which embassies accept a co-sponsor?

[stevensane 10]

I haveheard that not all embassies accept co-sponsor applications. Is this true? And if so does the London embassy accept them?

My fiance works part time amd volunteers but her mum is a chinses citizen working at the UN in new york and would be able to sponsor us if needed.

Sorry if this has also been addressed elsewhere!

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

Yes London does accept co-sponsors, and also self-sponsorship, which is rare. Might check about the mom- if she is in the US on a diplomatic visa or G4 she might not be a suitable sponsor because she doesn't pay US taxes. She is physically in the US but not really "in" the US for tax and other purposes.

[lost_at_sea 995]

A sponsor must be a legal permanent resident or a united states citizen.

[stevensane 10]

Yes London does accept co-sponsors, and also self-sponsorship, which is rare. Might check about the mom- if she is in the US on a diplomatic visa or G4 she might not be a suitable sponsor because she doesn't pay US taxes. She is physically in the US but not really "in" the US for tax and other purposes.

I don't don't doubt the knowledge of anyone on here, but on the I-134 form (Affidavit of Support, http://www.uscis.gov/files/form/i-134.pdf) question 1 section E gives the option for a co-sponsor to be 'a lawfully admitted, nonimmigrant' and then invites the sponsor to give 'Form I-94, Arrival-Departure record number'. Would someone working in the US for the UN not fit under that criteria?

​Hopefully by the time my interview comes around my fiancé will have a full-time job so she will be able to be my sponsor.

If we send our application pack off when she is earning below the federal poverty-line but before the interview she gets a job that pays well above the federal poverty line (which is what we expect will be the case) would this be OK? So for example:

Apply in August - Income $15,000 per year working part time

Fiancé gets full-time job during this period

Interview in February - Income $35,000 per year working full time

Or does the US citizen have to be earning $20,000+ before you make the application??

[lost_at_sea 995]

Or does the US citizen have to be earning $20,000+ before you make the application??

For London, probably not. It's a really lenient embassy. If you can show at the time of interview that the USC holds a job that will pay more than enough, then they'll accept it. There's no requirement that you must have held the job for X months or whatever.

Also, didn't know about option E. Thanks for that. I guess not many folks on here use that option.

Edited July 19, 2013 by lost_at_sea

[stevensane 10]

For London, probably not. It's a really lenient embassy. If you can show at the time of interview that the USC holds a job that will pay more than enough, then they'll accept it. There's no requirement that you must have held the job for X months or whatever.

Also, didn't know about option E. Thanks for that. I guess not many folks on here use that option.

I feel lucky to be applying from the UK...

Yes, if my fiancé isn't working full-time by the time we need to provide this information I hope that this option E will be our saving grace, but I understand why it is probably a seldom used option..

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

The thing is for the I-864 the co-sponsor will need to be a USC or a LPR. You will need to file the I-864 soon after arriving in the US, so you might as well get it figured out before the time comes. Waiting and not working or being able to drive while searching in vain for a co-sponsor doesn't sound fun to me.

I-134 is kind of stupid - it's not legally binding. Even with Option "E" on the I-134, I have some doubt a G4 would work because those people don't pay taxes. Is as if they aren't in the country, though they are physically in it. For instance, LPRs have to often ditch their GCs and get on the G4 to work at the UN because their GCs make them "too much" in the US. That is just based on my hunch though - I suggest you check it out. Maybe it would work. The Mom might not be on a G4 anyway.

Edited July 19, 2013 by Harpa Timsah

[stevensane 10]

Thank you both, I will add this to my 'to-research' list.