sausagefingers

The reason I say thank you a lot is because it is excruciatingly difficult to find in depth insight. Purely factual stuff can be found but you can’t google the fine details and get the accumulated knowledge you and others offer. This is an area others know more then me but I return the favor in other ways (just not here). The spirit of helping others is a very important thing, especially now. 

Lucky Cat, Lil Bear.... besides the animal theme thank you also for the info.
I have  heard different required numbers so appreciate the data and link. 
 
🙂
 
 

My question is very specific and hopefully will not be spun off topic. Thank you.

Lucky Cat, Lil Bear.... besides the animal theme thank you also for the info.
I have  heard different required numbers so appreciate the data and link. 
 
🙂
 
 

As long as you don't count the equity in your primary residence as part of that, it's a good plan.  They are unlikely to consider even 1 dollar of that equity as they make their decision.

Sound like, your use of "tricky" refers to the fact that this is that the minimum requirements are not a goal line.  If you fall short, you are sure to fail, but merely meeting some minimum requirement does not assure success.  It's a judgment call.
 
Now may well not be a good time to find a second job, but doing so, sounds like the solution for you.

The 3x is the ratio of assets to income. $3 assets = $1 income
That said, the I-864 only has a minimum for consideration. The CO still looks at the totality of the circumstances to determine the likelihood of becoming a public charge. Being at or near the minimum is likely to be unsuccessful.
 
The issue with using a primary home as an asset is that it would likely present a hardship to you to sell it just to support somebody else, and/or its liquidity is in question.
More likely somebody would go on public aid before selling their house. If there is a homestead of farmstead inclusion as well, that often protects the home even more.
 
The reality is the CO wants to see more income (or possibly currently sufficient liquid assets) to overcome the public charge inadmissibility. Until that happens, the visa won't be issued.
Some factors they consider: https://fam.state.gov/FAM/09FAM/09FAM030208.html#M302_8_2_B_2

Thanks , but I disagree. The instructions are very clear regarding the assets and value that are required. All I did was repeat what I read in the instructions for the I 864 form 

And the answers to ALL aspects of your specific question are found in the I-864 instructions themselves.  Had you become an A-Student of those instructions and started dealing with the associated issues back then, your outcome may have been different.
 
Study the part that talks about what is meant by "liquid assets" in this context.  Your house is not considered a liquid asset.  In some ways the criteria and how assets are considered is not fair, but Consular Officers must follow the procedures they are trained to follow.  It's the law.
 
Your solution is to increase your income, with a better job, or second job.
 
Yes, you could sell your house and use the cash to overcome the public charge concern, but the reasons you don't want to do that, are EXACTLY why the equity in your primary home is not considered liquid.  

3X
 
You need to calculate how short you on with income. Seems like you were 8k short in income so you would need 24K and you have 10 already in bank account.
 
 You mention 2016. That was 4 years ago roughly. Not sure if that was when you filed and youve been keeping the case alive or if 2016 was just referred to as being when your income dropped.  What matters is your present situation mainly. They can look at the past as an indication of the future though.... So what is your exact situation right now?
 
The 864 requires for something to be considered as assets in lieu of income- it needs to be considered 'liquid'. Liquid means able to be converted into cash with little to no impact on the person, with in 12 months or less, and in USD. You will find mixed opinions on whether or not your home can be used as an asset. There have been  people who have had success using their home providing varying evidence ranging from Zillow printouts to professional appraisals and real estate analysis's . But there are just as many people reporting they were not able to use their home. (Referring to primary home here)
This is because the Officer has discretion in approving the 864.  Which means they have discretion in determining if your asset is liquid or not. Obviously cash in the bank is liquid. So yeah, if you sell your home and put cash in the bank the cash will absolutely count as liquid and you need 3X what your income is short.  But keep in mind if your income included rent from what sounds like you are renting a room in your current property- so if you sell the property you are going to lose the rental income- causing more to be needed in assets to make up for the lost income.  If you have a second property it could change things but if you are looking to just use cash you also need to know that you need to demonstrate ownership of the funds. They either want to see 12 months of bank statements or some kind of documentation that you came into the money through valid means (like the sale of a house/car, an inheritance, a lotto prize) Basically something that shows you didnt have a friend or family member transfer you X amount of cash so you can qualify and then after youre going to give it back. 
 
 
 

It always pays to get the information from the agency that issues the forms... in this case USCIS. There is an explanatory information sheet for each form 

You must have 3x the gap in liquid assets ... so you needed $24k plus .., sell the house , buy something smaller and  bank the rest if you’re still wanting to go the same route. Or find a way to increase your income .. or a joint sponsor. 
 

The following links should help answer your questions:
https://www.uscis.gov/i-864p
 
I-864 instructions : https://www.uscis.gov/i-864

Lucky Cat, Lil Bear.... besides the animal theme thank you also for the info.
I have  heard different required numbers so appreciate the data and link. 
 
🙂