My wife and I are preparing for our move to the U.S. with a CR1 visa, following her I-130 petition for me. We're currently living abroad but planning ahead to avoid delays, even though we haven't reached the NVC stage yet. My wife is still considered domiciled in the U.S., as our stay overseas is temporary, and her address in the U.S. is with her parents, where we plan to live upon our arrival until we have found our own place. This address was also listed on our I-130 form.
Last year, my wife was completing her graduate studies and did not earn enough to meet the income requirements for sponsorship. As a result, her parents have agreed to be our additional sponsors. Since they file their taxes jointly, we're exploring the best approach for them to become sponsors:
Form I-864A Use: Is it appropriate for my wife's parents to use Form I-864A, Contract Between Sponsor and Household Member, in our situation? If so, considering their joint tax filing, is it necessary for both parents to complete the form, or would only one parent suffice? Additionally, how would this choice affect the household size calculation for the I-864A form—would it be 3 if one parent fills it out, and 4 if both do?
Regular I-864 Form: Alternatively, could they opt for the regular I-864 form as joint sponsors instead? If choosing this route, how does it impact the household size calculation—would it then be considered 2 for the purposes of the I-864 form?
Comparison and Recommendation: Are there any advantages or disadvantages between choosing Form I-864A versus the regular I-864 form for our situation?
I appreciate any guidance or experiences shared, as we want to avoid any delays because of RFEs.
Thank you in advance for your help!