Do I need new I864s?

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

Thanks once more, Nich-Nick. You are my guru at the moment.

I have yet to break the news to my co-sponsor that he needs to fill out entirely new forms (one for each of the five of us to boot) and send them over. Will do that later today when the time zones are more in sync.

I had a feeling that they would not even give a job offer or contract a second glance. It makes absolute sense, of course, that they would ignore it since it does not guarantee his ability to support us. What if by the time of the interviews my husband has actually started work and is being paid though? Would they want to see that information then? (I just want to ensure I have all the paperwork I need)

Thanks

Laura

PS Is this the new I864 form? Just want to be sure: http://www.uscis.gov/files/form/i-864.pdf

I'm sure it says in the instructions somewhere that photocopies of the one original I-864 can be used for the kids support packages. I know I have read that on something official, but too lazy to look it up.

If you husband has employment by your interview and can take a letter from the employer stating he is currently employed as a..... And earning $....... Plus some pay stubs...then that should work. Maybe you won't need the joint sponsor.

The USCIS website only has the new form. Get it from there and it won't be wrong. Don't pull up an old one saved on your computer. The form version date is in the lower left hand corner. 3/22/2013. The N following it mean No to using previous editions.

Weerrrr.. OK. So I'm probably looking at the right long form (http://www.uscis.gov/files/form/i-864.pdf - although I don't see a barcode on it, so still feeling quite confused about that). That's the form we've completed, and it's mostly blank because it's just my hubs sponsoring me and no one else with just income.

So, what's the deal with this I-864EZ? http://www.uscis.gov/files/form/i-864ez.pdf

The London Embassy website doesn't seem to mention it, but the DoS* does and it seems to fit against what we'd complete (sponsor filed I-130 for just me using just his salary)... Is that just for CR/IR-1 folk who do this the traditional, non-DCF, method and I should pretend I never saw it?

*http://travel.state.gov/visa/immigrants/info/info_3197.html

I'm going to staple our tax returns, too, as they're quite a few pages long.

The EZ version should be fine. You are eligible for the shorter version. I use an iPad and the barcodes don't show unless I'm on the desktop, so I don't really know without going into the study where our big computers are. I see it was updated on the same date 3/22/2013. I thought they were adding barcodes to each form as they came up for OMB review. Notice the Y after the form date which means Yes previous editions are accepted. Edited July 10, 2013 by Nich-Nick

[lost_at_sea 995]

The EZ version should be fine. You are eligible for the shorter version. I use an iPad and the barcodes don't show unless I'm on the desktop, so I don't really know without going into the study where our big computers are. I see it was updated on the same date 3/22/2013. I thought they were adding barcodes to each form as they came up for OMB review. Notice the Y after the form date which means Yes previous editions are accepted.

Hmm... interesting. Wonder if it's a Preview thing on OSX. Don't see barcodes on desktop mac either. Might go boot up a Windows VM and see if that has the barcode when viewed there.

Edit: AH HAH! I was right. The barcode does not display on a Mac. Shows immediately and obviously on a Windows machine. Might do a tester print on Mac to see if it shows up then, and if not find a way to print if from my VM.

Edited July 10, 2013 by lost_at_sea

[LauraDP 10]

Thanks, Nich-Nick.

It seems I have the right version of the "new" form since what you described does indeed appear. I am not incidentally seeing a bar code but I am using Windows on a desktop PC.

I will do a google to find out about just using copies of the one form for the kids but I thought all the signatures at least still had to be original. When we put together the last set of I864s, we certainly did separate copies for each of the five of us.

Thanks

Laura

[LauraDP 10]

I found this on this website:

Need to prepare Affidavits for several members of the same family at once? If the sponsor is bringing in more than one person (for example, a spouse and children) within the same process, he or she can simply copy Form I-864 (with supporting documents) the appropriate number of times after signing it.

(Source: http://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/free-books/fiance-marriage-visa-book/chapter8-5.html)

But I knew I would feel more confident if I had found it on a government site. So I found this statement:

Does each accompanying family member need separate documents if they are traveling with the principal applicant?

No, however, dependents immigrating with the principal applicant must have a signed original or a photocopy of the principal applicant's Form I-864, and I-864A if applicable. Copies may only be used by dependents named on the principal applicant's original forms.

(Source: http://travel.state.gov/visa/immigrants/info/info_3183.html)

So it seems we can indeed just provide photocopies for the children so long as the original is submitted for me.

Cheers

Laura

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

I found this on this website:

Need to prepare Affidavits for several members of the same family at once? If the sponsor is bringing in more than one person (for example, a spouse and children) within the same process, he or she can simply copy Form I-864 (with supporting documents) the appropriate number of times after signing it.

(Source: http://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/free-books/fiance-marriage-visa-book/chapter8-5.html)

But I knew I would feel more confident if I had found it on a government site. So I found this statement:

Does each accompanying family member need separate documents if they are traveling with the principal applicant?

No, however, dependents immigrating with the principal applicant must have a signed original or a photocopy of the principal applicant's Form I-864, and I-864A if applicable. Copies may only be used by dependents named on the principal applicant's original forms.

(Source: http://travel.state.gov/visa/immigrants/info/info_3183.html)

So it seems we can indeed just provide photocopies for the children so long as the original is submitted for me.

Cheers

Laura

Laura--see the actual instructions for Form I-864. Page 10, item #12

12. Do I Need to Submit a Separate Affidavit for Each Family Member?

You must submit a Form I-864 affidavit of support for each intending immigrant you are sponsoring. You may submit photocopies if you are sponsoring more than one intending immigrant listed on the same affidavit of support.

Separate affidavits of support are required for intending immigrants for whom different Form I-130 family-based petitions were filed. For instance, if you are sponsoring both parents, each will need an original affidavit of support and accompanying documentation since you were required to submit separate Form I-130 visa petitions for each parent. Often a spouse or minor children obtain visas or adjust status as dependents of a relative, based on the same visa petition. If you are sponsoring such dependents, you only need to provide a photocopy of the original Form I-864, as long as these dependents are immigrating at the same time as the principal immigrant or within 6 months of the time he or she immigrates to the United States. You do not need to provide copies of the supporting documents for each of the photocopied Forms I-864.

Did your children have separate I-130 petitions?

[LauraDP 10]

Laura--see the actual instructions for Form I-864. Page 10, item #12

12. Do I Need to Submit a Separate Affidavit for Each Family Member?

You must submit a Form I-864 affidavit of support for each intending immigrant you are sponsoring. You may submit photocopies if you are sponsoring more than one intending immigrant listed on the same affidavit of support.

Separate affidavits of support are required for intending immigrants for whom different Form I-130 family-based petitions were filed. For instance, if you are sponsoring both parents, each will need an original affidavit of support and accompanying documentation since you were required to submit separate Form I-130 visa petitions for each parent. Often a spouse or minor children obtain visas or adjust status as dependents of a relative, based on the same visa petition. If you are sponsoring such dependents, you only need to provide a photocopy of the original Form I-864, as long as these dependents are immigrating at the same time as the principal immigrant or within 6 months of the time he or she immigrates to the United States. You do not need to provide copies of the supporting documents for each of the photocopied Forms I-864.

Did your children have separate I-130 petitions?

Ack, yes! My kids all had separate I130s so they do need separate I864s. Doh!

My husband handled all of the I864 stuff before so none of the instructions are in my memory banks.

Thanks for steering me in the right direction. My brain is becoming more addled with every item that goes on my epic To Do list.

Laura