Can the Joint Sponsor have a household member?

[Bengalita 12]

Hi. I was wondering if an immigrant needed a joint sponsor, and the joint sponsor's income alone didn't meet the Pov. Guidelines, could that joint sponsor use his wife (aka household member) income in order to satisfy the poverty guidelines?

Let me explain. My friend "Fany"'s husband cannot meet the Pov. Guidelines. So, they need a Joint Sponsor. "Fany" asked "Jose" to be the Joint Sponsor. "Jose" said sure no problem, but his income alone doesn't cover for everyone (Family of 4, including "Fany"), however, since "Jose" files taxes as married/joint with his wife "Meri", their TOTAL HOUSEHOLD INCOME definitely meets the guidelines. Can "Jose" do a I-864 as a Joint Sponsor and his wife "Meri" do a I-864a?

Thanks

[VanessaTony 3,567]

Hi. I was wondering if an immigrant needed a joint sponsor, and the joint sponsor's income alone didn't meet the Pov. Guidelines, could that joint sponsor use his wife (aka household member) income in order to satisfy the poverty guidelines?

Let me explain. My friend "Fany"'s husband cannot meet the Pov. Guidelines. So, they need a Joint Sponsor. "Fany" asked "Jose" to be the Joint Sponsor. "Jose" said sure no problem, but his income alone doesn't cover for everyone (Family of 4, including "Fany"), however, since "Jose" files taxes as married/joint with his wife "Meri", their TOTAL HOUSEHOLD INCOME definitely meets the guidelines. Can "Jose" do a I-864 as a Joint Sponsor and his wife "Meri" do a I-864a?

Thanks

yes. It really is that simple. If the joint-sponsor and his wife's income meet the 125% TOGETHER, then one of them (doesn'tm atter who) completed the I-864 and the other one completed the I-864A. Remembering that their HOUSEHOLD income is listed on the income line in the I-864. The primary sponsor (the spouse of the immigrant) also completed an I-864.

For the joint-sponsor their household size would be husband, wife, and immigrant (as well as any kids).

Hope that helps.

[Bengalita 12]

yes. It really is that simple. If the joint-sponsor and his wife's income meet the 125% TOGETHER, then one of them (doesn'tm atter who) completed the I-864 and the other one completed the I-864A. Remembering that their HOUSEHOLD income is listed on the income line in the I-864. The primary sponsor (the spouse of the immigrant) also completed an I-864.

For the joint-sponsor their household size would be husband, wife, and immigrant (as well as any kids).

Hope that helps.

Hi Vanessa & Tony...thank you for your reply. Thats what I thought. I've looked and looked to see if there is ANYTHING in the instructions that would impede a Joint Sponsor from having a household member in order to help an immigrant whose sponsor (petitioner) can't meet the guidelines. Honestly, I haven't found ANYTHING that would impede Joint Sponsor from, in fact, using his household member for this purpose. So, great. Thanks for your re-assurance.

Ok, I have another question. I just now realized (by reading the instructions) that a I-864a must be signed in front of a notary. And.....oh man, "Meri" ("Jose's" household member/spouse) did not sign it in front of a Notary. She just signed it and that was it. Do you think that Immigration could deny the petition because the I-864a wasn't signed in front of a notary? "Fani" had submitted this Joint Sponsor stuff in response to an RFE, because the original I-864 was done wrong (some wrong calculations with the assets) and Immigration said they couldn't do it that way and gave her 87 days to look for a Joint Sponsor. So, do you think the fact that "Meri" didn't sign it in front of a notary would mean that the RFE wasn't satisfied appropriately, hence resulting in a denial?

Please advise. And again, your answers are very valuable. Thanks again!

[VanessaTony 3,567]

Hi Vanessa & Tony...thank you for your reply. Thats what I thought. I've looked and looked to see if there is ANYTHING in the instructions that would impede a Joint Sponsor from having a household member in order to help an immigrant whose sponsor (petitioner) can't meet the guidelines. Honestly, I haven't found ANYTHING that would impede Joint Sponsor from, in fact, using his household member for this purpose. So, great. Thanks for your re-assurance.

Ok, I have another question. I just now realized (by reading the instructions) that a I-864a must be signed in front of a notary. And.....oh man, "Meri" ("Jose's" household member/spouse) did not sign it in front of a Notary. She just signed it and that was it. Do you think that Immigration could deny the petition because the I-864a wasn't signed in front of a notary? "Fani" had submitted this Joint Sponsor stuff in response to an RFE, because the original I-864 was done wrong (some wrong calculations with the assets) and Immigration said they couldn't do it that way and gave her 87 days to look for a Joint Sponsor. So, do you think the fact that "Meri" didn't sign it in front of a notary would mean that the RFE wasn't satisfied appropriately, hence resulting in a denial?

Please advise. And again, your answers are very valuable. Thanks again!

This I-864A: http://www.uscis.gov/files/form/i-864a.pdf looks WAY different to the I-864A I saw last... I cant' find any mention of signing it in front of a notary... I'm still confused by this new form.. I really remember the old one being about 1 page and no info was listed on it except name and signature. maybe I'm remembering wrong...

[Bengalita 12]

This I-864A: http://www.uscis.gov/files/form/i-864a.pdf looks WAY different to the I-864A I saw last... I cant' find any mention of signing it in front of a notary... I'm still confused by this new form.. I really remember the old one being about 1 page and no info was listed on it except name and signature. maybe I'm remembering wrong...

No, you're right. The old i-864a only asked for a signature pretty much. But, there was a space there for the Notary to fill in. Well, here's the weird part. If you read the instructions on the actual USCIS page for the most current I-864a, it says that it must be signed by a notary. However, when you download the actual application and look at it, there is NOTHING that mentions the signing in front of a notary. In fact, there is not even any space in the actual I-864a that leaves any blanks for the Notary to fill in. Very weird.

Edited November 19, 2010 by zonryza

[VanessaTony 3,567]

No, you're right. The old i-864a only asked for a signature pretty much. But, there was a space there for the Notary to fill in. Well, here's the weird part. If you read the instructions on the actual USCIS page for the most current I-864a, it says that it must be signed by a notary. However, when you download the actual application and look at it, there is NOTHING that mentions the signing in front of a notary. In fact, there is not even any space in the actual I-864a that leaves any blanks for the Notary to fill in. Very weird.

Thank goodness I'm not going crazy(er ) Well, that solves that problem then!

The extra weird part about the form? It's dated 2007 (when we both know it's "new" and expired at the end of Oct 2010 (still usable though). It's just.. odd...