Sponsor questions

[Ellaine 0]

Me and my fiance just recently mailed in our K-1 visa application (now awaiting NOA1), and we're trying to straighten out all our options in regards to sponsorship.

My fiance (US citizen) is currently in Canada with me as a student. He will be returning to the US permanently at the end of April. He currently has 0 income, so we will obviously be needing a sponsor. While his parents will most likely sponsor us, we're just trying to think of a back-up plan incase things go sour.

I'm just unsure of 2 things.

1) Assuming he is able to get a job before I need to fill out the I-134 for the interview, does the sponsor only need to be able to show enough income to accomodate the difference between his current income and the amount stated in the poverty guidelines? Or must the sponsor be able to show for the entire amount necessary? Ie, if poverty guideline is 10k, my fiance makes 3k, would the sponsor only need to show the 7k?

2) How many sponsors can we have? I know the I-864 allows up to 2 joint sponsors, so it that also allowed for the I-134 as well? Or is only one sponsor permitted?

Any help would be appreciated!

[Otto 83]

I'm just unsure of 2 things.

1) Assuming he is able to get a job before I need to fill out the I-134 for the interview, does the sponsor only need to be able to show enough income to accomodate the difference between his current income and the amount stated in the poverty guidelines? Or must the sponsor be able to show for the entire amount necessary? Ie, if poverty guideline is 10k, my fiance makes 3k, would the sponsor only need to show the 7k?

Your fiancé (the USC/Petitioner) will be the sponsor (no matter what) - if he doesn't earn enough to meet the minimum for his household size plus you and/or doesn't have enough liquid assets to make up any difference - he would need a cosponsor. A co sponsor would need to earn (or have assets to help) enough to meet the minimum for his/her household size plus you (their income/assets has to meet the minimum on its own, not combined with your fiancé's.

2) How many sponsors can we have? I know the I-864 allows up to 2 joint sponsors, so it that also allowed for the I-134 as well? Or is only one sponsor permitted?

There can be only one sponsor - you may use a co-sponsor though. Pick the strongest cosponsor - since there's no combining of income, you should go with the one that meets his/her minimum. Adding additional isn't really needed.

The current (2009) Federal Poverty Guidelines (which will change soon). Your sponsor or cosponsor will need to meet the minimum (125% column) for their household size plus you. (Its a little bit more for Hawaii or Alaska - those charts are not shown in the photo.)

[JimVaPhuong 4,863]

First, let's get clear on the terminology. Your fiance is the "sponsor", sometimes called "primary sponsor" on this forum. If his income isn't sufficient, then one of his parents (only one for the I-134) would be a "joint sponsor", often called "co-sponsor" on this forum. The point is that you ALWAYS need a sponsor to get a K1, and that sponsor is your fiancee. If the sponsor doesn't have sufficient income, they can usually get a joint sponsor to help out.

Notice that I said "only one" above. His parents can't both be joint sponsors on the same I-134, and you can't combine their income (if they both work) in order to qualify. A joint sponsor for the I-134 is one person only.

1. If your fiance's income isn't enough, then he'll need a joint sponsor who has enough income. They don't add the joint sponsor's income to your fiance's income. The joint sponsor has to qualify entirely on their own income to meet the 125% threshold for their household size, which includes them, the immigrant (you), and anybody else they provide support for.

2. Since the joint sponsor must meet the income requirements entirely on their own, there would be no point in having more than one joint sponsor. You can't add their income together to qualify.

[Ellaine 0]

Thanks for the clarification, guys!