When should we apply for my new husbands Green Card/ Visa?

[lmegac 2]

We are both in our early 60's and have known each other for around 40 years, but have been a couple for 5 and got married in the USA on July 4th this year.  He is South African and I was born in the UK but became an American Citizen about 12 years ago.  We currently are working on contracts overseas, but want to retire in the USA where we have a home.  As we will only retire in 2 or 3 years time, when should we apply for him to reside in the USA?  He currently has a visa and we visit the USA one or two times a year.  We don't want to be forced to retire early if our work is going well.

 

Any advice would be much appreciated.

 

 

[Boiler 45,486]

Will you be able to sponsor him or do you have a joint sponsor lined up?

 

Presumably you have worked out how you will take care of Health care etc.

 

 

[Just Paul 4,595]

If you have sufficient assets, the best time to apply is about a year and a half before he wants to come to the US.  

 

Otherwise the issue might become his being able to be in the US the majority of the time he has the green card if he and more importantly you are still working.

 

In either case the cost of affording healthcare is going to be a major issue that needs to be addressed.

[pushbrk 12,881]

A year and a half before your retirement date is the time to start the process.  Since you, the US Citizen's income will stop, unless one or both of you will have ongoing income from some non-employment source, you would either need to qualify as sponsor based on assets or have a joint sponsor.  You're adults, so you know the practical aspects of living after retiring.  People have mentioned "healthcare".  You are not required to show evidence you have that in hand, as part of the immigration process.  

 

 

[lmegac 2]

11 hours ago, Boiler said:

Will you be able to sponsor him or do you have a joint sponsor lined up?

 

Presumably you have worked out how you will take care of Health care etc.

 

 

Thank you for your reply.  I will be able to sponsor him, as I earn above the amount needed per year.  And currently we have international medical schemes due to our travel, so we are used to paying these types of premiums.  We will revert to USA premiums once back in the USA and hopefully they will be lower than what we currently are paying.  We will probably both work part-time or even full time when we first arrive in USA, so will hopefully have medical insurance through a company. 

 

[Boiler 45,486]

4 hours ago, lmegac said:

Thank you for your reply.  I will be able to sponsor him, as I earn above the amount needed per year.  And currently we have international medical schemes due to our travel, so we are used to paying these types of premiums.  We will revert to USA premiums once back in the USA and hopefully they will be lower than what we currently are paying.  We will probably both work part-time or even full time when we first arrive in USA, so will hopefully have medical insurance through a company. 

 

In your original post you said you were retiring and moving to the US, anyway I have a feeling Health cover in the US will be significantly more than you are paying now.

 

Good luck

[carmel34 3,626]

8 hours ago, lmegac said:

as I earn above the amount needed per year

Keep in mind that your income to sponsor him for a spousal visa will need to be US-based, any income earned abroad will not count at all for sponsorship.  You may have enough assets to qualify, review the I-864 and instructions for more information on what is required.  If you will have retirement benefits that will continue in the US when you retire there and stop working, that plus assets may be enough to be his sponsor, if not, you will need a joint sponsor in the US.  You'll also need evidence of a US domicile and also US tax returns for the most recent three years, US citizens need to file tax returns with the IRS based on their world-wide income, regardless of their country of residency.  You may have to move to the US without your husband to establish a US domicile and US income for a period of six months or so.  Good luck!

[lmegac 2]

15 hours ago, carmel34 said:

Keep in mind that your income to sponsor him for a spousal visa will need to be US-based, any income earned abroad will not count at all for sponsorship.  You may have enough assets to qualify, review the I-864 and instructions for more information on what is required.  If you will have retirement benefits that will continue in the US when you retire there and stop working, that plus assets may be enough to be his sponsor, if not, you will need a joint sponsor in the US.  You'll also need evidence of a US domicile and also US tax returns for the most recent three years, US citizens need to file tax returns with the IRS based on their world-wide income, regardless of their country of residency.  You may have to move to the US without your husband to establish a US domicile and US income for a period of six months or so.  Good luck!

Thank you!  There are some things I never thought of in your comments.  I do submit US Tax returns each year with Worldwide income.  I will speak to my Financial Adviser and confirm that I am covered, but I am pretty sure I earn enough and will check out I-864, thank you so much for your time.  Much appreciated. 

[lmegac 2]

18 hours ago, Boiler said:

In your original post you said you were retiring and moving to the US, anyway I have a feeling Health cover in the US will be significantly more than you are paying now.

 

Good luck

I am based out of USA but work on a contract overseas.  I currently pay in excess of $10,000 for medical insurance.

[Boiler 45,486]

That does sound like US costs, no doubt the scope of cover would be different.

[SalishSea 17,827]

18 hours ago, lmegac said:

Thank you!  There are some things I never thought of in your comments.  I do submit US Tax returns each year with Worldwide income.  I will speak to my Financial Adviser and confirm that I am covered, but I am pretty sure I earn enough and will check out I-864, thank you so much for your time.  Much appreciated. 

Except that your income is not US-based, and will not continue once here, so it will not qualify you as a sponsor.

[lmegac 2]

On 8/17/2019 at 4:19 AM, Jorgedig said:

Except that your income is not US-based, and will not continue once here, so it will not qualify you as a sponsor.

My income is earned in Country A, but the funds are from Country B, but deposited deposited into my USA account.  Does that mean I am not paid in the USA?  Also if I had investments in the USA that were to pay me out monthly, would that count towards the amount I should earn in the USA?

[lmegac 2]

On 8/14/2019 at 10:40 PM, Paul & Mary said:

If you have sufficient assets, the best time to apply is about a year and a half before he wants to come to the US.  

 

Otherwise the issue might become his being able to be in the US the majority of the time he has the green card if he and more importantly you are still working.

 

In either case the cost of affording healthcare is going to be a major issue that needs to be addressed.

Thank you.   

[Boiler 45,486]

As long as you can show that the income will continue once you move back to the US that is all that is required.

[lmegac 2]

34 minutes ago, Boiler said:

As long as you can show that the income will continue once you move back to the US that is all that is required.

Thanks Boiler, we both will be able to show this, but more importantly, I will.