Who can be my joint sponsor?

[Flying Grype 0]

I freely admit that in the interview today, when I was told I needed a joint sponsor because I didn't make enough money to support my husband for his residency visa, I cried. I didn't hear everything he said, or at least I don't trust my brain to recall everything correctly at the moment.

This can be a friend, right? It doesn't have to be a relative?

Why does this not constitute fraud, to have someone unrelated just step in and fill out a form?

Should the co-sponsor be someone who knows my husband well (since he's the one becoming a resident) or someone who knows me well (since it's my income that needs supplementing)?

The hilarious thing is that we are moving to the US so that my husband can keep a job he already has there. He's been doing that work under a different kind of visa for a few years, but that visa was not renewed, so we're pursuing residency. We will actually have plenty of money when we get there, well over the poverty limit, even if I don't have a job. But because that job is his and not mine, it doesn't count as proof that we'll have something to live on.

Thanks in advance.

Edited October 30, 2012 by Flying Grype

[aleful 1,905]

I freely admit that in the interview today, when I was told I needed a joint sponsor because I didn't make enough money to support my husband for his residency visa, I cried. I didn't hear everything he said, or at least I don't trust my brain to recall everything correctly at the moment.

This can be a friend, right? It doesn't have to be a relative?

Why does this not constitute fraud, to have someone unrelated just step in and fill out a form?

Should the co-sponsor be someone who knows my husband well (since he's the one becoming a resident) or someone who knows me well (since it's my income that needs supplementing)?

The hilarious thing is that we are moving to the US so that my husband can keep a job he already has there. He's been doing that work under a different kind of visa for a few years, but that visa was not renewed, so we're pursuing residency. We will actually have plenty of money when we get there, well over the poverty limit, even if I don't have a job. But because that job is his and not mine, it doesn't count as proof that we'll have something to live on.

Thanks in advance.

If you don't work, then you needed a joint sponsor, his job doesn't count, you are the one who has to prove to the US government that he won't become a public charge

the i864 comes with instructions. a joint sponsor can be anyone, a US resident or citizen that makes over the 125% above the poverty guidelines to cover him or herself, their family if he or she has one and your husband.

it can be his friend or your friend, relative, your boss, neighbor, anyone who will commit to this, and it is not easy to find one.

why would it be a fraud? the government wants a person who will be responsible for your husband so he doesn't become a public charge

as long as the person meets all the requirements, no problem

[rade2rising 205]

how come you did not realize this before the interview? seems like such a waste of time.....

[Penguin_ie 5,997]

Your question about fraud is a bit odd- the co-sponsor is not "just filling out a form", they are potentially financially responsible for life.

[Flying Grype 0]

Obviously the right way to do this is for me to get down there and work first, get a few paystubs, and extrapolate my income forward. After two months or so I should be able to do that.

I know the responsibility and liability of joint sponsoring are real, and I don't want to ask a friend to do that even if the likelihood we'll need support is crazy low.

[kwara4u 14]

COULD BE ANYONE BUT MOM, DAD, BROTHER, SIS OR INLAWS ARE BEST TO HAVE AS JOINT SPONSOR. THEY DONT HAVE TO LIVE IN SAME HOUSE