Affidavit of Support question/doubt

[CristianAmour 1]

In fact it says:

"A joint sponsor must be able to meet the income requirements for all the persons he or she is sponsoring without combining resources with the petitioning sponsor or a second joint sponsor." (this is taken from the I-864 form)

Since my wife is the petitioning sponsor, I don't see why she would need to be sponsored by the joint sponsor or even counted in their household size; they're sponsoring me, and only me. Not her.

[Lars-N-Yenia 8]

In fact it says:

"A joint sponsor must be able to meet the income requirements for all the persons he or she is sponsoring without combining resources with the petitioning sponsor or a second joint sponsor." (this is taken from the I-864 form)

Since my wife is the petitioning sponsor, I don't see why she would need to be sponsored by the joint sponsor or even counted in their household size; they're sponsoring me, and only me. Not her.

OK...you answered your own question...VERY GOOD....so i guess this thread is DONE........bye

[CristianAmour 1]

In fact it says:

"A joint sponsor must be able to meet the income requirements for all the persons he or she is sponsoring without combining resources with the petitioning sponsor or a second joint sponsor." (this is taken from the I-864 form)

Since my wife is the petitioning sponsor, I don't see why she would need to be sponsored by the joint sponsor or even counted in their household size; they're sponsoring me, and only me. Not her.

OK...you answered your own question...VERY GOOD....so i guess this thread is DONE........bye

Actually, my question wasn't how to count the joint sponsor's household size. It was wether or not she should say she retired from her own business or not, and attach a letter explaining her personal situation and where the income comes from.

In other words, what I wanna know is how she needs to answer question #22

So the thread isn't actually done, as the principal question has yet to be answered, but I do appreciate you trying to help. God bless.

Edited March 30, 2009 by CristianAmour

[lainie 0]

Personally I would say the grandmother is RETIRED...unless she is actively looking for another job or plans on working again in the future? I think the letter would suffice along with the proofs (checks or statement of some sort), seems good to go

[EZgoing378 0]

Hi,

It is obvious, since you told us, she is retired, so check the retired box. Retired people have incomes too, your Grandmother for instance. I am filing my AOS soon also. The way you prove her income is as follows. If you read closely you do not have to show proof of 2009 income. Including the Income Tax Returns from 2008, 2007, 2006 should show that she has been getting these death benefits for several years. Whatever she sent to the IRS to prove that income, she can send with the AOS. Unless you are under the gun to file the AOS NOW. Wait until after April 15, 2009 then you can use the 2008 Income Tax Return. Follows is from the instructions pertaining to the current years income:

10. Current Individual Annual Income.

Enter your current individual earned or retirement annual

income that you are using to meet the requirements of this

form and indicate the total on this line. You may include evidence supporting your claim about

your expected income for the current year if you believe

that submitting this evidence will help you establish

ability to maintain sufficient income. You are not

required to submit this evidence, however, unless

specifically instructed to do so by a Government

official. For example, you may include a recent letter

from your employer, showing your employer's address

and telephone number, and indicating your annual salary.

You may also provide pay stub(s) showing your income

for the previous six months. If your claimed income

includes alimony, child support, dividend or interest

income, or income from any other source, you may also

include evidence of ability to maintain that income.

If you read on in the instructions, you will find it says what I said about copies of the previous 3 years income tax returns to verify income. In fact, these instructions also apply to you.

I hope this helps

[EZgoing378 0]

Hi,

In the first place you said you are asking specifically about Question 22. What form are you filling out???? You as the primary sponsor fill out Form I-864, Grandmother as a co-sponsor fills out form 864A. The questions you should be looking at are 9 (Filing status), 10 (Current Year's Income), and 11 (Last 3 yrs. Tax Returns)

It is obvious, since you told us, she is retired, so check the retired box. Retired people have incomes too, your Grandmother for instance. I am filing my AOS soon also. The way you prove her income is as follows. If you read closely you do not have to show proof of 2009 income. Including the Income Tax Returns from 2008, 2007, 2006 should show that she has been getting these death benefits for several years. Whatever she sent to the IRS to prove that income, she can send with the AOS. Unless you are under the gun to file the AOS NOW. Wait until after April 15, 2009 then you can use the 2008 Income Tax Return. Follows is from the instructions (for form I-864A)pertaining to the current years income:

10. Current Individual Annual Income.

Enter your current individual earned or retirement annual

income that you are using to meet the requirements of this

form and indicate the total on this line. You may include evidence supporting your claim about

your expected income for the current year if you believe

that submitting this evidence will help you establish

ability to maintain sufficient income. You are not

required to submit this evidence, however, unless

specifically instructed to do so by a Government

official. For example, you may include a recent letter

from your employer, showing your employer's address

and telephone number, and indicating your annual salary.

You may also provide pay stub(s) showing your income

for the previous six months. If your claimed income

includes alimony, child support, dividend or interest

income, or income from any other source, you may also

include evidence of ability to maintain that income.

If you read on in the instructions, you will find it says what I said about copies of the previous 3 years income tax returns to verify income.

Again, like I said earlier form I-864 is for the SPONSOR, that would be you. I-864A is a contract between you and your co-sponsor. Read the instructions and it will all become clear. Remember, when all else fails, read the instructions.

I hope this helps

Hi,

In the first place you said you are asking specifically about Question 22. What form are you filling out???? You as the primary sponsor fill out Form I-864, Grandmother as a co-sponsor fills out form 864A. The questions you should be looking at are 9 (Filing status), 10 (Current Year's Income), and 11 (Last 3 yrs. Tax Returns)

It is obvious, since you told us, she is retired, so check the retired box. Retired people have incomes too, your Grandmother for instance. I am filing my AOS soon also. The way you prove her income is as follows. If you read closely you do not have to show proof of 2009 income. Including the Income Tax Returns from 2008, 2007, 2006 should show that she has been getting these death benefits for several years. Whatever she sent to the IRS to prove that income, she can send with the AOS. Unless you are under the gun to file the AOS NOW. Wait until after April 15, 2009 then you can use the 2008 Income Tax Return. Follows is from the instructions (for form I-864A)pertaining to the current years income:

10. Current Individual Annual Income.

Enter your current individual earned or retirement annual

income that you are using to meet the requirements of this

form and indicate the total on this line. You may include evidence supporting your claim about

your expected income for the current year if you believe

that submitting this evidence will help you establish

ability to maintain sufficient income. You are not

required to submit this evidence, however, unless

specifically instructed to do so by a Government

official. For example, you may include a recent letter

from your employer, showing your employer's address

and telephone number, and indicating your annual salary.

You may also provide pay stub(s) showing your income

for the previous six months. If your claimed income

includes alimony, child support, dividend or interest

income, or income from any other source, you may also

include evidence of ability to maintain that income.

If you read on in the instructions, you will find it says what I said about copies of the previous 3 years income tax returns to verify income.

Again, like I said earlier form I-864 is for the SPONSOR, that would be you. I-864A is a contract between you and your co-sponsor. Read the instructions and it will all become clear. Remember, when all else fails, read the instructions.

I hope this helps

[msnoob 3]

I would agree with the above poster that your grandmother would list "retired" instead of "unemployed". In my opinion, retired would mean that she has completed work and has no current intention of returning; while the government defines unemployed as people who are jobless, looking for jobs, and available for work.

Hope this helps!!

[Anh map 2,098]

The sponsor/cosponsor is showing their current income. Base the income answer on what her tax returns show as others have suggested. Grandmother will submit last 3 years of tax returns with supporting documentation. If it's 25K/year she qualifies as sponsor.

No need to provide a narrative about her husband, former business, etc. The supporting 1099/W-2/? will show where the income comes from.

Correct, household size is 2 based on what you have stated in your post.

[CristianAmour 1]

Thanks for the replies Lainie, EZ, msnoob and Anh!

I have read the instructions a bunch of times, but found nothing that cleared up my doubts. Especially what to put as the company she retired from; her own business that she closed in 1997?

And yeah, I think it'd be best if it wasn't necessary to attach a letter explaining everything, thanks Anh.

[JeroenAndMichelle 28]

CristianAmour is right, the household size is two. The USC is providing her own income and since she is not a dependent, she doesn't get counted.

Example of my own (which was approved by USCIS btw): I had a joint sponsor to be on the safe side of it all. This joint sponsor has a kid and a wife. They all live together in the same house. Normally you would say that they would have a household size of 3, and when you include me, it would be 4. However, both the wife and the son are providing their own income, therefore we entered '2' on the affidavit of support forms. There was no problem at all and it all has been approved by USCIS.

edit: lol, I didn't realize this was already answered and that there was a 2nd page xD oh well, doesn't matter, now it has been answered twice xD

Edited March 30, 2009 by JeroenAndMichelle

[CristianAmour 1]

edit: lol, I didn't realize this was already answered and that there was a 2nd page xD oh well, doesn't matter, now it has been answered twice xD

No, no! I appreciate it nonetheless! It does make me feel more safe in my position, thank you!