I'm poor. can I still petition for my spouse?

[Gill2013 2]

You will have to earn about $20K per year inable to be his sole sponsor. If you yearn 10K and another sponsor earns 10K this will workout, too. If you are a LPR it can take about 2-3 years to bring him here though...

immediate relative doesn't take 2-3 years no matter if you're LPR or USC it takes a year if everything go fine regarding paper work and all other requirements.

[Umka36 781]

I just wanted to clarify that LPR spouse don't fall under the immediate relatives visa (IR). They fall under F2A (family-sponsored visas), and the waiting had been 2-3 years before the visa was available. Right now, the F2A wait is less than 2 months, but this can fluctuate when compared to IR visas is immediately available.

http://travel.state.gov/visa/bulletin/bulletin_1360.html

Edited October 21, 2013 by Umka36

[Delboy 6]

You hardly sound like a downer...it's practical and great advice.

But if you look from the other angle you have potentially 2 people earning too....

[apple21 953]

The only relative I have here is my mom who is a USC but currently unemployed. Is there a threshold or something regarding my income that I need to reach to be able to support him?

A friend or a co-worker can be your joint sponsor. As long as they are green card holders or USC that meets the income requirements. It doesn't always have to be a blood relative.

[Confusedtinybird 41]

But if you look from the other angle you have potentially 2 people earning too....

Yes that is if the other person can find a job. You also have twice the expense. It cost a lot of money to move someone and set someone up in the USA. Even with just the basics.

[dwheels76 5,476]

Been a year since i got my green card. So im still a LPR.

Ok..he's not yet my spouse but my fiance. I am planning to go home, get married then petition for him. The problem is I live with my mom and her boyfriend in HIS home. I just recently got a job and it barely pays for my car and all other bills. Basically I can't prove that I can support him when he gets here.

Is there still a way for the petition to be approved? It's hard enough as it is to find a way to get married to him since I just got my job and I can't easily be granted a leave. I just want us to be together. Our relationship is totally legit and we've been together for 7 years. Any thoughts on my situation? Please help.

Thank you so much.

Just be advised because you are going the K1 route and you are going through Manilla they can reject your co-sponsor for no reason and do often. Now if you do use one they must be a blood relative.

Now if you marry they have to accept your co-sponsor if they qualify. Hate to bring this to you but you need to know what you are facing.

Here's a thread you should read to see how things are in your country of interview and how they deal and think about the co-sponsor situation.

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/460617-visa-refused-again-didnt-even-go-thru-apar/

[Darnell 8,479]

The only relative I have here is my mom who is a USC but currently unemployed. Is there a threshold or something regarding my income that I need to reach to be able to support him?

Don't let 'being poor' keep you from filing the I-130 today, or even this week.

Study the I-864P , file the I-130 this week,

and understand,

you've a year or more before the casefile gets to NVC.

IMO, you can be unpoor in a year.

Even more unpoor in two years.

But file this week, that'll start the clock.

Just be advised because you are going the K1 route and you are going through Manilla they can reject your co-sponsor for no reason and do often. Now if you do use one they must be a blood relative.

She's a LPR, ineligble for K-1 route.

[apple21 953]

Just be advised because you are going the K1 route and you are going through Manilla they can reject your co-sponsor for no reason and do often. Now if you do use one they must be a blood relative.

Now if you marry they have to accept your co-sponsor if they qualify. Hate to bring this to you but you need to know what you are facing.

Here's a thread you should read to see how things are in your country of interview and how they deal and think about the co-sponsor situation.

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/460617-visa-refused-again-didnt-even-go-thru-apar/

OP is a green card holder. K1 will not be applicable to her anytime soon as she's been LPR for a year only.

F2A is the better path. Joint sponsor for F2A is accepted by the US Embassy Manila, provided they meet the poverty guidelines of course.

[apple21 953]

Don't let 'being poor' keep you from filing the I-130 today, or even this week.

Study the I-864P , file the I-130 this week,

and understand,

you've a year or more before the casefile gets to NVC.

IMO, you can be unpoor in a year.

Even more unpoor in two years.

But file this week, that'll start the clock.

She's a LPR, ineligble for K-1 route.

Not possible. They are not yet married. She needs to go back to the Philippines first.

[Oneiros 1]

Check page 8-9 of this http://www.uscis.gov/files/form/i-864instr.pdf

To clarify, if you want to COMBINE incomes with a family member to reach the income limits, that person has to be living with you.

If you want to use a friend who isn't living with you instead, that person needs to have income above the limits on their own and not including your income. So you can't combine incomes with them.

[Darnell 8,479]

Not possible. They are not yet married. She needs to go back to the Philippines first.

Duh. My bad. No Curry Laksa for me, meh.

[Delboy 6]

Yes that is if the other person can find a job. You also have twice the expense. It cost a lot of money to move someone and set someone up in the USA. Even with just the basics.

You are right...Thant s why america is called the land of opportunities. But lets give person a chance they will reap what they sow...if they fail to find a job and make most of the opportunities then they do not have any body else to blame but every one deserve a chance to change there life.

[Darnell 8,479]

so, the OP is thinking about her situation TODAY.

Surely it will be different, when it's time to submit the I-864 into NVC.

Yes?

[Pamala Bull 4]

You will have to earn about $20K per year inable to be his sole sponsor. If you yearn 10K and another sponsor earns 10K this will workout, too. If you are a LPR it can take about 2-3 years to bring him here though...

this is incorrect info,

the co-sponsor has to be over poverty to meet requirements u cannot combine income together

[JRF 117]

But if you look from the other angle you have potentially 2 people earning too....

Sure...absolutely...but a budget should be realistic and practical. I think too often people focus on what it takes to satisfy the visa requirements, rather than focusing on what is realistically necessary to operate a household budget here in the US. Having a co-sponsor does not equate to obtaining money from them on a regular basis to pay bills, eat, etc. And, simply meeting 125% of the poverty level doesn't mean much, particularly if you live in New York, LA, etc.