Need help please

[Jasmine30 0]

I'll start with one of my most pressing questions first, I have many but this is our most urgent.

I am an American citizen My husband is Egyptian and I currently live in Egypt. I do not work and have not worked for almost 8 months since I have been here. We want to file for him to come to the US, but I have not worked so I can not support him in the Affidavit of Support. My father is on disability and my mother does not work, so I have no co-sponsor available. What options do we have?

I have tried to contact the Embassy in Cairo several times, by email and phone and I get no response. The only option I can find online is a co-sponsor. I don't know what to do. I am hoping someone can help us with other options. Can he show that his family can support him? How do people do it without a sponsor?

Thank you for your help.

[together4evr 360]

Assets can be used. If you the wife has 3 times the amount requirement in savings or a home or 401K

Or if spouse has 5 times the amount required in assets

Or if your parents have assets of 5 times the required amount

Required amounts differ....based on family size.

So if it is just you and husband and it is your asset then the american money amount needed is around 58,000. That is 18,400 required amount times 3.

If it is your mother joint sponsering then she needs enough to claim, mom, dad, husband, any other dependants?? If it is just the three then she needs about 18,400 x 5= about 95,000 in american assets.

Unfortuneately this is why spouses are separated. Wives go back home to work in able to support their spouse when they arrive. And then we do not need a co-sponsor.

Good luck

the sponsor has to be american or a green card holder (I think) so his parents supporting him is not an option

Edited February 20, 2012 by togetherforever13

[Jasmine30 0]

Thank you. Are those really our only options? Cause if so I still don't know what to do. My parents and I have no assets, and there is no way my husbands family has that. So really our only option is for me to go try to find a job in the US and leave him in Egypt? I greatly dislike the US government for making this so difficult.

Thank you for your help. Good luck to you.

[together4evr 360]

Sorry I wish I had better answers.

Some people are able to get their best friend to sponsor him or aunts or uncles.

The sponsor does not need to be related.

I heard for other cultures of churches sponsoring... are you involved at a Mosque back in USA that is willing to sponsor him? I never heard of a Mosque sponsoring but it may be worth a try.

Yes leaving husband for 1 year is terrible and expensive flying back and forth for visits every few months.

I wish you the best

[dimples 9]

Sorry that you are in this predicament. If you have friends or family in the US that can help you and be a sponsor that would work. All they need you to prove is that persons coming into the US will not become a financial burden on the country and someone is willing to support them financially!! Which in many cases, they wont have to.

One thing to think about is that this process is a very long one and it can become very taxing on your relationship. The VJ community is here to help you through the process and help you realize that you are not the only one.

However, the sooner you start the sooner it will be over!! Good luck and God bless!

[Jasmine30 0]

I don't know anyone that make enough money that would be willing to do it. In the past I needed a cosigner for a car and no one wanted to do that, I highly doubt they will cosign for him. I am not associated with a mosque in the US, but I will start to ask people. If someone does it they have to be able to show they can afford me, my husband and their household, it this correct? Where do i find this list of amount requirements?

Do you know what people do when they come without a sponsor?

This is so frustrating. We just found out we are pregnant, I can't imagine living in the US without him now.

Thank you so much for your help. ISA your case goes quickly.

[dimples 9]

I don't know anyone that make enough money that would be willing to do it. In the past I needed a cosigner for a car and no one wanted to do that, I highly doubt they will cosign for him. I am not associated with a mosque in the US, but I will start to ask people. If someone does it they have to be able to show they can afford me, my husband and their household, it this correct? Where do i find this list of amount requirements?

Do you know what people do when they come without a sponsor?

This is so frustrating. We just found out we are pregnant, I can't imagine living in the US without him now.

Thank you so much for your help. ISA your case goes quickly.

I dont think you would be allowed to come without a sponsor. Its an important step in the visa process. Congratulations on your pregnancy!!!. I am sure you dont need addtional stress added to your life. I really do wish you all the best.

[together4evr 360]

The joint sponsor has to be able to make enough to support their own family and your husband.

You have to support yourself and your baby. CONGRATS!!!

So, the joint sponsor is obligated for 10 years or forever or until husband becomes a US citizen. If husband works full time for 10 years then joint sponsor is off the hook. If husband becomes citizen joint sponsor is off the hook. If husband never works enough to meet 40 hours of full time employment for 10 years then the joint sponsor is responsiboe to pay the government back any means tested benefits like public aid, medicaid stuff.

You and the baby can get means tested benefits.

If husband is a burden on USA financially then the governement will come after you first cause you are the Sponsor whether you work or not then they will go after the joint sponsor to get their money back

It is overwhelming. Especially with a baby on the way.

Good Luck and God Bless

[Jasmine30 0]

Thank you. WE are very excited. But this process is so stressful and we haven't even started filing papers yet! Could he come from a work sponsor than after we are there and I make money we can change his status? I have so many questions.

Thank you so much for your help. I hope your case goes quickly and easily.

[maiortum 6]

Thank you. Are those really our only options? Cause if so I still don't know what to do. My parents and I have no assets, and there is no way my husbands family has that. So really our only option is for me to go try to find a job in the US and leave him in Egypt? I greatly dislike the US government for making this so difficult.

Thank you for your help. Good luck to you.

These types of situations are always tough and I understand your frustration. What makes our nation - The USA - the envy of the world is the fact that we are a nation of laws. The Affidavit of Support is a legal requirement. The information already posted is mostly true that you must show income or assets. Why does the Govt., make it tough? the issue comes down on many levels. I can give you only one example from personal knowledge and that US citizen man sponsored his wife. Filed a fraudulent AOS and after she arrived he within a few months abandoned her with two kids. She of course got help from the welfare folks but the Government will now hold the husband responsible. The AOS is a legal contract between the sponsor and the government. Try to find someone with adequate income who is willing to sponsor you and your husband. I will keep searching the old brain and post any new ideas. Good Luck. Many blessings.

[together4evr 360]

I am not sure about work visas. But it sounds like an option if he has a career that the USA needs.

Some people have tried winning the DV lottery but they still need a sponsor and that takes even longer than spouse visas.

My husband is in AP. They told him check back in 14 weeks after his interview...we are only on week 5 but I am praying that God will bless us.

Thank you

[dimples 9]

Thank you. WE are very excited. But this process is so stressful and we haven't even started filing papers yet! Could he come from a work sponsor than after we are there and I make money we can change his status? I have so many questions.

Thank you so much for your help. I hope your case goes quickly and easily.

Work visas can work for you. However unless you are aware of a company that will sponsor your husband with the work visas they are hard to come across. Many companies are not willing to invest the money on visas.

Your husband can enter the US on a work visa and once you feel you are established you can change the status of that visa. I am sure there are discussions here regarding the process, work visas can be H1, L1 etc.

[together4evr 360]

Here are 2 sites for I-864 sponsor form and then the poverty guideleines from uscis.gov

http://www.uscis.gov/files/form/i-864instr.pdf

http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/menuitem.5af9bb95919f35e66f614176543f6d1a/?vgnextoid=73c63591ec04d010VgnVCM10000048f3d6a1RCRD

Also, remember this process is expensive.

It will cost 420 dollars to file the I-130

then 88 dollars to file AOS I-864

the 404 dollars to file IV DS-230

If you have been married less than 2 years when he enters USA he will have to remove conditions in 2 years and that will cost another 700 dollars.

It is alot of work, time, and money but anything is possible if you desire it.

[Sandra G. 5,057]

Jasmine you said "Could he come from a work sponsor than after we are there and I make money we can change his status?". The answer is NO!!!

Once an affidavit of support has gone into effect there are only 5 ways the obligation can be removed.

1- When he becomes a U.S. citizen;

2-No longer has lawful permanent resident status, and has departed the United States;

3-Has worked, or can be credited with, 40 quarters of coverage under the Social Security Act;

4-Becomes subject to removal or

5- Dies.

[Darnell 8,479]

actually, the answer is yes.

converting from a 'work visa' to an 'adjustment of status based on marriage to usa citizen' is a well-recognized path for getting a green card.

Heck - we even have a forum here about it.