I-864 Do I need a Joint Sponsor if Unemployed/Furloughed

[SteveInBostonI130 3,434]

Hello,

 

I am currently furloughed due to the Covid-19 crisis.  There is a chance I will still be furloughed or unemployed at the time I need to submit the I-864.  I have more than sufficient income for the past 3 years, have a good savings account balance (almost 3x the threshold) and have actually earned above the poverty threshold for 2020 before I was furloughed, when adding in unemployment insurance income.

 

Would I need to have a joint sponsor?

 

[designguy 1,179]

If your CURRENT income does not meet the minimum requirements and you dont have assets that would cover the requirements then you need a JS

[SteveInBostonI130 3,434]

Ok...

 

Isn't income from 2020 my current income?  

[Nitas_man 3,100]

4 minutes ago, SteveInBostonI130 said:

Ok...

 

Isn't income from 2020 my current income?  

Unemployment would be counted as current income

With that said it makes overcoming public charge difficult

[SteveInBostonI130 3,434]

Prior to being furloughed, I earned a little over $20,000.  With UI, the income would be about $45k for 2020.  I hope to be off UI and back working before needing to submit the I-864, but in the worst case scenario I will be submitting the above income data.  Will NVC insist that I have a current job, or will the above be enough?  I can ask someone to be a JS as a last resort, but I hope to avoid it if possible.

 

This is for a household size of 2, including my spouse beneficiary, fyi.

 

[geowrian 22,337]

UC does technically qualify as income, although do not expect a CO to believe it will satisfy overcoming the the public charge issue given it's fixed duration and such.

I can't say if NVC will let it pass and let the CO make that call, or if they will issue a checklist...these are unique times.

 

I would suggest having a joint sponsor, at least for NVC. If you resume employment and that meets the criteria later, you can present a new I-864 at the visa interview.

Although with a little over $20k alone would generally highly suggest a joint sponsor anyway. You simply can't actually live on that w/o gov assistance in the US.

[designguy 1,179]

36 minutes ago, SteveInBostonI130 said:

Prior to being furloughed, I earned a little over $20,000.  With UI, the income would be about $45k for 2020.  I hope to be off UI and back working before needing to submit the I-864, but in the worst case scenario I will be submitting the above income data.  Will NVC insist that I have a current job, or will the above be enough?  I can ask someone to be a JS as a last resort, but I hope to avoid it if possible.

 

This is for a household size of 2, including my spouse beneficiary, fyi.

 

Do you mean you earned 20k YTD or your salary is 20k? If you salary is a little over 20k then a join sponsor is definitely recommended. 

 

Keep in mind the minimums are just that. Being over doesnt mean that the officer wont ask for a JS. They evaluate the totality of the case

[SteveInBostonI130 3,434]

34 minutes ago, designguy said:

Do you mean you earned 20k YTD or your salary is 20k? If you salary is a little over 20k then a join sponsor is definitely recommended. 

 

Keep in mind the minimums are just that. Being over doesnt mean that the officer wont ask for a JS. They evaluate the totality of the case

Hello,

 

That is my YTD to March 20.  Annual salary is not an issue.

 

[geowrian 22,337]

3 minutes ago, SteveInBostonI130 said:

That is my YTD to March 20.  Annual salary is not an issue.

Ah, YTD doesn't matter. Annual income (what you earn in a 12 month period) is what matters. Unemployed today (minus any UC) would have a current income of $0. Employed in Decemeber at $50k/year means a current income of $50k/year.

[pushbrk 12,876]

Anything before today is NOT "current".  Current income, for the "employed" is calculated by taking the gross income for a full pay period times the number of pay periods in a full year.

 

If you made 100k last year and 40K already this year, but are not working TODAY (currently) then your current income is ZERO.  Sure, you can count your unemployment but it is not considered as something that will be there long term to support you and your spouse.

 

On the other side of that coin, if you start a new job today at 50k a year, your current income is 50k,

[SteveInBostonI130 3,434]

2 hours ago, pushbrk said:

Anything before today is NOT "current".  Current income, for the "employed" is calculated by taking the gross income for a full pay period times the number of pay periods in a full year.

 

If you made 100k last year and 40K already this year, but are not working TODAY (currently) then your current income is ZERO.  Sure, you can count your unemployment but it is not considered as something that will be there long term to support you and your spouse.

 

On the other side of that coin, if you start a new job today at 50k a year, your current income is 50k,

Thank you.  Along with Geowrian's post, is the information I needed to know.

 

Edited April 21, 2020 by SteveInBostonI130

[pushbrk 12,876]

7 minutes ago, SteveInBostonI130 said:

Thank you.  Along with Geowrian's post, is the information I needed to know.

 

So the day you go back to work, your current income is whatever it will be for twelve months at your current rate.  It really IS that simple.

 

[Khevinox 11]

16 hours ago, SteveInBostonI130 said:

Hello,

 

I am currently furloughed due to the Covid-19 crisis.  There is a chance I will still be furloughed or unemployed at the time I need to submit the I-864.  I have more than sufficient income for the past 3 years, have a good savings account balance (almost 3x the threshold) and have actually earned above the poverty threshold for 2020 before I was furloughed, when adding in unemployment insurance income.

 

Would I need to have a joint sponsor?

 

even if you dont need a co sponsor, you should add one or two. it works in your favor. 

[pushbrk 12,876]

4 hours ago, Khevinox said:

even if you dont need a co sponsor, you should add one or two. it works in your favor. 

Ugg.  There are no "co sponsors" in immigrant visa cases, and in spouse visa case, there can be only ONE "joint sponsor".

 

Have you actually read the I-864, the contract part?  Would you, yourself sign that, if it wasn't absolutely necessary?  

[Ontarkie 14,218]

~~4 posts removed for derailing thread. Stick to answering the OP. When one does not know the answer it is best to let others offer advice. Giving the wrong information can cause even more confusion.~~