RonMari

Thanks for the support!

The I-130 petition is due for a decision, possibly close to the end of this year. My understanding, last time I checked, was approx. 15 to 17 months total. May 9 will be a year since I filed. I realize that approval is the first hurdle to overcome, but I'm confident I've done an adequate job in proving my wife and I have a bonafide marriage. I just want to stay ahead of the game and have time to educate myself before I get to the NVC stage. Neither my sister nor I have any additional household members or dependents, so that's not an issue, and I expect to still be living with her during the fall and winter. Combining our income was my initial thoughts also, but I needed a little more advice. Thank you for your time.

I appreciate all the feedback. I'll try to be clear with a complicated issue. My income is only SS and VA Disability, which combined, does not meet the 125% guideline. I would like to get a part time job to make up the difference, but my life circumstances at this time makes it difficult to have consistent employment. The only asset I have is a home I own, no mortgage. The appraised value would be well above the required 3x amount for the difference in income. I am putting it up for sale since I relocated from another state to my sister's residence, temporarily, for the purpose of being closer to family. With the proceeds of my current house, eventually, I intend to buy another one near my sister. From my understanding of what I've read here on VJ, and elsewhere, it seems like using assets to make up the difference is a shot in the dark. So, I had asked my sister if she would be willing to help. However, I don't understand which form she should use, I-864 or I-864A. She owns her home, and her only income is SS survivor benefit, which is above the 125% guideline. There is no other joint sponsor available. If she would not be a good candidate as a sponsor, or if using my assets may not be sufficient, then I will need to reevaluate if I should continue in the visa process. It's too stressful, time consuming and costly without some kind of hope that we have a reasonable chance of success.

I own the house outright, but I'm coming to the conclusion I don't have much of a chance to get an approval, due to lack of sufficient income. I don't have the luxury of getting a joint sponsor. And my situation at this time is such that I can't get a job to make up the difference. How discouraging it is to know that we've had a government allowing millions of people to enter this country illegally and stay, fly them in and pay for accomodations and food. Yet, I have to jump through hoops and spend hundreds of dollars, only be told in the end, I can't bring my wife to live with me, all for the lack of only several thousand dollars a year.

Thank you for the clarification, and food for thought. I own a home as an asset, but I understand that can be hit or miss with the NVC and/or consulate.

My sister, a household member, has agreed to be a joint sponsor with me, however I'm not sure if she should use the I-864 or I-864A. She was not required to file taxes due to her SS income level. I noticed on the I-864A no option to indicate that, such as on the I-864, Part 6, line 17. Would it be better to use the I-864 so she can note no tax filing required, and submit evidence to support that? If she is required to use the I-864A because she's a household member, is it acceptable to just submit evidence explaining the reason for no tax transcript?

Thank you, appleblossom

Does the NVC notify the petitioner when a CR1 case is approved and sent to the consulate? Thanks for any answers.