RonMari

I just received a notice from the NVC stating, "The request for an Affidavit of Support fee exemption has been DENIED."  I paid the online fee for my I-864, and there was no fee for my sister's I-864A, as she is a household member helping with support.  I did not request any kind of fee exemption.

I don't understand what this is about, or how I am to respond.  

Has anyone else ever received a similar message?

Yes, it would prevent some sleepless nights if they could give just a little more guidance on the correct formatting.

Thanks for all of the replies, but we finally got it submitted and all supporting documents uploaded.  What a ride!  The problem was very minor.  When she entered my name as the one who helped her with the application, she put one too many spaces between my first and middle name.  That one little detail kept kicking back the error.  The last time she entered my name she noticed what she'd done and corrected it.  Every entry has to be perfect on that web application or it will kick it into an error.

Finally over this hurdle.

She has cleared the cache, cookies, web history, used Microsoft Edge, Internet Explorer, Google Chrome.  Same problem.

Plus in all my years of using technology and computers in business and personal, all of the actions I state here have never fixed glitches and problems for me.

CEAC website glitches!  I see this is a persistent issue, according to all the posts I've read here.  I've completed the DS-260 for my wife who is in the Philippines, and now I have been working with her to get it signed and submitted from her end.  She can log on and go through the whole review.  Every time she tries to complete the last part to sign and submit, it resets and returns an error.  We have tried this multiple times a day for 2 days now.  The CEAC website won't accept the submission!  I've had no problems accessing and completing the application on my end. I fear that it could be an unresolvable issue due to internet issues in the Philippines.  If that's the case, I don't know how to resolve this. 

I've followed the advice of other posts in an attempt to fix the problem, but nothing works.  If only the NVC would allow the petitioner to sign and submit the application with the consent of the applicant!

Has anyone had the same problem and resolved it?  Any advice and direction that would help would be greatly appreciated.

After almost 15 months our I-130 has finally been approved!!!  Hopefully the next steps in the process won't be as long.

I filed our I-130 May 2024 and I see we could have a decision by sometime next week.  It's been a long wait.

On 4/20/2025 at 6:32 PM, pushbrk said:

OK then.  You've got a start.  Now is the time to study those I-864 instructions and learn how to combine income with your household member.  Once you've done the homework, you may well have other questions.  That's why we're here.

Thanks for the support!

1 hour ago, pushbrk said:

The best you can do is the best you can do.  If you sell your house, the proceeds are liquid and would need to remain liquid until your spouse's visa is issued.  With regard to your sister, you would need to first determine whether she will be combining income with you or acting as a joint sponsor qualifying on her own.  From the details you have explained, I would suggest that if there are no additional household members to be counted, that you combine income with your sister/household member and she does the I-864a.  You can then qualify now.  Become an A-Student of the I-864 instructions (separate PDF from the forms).

 

You don't mention whether the petition is already approved and at NVC or not.  My recommendation above is based on the case already being at NVC, and there are no more household members to be counted for you or your sister.  Please clarify.

The I-130 petition is due for a decision, possibly close to the end of this year.  My understanding, last time I checked, was approx. 15 to 17 months total.  May 9 will be a year since I filed.  I realize that approval is the first hurdle to overcome, but I'm confident I've done an adequate job in proving my wife and I have a bonafide marriage.   I just want to stay ahead of the game and have time to educate myself before I get to the NVC stage.

Neither my sister nor I have any additional household members or dependents, so that's not an issue, and I expect to still be living with her during the fall and winter. Combining our income was my initial thoughts also, but I needed a little more advice.

Thank you for your time. 

I appreciate all the feedback.  I'll try to be clear with a complicated issue. 

My income is only SS and VA Disability, which combined, does not meet the 125% guideline.  I would like to get a part time job to make up the difference, but my life circumstances at this time makes it difficult to have consistent employment.  

The only asset I have is a home I own, no mortgage. The appraised value would be well above the required 3x amount for the difference in income.  I am putting it up for sale since I relocated from another state to my sister's residence, temporarily, for the purpose of being closer to family.  With the proceeds of my current house, eventually, I intend to buy another one near my sister.

From my understanding of what I've read here on VJ, and elsewhere, it seems like using assets to make up the difference is a shot in the dark.  So, I had asked my sister if she would be willing to help. However, I don't understand which form she should use, I-864 or I-864A.  She owns her home, and her only income is SS survivor benefit, which is above the 125% guideline.  There is no other joint sponsor available.

If she would not be a good candidate as a sponsor, or if using my assets may not be sufficient, then I will need to reevaluate if I should continue in the visa process.  It's too stressful, time consuming and costly without some kind of hope that we have a reasonable chance of success.

I own the house outright, but I'm coming to the conclusion I don't have much of a chance to get an approval, due to lack of sufficient income.  I don't have the luxury of getting a joint sponsor.  And my situation at this time is such that I can't get a job to make up the difference.

How discouraging it is to know that we've had a government allowing millions of people to enter this country illegally and stay, fly them in and pay for accomodations and food.  Yet, I have to jump through hoops and spend hundreds of dollars, only be told in the end, I can't bring my wife to live with me, all for the lack of only several thousand dollars a year.

29 minutes ago, pushbrk said:

A "joint sponsor" never files an I-864a.  That's for a household member, and even then only when it's a joint tax filing spouse or a household member who is combining income with the petitioner.  If the petitioner and her same house living sister are combining income, then sister is "Household member" not joint sponsor.  (Note the term "co-sponsor" does not apply anywhere in this context.)  If the sister qualifies on her own, she should be the "Joint Sponsor" and provide an I-864.  The Petitioner and anybody she doesn't directly support will not be counted in her household.

 

This kind of situation can get quite complicated depending on how many people live in the same house, as just living there and being related in a certain way, does not necessarily mean they count in the household.

Typically, no letter from the IRS is needed.  Just check the box that says they were not required to file.  NVC and the Consular Officer know people with only SS income don't need to file a tax return.

 

Presumably, if the sister's only income is Social Security, she would not be my first choice as a joint sponsor.  More information is needed for better advice.

Thank you for the clarification, and food for thought.  I own a home as an asset, but I understand that can be hit or miss with the NVC and/or consulate.

My sister, a household member, has agreed to be a joint sponsor with me, however I'm not sure if she should use the I-864 or I-864A.  She was not required to file taxes due to her SS income level.  I noticed on the I-864A no option to indicate that, such as on the I-864, Part 6, line 17.

Would it be better to use the I-864 so she can note no tax filing required, and submit evidence to support that?  If she is required to use the I-864A because she's a household member, is it acceptable to just submit evidence explaining the reason for no tax transcript?

4 hours ago, appleblossom said:

 

They get an email saying the case is Documentarily Complete, then the Interview letter. Then the only way to know for sure it’s at the consulate after those things happen is by using the normal tracking site, it will say ‘in transit’ when it’s on the way. 

Thank you, appleblossom

Does the NVC notify the petitioner when a CR1 case is approved and sent to the consulate?  Thanks for any answers.