Minimum Income Requirements

[icee 0]

1 - My friend and his spouse make enough to meet the income requirements of poverty guidelines before taxes, so would they be eligible to be joint-sponsors or is the required income amount after taxes?

2 - who is actually considered to be in the household? only the dependent individuals? Would also a working spouse be considered as part of the household size?

3 - Why do they have an option of having up to three joint sponsors?

We would greatly appreciate any replies from you!! Thank you!

[engineer21 51]

1) I am pretty sure it is before taxes. for mine I used gross income (before taxes)

2) All persons living with the sponsor. But be careful when counting in the form, don't count anybody twice.

3) I don't know the answer.. I actually thought you can only have one co-sponsor.. but the option shouldn't matter if they don't need it

[Kyrgyzfriend 0]

1) I am pretty sure it is before taxes. for mine I used gross income (before taxes)

2) All persons living with the sponsor. But be careful when counting in the form, don't count anybody twice.

3) I don't know the answer.. I actually thought you can only have one co-sponsor.. but the option shouldn't matter if they don't need it

2 - In the form it states any dependents 18 or under and spouses need to be counted in the income requirement, so I take it that anyone else living with them doesn't need to be counted, that is as long as they aren't dependent on them financially (that according to their taxes/financial statements).

3 - As for how many joint sponsors you may have, I've heard from an immigration attorney that you can have up to 3 combine their incomes to meet the requirement, though no one else I've talked to seems to know about this. Now on the form it has a spot to add spouses income to meet the requirement (so I'm guessing you can combine your income at least with your spouse), but someone mentioned about if you need to combine your income with your spouse or anyone else to meet the requirement, they would need to fill out an I-864A (which is a form very similar to the I-864, just that it indicates that their income is being combined with yours to meet the requirement).

[LT.Nora 7]

2 - In the form it states any dependents 18 or under and spouses need to be counted in the income requirement, so I take it that anyone else living with them doesn't need to be counted, that is as long as they aren't dependent on them financially (that according to their taxes/financial statements).

3 - As for how many joint sponsors you may have, I've heard from an immigration attorney that you can have up to 3 combine their incomes to meet the requirement, though no one else I've talked to seems to know about this. Now on the form it has a spot to add spouses income to meet the requirement (so I'm guessing you can combine your income at least with your spouse), but someone mentioned about if you need to combine your income with your spouse or anyone else to meet the requirement, they would need to fill out an I-864A (which is a form very similar to the I-864, just that it indicates that their income is being combined with yours to meet the requirement).

1. it is GROSS income.

2. Yes. If someone is listed on your sponsor's tax returns as a dependent, you count them in.

3. Let's say your spouse doesn't meet the requirement so you will be using your Uncle as your co-sponsor. Your uncle lives with his wife and they always file joint tax returns. That means that your spouse will be sponsor Nr 1, your uncle and aunt - sponsors Nr 2. And there will be contract signed between your uncle and aunt, that they are both, together, the sponsors.

USCIS website says: "There may be no more than two joint sponsors. 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."

Edited June 11, 2010 by OCPlastique

[icee 0]

1. it is GROSS income.

2. Yes. If someone is listed on your sponsor's tax returns as a dependent, you count them in.

3. Let's say your spouse doesn't meet the requirement so you will be using your Uncle as your co-sponsor. Your uncle lives with his wife and they always file joint tax returns. That means that your spouse will be sponsor Nr 1, your uncle and aunt - sponsors Nr 2. And there will be contract signed between your uncle and aunt, that they are both, together, the sponsors.

USCIS website says: "There may be no more than two joint sponsors. 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."

I take it that if we find a couple who is willing to be joint sponsors but neither one of them on their own meets the income reqirement but together they do, they can then file together, as they have that option on the I-864 form. I also heard from an immigration attorney that your able have up to 3 sponsors (2 joint sponsors as well as the main sponsor, which in my case would be the person I'm marrying) combine their incomes to meet the requirement, if needed.