USC graduate student sponsoring wife (IR1). Already DQ. Confused about next steps

[OldUser 6,696]

23 minutes ago, drumsmia said:

@pushbrk @Dashinka We are thinking of getting a joint sponsor. Interview is next month. Will this help solidify our case, given sponsor is student on stipend (over the poverty limit) but not sure if stipend=income? 

Do you have a different sponsor you can use?

[drumsmia 1]

@OldUser yes, a relative who is employed full-time and not within sponsor's household is willing to joint-sponsor.

Edited yesterday at 02:31 AM by drumsmia

[OldUser 6,696]

4 minutes ago, drumsmia said:

@OldUser yes, a relative who is employed full-time and not within sponsor's household is willing to joint-sponsor my petitioner.

Then it's a clear pick who to use as a joint sponsor. Why would you pick a student?

Edited yesterday at 02:28 AM by OldUser

[drumsmia 1]

3 minutes ago, OldUser said:

Then it's a clear win

@OldUser so do you suggest we get a joint-sponsor, even though main sponsor(petitioner) is a student on stipend that is over the poverty limit? 

Edited yesterday at 02:31 AM by drumsmia

[Lil bear 4,217]

21 minutes ago, drumsmia said:

@OldUser so do you suggest we get a joint-sponsor, even though main sponsor(petitioner) is a student on stipend that is over the poverty limit? 

Having a joint sponsor lined up and their paper work in hand is always preferable to being told at the interview that you need a joint sponsor .. and working through a scramble   to get the paperwork done and sent to the Consulate. So yes, if you have someone who clearly greatly exceeds the financial requirements then go ahead and add it to your CEAC folio. The interviewing officer will decide and nothing is lost if the joint sponsor isn’t needed.  

[drumsmia 1]

6 minutes ago, Lil bear said:

Having a joint sponsor lined up and their paper work in hand is always preferable to being told at the interview that you need a joint sponsor .. and working through a scramble   to get the paperwork done and sent to the Consulate. So yes, if you have someone who clearly greatly exceeds the financial requirements then go ahead and add it to your CEAC folio. The interviewing officer will decide and nothing is lost if the joint sponsor isn’t needed.  

that makes sense! So what I'm understanding is having the joint sponsor won't do any harm and if the officer thinks its not needed during the time of interview, then it just gets dropped. So overall looks like it is a net positive and a much safer option? 
@pushbrk would love to hear your thoughts too! 

Edited yesterday at 03:01 AM by drumsmia

[Lil bear 4,217]

1 minute ago, drumsmia said:

that makes sense! So what I'm understanding is having the joint sponsor won't do any harm and if the officer thinks its not needed during the time of interview, then it just gets dropped. So overall looks like it is a net positive and a much safer option? 

Correct. And that was our situation exactly. Our petitioning son’s income was over the level needed but not by a whole lot, so we had our daughter’s paperwork as cosponsor  all lined up and with us .. but the IO was happy with our petitioners I864, so we were able to shred the joint sponsors paperwork. 

[drumsmia 1]

 @Lil bear Fantastic! Did your joint sponsor upload I864 or I864A on CEAC portal? And I believe joint sponsor also needs to upload most recent tax transcript, W2 and paystubs...everything on CEAC?

Edited yesterday at 03:09 AM by drumsmia

[Lil bear 4,217]

16 minutes ago, drumsmia said:

 @Lil bear Fantastic! Did your joint sponsor upload I864 or I864A on CEAC portal? And I believe joint sponsor also needs to upload most recent tax transcript, W2 and paystubs...everything on CEAC?

As you stated it is a non household relative,  they will complete  an  I864 with all stated  documents,  including documentation to show their USC or LPR status