Joint Sponsor Requirements/Commitment

[karppi 6]

Hello,

 

My spouse (beneficiary) and I (USC) are both living abroad and therefore we may require a joint sponsor.

 

1) If a joint sponsor is required, I understand that they will be required to fill in their own I-864 form. Along with this, they will have to submit tax transcripts for the past three years? Assuming they meet the salary threshold, is there any other information that is required of them?

 

2) Once the green card is approved and my spouse and I move to the US and find jobs there, I understand that the joint sponsor is still legally obliged so as long as the beneficiary is utilising their green card in the US. I have read that the joint sponsor will still have to inform USICS whenever they move addresses during this time. Are there any other requirements of the joint sponsor after a green card is granted?

 

3) Once I move to the states alongside my spouse and I get a job (over the salary threshold), is it then possible for the joint sponsor to withdraw (assuming I can solely sponsor my spouse)?

 

Much appreciated!

[payxibka 10,047]

17 minutes ago, karppi said:

Hello,

 

My spouse (beneficiary) and I (USC) are both living abroad and therefore we may require a joint sponsor.

 

1) If a joint sponsor is required, I understand that they will be required to fill in their own I-864 form. Along with this, they will have to submit tax transcripts for the past three years? Assuming they meet the salary threshold, is there any other information that is required of them?

 

2) Once the green card is approved and my spouse and I move to the US and find jobs there, I understand that the joint sponsor is still legally obliged so as long as the beneficiary is utilising their green card in the US. I have read that the joint sponsor will still have to inform USICS whenever they move addresses during this time. Are there any other requirements of the joint sponsor after a green card is granted?

 

3) Once I move to the states alongside my spouse and I get a job (over the salary threshold), is it then possible for the joint sponsor to withdraw (assuming I can solely sponsor my spouse)?

 

Much appreciated!

1) most recent year is required,  not 3 years

2) that's it

3) no.  Reread the instructions,  there are only a select few events that terminate the sponsorship. 

[Crazy Cat 42,433]

26 minutes ago, karppi said:

Hello,

 

My spouse (beneficiary) and I (USC) are both living abroad and therefore we may require a joint sponsor.

 

1) If a joint sponsor is required, I understand that they will be required to fill in their own I-864 form. Along with this, they will have to submit tax transcripts for the past three years? Assuming they meet the salary threshold, is there any other information that is required of them?

 

2) Once the green card is approved and my spouse and I move to the US and find jobs there, I understand that the joint sponsor is still legally obliged so as long as the beneficiary is utilising their green card in the US. I have read that the joint sponsor will still have to inform USICS whenever they move addresses during this time. Are there any other requirements of the joint sponsor after a green card is granted?

 

3) Once I move to the states alongside my spouse and I get a job (over the salary threshold), is it then possible for the joint sponsor to withdraw (assuming I can solely sponsor my spouse)?

 

Much appreciated!

1.  Read the I-864.  It does not say that.

2.  Sponsors use the I-865 to report address changes.  No other requirements to my knowledge.

3.  No.  Joint sponsors are just as obligated as primary sponsors.  The I-864 is in effect until the immigrant becomes, a citizen, obtains 40 quarters of work credit, has lost status and departed the country, or has died. 

[neca 166]

Elaborating on the three years tax information--It is not required, but it is permissible. If the Joint Sponsor doesn't have consistent income from year to year, it could be helpful to submit tax information from the past three years to paint a fuller picture of their income situation.

 

So, if you think it'll help your case to have all three years, include them, but if not then you only have to do the one.

 

✌️

[karppi 6]

Thanks for that! Good to know.

 

In terms of question 3, it's not that I am afraid the joint sponsor may withdraw, but more so I would like to relieve them of the burden once I am stateside and I would prefer to solely sponsor my spouse. Is that possible?

[Chancy 6,243]

3 minutes ago, karppi said:

I would like to relieve them of the burden once I am stateside and I would prefer to solely sponsor my spouse. Is that possible?

 

No.  Once the immigrant becomes an LPR, it's not possible to release the joint sponsor from their financial obligation, except through one of the I-864 termination conditions mentioned above by @Lucky Cat.

 

[Lemonslice 4,977]

11 hours ago, karppi said:

Thanks for that! Good to know.

 

In terms of question 3, it's not that I am afraid the joint sponsor may withdraw, but more so I would like to relieve them of the burden once I am stateside and I would prefer to solely sponsor my spouse. Is that possible?

Why not move first and be the sole sponsor?

[Israth 22]

What you need from Joint Sponsor based on NVC experience I'm going trough.

1. Recent 3 year IRS transcript

2. W2s or recent year, they even asked for 2019

3. Latest paystubs

4. Proof of Citizenship

5. Proof of Domicile

[juninho10 42]

TIP: Don't fall into the trap of thinking the petitioner has to file taxes by paper because they are earning abroad. Most of the usual, generic online platforms are awful for filing taxes if A) petitioner lives abroad and B) applicant/spouse doesn't have a SSN. The programming is abysmal for these situations, and we ended up losing 9 months waiting believing it had to be done via paper.

 

My petitioner wife used this: https://www.hrblock.com/expat-tax-preparation/

 

After agonisingly waiting around for the IRS to lose(?) the 2019 tax return for months on end, we did this one for 2020 and it was settled in a matter of days. The only drawback is that it's $100 and not free.

 

As others said, you don't need last 3-years of tax returns. Most recent will suffice.

Edited June 26, 2021 by juninho10

[pushbrk 13,143]

7 hours ago, juninho10 said:

 

 

As others said, you don't need last 3-years of tax returns. Most recent will suffice.

 

You need not SUBMIT more than one tax return, but information from three tax returns is still required unless the circumstances fit not required to file.

[juninho10 42]

20 hours ago, pushbrk said:

 

You need not SUBMIT more than one tax return, but information from three tax returns is still required unless the circumstances fit not required to file.

Interesting. Is this for the NVC stage when submitting documents or the interview? My US wife doesn't have tax info for the 2 years before that.

[pushbrk 13,143]

1 hour ago, juninho10 said:

Interesting. Is this for the NVC stage when submitting documents or the interview? My US wife doesn't have tax info for the 2 years before that.

Why?  It matters.  She is required to file tax returns on worldwide income UNLESS her income is below the minimum filing threshold.  If it was, she simply indicates that.  If she had income above the threshold, she needs to file those tax returns.  What I wrote in the post you responded to was a complete sentence.  Read it all.

[juninho10 42]

4 hours ago, pushbrk said:

Why?  It matters.  She is required to file tax returns on worldwide income UNLESS her income is below the minimum filing threshold.  If it was, she simply indicates that.  If she had income above the threshold, she needs to file those tax returns.  What I wrote in the post you responded to was a complete sentence.  Read it all.

She didn't file taxes in the two preceding years and we are aware that it was required. I read that the minimum income is $5.00 if you are filing taxes and she was working at the time, so obviously earned more than that.

[juninho10 42]

Not sure why I can't edit the previous post. I meant to say that's the min. threshold married filing separately.

 

I may have misunderstood your post. I was just going on this for things to take to the interview:

 

The appropriate Form I-864 Affidavit of Support for each financial sponsor along with a photocopy of the sponsor’s IRS transcript or most recent U.S. federal income tax return, and any relevant W-2s.

 

https://travel.state.gov/content/dam/visas/Supplemental/appt letter_checklist for interview.pdf

 

I'm a bit worried if tax info is needed from the last 3 years as it's not something we have available right now.

[pushbrk 13,143]

3 hours ago, juninho10 said:

She didn't file taxes in the two preceding years and we are aware that it was required. I read that the minimum income is $5.00 if you are filing taxes and she was working at the time, so obviously earned more than that.

That is not the correct minimum filing threshold, but if she's over the minimum, she is required to file.  There is no other acceptable reason for not filing.