Purple_Paladin

I did not understand this. I thought if he lived in the same house, that was a "Household Member." Thank you for this information. Technically, we qualify without his income. He was a "safety net." So long as they accept my proof with child support payments, it's unnecessary. Maybe it's easier/better to file without him?

There's literally a box for it on the form? As Household member.

It's a different question with a potentially different outcome. If I've violated some posting etiquette, apologies. I've read a lot of info over the past week and as I'm finishing up, I wanted to make sure it was as good as can be. I'm incredibly grateful to all in this community who've taken time out of their busy lives and give advice/respond with helpful information.

I think I answered my own question on this one. #8 would be my son's income and for child support I would simply include it in Part 6 #7 where I insert my annual income total. Then I'll give the bank deposit receipts of my monthly child support as proof.

Good catch! I'm tired. It's the I-864 I'm speaking of. Also, in part 6 of this form, do I list my income twice in addition to my adult sons? The first part asks my individual income. Then on 8-11 it says to list Sponsor's Income. The directions say to list any sponsors that will file the I-864a So for example: Part 6 # 8 Sponsor's Employment and income: 8. Myself and my total income and 9. My sons? This would also allow my to write my income including the child support, as I don't see anywhere else to do this. I'm including child support payments received as part of my income because the apply to how I support my dependents. I don't see where to include the monthly/yearly payments for that. I do not claim this on my tax forms because it's not required to claim child support as income. TIA!

OK, ty! For the I-865, should I be filling it out once for both and printing it twice for each? In Part 4: "Information about Immigrants you are sponsoring" I click Yes for the Principal immigrant and then do I also click the one immediately after for "I am sponsoring the following family members immigratins at the same time or within 6 months of the principle immigrant in part 3"? I would think yes, but then it says "List family members in Items 4-7. Do not include any relative listed on a separate visa petition." This part confused me. Do I do a completely separate I-865 for her? I had thought I'd just print twice the one, including both of them on it.

We will be filing late since the I-94 expired yesterday. We are contemplating filing this week with what we have, or hoping my brother will agree to co-sponsor and filing when he's back from his trip. Which would have us filing around 10/20. If we file now (technically on paper I have enough with the I-865a from my son and child support) but I worry. I have a mortgage, a car lease, some debt from being a college student. So is it a complete file now? Yes. But is it the best file it could be now? That all depends on the discretion of USCIS. I don't know if my brother will agree to co-sponsor or not. I know it's a big ask but he's my brother. They have no children and are strong candidates. The file will definitely pass muster with them added. I just have no way of knowing if he'll definitely agree or not. I *think* he will, but I can't be sure. My question is this: If I file now with what I have, is it possible to add a co-sponsor to the file should USCIS decide it's not enough? Or would we have to file all over again and pay the fees again? This is in addition to the questions I posted on the other thread:

Last questions while finishing up before we send out the packet: Part 1, question 14 on Page 3 of I-485 asks: "What is your current immigration status )if it has changed since your last arrival)? As the K1 and K2 expired yesterday, even though we got married in the 90 days, do we put "out of status" or do we put K1 expired, K2 expired? Also, for size of household: I have 5 children. Due to the terms of my divorce, the 1 of the 2 children who actually live in my home and depend on me are *not* the 2 on my tax return. I have 1 adult away at college, 1 adult here who lives here, is not listed as a dependent and will be on the form as Household member and will also fill out I 865a. So I'll include him in the number. 2 high school seniors who do live here but only one of whom I claim. 1 high school sophomore who lives full time with the other parent. He is listed on my taxes however. So My self, my husband, my step-daughter, my son who will fill out I 865 a, and the twins are 6. Yet my 15 yr old is on my taxes as my dependent, even though he doesn't live with me. It's just we split the tax-dependents 50/50 and so my ex put two and I put two. He's not actually a dependent. I make less than my ex and so I don't support him. My ex does. I support the twins and receive child support. Or do I just include all and put down 8 as household size? Lastly: I've read different sites & videos that suggest writing a letter of explanation or including an explanation in the cover letter for late applications. Should I do this? Just explain why it's a bit late? Thank you all for your assistance!

We'll have a joint account for the bills by the time we have an interview, if not sooner. It really was just a time issue after the accounts they have took so long to be set up. I just figured it would go more smoothly once they had the AOS and docs the banks were more familiar with. As it stands they got some form they were asked to fill out that I don't think they are supposed to have to fill out. Something from the IRS labeled "Individual Nonresident Alien Checklist" with Form W-8BEN "Certificate of Foreign Status of Beneficial Owner for US Tax Withholding Individuals" It makes no sense to any of us because on the document, it says right on the form that you don't need this form if you are a "US person, including a resident alien individual" which I thought is what they are. I was hoping that sending AOS, I-485 approval would fix it... or maybe I-797... in any case, that's tomorrow's problem. For today I'm trying to ascertain if a copy of the cell phone bill and their individual accounts is enough for now?

We absolutely could have, it was just a time issue. Setting up his account (and my step-daughters) took the bank 2 days of back and forth and it was time I didn't have between school and work. So I figured we'd worry about the joint account later when he had a job since it took so long just for that much. I basically set it aside to use the time for things that seemed more important at the time. (i.e.- getting them both cell phones here and health insurance here.) Honestly, I'm just trying to do the best I can with the time I have here. Nursing school + working full time + all of the requirements for AOS = 🫠 I'm doing my best. So the things we do have aren't good enough then? We need to go get the joint account? I can if I must, but I was hoping to get this packet out by Saturday morning. I work tomorrow and I have a ton of reading to catch up on. And everything with the banks takes so darn long. I just wanted to attempt to get the packet out within the 90 day time frame, if possible.

I hope it's ok to create a new post for this as it's a different subject that doesn't really fall under the first. So, we did not get a joint bank account yet. My husband isn't allowed to work yet, so we were waiting until he was allowed. Also, it was just easier since it took a while for the banks to hash out the situation with the funds for some reason. (French banks seem to be a nightmare, or maybe just his.) In any case, he finally has his funds transferred and he has his own account. To help pay bills, he just transfers money to me and I pay them. We were going to split it up once he had a job, but that's what we've been doing for now. Is his bank account mailed to our home enough proof that he's living here with me as a couple? We do have a joint phone bill now, he and my step-daughter are on my plan and they send me the funds to pay, I can print out and include a copy of the bill. They are also on my health insurance plan now, I can print something with that? Or just photocopy the cards? In addition to this I have photos of us of course, our wedding, us with the family, us at trivia night with my brother, etc... Would these work? TIA!

Full disclosure: I'm just doing this myself, same as you. 1. From my own research on USCIS website fee schedule here and what I've been told: I-485 fee: $1440 and now includes biometrics. If you file I-765 with I-485, (on or after April 1, 2024, which you are), yes it's $260. 2. Yes you can include both in the same mailer but keep them separated. You need a complete file for each of them. There's a checklist for the packet here. I would make sure to check over it carefully so you don't get denied or a RFE (Request for Evidence.)

Read carefully, interpret literally, and answer/respond completely & accurately. This protocol ensures your success throughout this immigration process. Yes, thank you. This is indeed a lengthy complex process. After reading and re-reading, I'm still a little confused because "Biometrics appointment fees" aren't listed on the USCIS website. I've read the I-485 form instructions and this is what I've found: So, if I understand correctly, the biometrics fee is no longer required? It's incorporated into the I-485? Also, I'm a little confused about weather or not to file the I-130 for my spouse and/or my step-daughter. The wording states that if the requirement of being married within 90 days is met (it is) then we may proceed. However, it stresses eligibility. I actually went and read the law... and went cross-eyed. No way to understand that. I'm not a lwayer and I can't afford one. So let's say that I mail the file by 10/11 (the K1 and K2 we have expire 10/12) do I file the I-130 knowing that USCIS will process my packet after the K1 and K2 expiration? Or do they go by mailing date? Also for this: Does the I94 constitute proof? What constitutes "proof" that they've maintained lawful status. And if the K1 and K2 expire after I mail it out, did they maintain lawful status? The one I have is from July. Do I need to print another? I ask because I tried and the website gives me this back: The website says it's experiencing unexpected delays, so maybe it's just that. I have been reading, the stakes are too high here to make mistakes I agree, and the current climate is extra stressful. So I apologize if I ask too many questions or they are redundant. I just want to be sure not to make mistakes and to have the most complete packet possible. Thank you to all who answer for your time and assistance. 💜

Also, the checklist on this site mentions including a fee for the biometrics. This confused me because I thought biometrics appts were not automatic. It's listed as a possibility on the I-485, not a definitive. We include a fee for the possible bionetrics request in the packet?

Yes, but is it the same process/rules for K1?

Do I need to send the packets separately? I mean, separate mailings? Or do I mail them together and just make sure there's two of everything and that they are organized separately? (I did the prong fasteners for the K1 packet so I could just make sure they each have their own 'sets' of packet with individual prong fasteners to separate them.)

He was actually admitted on the old (soon to be expired 10/12) passport. So I put this number in?

I had asked this before but I'm afraid it got lost in the mix. Does anyone who's filed with child support as proof of income know how it must be submitted? As it turns out, I over-estimated when looking at the amounts needed and I actually might make it with my salary plus the child support. The child support is how I support the children that I have listed as my dependents, so is it acceptable to list is as income? I don't claim it on my taxes because it's not taxable income, so as mentioned above, the "proof" I have for this is just my bank statements for these deposits and my divorce decree that states my ex must pay it. I don't have his wages garnished and we don't have whatever government form is usually used for it. Does anyone know if that's enough? Should I put a footnote into the additional page and explain? TIA!

She's 19 now. She is here on the K2 and we did already get married. I thought she was good so long as we got married and she came before she turned 21?

The above is from the USCIS website for the spouse. As I understand it, it's the same for her so long as she gets the AOS with him. Is that not correct?

Is it 3 years for my step-daughter as well? From what I've read, I need to file something for her to ask for her green card but I'm unclear about when I can do that.

I forgot to ask above, should I automatically include 3 years? And should I ask the joint sponsor to do the same? Thanks again amazing people!

For the I-864 for me (if I'm filing with a joint sponsor- not sure if that matters) For my financials: Which Tax transcript am I sending? IRS website has 4 different options listed: Account Transcript Return Transcript Wage & Income Transcript Record of Account Transcript Each one lists my gross earned income for last year. Also, should I list my child support income if all I have to document it is my bank statement deposits for the year? My ex and I don't have the typical government child support agreement. It's just something that's listed in our divorce contract. It also ends in June so not sure if it matters or not. What about my school transcript with awards and scholarships? Do I include that? Wouldn't the grants I get from FAFSA and my Needs-based scholarships be considered "means-tested income"? This below confuses me... So I have the PDFs from the IRS website. That's not considered a "photocopy" correct? It's a print-out. Are they asking for something else? It says there's no need for a certified copy of this unless asked. So with the print-out of whichever tax transcript I must include, I do or do not need a copy of my W2 as well? There's an IRS version transcript in one of those 4 versions listed. Is that acceptable to give as the W2? Finally, if I do include the child support and anything else would the sum total of that amount be the amount I list in #7 "My current annual individual income is: "... ? TIA!

I understand. I meant the financial situation for me/us would be resolved when I said it was a 'moot point.' Thank you for the info!

Another Question, and this might be more appropriate for a different thread but I don't want to get flagged for starting too many threads... The new intended joint-sponsor who is researching whether or not he can do this right now is in the middle of applying for a small business loan and has a kid about to go off to college. He (and wife) are family members as well. They are well off but, understandably wary of the wording of sponsorship. He/they trust me and know I'm good for it. In a year and a half I'll be an RN and all of this becomes a moot point. He's just worried about potential ramifications for the loan application. Does anyone who has gone the co-sponsorship route know if this can affect your loan credibility? I'm not talking about "if the worst should happen, etc.." I mean does just signing the contract somehow trigger credit alerts or anything like that? TIA!