Questions regarding IR-1/CR-1 applications

[sidmando 15]

Hi all, I am going to need a financial sponsor to support my visa applications for my wife and stepdaughter. My father is willing to sponsor them and his finances are more than adequate, but I have a question about his age. My father is 84 years old. Does anyone know if age is a factor in judging the acceptability of a financial sponsor? Since he would be assuming responsibility for them for many years, I'm wondering if his age might be grounds for disqualifying him as a sponsor. I also have a close friend who is the same age as me (50) who would probably be willing to be a sponsor, but my preference would be to use my father. Any thoughts?

[SalishSea 17,836]

18 minutes ago, sidmando said:

Hi all, I am going to need a financial sponsor to support my visa applications for my wife and stepdaughter. My father is willing to sponsor them and his finances are more than adequate, but I have a question about his age. My father is 84 years old. Does anyone know if age is a factor in judging the acceptability of a financial sponsor? Since he would be assuming responsibility for them for many years, I'm wondering if his age might be grounds for disqualifying him as a sponsor. I also have a close friend who is the same age as me (50) who would probably be willing to be a sponsor, but my preference would be to use my father. Any thoughts?

I'd say that it is a negative factor in the totality of circumstances, yes.

 

Do you absolutely need a joint sponsor?  No way to get a better/2nd job?

 

[sidmando 15]

Hi everyone,

 

I just received notification from the State Department that my applications for my wife and stepdaughter have been accepted. I paid the fees and am now at the part where I need to fill out the affidavit of support and provide my financial information. I am pretty sure that my income alone will not be considered sufficient, so I will need a financial co-sponsor. Either of my parents would be willing to act as co-sponsor, but my mother is 80 and my father is 84. Since they are committing to support for 10 years, I am concerned that their age will be a negative factor in the eyes of the government. I have a good friend who I could ask and who would probably agree to do it, but my preference would be to use one of my parents if they will be viewed as acceptable. So is there any way for me to get a definitive answer as to whether or not one of my parents would be viewed as an acceptable co-sponsor? Both of them are comfortable financially and would have no problem demonstrating more than adequate financial resources. On the other hand, I don't want to move forward using one of them as co-sponsor if it is likely we will hit a road block and end up delaying the whole process. If I knew for sure that my parents would not be viewed as acceptable, I would just go ahead and ask my friend.

 

Secondly, my wife is pregnant, and I'm wondering if the government ever takes pregnancy into account in order to speed up the processing time. She is still in her first trimester, so our due date isn't until next February. I know it's a long shot, but it would be great if we could finish this process and move to the US before she gives birth. Does anyone know if this is something that can be expedited due to the pregnancy? (I'm guessing the answer is no, but I still thought it would be worth asking.)

 

Any thoughts or advice?

 

Thanks so much!

[P0907 127]

I don't believe there is an "age limit" for joint sponsors (mine were 75 and 76 respectively), only an age minimum (18).

Edited August 2, 2021 by P0907

[Crazy Cat 41,887]

There is no age limit.  However, the Consulate Officer has complete discretion to consider any and all joint sponsors.  BTW, a sponsor is bound by the I-864 until one of the following:

 

1.  The new immigrant has obtained 40 quarters of SS work credit.

2.  The new immigrants has lost LPR status and is no longer in the US.

3.  The new immigrant has become a citizen.

4.  Dies.

 

The point is that the commitment could be much shorter than 10 years, or the commitment could, technically,  be longer than 10 years.  

Edited August 2, 2021 by Lucky Cat

[Crazy Cat 41,887]

2 hours ago, sidmando said:

Secondly, my wife is pregnant, and I'm wondering if the government ever takes pregnancy into account in order to speed up the processing time.

No.  Pregnancy is not a reason to expedite.  In accordance with instructions from our friendly Moderator  @TBoneTX, I must direct you to this reference:

 

"Accordingly, new threads inquiring about pregnancy expedites will be closed when you report them (via the Report button, found at the top right of every post).  If you must reply to those threads, refer the poster to the link for this thread.  Thanks for your cooperation."

 

Edited August 2, 2021 by Lucky Cat

[sidmando 15]

22 minutes ago, Lucky Cat said:

There is no age limit.  However, the Consulate Officer has complete discretion to consider any and all joint sponsors. 

Lucky Cat,

 

Thanks so much for the information. One more question. If I start the process trying to use one of my parents and the consulate uses their discretion to decide that they are not suitable, would that result in a denial of the visa entirely, or could I then try using a different sponsor? And would this significantly delay the process?

 

As I mentioned, my parents' finances are very solid, and I'm sure they won't be disqualified for financial reasons. But if their age could be a problem it might be a better idea to just use my friend in the first place. His finances are also very solid.

 

Any thoughts?

[Crazy Cat 41,887]

Just now, sidmando said:

Lucky Cat,

 

Thanks so much for the information. One more question. If I start the process trying to use one of my parents and the consulate uses their discretion to decide that they are not suitable, would that result in a denial of the visa entirely, or could I then try using a different sponsor? And would this significantly delay the process?

 

As I mentioned, my parents' finances are very solid, and I'm sure they won't be disqualified for financial reasons. But if their age could be a problem it might be a better idea to just use my friend in the first place. His finances are also very solid.

 

Any thoughts?

I doubt you will have a problem.  However, in that scenario, the CO would almost certainly request a different Co-sponsor.  I have never seen a case denied as you described.  Good luck. 

[Ban Hammer 13,345]

related subjects merged and topic title updated

[sidmando 15]

Another question. I am filling out the I-864 now. Am I correct that I need to file two different I-864s, one for my wife and one for my step daughter? I filed two separate I-130s, so I assume that I can't use one I-864 for both, right?

[sidmando 15]

1 hour ago, Lucky Cat said:

I doubt you will have a problem.  However, in that scenario, the CO would almost certainly request a different Co-sponsor.  I have never seen a case denied as you described.  Good luck. 

Lucky Cat,

 

If I may, I have another question about the financial support issue. My situation is that I am a former small business owner in the US. I closed my business about 4 years ago, and therefore my income for the past few years has been below the level that would be required to sponsor my wife and stepdaughter. However, I have a substantial amount of savings as well as a house that I own in the US. Looking through the instructions for the I-864, it appears to me that I might be able to qualify without using a co-sponsor on the basis of my assets. It says that I need to have assets totaling at least 5 times the difference between my income and the minimum required income for our household size. And I do have sufficient assets to cover that (in the form of cash sitting in the bank). So do you think I should just go ahead and file the affidavits of support without a co-sponsor, and in the event that they decide for some reason that my personal finances are insufficient I can add a co-sponsor later? Do you think there are any drawbacks to trying it that way first?

[Crazy Cat 41,887]

1 minute ago, sidmando said:

Lucky Cat,

 

If I may, I have another question about the financial support issue. My situation is that I am a former small business owner in the US. I closed my business about 4 years ago, and therefore my income for the past few years has been below the level that would be required to sponsor my wife and stepdaughter. However, I have a substantial amount of savings as well as a house that I own in the US. Looking through the instructions for the I-864, it appears to me that I might be able to qualify without using a co-sponsor on the basis of my assets. It says that I need to have assets totaling at least 5 times the difference between my income and the minimum required income for our household size. And I do have sufficient assets to cover that (in the form of cash sitting in the bank). So do you think I should just go ahead and file the affidavits of support without a co-sponsor, and in the event that they decide for some reason that my personal finances are insufficient I can add a co-sponsor later? Do you think there are any drawbacks to trying it that way first?

I see no drawbacks.  Normally, sponsors can qualify with either evidence of sufficient CURRENT income or assets...You can add a joint sponsor later if the CO finds an issue.  Good luck.

[pushbrk 12,898]

4 hours ago, sidmando said:

Lucky Cat,

 

If I may, I have another question about the financial support issue. My situation is that I am a former small business owner in the US. I closed my business about 4 years ago, and therefore my income for the past few years has been below the level that would be required to sponsor my wife and stepdaughter. However, I have a substantial amount of savings as well as a house that I own in the US. Looking through the instructions for the I-864, it appears to me that I might be able to qualify without using a co-sponsor on the basis of my assets. It says that I need to have assets totaling at least 5 times the difference between my income and the minimum required income for our household size. And I do have sufficient assets to cover that (in the form of cash sitting in the bank). So do you think I should just go ahead and file the affidavits of support without a co-sponsor, and in the event that they decide for some reason that my personal finances are insufficient I can add a co-sponsor later? Do you think there are any drawbacks to trying it that way first?

Elderly joint sponsors are not favored, as they may not be around to fulfill their obligations under the contract.  If you have well over the 3 x the income shortfall/requirement in cash/liquid assets, just declare and document the assets and get on with the process sans the parents.  For a spouse, it's 3x.  However, since she's pregnant too, expect a consular officer to consider your unborn child part of your household size.  Either way, you have 5 times the difference, so carry on.

[sidmando 15]

1 hour ago, pushbrk said:

Elderly joint sponsors are not favored, as they may not be around to fulfill their obligations under the contract.  If you have well over the 3 x the income shortfall/requirement in cash/liquid assets, just declare and document the assets and get on with the process sans the parents.  For a spouse, it's 3x.  However, since she's pregnant too, expect a consular officer to consider your unborn child part of your household size.  Either way, you have 5 times the difference, so carry on.

Cool, thanks. I'm pretty sure I've got enough to cover that. Do you happen to know what the minimum annual income for a family of 4 would be?

[pushbrk 12,898]

1 hour ago, sidmando said:

Cool, thanks. I'm pretty sure I've got enough to cover that. Do you happen to know what the minimum annual income for a family of 4 would be?

Google I-864p.