arg2153

Darnell, thanks so much I think I've figured it out and that's a great suggestion. Just for clarity, if we use the asset method:

1) is it a one-time check at the point of AOS filing, or do they continue checking it?

2) would the household income requirement for 2 people be $60k? and would that be all that i need to be the sole sponsor?

Thanks to anyone who can help!!

hi darnell,

i'm slated to graduate may 2011 and we think we should be able to marry by november 2010. because we marry before i graduate i will not have accumulated any money. we want my mother to be a sponsor, but she has some hesitations in terms of her obligations etc., and that is why i asked if making a new account for the purposes of showing i "have" money would be enough. i guess the issues is that my mother doesn't mind signing, but IF my fiance happens to become a public charge, she does not want to be targeted financially. i know i have to sign an I-864 regardless of whether i have money, tax forms or not. so to clarify:

1) must i have a job-related income in order to be eligible as a sole sponsor?

2) if i have a bank account with enough money in it (let's say $25k) that could cover any public-charge expenses- would that alone make me eligible?

3) if none of those options work we were thinking that we could have my mother sign as a sponsor (to appease the legal req) then have a personal family-to-family agreement on the side stating that my fiance's parents would be financially responsible if he ever happened to become a public charge. in this case, when the govt comes after me, we would go to my fiance's parents who would provide me with whatever necessary, which would prevent my mother from getting involved. is this possible?

also, darnell,i don't know what you mean by

the 'amount' computed is 3 times the 'income differential' for the I-864, for a 'cash asset'.

can you clarify?

thank you

Hi all, thanks again for all your replies. They've been VERY helpful.

Vanessa&Tony: my fiance does not want to become a USC because he doesn't want to give up his Canadian citizenship. From what I understand, he would not be able to get dual citizenship, but I could be totally wrong about this. Does anyone know if dual citizenship is possible?

Also, we've been throwing ideas around about the I864 sponsorship. The sponsor will have to have ~18k for a two person family. Would it be enough to open up a bank account in my name that has $18k in it in order to make me eligible as a sponsor?

Out of interest... why can't he become a USC? You said "impossible since he's getting a greencard"... the greencard and marriage to you are the PATH to becomming a USC.

Are you sure you understand the process? If your flag is correct your fiance is Canadian and Canada accepts dual citizenship (which is what he is if he has more than one citizenship).

He would come to the US on the K1 visa. You would get married and file for AOS where he would get his greencard.

90 days from the 2 year anniversary of the greencard you file for removal of conditions (ROC).

THEN after having the greencard for 3 years (the first one), and remaining married to you for those three, he can file for US citizenship. He does NOT have to give up his Canadian citizenship. If he has any other citizenships he should check those countries for their rules on dual citizenship.

If you don't remain together long enough for the 3 years of marriage (and still together) rule, then he becomes eligible after 5 years to become a USC.

wow, thanks all for your replies!! from what i'm reading it seems that i haven't understood the process as well as i thought. so the I-134 is rather temporary and not something to really worry about and it's the I-864 that can be troublesome. i'm still in university (1 year to go) so this is why I can't be a sponsor yet. so i guess my next questions related to the I-864 are:

1) say my mother agrees to be a sponsor. once i get a job and can support my fiance, can we "transfer" the sponsorship to me so my mother is no longer held accountable?

2) what exactly does the contract require in terms of responsibilities? food stamps, social programs, hospital bills, unpaid debts?

3) is my fiance's accumulation of 10 years of work the only way to end the sponsorship (since gaining citizenship isn't an option)?

4) in situations of public charge, will the I-864 sponsor be the primary contact or the "back-up"?

5) i'm a still a student; are there any "special case" options in which other arrangements can be made or is that simply the reason for having a sponsor in the first place?

6) if i'm on financial aid can my "income" be used to support my fiance?

i'm sure this has been asked before, but i've been unable to find any information about how long an I-134 sponsor's obligations last. i've found information that states the form is binding for three years after my fiance enters the US, but have also found info stating that theresponsibilities will last until my fiance becomes a U.S. Citizen (which is impossible since he'll be getting his green card), works for 10 years, leaves the US permanently or dies.

given the conflicting answers i've found i'd like to clarify..

1) simply, does the affidavit of support last "forever"?

2) do the sponsor's obligations end three years after my fiance has entered the US, or after he works for 10 years?

3) what exactly is the sponsor responsible for? does public charge mean unemployment, unpaid debts, hospital bills?

4) if my fiance becomes a "public charge" will the govt go after me first and THEN the sponsor? in other words, is the sponsor the primary contact or the back-up?

thanks so much in advance for any advice! my fiance are so excited that our NOA2 was approved so quickly and we just need to get his pkg prepared asap. woo!