Household size in I864 form questions when petitioning for spouse and 2 step kids with joint sponsor form

[ryan.nguyen2409 0]

Hi everyone,

I have some questions about the calculation of household size for I864 form for my spouse and my 2 stepkids. Due to the insufficient income, i need to have the joint sponsor (my brother) as well. From my research online and helpful information here, i know i must submit 3 i-864 form from me (for my husband, my 2 stepkids) AND 3 i864 forms from my joint sponsor (for my husband and my 2 steps kids). However, i am a little bit confusing about the household size calculation, please kindly help me to fill in correctly.

 

* FORM i-864 from me (petitioner):

- Principal immigrant (my spouse) - 1

- myself - 1

- dependent children - 2 (2 stepkids)

HOUSEHOLD size: will be 4 (FOUR) in my i864 form ....

I also know that, it will be little bit different in my i864 form for my stepkid (even though total household still be 4) but calculation will be 1 for me, 1 for my spouse, 1 for principal immigrant (first stepkid) and 1 dependent children (for 2nd step kid)

Can you suggest the above calculation is correct?

 

* FORM i-864 from my joint sponsor (my brother)

He is single, no children and used to file i864 to bring his parent to the US 5 years ago and claim them as the dependents in his tax-return. Therefore, his household right now is 3 (himself, and 2 dependent parents).

can you guy suggest how he should calculate the household size in the form i864 for my husband and form i864 for my step kids?

#1. principal immigrant: 1 (my spouse // my 1st step kid// my second step kid)

#2. himself - 1

#3. single, no spouse - 0

#4. dependent children: ?? (some said put 2 Here because they considered parents that he claims as depentdent in his tax return) or he should put 0 here but 2 in #6

#5. other dependent ???

#6. other form i864 but now become lawful PR: ??? should he put his parent here or in #4?

#7. sibling, parents? - 0

---

Household size for his form is ???

trying to figure myself but it seems to be little bit confused.

Please kindly help me for the correct wait to fill the form.

 

all your help. idea or suggestion are really really appreciated.

you guys have a great day.

 

 

[OldUser 8,175]

Household size for brother (joint sponsor) is currently 3 due to him listing parents as dependants on his taxes. 

 

For each I-864 his household size will be 3+1, where 3 is current size + 1 immigrant.

 

This is my understanding, others can correct me.

Edited January 6 by OldUser

[pushbrk 13,268]

14 hours ago, OldUser said:

Household size for brother (joint sponsor) is currently 3 due to him listing parents as dependants on his taxes. 

 

For each I-864 his household size will be 3+1, where 3 is current size + 1 immigrant.

 

This is my understanding, others can correct me.

Correct.  Parents are shown as immigrants previously sponsored who are still green card holders, not citizens.  So household size will be four but the Consular Officer will correctly apply the 6 person household income requirement.

[ryan.nguyen2409 0]

19 hours ago, OldUser said:

Household size for brother (joint sponsor) is currently 3 due to him listing parents as dependants on his taxes. 

 

For each I-864 his household size will be 3+1, where 3 is current size + 1 immigrant.

 

This is my understanding, others can correct me.

Thank you so much for your reply and suggestion. I am really appreciated. Thats what I thought as well. Thanks again for all your helpful information...

[ryan.nguyen2409 0]

4 hours ago, pushbrk said:

Correct.  Parents are shown as immigrants previously sponsored who are still green card holders, not citizens.  So household size will be four but the Consular Officer will correctly apply the 6 person household income requirement.

Thanks a millions for your time confirming that. I will fill in all the forms as you and other member suggested. Really appreciated for your valuable time 🙏

Also, in my brother (joint sponsor)'s i864 form, he should put 2 (TWO) in #5 (other dependents) or in #6 (previously sponsored i864). Or it does not matter either #5 or #6 (because he claims these 2 people he previously sponsored as dependents in his tax return)...  You have a great day 

[pushbrk 13,268]

1 hour ago, ryan.nguyen2409 said:

Thanks a millions for your time confirming that. I will fill in all the forms as you and other member suggested. Really appreciated for your valuable time 🙏

Also, in my brother (joint sponsor)'s i864 form, he should put 2 (TWO) in #5 (other dependents) or in #6 (previously sponsored i864). Or it does not matter either #5 or #6 (because he claims these 2 people he previously sponsored as dependents in his tax return)...  You have a great day 

Two previously sponsored immigrants.  I already said that.

 

[ryan.nguyen2409 0]

2 minutes ago, pushbrk said:

Two previously sponsored immigrants.  I already said that.

 

i got it now. thanks a lot for your information. 

[ryan.nguyen2409 0]

Hi, so sorry again to bother you. I have a question regarding the form i864 for joint sponsor.

+ Joint sponsor is my brother.

+ He is single, but claimed his parents as dependents and his filing status is "head of household" to get the better tax rate instead of Single.

My question is: because he is single (not married), so he only need to fill form I-864 as the only joint sponsor. Is it correct? or he needs to ask his parents (the ones he claimes as dependents in his tax return, must fill out form i864A as well?) His tax return does not included any income from his parents, just their information to be claimed as dependents so that he can use the "head of household" tax rate instead of single tax rate.

 

Please kindly help me so that he can file correctly the form i864 as the only joint sponsor. I just do not want to get any RFE from NVC. 

All help and advice are really appreciated.

Have a good one, thank you 

[pushbrk 13,268]

On 1/6/2025 at 1:57 PM, OldUser said:

Household size for brother (joint sponsor) is currently 3 due to him listing parents as dependants on his taxes. 

 

For each I-864 his household size will be 3+1, where 3 is current size + 1 immigrant.

 

This is my understanding, others can correct me.

Correct, but parents claimed are "other" not children.  Officer will consider the income requirement for a household of five,  however.

[ryan.nguyen2409 0]

thank you for your reply. I just wanna clarify my brother (joint sponsor) situation:

+ He is single but file tax as Head of household for better rate. However, in his tax return, there is just his own income. He just claimed parents as dependents for better tax rate (compared to single rate) and better deduction.

+ His parents are also the one he sponsored before. That is why, he put his parents as "form i864 he filed before and they are still lawfully residents..." (FYI, I asked this issue before (either count them as "other dependents" or "previous i864 filed", you recommend me to put them as previous i864...)

+ His tax return (even Head of household rate) is only his income. And he does NOT use his parents' income to add for income requirement for i864 --> do his parents still file i864A, just only because they were claimed as dependents ? (because to my understand, they just need to file i864A, if their income will be used to add to the income to qualify the income requirement.

 

SO, his household will be: him (single) + 2 other dependents (or previous i864, not sure which categorize he should count them as) + 1 intending immigrants. is it correct?

 

Edited February 12 by ryan.nguyen2409

[pushbrk 13,268]

2 hours ago, ryan.nguyen2409 said:

thank you for your reply. I just wanna clarify my brother (joint sponsor) situation:

+ He is single but file tax as Head of household for better rate. However, in his tax return, there is just his own income. He just claimed parents as dependents for better tax rate (compared to single rate) and better deduction.

+ His parents are also the one he sponsored before. That is why, he put his parents as "form i864 he filed before and they are still lawfully residents..." (FYI, I asked this issue before (either count them as "other dependents" or "previous i864 filed", you recommend me to put them as previous i864...)

+ His tax return (even Head of household rate) is only his income. And he does NOT use his parents' income to add for income requirement for i864 --> do his parents still file i864A, just only because they were claimed as dependents ? (because to my understand, they just need to file i864A, if their income will be used to add to the income to qualify the income requirement.

 

SO, his household will be: him (single) + 2 other dependents (or previous i864, not sure which categorize he should count them as) + 1 intending immigrants. is it correct?

 

Now that it's clear, put the parents as previously sponsored immigrants. Only indicate one step child per affidavit.  Do not list other immigrants being sponsored, as they will have their own affidavits.  Trust the Consular Officer to do the simple arithmetic and apply the six person income requirement.

[ryan.nguyen2409 0]

thanks @pushbrk for always helping me answer all my concerns. However, do his parents need to file i864A because they were claimed as dependents on my joint sponsor's tax return (my brother)? or just i864 for him (NO i864a needed for my parents)? He is confused because of the fact that he claimed his parents as the dependents in his tax return, and he is NOT going to use/add their income to his annual income for sponsorship? his own income alone is enough for the sponsorship. 

Edited February 13 by ryan.nguyen2409

[pushbrk 13,268]

5 minutes ago, ryan.nguyen2409 said:

thanks @pushbrk for always helping me answer all my concerns. However, do his parents need to file i864A because they were claimed as dependents on my joint sponsor's tax return (my brother)? or just i864 for him (NO i864a needed for my parents)? He is confused because of the fact that he claimed his parents as the dependents in his tax return, and he is NOT going to use/add their income to his annual income for sponsorship? his own income alone is enough for the sponsorship. 

No need for parents to complete any forms, unless their income is being combined with the joint sponsor's.

 

 

[ryan.nguyen2409 0]

you are the best @pushbrk. Thank a million, that is what i thought as well after reading word by word on the instruction form, but your confirmation helps me clear everything out .... thank you so much again