OK.. WTF!

[Misty1979 0]

With one week to go, I'm still struggling with my joint sponsor issue, and I can't find a phone number to call with any sort of helpful information. I just got off the phone with USCIS, and they told me in more words or less that my joint sponsor's $90,000 in the bank cannot be used as assets since that money could easily be spent up in a day and would therefore be no help to me if I was to need it. They said it would need to be locked away somewhere in order for us to use it. We have it in some sort of Money Market account, so I'm not sure if that helps us at all.

But what they said to me makes no sense because if the money is locked away in some account, it would not be available if we needed it anyways. Also, the I-864 itself says that it needs to be accessible within one year.

I already called the DOS to try to ask them some questions, but they gave me USCIS's number. USCIS just proved to be useless, and I'm going to try emailing MTL, but I highly doubt they are going to answer with any helpful info, if they even answer at all.

Does anyone know what kind of bank account exactly we need to put this money in?

Also..we are having one of our properties appraised tomorrow to help back up the money in the bank, but the house itself will be worth no more than $70-80k we figure, so we do need to figure out this bank issue pretty quickly.

Edited November 28, 2007 by Misty1979

[LadyJane 1]

Have you called the NVC?? Because I remember that, for assets, all you had to show was that it could be liquidated in a reasonable amount of time. There was no nonsense about "gee you could spend it in one day".

[payxibka 10,044]

Let's understand who is going to adjudicate the I-864 for you as that is who you must speak with, in this case it is NOT the USCIS so any answer you get from them may not be worth anything.

[Krikit 1,163]

Ironic how if you insert the letter "L" into USCIS you come up with USCLIS (useless). Sorry... don't have any wise words... just some wisecracks. Like the fact that employment income can also be easily spent up in one day so what's the point of that comment? whatever (lol)

[Glady 0]

Let's understand who is going to adjudicate the I-864 for you as that is who you must speak with, in this case it is NOT the USCIS so any answer you get from them may not be worth anything.

great bpoint ask Montreal becuse they will b making the final decesion. I had a co sponsor as a family member and the guys was not too happy my wife was not working but he looked at my father inlaws income and was satisfied

[Misty1979 0]

Let's understand who is going to adjudicate the I-864 for you as that is who you must speak with, in this case it is NOT the USCIS so any answer you get from them may not be worth anything.

LOL...that's funny because after hanging up with USCIS I basically tossed everything they told me out the window. I know it's going to be up to the interviewer himself..but how the heck do I find out what he is going to want to see? I'm stuck now trying to decide whether or not to ask my MIL to lock this money away somewhere, or leave it as it is and risk not being able to be home with my husband for Christmas.

Another question if you all don't mind:

How do we prove that there is no lien or mortgage owing on the houses? We are having one appraised tomorrow, but if need be, we will have them all appraised. We can easily get the deeds for the houses, and the recent appraisals..but we are very unsure how to prove that she doesn't owe anything on any of these properties.

Ideas anyone?

[trailmix 77]

Let's understand who is going to adjudicate the I-864 for you as that is who you must speak with, in this case it is NOT the USCIS so any answer you get from them may not be worth anything.

LOL...that's funny because after hanging up with USCIS I basically tossed everything they told me out the window. I know it's going to be up to the interviewer himself..but how the heck do I find out what he is going to want to see? I'm stuck now trying to decide whether or not to ask my MIL to lock this money away somewhere, or leave it as it is and risk not being able to be home with my husband for Christmas.

Another question if you all don't mind:

How do we prove that there is no lien or mortgage owing on the houses? We are having one appraised tomorrow, but if need be, we will have them all appraised. We can easily get the deeds for the houses, and the recent appraisals..but we are very unsure how to prove that she doesn't owe anything on any of these properties.

Ideas anyone?

I agree that the USCLIS operator was just giving you here own personal opinion - and it makes absolutely no sense. We used cash assets and NVC did not have a problem with it at all, Montreal will hopefully not.

As for the house, that's a good question and interesting the way they word it in the instructions:

If you wish to include the net value of your home, this, you must include documentation demonstrating that you own it, a recent appraisal by a licensed appraiser, and evidence of the amount of any and all loans secured by a mortgage, trust deed, or other lien on the home.

Just noticed they have an error in the document! But I digress, anyway it sounds like they only want to see the lien/mortgage/loan information if it applies - they don't actually ask you to prove that there aren't any. hmmm

[thermophile 0]

it probably depends on the state, but I think the lien should be clearly printed on the title. once the lien is paid off you go get another title-at least that's how it's done in WY. Not the same but when I had a lien on a car in MT the bank kept the title till it was paid off. either way if you have a clear deed in your posession-that's proof that there's not lien

[anitacastillo 0]

As I understand assets (vs income) "count" as 1/5. Meaning you need 5 times as much in assets compare to income to meet the requirements.

The $90K in the bank doesn't count as even $20K and I believe you need more than that for a household of 2.

You could put the $$ into a CD?

When you home was paid off, I expect you received something from the bank - the deed in your name, maybe? That would be proof. Needs to be in your name or the co-sponsors.

[Misty1979 0]

As I understand assets (vs income) "count" as 1/5. Meaning you need 5 times as much in assets compare to income to meet the requirements.

The $90K in the bank doesn't count as even $20K and I believe you need more than that for a household of 2.

You could put the $$ into a CD?

When you home was paid off, I expect you received something from the bank - the deed in your name, maybe? That would be proof. Needs to be in your name or the co-sponsors.

You only need $17,112 for a household size of two. $17,112 x 5 = $85560, which still leaves us above the mark.

I will definetely ask her though if she received something from the bank since she paid the house off. (She only paid it off earlier this month, so I'm not sure if they would send a new deed out that quickly.)

Thanks for all the feedback guys:)

[Earmuffs 1]

not to come off the wrong way but..

does the sponsor not work now?

I know on the I-864 it says use assets if you dont make over the poverty line..

my joint sponsor makes 90k so i didnt even bother to but his assets in.

Edited November 29, 2007 by Earmuffs

[Misty1979 0]

not to come off the wrong way but..

does the sponsor not work now?

I know on the I-864 it says use assets if you dont make over the poverty line..

my joint sponsor makes 90k so i didnt even bother to but his assets in.

No, she isn't working at the moment. She is pretty much still in the grieving process from losing her husband (my previous sponsor)unexpectedly last month, so I doubt she will be wanting to return to work any time soon. (I don't blame her )

[anitacastillo 0]

And you don't work because???

You need to count all person's in co-sponsors household + your husband - maybe that is only 2. The 2 is not you and him.

[Misty1979 0]

And you don't work because???

You need to count all person's in co-sponsors household + your husband - maybe that is only 2. The 2 is not you and him.

First off, let's not mince words. A "Co-sponsor" is a person that lives in the same residence as the sponsor. The sponsor is my husband, and does not live with his mother, so the above term does not apply to our situation. I am the Canadian Citizen, and thank you very much, but I DO work. Two full time jobs to be exact, not that it helps our case since you need US income to meet the requirements, not Canadian income. If the not working comment was aimed at my husband, he is attending college full-time and receives Veteran's benefits from serving in the Coast Guard to pay for his schooling. The payments he receives are about $2000 short of the required income.

A "Joint Sponsor" can be any US Citizen or Permanent Resident, who does not reside in the same household as the sponsor. This is what we are using. Since the joint sponsor lives on her own, her household size would only be two to include her and myself. My husband is not included because he is over 21 and does not reside with her.

Please refrain from responding if you don't have any valid advice. Derogoratory comments about my working/personal situation are also not appreciated.

Edited November 29, 2007 by Misty1979

[Reba 2]

You can't count the potential immigrant's income on the affidavit of support because said immigrant will no longer have a job or income once they leave their home country and move to the US. That's the purpose of the sponsorship and affidavit of support.