your wife’s visa category is currently suspended, you could also delay the process at NVC stage - if things go well you find a new job quickly and safe yourself the hassle of joint sponsor. Of course it’s understandable if you want to proceed as soon as possible, but wanted to mention that option as well.

Hi, I just read your message now. How long is this category suspended for?

[geowrian 22,336]

11 minutes ago, redmoon24 said:

Hi, I just read your message now. How long is this category suspended for?

Until at least the start of 2021.

[Chipz 3]

1 minute ago, geowrian said:

Until at least the start of 2021.

Wow that's too long.. So I won't be with my family here in US until next year huh. suckss...

[Quarknase 1,072]

13 minutes ago, redmoon24 said:

Hi, I just read your message now. How long is this category suspended for?

The initial suspension was from April 23rd for 60 days, on June 22nd it was extended through December 31st.

I would be surprised if the suspension gets lifted under the current administration. But of course I'm hoping for said surprise

 

[Chipz 3]

1 minute ago, Quarknase said:

The initial suspension was from April 23rd for 60 days, on June 22nd it was extended through December 31st.

I would be surprised if the suspension gets lifted under the current administration. But of course I'm hoping for said surprise

 

So our online petition account on USCIS won't be disqualify for not submitting any documents due to this suspension? Your idea about finding a job for now is really viable. But the problem here in new york is the jobs are gone and there's a huge unemployment going on now maybe for the whole USA. Will there be any difference if I at least submit the documents earlier now? thanks again

[arken 4,197]

6 minutes ago, redmoon24 said:

So our online petition account on USCIS won't be disqualify for not submitting any documents due to this suspension? Your idea about finding a job for now is really viable. But the problem here in new york is the jobs are gone and there's a huge unemployment going on now maybe for the whole USA. Will there be any difference if I at least submit the documents earlier now? thanks again

If you have a joint sponsor with good income, it’s better to have the NVC process started and get documentary qualified so that once the ban is lifted, your case will already be ahead in line for interview. During that time, if you get employed, even better.

Edited July 21, 2020 by arken

[Quarknase 1,072]

3 minutes ago, redmoon24 said:

So our online petition account on USCIS won't be disqualify for not submitting any documents due to this suspension? Your idea about finding a job for now is really viable. But the problem here in new york is the jobs are gone and there's a huge unemployment going on now maybe for the whole USA. Will there be any difference if I at least submit the documents earlier now? thanks again

Could you fill out your timeline and your profile? That will help us a lot to give you better advise. What I understand from your initial post is

 

- Your I-130 petitions have been approved by USCIS. That means this step of the process has been completed, and USCIS is out of the picture for now. Nothing will be disqualified.

 

The next step is the NVC process.

-> Have you received the Welcome letters from NVC yet?

Once the cases have been created and the welcome letter was sent to you and the beneficiary, you have 12 months to pay the fees, and upload all required documents (such as the Affidavit of Support). You can allow yourself for some time and job hunt, or setup a joint sponsor if you don't want to wait. From a processing perspective it shouldn't make a big difference if you upload now, or in a couple of months, since the visa category won't be processed at the embassies until the ban has been lifted or expires.

[Chipz 3]

18 minutes ago, Quarknase said:

Could you fill out your timeline and your profile? That will help us a lot to give you better advise. What I understand from your initial post is

 

- Your I-130 petitions have been approved by USCIS. That means this step of the process has been completed, and USCIS is out of the picture for now. Nothing will be disqualified.

 

The next step is the NVC process.

-> Have you received the Welcome letters from NVC yet?

Once the cases have been created and the welcome letter was sent to you and the beneficiary, you have 12 months to pay the fees, and upload all required documents (such as the Affidavit of Support). You can allow yourself for some time and job hunt, or setup a joint sponsor if you don't want to wait. From a processing perspective it shouldn't make a big difference if you upload now, or in a couple of months, since the visa category won't be processed at the embassies until the ban has been lifted or expires.

I'm in step 4. The affidavit of support. After when the petition got approved on april 15, 2020. We received a letter and the email saying. 

Quote

Thank you for your interest in immigrating to the United States of America. The Department of State's National Visa Center (NVC) received your approved immigrant visa petition from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). NVC's role is to ensure you are prepared for your immigrant visa interview at a U.S. Embassy/Consulate General, and to schedule your interview appointment.

So I already paid for the affidavit of support. Not yet for the IV fee for my spouse and son.  Thanks for being helpful. 

 

I want to prepare every form as smooth as possible. My mom can be my joint sponsor as she earns about 3500 a month. We would like to be together as soon as possible but of course when the suspension is lifted.