I-864 joint sponsor and questions

[Heather Mcnally 0]

Ok, this is a little drawn out and I might miss a few bits.  I appreciate you all taking time to read this and chiming in if you've got advice for us.   Mostly laying it out helps ME get my ducks in a row too !

Bit of background first. 

Married 11 yrs, living in England.  I'm American, He's British. 

We are filing DCF In London for a spouse visa. 

We've received our LND number and are just about ready to book medical and interview.. last steps right ? 

 

We are just waiting on His police certification ( on its way) and a phone call to get an explanatory letter from his Dr to explain ongoing medical issues before the medical, hopefully so we wont be sent back for one after. 

My big questions are on the support affidavit and joint sponsorship 

I have been a home maker here in the England for the past 11 yrs.  As such I've not filed taxes back in the states as i am not required to do so. I have asked for help about this part in the past and will include a letter explaining this with my I 864.  I'll be working as a Doula once we return to the US, but no guaranteed income as yet soo... on to a joint sponsor and our assets to cover us.

Our joint sponsor will be my dad.  Dad is retired military Plus with disability and SS as well.   His last three tax returns show him with a Gross Adjusted Income of aprox 18,900, with a couple grand in savings.  

 

He has other untaxed government income, as shown in his bank statements but not on his Tax returns... so.. for form sake, should we just say 18,900 is his contribution? ( he did send his last few recent savings account statements that show additional payments but I dont know if that PROVES anything) 

Next, my husband Russ has a small retirement annuity due to kick in Sept 26th when he takes his early retirement.   So that part goes on the form as part of his own assets correct?  but on MY sheet or Dads or both ?? ( his annuity is small only around £3k per year)  

Now,, we own a home ( just a mobile ) and a couple plots in the States.  Its in both our names, Valued 14k ish ... free and clear, no mortgage. Do i put this on MY form as my asset?  or  as part of HIS assets ?  

 

About the house and land, will they use the total value ( i have the property assessment card from the county as proof and our yearly tax bills with both our names on it as proof of ownership as well as titles etc) toward our needed 25,500 (125% for us )  that combined with dads basic 18,900 and Russ's pension is around 36 ish ... so great.. 

OR. .is it depreciated or only a portion of the value of our home count ? 

We have the ability.. posssssibly, to have it all sorted before September... if the above stuff we have is sufficient. which obviously we prefer!! OR... 

Along with his retirement comes a half decent payout of £20k  so that will be in the bank as savings as of Sept 26th ...

 

Obviously this could be used as part of his assets, but would they count it as his if its not IN the bank yet?   Would a letter detailing the benefits of his retirement from his Pensions Department at work, be enough before hand to prove ongoing support? OR... would we better to wait until after September for the Interview portion so that the money is actually SITTING in the bank ?

 

 

I know Everyone worries and Everyone thinks their case is different or special or weird... I know we mostly Over worry about stuff .. but I could use a bit of advice and thoughts on this one.. 

Thanks in advance!

 

Heather

[Boiler 45,960]

Sounds like without his other income included your Father would not be able to Sponsor, what is the total.

[Wuozopo 4,293]

Questions first.

 

1) Do you have a child or is it just you and husband?

2) Does Dad have a spouse?

[Heather Mcnally 0]

58 minutes ago, Wuozopo said:

Questions first.

 

1) Do you have a child or is it just you and husband?

2) Does Dad have a spouse?

Dad is a widow with one dependent a grandson.. I filled in the paperwork and looked up the amount we need total as 25,500 

[Wuozopo 4,293]

2 hours ago, Heather Mcnally said:

Dad is a widow with one dependent a grandson.. I filled in the paperwork and looked up the amount we need total as 25,500 

Your form would need $20,300. Household size 2. You, immigrant. 

Dad's form needs $25,525. Household size 3. Dad, dependent child on his tax return, Immigrant.

Source: https://www.uscis.gov/system/files_force/files/form/i-864p.pdf?download=1

 

Either you alone or Dad alone has to reach the mark. You don't add it all together as you suggested. 

 

For you the spouse, your assets must be 3 x [income shortfall] 

3 x $20,300 = $60,900 since you have zero income.

Pending income won't count. However the immigrants assets or ongoing income can count on your form. Go the instructions for the actual form.https://www.uscis.gov/system/files_force/files/form/i-864instr.pdf?download=1 Have you read those? It explains how to do that under Household Member's Assets and Assets of the Intending Immigrant. 

 

For Dad as joint sponsor, his assets must be 5 x [income shortfall]

By the way, it's not adjusted gross income (Line 37). It Line 22 Total Income. They can be different.

 

Going with his stated income--

 $25,525 needed - $18,900 income = $6625 shortfall

5 x  $6625 = $33,125 needed in assets.

 

If he has income not shown on the tax return, then he needs to document it.

Social Security sends a statement every year saying what your amount for the next year will be.

He can get something from the military documenting  his pension in writing. Not familiar with that but I am sure he can get it documented. The same for disability payments. Get a statement from whoever pays the disability.  Use the gross amount stated on each, not what goes in the bank after taxes, or Medicare, or whatever is held out of the check. Think of those as three "employer letters" for the purpose of this form. 

 

Add up his gross income from his "employer letters". You should now have more than $18,900 to work with on Dad's shortfall and asset math. Not sure about adding the Intending Immigrant's property values  to Dad's, since it is not owned outright solely by your husband. You are not part of your Dad's household. I will have to think about that one later. Lunch break. I'm hungry.

 

 

[Heather Mcnally 0]

right right.. i think i got ya now.. 

 

OK.. went through all his paperwork sent from HR Block for 2016.. 

I got a notice from Veteran Benefits.. for 18,904... 

AND .. SS 1099 .. for a total of 7332 

If my math is right.. thats 26, 236 ... that covers us right ?

The rest is redundant ?