Will my current health situation make it more difficult to get approved?

[JayCeez 5]

Unfortunately I've been unable to work since the beginning of the 2022 due to some health issues. I haven't applied for disability because I don't think it will be permanent but it's just been a very slow journey of progress. I've been living off savings and an inheritance but I do not reach the threshold for assets alone for the Affidavit of Support.  A good friend of mine is willing to co-sponsor with me and he very easily reaches the minimum so that's not an issue. 

 

I'm wondering if my health situation will make it more difficult for my wife to get approved during the interview as I'm sure they're going to ask why I haven't worked in a few years. Will it matter since I already have a co-sponsor? 

[Lil bear 4,145]

Completed submitted joint sponsor documentation should be fine. You still need to put N in N the I864 as primary sponsor even if you do not meet the income requirements. Do you have health insurance  that will also cover your wife once she is here. Not having insurance may well raise the question of her becoming a public liability which may be an issue 

[JayCeez 5]

20 minutes ago, Lil bear said:

Completed submitted joint sponsor documentation should be fine. You still need to put N in N the I864 as primary sponsor even if you do not meet the income requirements. Do you have health insurance  that will also cover your wife once she is here. Not having insurance may well raise the question of her becoming a public liability which may be an issue 

I don't have health insurance at the moment. I was planning on getting health insurance when she arrives. I'd get it now if I could but I'll have to wait until November for that. I do have a good amount of money in my bank account but it's just not enough to qualify alone. I'm hoping that they take that into consideration along with my joint sponsor even with my current situation. 

[Lil bear 4,145]

5 minutes ago, JayCeez said:

I don't have health insurance at the moment. I was planning on getting health insurance when she arrives. I'd get it now if I could but I'll have to wait until November for that. I do have a good amount of money in my bank account but it's just not enough to qualify alone. I'm hoping that they take that into consideration along with my joint sponsor even with my current situation. 

I could see this scenario as a red flag. But I’m not the interviewer. When is the interview ? 

[JayCeez 5]

Yeah I can imagine it being seen as a red flag to an interviewer but, in my opinion, I always figured that was the point of giving people the ability to find a joint sponsor, for cases like these. 

 

Right now I just paid the fees to the NVC and in the process of filling out all the forms so I don't have a date for the interview yet. 

[Lil bear 4,145]

9 minutes ago, JayCeez said:

Yeah I can imagine it being seen as a red flag to an interviewer but, in my opinion, I always figured that was the point of giving people the ability to find a joint sponsor, for cases like these. 

 

Right now I just paid the fees to the NVC and in the process of filling out all the forms so I don't have a date for the interview yet. 

The interviewer may hold the decision until you are able to show insurance. Or not. Can you come back when the interview is done and let us know ? It will add to

 the collective wisdom and help others in the future 

[JayCeez 5]

So it's possible they just hold the decision instead of outright denying it? I didn't know they worked that way. I guess that's better than nothing.

 

I will make an update whenever it happens. 

[Lil bear 4,145]

Just now, JayCeez said:

So it's possible they just hold the decision instead of outright denying it? I didn't know they worked that way. I guess that's better than nothing.

 

I will make an update whenever it happens. 

Yes. The application can be held jn Administrative processing,  pending meeting whatever requirement the officer lists on the 221g given to the beneficiary at the interview   It will list specifically what must be done /provided before a decision is made 

[JayCeez 5]

12 minutes ago, Lil bear said:

Yes. The application can be held jn Administrative processing,  pending meeting whatever requirement the officer lists on the 221g given to the beneficiary at the interview   It will list specifically what must be done /provided before a decision is made 

That's good to know. 

 

Do you think if I did decide to push myself to work despite my issues that it would be a red flag that I waited until the "last minute" so to speak to work again? 

[Dashinka 24,372]

21 minutes ago, JayCeez said:

That's good to know. 

 

Do you think if I did decide to push myself to work despite my issues that it would be a red flag that I waited until the "last minute" so to speak to work again? 

Should not be a big concern.  Petitioner’s work situations change all the time.

 

Good Luck!

[nastra30 2,277]

15 hours ago, JayCeez said:

 

I'm wondering if my health situation will make it more difficult for my wife to get approved during the interview as I'm sure they're going to ask why I haven't worked in a few years

On the contrary, depending on exactly what your health issues are, you could state a case to get your case expedited by the consulate if well argued. Of course you'll need documents from doctors to substantiate. On the affidavit of support side of things, IO will make a decision based on the totality of your circumstance but I don't forsee an issue with a well qualified joint sponsor in your case.

[h02ejmajja 57]

19 hours ago, JayCeez said:

Unfortunately I've been unable to work since the beginning of the 2022 due to some health issues. I haven't applied for disability because I don't think it will be permanent but it's just been a very slow journey of progress. I've been living off savings and an inheritance but I do not reach the threshold for assets alone for the Affidavit of Support.

 

Your situation isn't any of my business and I don't expect a specific response but just a general question that I can see might be asked - if your health conditions have been going on for over 2 years and are significant enough that you arent able to work, how can you get by without health insurance? The cost of medical care is crazy high in the US. 

 

[JayCeez 5]

52 minutes ago, h02ejmajja said:

 

Your situation isn't any of my business and I don't expect a specific response but just a general question that I can see might be asked - if your health conditions have been going on for over 2 years and are significant enough that you arent able to work, how can you get by without health insurance? The cost of medical care is crazy high in the US. 

 

Well I don't mind explaining a bit. I got COVID back in 2022 and I've been dealing with some issues from that ever since, mostly dizziness. Some days I feel normal but other days it can flare up although slowly the flares are lessening in severity. That's the reason I haven't attempted to work. I was still studying and worked in warehouse before I got sick so the dizziness wasn't something I could really overcome at that time to do my job well. When all this began I still had insurance from my job. I went to the doctors, did a bunch of tests, but they didn't find anything where they could give me a real treatment so I've just been sitting and waiting ever since. I cope with the high cost by just not going to the doctor and hoping time can help me recover what I used to be. 

[JayCeez 5]

5 hours ago, nastra30 said:

On the contrary, depending on exactly what your health issues are, you could state a case to get your case expedited by the consulate if well argued. Of course you'll need documents from doctors to substantiate. On the affidavit of support side of things, IO will make a decision based on the totality of your circumstance but I don't forsee an issue with a well qualified joint sponsor in your case.

Yes, I do have a well-qualified sponsor plus I plan to write a letter in the Affidavit stating that I live with my family, that my wife will be living with us as well and that I don't have to pay rent which makes cost of living much cheaper. Plus I'll explain my whole situation and that I plan to look for work soon. My issue is mostly dizziness stemming from a previous COVID infection, probably not enough to expedite anything but at the same time it does make working pretty difficult but it's gotten better slowly over time. 

[pushbrk 12,813]

23 hours ago, JayCeez said:

Yeah I can imagine it being seen as a red flag to an interviewer but, in my opinion, I always figured that was the point of giving people the ability to find a joint sponsor, for cases like these. 

 

Right now I just paid the fees to the NVC and in the process of filling out all the forms so I don't have a date for the interview yet. 

A situation that makes it uncertain the petitioner will ever be in a position to provide full financial support long term, is definitely NOT the reason there's a joint sponsor option.  It is used successfully most often for temporary issues, but the totality of circumstances will still prevail.  We don't know what those are, except that if you don't go back to work soon, you'll go broke.  Is the sponsor really going to support you and your wife, if you don't go back to work before then?  That's part of the "totality of circumstances" Consular Officers are trained to consider.

 

The issue is not whether you have a qualified joint sponsor, but the judgment being made is about the likelihood your foreign spouse will become a public charge.  You don't think it will be permanent.  What do the facts and your doctor say about that?