Filing i-130 Form first, and then the i-864 Form separately

[pierrejocques]

Is is possible to submit the i-130 and i-485 forms first, and then follow up a bit later with the i-864 forms? Reason being is that my "foreign alien" spouse's i-94 expires shortly, so we want to get the forms i-485 and i-130 forms submitted so that we have a case number and my foreign alien spouse is protected once her i-94 expires. We are not prepared to send in the form i-864 forms quite yet for several reasons - one is that as the i-130 petitioner, I have been unemployed for a long time so I don't have enough $$ to support my spouse according to the poverty guidelines. I am hoping I find a job by the time they ask for the i-864 forms. If not, then I need the time to find a joint sponsor to fill out the i-864a forms. I just need get a case number and buy some time.