Do we need a joint sponsor or not?

[Canucklehead 102]

Hi there, my wife (USC) and I (Canadian citizen) are currently living in Canada and are finishing up our NVC stage of the application. We were told that it's best if we have a joint sponsor, but I'm thinking that we arguably do not need one.

 

Our background: My wife's current income (at her job in Canada) is roughly $50,500 USD (converted at today's market rate). Our total value of liquidable assets in Canada is equivalent to $69,000 USD. Given that our household size is 2 (should we not use a joint sponsor) and the Federal Poverty Guideline is $22,887 - we are well beyond the FPGx3 number ($68,661 USD).

 

My wife and I are not going to be continuing our current jobs after we arrive in the United States. Therefore, I have 2 questions:

 

1. Is my wife's current income (at her Canadian job) countable towards our net worth as it relates to our application or not?

2. Do we actually need a joint sponsor, given all of the information above, or can we just apply as a 2 person household and be sure to include evidence for all of our assets currently in Canada (i.e. savings accoutn statements, investment account statements, etc.)?

 

Thank you so much for your help!

[S9471 60]

You need US income and assets, not Canadian... Given your circumstances you seem to need a joint sponsor who has US presence and financial assets...

[Rocio0010 5,579]

21 minutes ago, Canucklehead said:

1. Is my wife's current income (at her Canadian job) countable towards our net worth as it relates to our application or not?

Instructions say: 

2. If you included the income of the intending immigrant who is your spouse (he or she would be counted in Part 5., Item Number 1.), you must provide evidence that his/her income will continue from the current source after obtaining lawful permanent resident status. He or she does not need to complete Form I-864A unless he or she has accompanying children.

 

So two questions:

1. Would she be able to continue with this job once she's in the US?

2. Do we know if this source of income can be foreign? That's something to look into.

31 minutes ago, Canucklehead said:

2. Do we actually need a joint sponsor

It will depend on the answer to my two questions above. I'll let @Wuozopo chime in

[Boiler 45,663]

May best for her to come back first so then she could show her US income, Canada likes that.

[Canucklehead 102]

Thank you for contributions. She is currently applying to a number of US positions...really hoping they come through but we also want to get this sent asap too. Tough call on whether to wait until she has income in US or send application with our assets as proof or use a joint sponsor...😶

[Rocio0010 5,579]

8 minutes ago, Canucklehead said:

or send application with our assets as proof or use a joint sponsor...😶

I wouldn't even bother with assets

[Boiler 45,663]

I would file with assets whatever to get it going and update with income.

 

A joint would be better

[Canucklehead 102]

2 hours ago, Rocio0010 said:

I wouldn't even bother with assets

Interesting, what would be the reason?

[Canucklehead 102]

1 hour ago, Boiler said:

I would file with assets whatever to get it going and update with income.

 

A joint would be better

Yeah our immigration lawyer is saying joint would be better but we have just been waiting on someone else to do what we need done and it's taking a while. Perhaps we'll just wait until that comes in as we'd like to be accepted first try and not have to face an extra delay if we don't get accepted first time.

[Canucklehead 102]

2 hours ago, Boiler said:

May best for her to come back first so then she could show her US income, Canada likes that.

I'd heard Montreal was quite strict too. If she had a job offer and accepted it with a September start date, but she hadn't formally started working - could we indicate that as her US income too - or would we have to wait until she started the job too?

[S9471 60]

17 minutes ago, Canucklehead said:

I'd heard Montreal was quite strict too. If she had a job offer and accepted it with a September start date, but she hadn't formally started working - could we indicate that as her US income too - or would we have to wait until she started the job too?

income generally is assessed from tax returns, not future potential. job offer with listed income will certainly help, but when you file the form you need to indicate your current income, so not sure hgow you'd do that without formally being already employed.

indeed, montreal can be very strict about this, so unless you want to re-do things later, if you have an option for a joint sponsor -- get a joint sponsor

[Boiler 45,663]

28 minutes ago, Canucklehead said:

I'd heard Montreal was quite strict too. If she had a job offer and accepted it with a September start date, but she hadn't formally started working - could we indicate that as her US income too - or would we have to wait until she started the job too?

She would have maybe a years pay stubs so you would be good to go.

[carmel34 3,639]

I recommend:

 

1. joint sponsor + assets on the USC's I-864 (convert to US $ and include supporting documents to show that they are liquid)

2. USC spouse goes to US now and gets a job, sets up a US domicile (Montreal is also very strict on US domicile)

 

2 is more likely to work since 1 does not address the domicile issue.

 

Good luck!

[Canucklehead 102]

1 hour ago, carmel34 said:

I recommend:

 

1. joint sponsor + assets on the USC's I-864 (convert to US $ and include supporting documents to show that they are liquid)

2. USC spouse goes to US now and gets a job, sets up a US domicile (Montreal is also very strict on US domicile)

 

2 is more likely to work since 1 does not address the domicile issue.

 

Good luck!

Thank you for your response! We had her parents sign and notarize a letter stating they will be allowing us to live with them upon our arrival - as our evidence of having a US address. In this case, would number 1 be good enough? She will also continue to apply for positions and may even have one by an interview date too.

We're not opposed to spending some time apart but want to move together as much as possible.

[pushbrk 12,975]

5 hours ago, Rocio0010 said:

I wouldn't even bother with assets

Nonsense.  Liquid assets are liquid assets.  They contribute to the totality of circumstances, which is very important in a marginal situation like this.  It might even be enough to get DQ'd.  Ultimately though, a new US job before interview or a qualified joint sponsor is what will carry the day.

 

To the OP directly, unless the Canadian income will continue in the USA, her current income would be stated as ZERO.  Read the applicable question carefully, and note the words "that you are using to qualify" are part of the question.