Co sponsors!

[Dakine 26]

I see a LOT of people requiring co sponsors. I would like to know how you pull off living solo decently in the US and not having incomes required by minimum poverty guidelines.

We don't live "high on the hog" at all but no way can we live decently for under 30K a year.

[Fandango 1,439]

oooh now THIS is gonna be good!

[Ban Hammer 13,445]

oooh now THIS is gonna be good!

pass the

[KarenCee 3]

Just out of curiosity (and because I'm naturally curious) WHY did you start this thread? Why is it a problem for you if someone uses a co-sponsor?

BTW, I agree with Charles and Lisa...this is gonna be goooooooooood! Not enough drama on OT.

[CarolineM 0]

Maybe a student, full time living with his or her parents?

Maybe a recently divorced person who had been living solely on his or her spouses income?

Maybe a disabled person who is unable to work??

There are tons of reasons.

[Mags 112]

I see a LOT of people requiring co sponsors. I would like to know how you pull off living solo decently in the US and not having incomes required by minimum poverty guidelines.

We don't live "high on the hog" at all but no way can we live decently for under 30K a year.

Depends on the area as well, debt, mortgage amounts, savings etc. Minimum wage in the MidWest is easier to live on than in California I would think.

Some people can manage on far less and have less materialistic instincts than others. You'd be amazed how little it can cost to live if you do decide to live frugally. *shrugs*

Others live with their parents and merely contribute to the household costs. It's a little different for everyone, I guess.

[Caladan 19]

The easiest answer is that the poverty level is determined nationally, but cost of living isn't. With what I make in Connecticut, I'd own a house in Indiana. Were I a grad student at Notre Dame, I'd probably NOT meet the poverty guidelines but own my own home.

Anyhow, beyond that... a lot of people get help from their parents because they're just out of school and while they have great income potential and maybe even a job offer, it doesn't come soon enough for the I-864. I think another reason is children or responsibility for parents... if you're in a low-cost area of the country, you can live pretty easily on under $30K, but if your household size is four or five you might have problems meeting the guideline.

[Ban Hammer 13,445]

BTW, I agree with Charles and Lisa...this is gonna be goooooooooood! Not enough drama on OT.

while i don't know about living "high on the hog" how about living moderately high on the piglet?

[chri'stina 190]

People have said many good points already.

I needed a co-sponsor, and I fell into the "newly graduated college, not making good money, living with parents still" category.

But we had a bigger vision for the future and knew Sujeet would get a good job once he started working here and my job improved slightly. And now he's been here a little over 3 years and he has a really good job and I don't have to work. hehe

So sometimes people are in a temporary situation when they need a co-sponsor. I do think it's important that they have some sort of plan for improving the situation eventually though. Unless as Caladan said, they live somewhere that they can pay all their bills and own a home even under the fed poverty guidelines because cost of living where they are might be nice and low.

[Jenn! 918]

It astonishes me sometimes how some people have the nerve to make less money than I do. It's like, "why would you wanna do that?", ya know? Some people are just crazy!

[chri'stina 190]

It astonishes me sometimes how some people have the nerve to make less money than I do. It's like, "why would you wanna do that?", ya know? Some people are just crazy!

hehe!

[Mags 112]

The easiest answer is that the poverty level is determined nationally, but cost of living isn't. With what I make in Connecticut, I'd own a house in Indiana. Were I a grad student at Notre Dame, I'd probably NOT meet the poverty guidelines but own my own home.

Anyhow, beyond that... a lot of people get help from their parents because they're just out of school and while they have great income potential and maybe even a job offer, it doesn't come soon enough for the I-864. I think another reason is children or responsibility for parents... if you're in a low-cost area of the country, you can live pretty easily on under $30K, but if your household size is four or five you might have problems meeting the guideline.

Exactly, on hubby's wage we couldn't make ends meet in Cali, but here in Indiana we are pretty comfortable. Plus we don't have a mortgage or pay rent as we own our home outright, which makes things MUCH easier.

Edited September 25, 2007 by Mags

[almaty 19]

I see a LOT of people requiring co sponsors. I would like to know how you pull off living solo decently in the US and not having incomes required by minimum poverty guidelines.

We don't live "high on the hog" at all but no way can we live decently for under 30K a year.

hmmm.. feeling a little low on the ol' ego strength today eh? best way to strengthen it, i suppose, is to blemish others.......

[chri'stina 190]

The easiest answer is that the poverty level is determined nationally, but cost of living isn't. With what I make in Connecticut, I'd own a house in Indiana. Were I a grad student at Notre Dame, I'd probably NOT meet the poverty guidelines but own my own home.

Anyhow, beyond that... a lot of people get help from their parents because they're just out of school and while they have great income potential and maybe even a job offer, it doesn't come soon enough for the I-864. I think another reason is children or responsibility for parents... if you're in a low-cost area of the country, you can live pretty easily on under $30K, but if your household size is four or five you might have problems meeting the guideline.

Exactly, on hubby's wage we couldn't make ends meet in Cali, but here in Indiana we are pretty comfortable. Plus we don't have a mortgage or pay rent as we own our home outright, which makes things MUCH easier.

Yeah same for us(though we are still paying a mortgage, I mean living where it's not as pricey). If we lived in Cali or the Northeast I'm sure I'd have to be working. Florida has gone up in price but not as high as those places.

Edited September 25, 2007 by stina&suj

[onwa 6]

Same as others, I was making really good money, but needed the co-sponsor. Because 1) I was studying abroad the year before (hence meeting my husband) and basically made no money. And 2) the 2 years before that I was a college student. And made minimal.