Visa denial due to New Minimum Income Requirements [merged threads]

[Redro 4,611]

5 hours ago, Mdvivori said:

Greetings to all who have followed this Journey.

 

My Wife received her IR1, 1 yr temporary Permanent Visa on June 14th.  This was a week after being told I needed a Joint Sponsor.  She took the Children for their Embassy Interview today and was yet again told I needed a Joint Sponsor.  She was also told that on June 7th at her interview but they accepted my 2023 SS Benefits Letter which we sent to the Embassy via LBC Courier which shows a few hundred more than the minimum requirement of $37,500 for a family of 4.  We don’t know, but don’t believe that the CO today was aware of the new I-864 and SS Benefits Letter we submitted for my wife which she uploaded to hers and the children’s Immigration file.  The CEAC Site shows “Submitted” but not yet “Accepted” for the new I-864 and the new Benefits Letter.  Is it possible the Embassy would approve my wife but not the children?  My wife said the CO was polite but not interested in any feedback.  We’re still a family of 4 so it makes no sense to approve my wife but not the kids.  This doesn’t make sense.

 

I just wrote another cover letter explaining how I didn’t realize that my income dipped below the current Minimum Requirement that increased on March 1, 2023, but my current income exceeded the Immigration Guideline.  Just for fun I added that they would also have SS Children’s Benefits of $1,250 each for the next 9 and 11 year’s respectively.  I realize it’s not my income but if their concern is the Children not becoming dependent on the Government this should logically alleviate any concern.   Most people can take care of their children for $1,250 each tax free.

So you uploaded the new I-864 and benefits letter to each of your stepchildren's cases before interview and they still requested a joint sponsor? 

[SalishSea 17,804]

7 hours ago, Mdvivori said:

Greetings to all who have followed this Journey.

 

My Wife received her IR1, 1 yr temporary Permanent Visa on June 14th.  This was a week after being told I needed a Joint Sponsor.  She took the Children for their Embassy Interview today and was yet again told I needed a Joint Sponsor.  She was also told that on June 7th at her interview but they accepted my 2023 SS Benefits Letter which we sent to the Embassy via LBC Courier which shows a few hundred more than the minimum requirement of $37,500 for a family of 4.  We don’t know, but don’t believe that the CO today was aware of the new I-864 and SS Benefits Letter we submitted for my wife which she uploaded to hers and the children’s Immigration file.  The CEAC Site shows “Submitted” but not yet “Accepted” for the new I-864 and the new Benefits Letter.  Is it possible the Embassy would approve my wife but not the children?  My wife said the CO was polite but not interested in any feedback.  We’re still a family of 4 so it makes no sense to approve my wife but not the kids.  This doesn’t make sense.

 

I just wrote another cover letter explaining how I didn’t realize that my income dipped below the current Minimum Requirement that increased on March 1, 2023, but my current income exceeded the Immigration Guideline.  Just for fun I added that they would also have SS Children’s Benefits of $1,250 each for the next 9 and 11 year’s respectively.  I realize it’s not my income but if their concern is the Children not becoming dependent on the Government this should logically alleviate any concern.   Most people can take care of their children for $1,250 each tax free.

All of this was addressed, at length, in your previous posts about this topic.

 

And you were also told that the potential SS benefit for the kids is not considered, because it is only potential at this point, and it will eventually stop.

[Redro 4,611]

3 hours ago, Redro said:

So you uploaded the new I-864 and benefits letter to each of your stepchildren's cases before interview and they still requested a joint sponsor? 

Was it the same I864 for all three (your wife as principal immigrant) or were they different I864s indicating a different principal immigrant? 

[TBoneTX 45,259]

Related threads have been merged.  Please keep further posts within this thread only.

[Mdvivori 42]

I understand that future SS Children’s Benefits are not income.  Honestly I think and hope the CO just didn't read the updated I-864 with the 2023 SS Benefits letter.  

[Mdvivori 42]

SalishSea, I understand they won’t count the SS Income for the Children but not your point it will eventually stop.  The children are 7 and 9 yrs old so yes it will stop in 11 years and 9 years respectively.  Hardly an issue.  

[Mdvivori 42]

Redro, Yes but I don’t believe the CO today read the new I-864.  We think only the CO who approved my wife’s Visa last week read it.  Nothing else makes sense.  My wife was immediately approved the day after they received the new 2023 Income that met the new March 1,  published required income.

[Redro 4,611]

48 minutes ago, Mdvivori said:

Redro, Yes but I don’t believe the CO today read the new I-864.  We think only the CO who approved my wife’s Visa last week read it.  Nothing else makes sense.  My wife was immediately approved the day after they received the new 2023 Income that met the new March 1,  published required income.

So, a different CO is handling the children’s cases. Can you clarify is it the same I-864 as the one you submitted for your wife or is it different (the children are named as primary immigrants in their respective I864s?) 

59 minutes ago, Mdvivori said:

I understand that future SS Children’s Benefits are not income.  Honestly I think and hope the CO just didn't read the updated I-864 with the 2023 SS Benefits letter.  

Edited June 20, 2023 by Redro

[Mdvivori 42]

We uploaded the new I-864 to my wife’s and both children’s CEAC Accounts.  We don’t believe the CO today saw the new one.  All 3 of them have their own case numbers if that’s what you’re asking.

[Redro 4,611]

14 minutes ago, Mdvivori said:

We uploaded the new I-864 to my wife’s and both children’s CEAC Accounts.  We don’t believe the CO today saw the new one.  All 3 of them have their own case numbers if that’s what you’re asking.

On the I-864 page 1 part two “information about the Principal Immigrant”. Did you write your wife’s name all three times or is the name different (each I864 has the stepchild’s name).

I’m trying to figure out if you can just send in updated I864s for both of your stepchildren as opposed to having to submit a joint sponsor. 

[Mdvivori 42]

Thanks Redro, my wife is on all three forms.

 

My wife and I decided last night that if the children aren’t approved we will go to “Plan B”.  When my wife was approved last week I booked all 4 of us Flights to the States three weeks from now.  That’s plenty of time for an approval if we’re going to get one.  These flights are expensive, $2,150 each.  If we could have waited until September 12, the end of high Summer airfares, the tickets would have only been $1k each but her Visa expires on August 26.  I had already purchased the $1k fully changeable and cancelable when I thought we’d be leaving on June 15th.  It was a no risk high reward decision because buying in advance saved lots of money and the tickets are changeable and cancelable without penalty.
 

So Plan B is my Wife and I will fly to the States in 3 weeks, get settled, get jobs even if only working at a Temp Agency, Walmart or any job making $15 an hour.  Again my Wife is a Degreed Accountant and I can do many things if I dust off my MBA Degree.  So my question is this:  Does anyone know definitively or at least from some knowledge base how long we need to work before we should resubmit a new I-864?  I’m quite confident many people have done this in the past.  Assume worst case and we both work for $15 an hour, 40 hours a week so our combined income would be $1,200 weekly.  Annualized that’s $62,400 plus my SS of $38,000 equals $100,400.  The Immigration requirement is $37,500.  We will then rebook the kids in September reducing their flight cost back to $1k and use the $2k savings for my wife to fly RT to pick them up. 
 

 

[Redro 4,611]

42 minutes ago, Mdvivori said:

Thanks Redro, my wife is on all three forms.

 

My wife and I decided last night that if the children aren’t approved we will go to “Plan B”.  When my wife was approved last week I booked all 4 of us Flights to the States three weeks from now.  That’s plenty of time for an approval if we’re going to get one.  These flights are expensive, $2,150 each.  If we could have waited until September 12, the end of high Summer airfares, the tickets would have only been $1k each but her Visa expires on August 26.  I had already purchased the $1k fully changeable and cancelable when I thought we’d be leaving on June 15th.  It was a no risk high reward decision because buying in advance saved lots of money and the tickets are changeable and cancelable without penalty.
 

So Plan B is my Wife and I will fly to the States in 3 weeks, get settled, get jobs even if only working at a Temp Agency, Walmart or any job making $15 an hour.  Again my Wife is a Degreed Accountant and I can do many things if I dust off my MBA Degree.  So my question is this:  Does anyone know definitively or at least from some knowledge base how long we need to work before we should resubmit a new I-864?  I’m quite confident many people have done this in the past.  Assume worst case and we both work for $15 an hour, 40 hours a week so our combined income would be $1,200 weekly.  Annualized that’s $62,400 plus my SS of $38,000 equals $100,400.  The Immigration requirement is $37,500.  We will then rebook the kids in September reducing their flight cost back to $1k and use the $2k savings for my wife to fly RT to pick them up. 
 

 

First thing I would do is update the I-864s so your stepchildren are the respective "Principal Immigrants" on each of their forms. Then see if that works. If it doesn't work- go to plan B. 

[Mike E 11,739]

3 hours ago, Redro said:

First thing I would do is update the I-864s so your stepchildren are the respective "Principal Immigrants" on each of their forms. Then see if that works. If it doesn't work- go to plan B. 

Agreed. The lids are not derivatives. Their applications have nothing to do with their mom’s.

 

If plan B, mon should file I-130s for each kid to enable plan C, since it appears she has higher earning power than OP, and just in case OP is struck by a bus or other mishap.

[Mdvivori 42]

My Wife is the Principle Immigrant on all 3,  I-864’s with both Children listed on each.  We did file separate I-130’s for the children.  I don’t follow that mom should file I-130’s for each of the kids.  If we do go to Plan B, I will get a job to boost our income.  If my wife is working in the US will her income help as well?  Do you know how long we would have to work to have the income count? Thanks.

[Lemonslice 4,831]

2 minutes ago, Mdvivori said:

My Wife is the Principle Immigrant on all 3,  I-864’s with both Children listed on each.  We did file separate I-130’s for the children.  I don’t follow that mom should file I-130’s for each of the kids.  If we do go to Plan B, I will get a job to boost our income.  If my wife is working in the US will her income help as well?  Do you know how long we would have to work to have the income count? Thanks.

What name did you write in part 2?  For your wife, if must have been her name - she has been approved. 

Then for child 1, CHILD1 NAME, then for child 2, CHILD2 name. Each of them is an independent immigrant and they need their own affidavit of support.  

@pushbrk might be able to explain it more concisely, but I think the refusal might be because you  missed some of the instructions, and filled the form improperly.