I-864 and joint sponsorship

[TrueBlue567 0]

Hi there,

 

I have a query about using only assets for the I-864 Affidavit of Support, and the possibility of needing a joint sponsor.

 

1. My wife and I have the equivalent of US$150,000 in assets in Australia, where we have lived as a married couple for the past 10 years or so, and are now looking to move to the US. I’m Aussie, my wife is a US citizen. We don’t have any US income right now, and are looking to qualify based on assets alone.

 

Is using overseas assets likely to be an issue at the interview stage?

 

There don’t seem to be any hard-and-fast rules against using overseas assets, but some consulates and/or individual COs may have an issue with it, which is a concern. We are using the Sydney consulate.

 

2. We may be able to get a joint sponsor, but we have broached the topic with them in the past and they are a bit touchy about signing up, given the financial implications. What would happen at the consulate interview, if it was decided we needed to have a joint sponsor, but didn’t have one yet – would the consulate put the application “on hold” pending the joint sponsor I-864, or would it be denied and we would have to start from scratch?

 

Just trying to gauge how likely it will be that we would need a joint sponsor, and whether to try to get the I-864 in advance, or only if we find out in the interview that it’s absolutely necessary.

 

Thanks!

Edited September 26, 2021 by TrueBlue567

[pushbrk 12,899]

1 hour ago, TrueBlue567 said:

Hi there,

 

I have a query about using only assets for the I-864 Affidavit of Support, and the possibility of needing a joint sponsor.

 

1. My wife and I have the equivalent of US$150,000 in assets in Australia, where we have lived as a married couple for the past 10 years or so, and are now looking to move to the US. I’m Aussie, my wife is a US citizen. We don’t have any US income right now, and are looking to qualify based on assets alone.

 

Is using overseas assets likely to be an issue at the interview stage?

 

There don’t seem to be any hard-and-fast rules against using overseas assets, but some consulates and/or individual COs may have an issue with it, which is a concern. We are using the Sydney consulate.

 

2. We may be able to get a joint sponsor, but we have broached the topic with them in the past and they are a bit touchy about signing up, given the financial implications. What would happen at the consulate interview, if it was decided we needed to have a joint sponsor, but didn’t have one yet – would the consulate put the application “on hold” pending the joint sponsor I-864, or would it be denied and we would have to start from scratch?

 

Just trying to gauge how likely it will be that we would need a joint sponsor, and whether to try to get the I-864 in advance, or only if we find out in the interview that it’s absolutely necessary.

 

Thanks!

Have you read the part of the I-864 instructions regarding how to use assets and their definition of "liquid assets"?

[Redro 4,611]

2 hours ago, TrueBlue567 said:

Hi there,

 

I have a query about using only assets for the I-864 Affidavit of Support, and the possibility of needing a joint sponsor.

 

1. My wife and I have the equivalent of US$150,000 in assets in Australia, where we have lived as a married couple for the past 10 years or so, and are now looking to move to the US. I’m Aussie, my wife is a US citizen. We don’t have any US income right now, and are looking to qualify based on assets alone.

 

Is using overseas assets likely to be an issue at the interview stage?

 

There don’t seem to be any hard-and-fast rules against using overseas assets, but some consulates and/or individual COs may have an issue with it, which is a concern. We are using the Sydney consulate.

 

2. We may be able to get a joint sponsor, but we have broached the topic with them in the past and they are a bit touchy about signing up, given the financial implications. What would happen at the consulate interview, if it was decided we needed to have a joint sponsor, but didn’t have one yet – would the consulate put the application “on hold” pending the joint sponsor I-864, or would it be denied and we would have to start from scratch?

 

Just trying to gauge how likely it will be that we would need a joint sponsor, and whether to try to get the I-864 in advance, or only if we find out in the interview that it’s absolutely necessary.

 

Thanks!

Regarding the second question: If they decide you need another sponsor the application will be "put on hold" while you sort everything out. Usually, if couples think there is a chance of needing another sponsor they prepare all the documents and take them to the interview (but don't give the second sponsor's documents unless requested). 

[TrueBlue567 0]

21 hours ago, pushbrk said:

Have you read the part of the I-864 instructions regarding how to use assets and their definition of "liquid assets"?

Hi there - yes, our assets are able to be made liquid if needed, within 12 months, to support me if necessary.

 

The majority of our funds are in cash in our Australian bank accounts, and the rest is mostly assets we'll be selling to move anyway (e.g. cars).

 

So that part shouldn't be a problem - my query was mainly about whether the location of the assets would be an issue, with it being overseas

[TrueBlue567 0]

20 hours ago, Kor2USA said:

Regarding the second question: If they decide you need another sponsor the application will be "put on hold" while you sort everything out. Usually, if couples think there is a chance of needing another sponsor they prepare all the documents and take them to the interview (but don't give the second sponsor's documents unless requested). 

Thanks for your comment.

 

We are toying with the idea of trying to convince our potential joint sponsor to just fill out the application, on the understanding that we will only use it if it's absolutely necessary

[pushbrk 12,899]

5 minutes ago, TrueBlue567 said:

Hi there - yes, our assets are able to be made liquid if needed, within 12 months, to support me if necessary.

 

The majority of our funds are in cash in our Australian bank accounts, and the rest is mostly assets we'll be selling to move anyway (e.g. cars).

 

So that part shouldn't be a problem - my query was mainly about whether the location of the assets would be an issue, with it being overseas

The location of the assets is not generally a problem unless the total is marginal.

[Redro 4,611]

15 minutes ago, TrueBlue567 said:

Thanks for your comment.

 

We are toying with the idea of trying to convince our potential joint sponsor to just fill out the application, on the understanding that we will only use it if it's absolutely necessary

I would do that if possible. Asking the sponsor after a refusal might be stressful, as they would have to collect all the documentation needed for their own I-864 before you could submit it to the consulate. 

Good luck! I know its a big ask! 

 

Edited September 27, 2021 by Kor2USA

[Redro 4,611]

18 minutes ago, TrueBlue567 said:

Hi there - yes, our assets are able to be made liquid if needed, within 12 months, to support me if necessary.

 

The majority of our funds are in cash in our Australian bank accounts, and the rest is mostly assets we'll be selling to move anyway (e.g. cars).

 

So that part shouldn't be a problem - my query was mainly about whether the location of the assets would be an issue, with it being overseas

The location of the assets is only a problem if its an issue getting the money out of Australia. Some countries have limits as to how much citizens/residents are allowed to move abroad.

Here in Korea, the USC has been known to show their Korean pension as an asset because it is withdrawn as a lump sum once the USC leaves Korea. 

[TrueBlue567 0]

On 9/27/2021 at 4:21 PM, Kor2USA said:

I would do that if possible. Asking the sponsor after a refusal might be stressful, as they would have to collect all the documentation needed for their own I-864 before you could submit it to the consulate. 

Good luck! I know its a big ask! 

 

Yep, that seems like the best option overall. It's good to know our Australian funds shouldn't be an issue, but would be a good insurance policy to just have a joint sponsor lined up anyway, so we can use it without wasting time, if it's needed.

[TrueBlue567 0]

On 9/27/2021 at 4:25 PM, Kor2USA said:

The location of the assets is only a problem if its an issue getting the money out of Australia. Some countries have limits as to how much citizens/residents are allowed to move abroad.

Here in Korea, the USC has been known to show their Korean pension as an asset because it is withdrawn as a lump sum once the USC leaves Korea. 

Fortunately, the Australian banking laws seem pretty reasonable and we know people who have easily moved money back and forth to the US to buy property, etc. So it shouldn't be an issue to access our funds while overseas.

[TrueBlue567 0]

On 9/27/2021 at 4:09 PM, pushbrk said:

The location of the assets is not generally a problem unless the total is marginal.

Good to know - thanks for your help, Mike!