Sponsorship for spouse

[notsureatall 0]

Hello! We are starting to think about moving from the UK to the US. Because I am sponsoring my spouse, we need 3x the 125% Federal Povery Level and we are a family of three. So we would need about 75,000. Correct? Can this all be done from savings? Do I need to move back and get a job ahead of time? We have enough from our own savings, but not much more than that.

[Mark88 184]

Hello! We are starting to think about moving from the UK to the US. Because I am sponsoring my spouse, we need 3x the 125% Federal Povery Level and we are a family of three. So we would need about 75,000. Correct?

No, it will depend on yur family size, and state you are moving to. I.e. moving to California for a family of two (family that already will be living with you in the household in the US will count, too), you will need about $58.986. For Alaska or Hawaii it will be more.

http://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/files/form/i-864p.pdf

Can this all be done from savings?

Yes.

Do I need to move back and get a job ahead of time?

No.

[notsureatall 0]

We are a family of three, myself, my US/UKbaby and my UK spouse. We would be going back to PA to start with, but I am not sure after that.

So, if I moved back to my parents' house we would have to have enough money in savings to cover all five of us? I wouldn't be counting on them to provide co-sponsorship.

[Penguin_ie 5,997]

Household in this case is a financial unity, not a physical one. If you live in your parents home, but are financially independent, they don't claim you and you don;t claim them on ax return etc., then it is just your family of 3.

Yes you can sponsor on savings; we did that as my USC husband also lived abroad with me and our twins. Usually if you use JUST savings, they want you to be very comfortably over the x3, and most embassies will want the savings to be US based.

[notsureatall 0]

Ok, that is not an issue then as I do not claim my parents and they don't claim any of us. I guess the problem will be that the savings are not mainly US based.

I have some in the US, but they are mainly my husband's savings and are UK based. I guess it depends on what comfortably is defined as. Sigh!

[MUXAGIRL 69]

http://www.***removed***/affidavit-of-support/i-864p-poverty-guidelines.html

If you would do it entirely with your salary, documented by W-2, then you need to show an income of $24,737

If you are going to do it entirely from savings, then it's three times the above number.

Appraised market value of your house can be included, so could be the sale price of your car from Kelly blue book, any stocks, bond, CDs etc can count towards the $75,000 you would need. However, since you are also in UK, I am not sure if UK real estate and automobile can be included in this portfolio or not.

[notsureatall 0]

If they decide we don't meet the requirements, do we just get totally rejected and we have to start again, or do they let us come back? Will we lose all the money?

We don't have any property that is one of the reasons we would like to move back! We do have a car, but it isn't worth much of anything.

Edited August 31, 2014 by notsureatall

[MUXAGIRL 69]

They will let you come back within a reasonable time period, about one year. If not enough financial support evidence is not presented at the interview, they are most likely going to give your spouse a 221(g), which is temporary refusal of visa for insufficient document submission and ask you to get a joint sponsor. Once you come up with more financial support and contact them again, visa application can resume and visa can be issued if everything is satisfactory.

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

Hello! We are starting to think about moving from the UK to the US. Because I am sponsoring my spouse, we need 3x the 125% Federal Povery Level and we are a family of three. So we would need about 75,000. Correct? Can this all be done from savings? Do I need to move back and get a job ahead of time? We have enough from our own savings, but not much more than that.

Correct on $75,000. Assets/savings can be used.

Move back ahead? No, but part of your sponsorship requirement is to show you intend to reestablish domicile (to get around the I-864 requirement that the sponsor be US based). Your consulate London is very easy on the domicile part. Read what they say about the I-864 http://london.usembassy.gov/faqs-i864.html

London may ask at the interview how you intend to move the funds to the US. They don't have to be there ahead of time.

Your father can be a joint sponsor with an income or retirement income of $24,737.

Household size for poverty guidelines --> Mom, Dad, and immigrant

You, nor your child (if American) need to be counted on Dad's form if he is a joint sponsor as Penguin explained.

[notsureatall 0]

My father is retired, so I'm not sure how much he has in terms of a pension. I guess if we need it we can ask, although I'd prefer not to get them involved.

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

My father is retired, so I'm not sure how much he has in terms of a pension. I guess if we need it we can ask, although I'd prefer not to get them involved.

You can have his sponsorship form and documentation in your folder. Don't turn it in at the document collection (first) window. Turn in only your financials. At the interview (second window) if the officer is not happy with your sponsorship, then you could pull out the joint sponsorship. That way, Dad is not involved unless necessary.

I also wanted you to know how London handles this since I have followed them closely for 6 years and you got quite the variety of answers. Do read the London FAQs.

[MUXAGIRL 69]

Any uncle, aunts, siblings can also help you out, if you have any.

[notsureatall 0]

Nope! Only child, no other relatives who could really help. I don't think my parents would be willing to co-sponsor, so even getting the information might be a no-go.

Thanks for all the help already. It seems like we should be ok, if we decide to go through with it. We are still discussing, but it is nice to know we have options.

Edited August 31, 2014 by notsureatall

[bendinlar 16]

Got any friends in the us?

Any USC or lpr can do cosponsoring, provided they make enough money.

[dwheels76 5,476]

Since you will be filing at the embassy you will need to re-establish Domicile and show that to the embassy so have that all together. The approval and processing at embassy goes pretty fast so you could very well be here by Christmas

I, XXXX, am currently residing in FOREIGN COUNTRY with my spouse, SPOUSE'S NAME. Below you will find a list of attached documents to show that my principle residence is in the US and the steps that I have taken to return to the US with my family.

Steps I have taken to maintain US Domicile:

• Maintained my XXXX voter registration

• Maintained my XXXX credit card registered in the US with a US PO box

• Maintained my bank account at the XXXX Credit Union

• Maintained my bank account at XXXX Bank

• Maintained my XXXX drivers license

• Maintained my US retirement fund through XXXX

• Maintained my US investment account with XXXX

• Maintained my US PO box

• Maintained licensure by the XXXX

• Maintained membership in the XXXX

• Maintained my automobile in care of my parents

Supporting Documents for the above steps I have taken:

• Voter registration card showing permanent US address

• XXXX credit card statement showing US billing address

• XXXX Credit Union statement showing permanent US address

• XXXX Bank statement showing permanent US address

• XXXX drivers license showing permanent US address

• Retirement fund statement showing permanent US address

• Mutual fund statement showing permanent US address

• XXXX license currently up to date

• Renewal of XXXX membership

• County tax bill showing I still own a vehicle

Steps I have taken to return to the US to take up residence:

• Made arrangements for us to have a house to live in

• Contacted schools for requirements of things to bring to register my children in school

• Contacted my auto insurance company to find out about re-instating my insurance on my car

• Contacted shipping company for estimate of costs to ship belongings

Supporting documents for the above steps I have taken:

• Lease agreement for our house

• Email from schools regarding registration requirements

• Email from my former auto insurance company regarding my inquiry

• Email from XXXX with estimate and correspondence regarding shipping our belongings

I declare that I intend in good faith to re-establish my domicile in the United States no later than the date of spouse's admission into the US.

I certify under penalty of perjury under the laws of the United States that the statements in this letter and all accompanying evidence are true and correct.

Signature: ____________________________________________________ Date: ______________________

.