I-864 Co-Sponsor question

[kow]

I lived with my wife for about 3 years in Europe, some of the time over-stayed but lawyer says it will still help, and recently came back and am trying to get her a green card when she comes over in October, she was here almost 90 days up till early June 2013 when she went back before expiration. I'm a natural born citizen and all family are too, dating back centuries, and have no criminal past or involvement, have an education and drivers license etc..

My problem is I'm currently a freelance software developer, and because I don't currently make 22k a year needed for a two-person non-military household as shown in 2013 poverty guidelines, I need a co-sponsor. My father makes 45k a year and is willing to co-sponsor. His salary covers him, my mom, my wife, and me based on 2013 poverty guidelines. My lawyer even says I can present bank and PayPal print-outs along with my fathers papers payment-proofs from his employer. My father has been employed by the same company since the 80s.

My question is do you think there will be problems? I'm using a respected immigration lawyer who is going to be with us through the entire process, he will submit our materials, be with us at the interview, and be with us at biometrics. I just don't know, we will dress nice for the interview and stuff, but what if they find some little thing like the way we are dressed, or don't like that I'm a contractor? It's going to cost almost 3k for this and I'm not rich so want to get it right.

Also I'm not lazy or a freeloader. All of this is paid for by me and my wife. We can do good on our own and we have done it for years, I just don't make 22k a year right now, but I do work..

Thanks

[susan-2013]

I lived with my wife for about 3 years in Europe, some of the time over-stayed but lawyer says it will still help, and recently came back and am trying to get her a green card when she comes over in October, she was here almost 90 days up till early June 2013 when she went back before expiration. I'm a natural born citizen and all family are too, dating back centuries, and have no criminal past or involvement, have an education and drivers license etc..

My problem is I'm currently a freelance software developer, and because I don't currently make 22k a year needed for a two-person non-military household as shown in 2013 poverty guidelines, I need a co-sponsor. My father makes 45k a year and is willing to co-sponsor. His salary covers him, my mom, my wife, and me based on 2013 poverty guidelines. My lawyer even says I can present bank and PayPal print-outs along with my fathers papers payment-proofs from his employer. My father has been employed by the same company since the 80s.

My question is do you think there will be problems? I'm using a respected immigration lawyer who is going to be with us through the entire process, he will submit our materials, be with us at the interview, and be with us at biometrics. I just don't know, we will dress nice for the interview and stuff, but what if they find some little thing like the way we are dressed, or don't like that I'm a contractor? It's going to cost almost 3k for this and I'm not rich so want to get it right.

Also I'm not lazy or a freeloader. All of this is paid for by me and my wife. We can do good on our own and we have done it for years, I just don't make 22k a year right now, but I do work..

Thanks

wait a second the poverty guide line 2013 for a household of 2 is 19,387 see uscis.gov go to forms and find I864P and the guidelines are there...anyway you need to complete an I-864 and back it up with your irs transcripts for the last 3 years, your father needs to fill out a I-864A plus his irs transcripts, last 3 years as well, this shouldn't be an issue.

[susan-2013]

wait a second the poverty guide line 2013 for a household of 2 is 19,387 see uscis.gov go to forms and find I864P and the guidelines are there...anyway you need to complete an I-864 and back it up with your irs transcripts for the last 3 years, your father needs to fill out a I-864A plus his irs transcripts, last 3 years as well, this shouldn't be an issue.

btw dress as you are, not flip flops... the interviews are quick and straight to the point, if your wife is overseas they might interview her on a local consulate/embassy, if she happens to be in the states then both will be called same time, in my experience it took 15 minutes to interview my husband and me but my friend's took 1 hr, every case is different and is handled as unique.

[kow]

I see it is $19,387. Still I don't make that much yet, I've been back almost 6 months after being overseas for almost 3 years, so I don't have tax proofs. The lawyer gave me the following list of things that I need, and told me print-outs of bank and paypal would work in place of taxes, employer letter, and check stubs, after I told him everything:

• BIRTH CERTIFICATE FOR BENEFICIARY WITH ENGLISH TRANSLATION
• BENEFICIARY’S PASSPORT and I-94W
• Driver’s License or I.D. (Both) – if any
• PETITIONER’S PROOF OF CITIZENSHIP
  • Birth Certificate – Long Form and Photo I.D.
  • And/or VALID U.S. PASSPORT
• MARRIAGE CERTIFICATE
• EVIDENCE OF LEGAL TERMINATION OF ANY PREVIOUS MARRIAGE
• MEDICAL EXAM * From authorized physician (Beneficiary)
• 2012 INCOME TAX (1040 & W-2, 1099) (you)
• 3 RECENT PAYCHECK STUBS (you)
• JOB LETTER INDICATING OCCUPATION AND SALARY (you)
• IF THE APPLICANT HAS EVER BEEN ARRESTED: BRING CERTIFIED COPIES OF COURT DISPOSITION AND POLICE REPORT OF ALL ARRESTS NO MATTER HOW INSIGNIFICANT.
• FILING FEE - MONEY ORDER OR PERSONAL CHECK $1,490.00

PAYABLE TO: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY



CO-Sponsor – if necessary

• Copy of proof of U.S. Citizenship or Lawful Permanent Residence
• Job letter indicating occupation and salary
• 3 recent pay stubs
• Income Tax 2012 (1040 & W-2)

I appreciate all responses and insight.

[susan-2013]

the lawyer needs all those documents to attach them to each form as appropriate, I filed for my dad and I'm currently filing for my mom and I don't work so I use all my husbands documents as long as the amount it's met there should not be any issues with your AOS, I'm assuming the lawyer knows what he's doing, the weird part here, your wife is in Europe and even though she is gets her visa immediately, her process is different because it goes through a consular process and everything gets process through the NVC and they are the ones that have to tell what's next or he might be doing a one step filing but that would work if she is in the states. I would not get stress over financial documents having a good 2nd sponsor but you don't want to raise questions about why your are not filing for taxes unless the law allows you to do it because of low income, keep in mind that the visa is issued because there is an affidavit filed with enough money so your wife won't be a burden to the government, you can always call USCIS and ask about your situation they will tell you exactly what to do, they are representative and do a good job, I pay for my one step 1500.00 back on 2008 all the other processes I did it myself without any issues. good luck!

[kow]

the lawyer needs all those documents to attach them to each form as appropriate, I filed for my dad and I'm currently filing for my mom and I don't work so I use all my husbands documents as long as the amount it's met there should not be any issues with your AOS, I'm assuming the lawyer knows what he's doing, the weird part here, your wife is in Europe and even though she is gets her visa immediately, her process is different because it goes through a consular process and everything gets process through the NVC and they are the ones that have to tell what's next or he might be doing a one step filing but that would work if she is in the states. I would not get stress over financial documents having a good 2nd sponsor but you don't want to raise questions about why your are not filing for taxes unless the law allows you to do it because of low income, keep in mind that the visa is issued because there is an affidavit filed with enough money so your wife won't be a burden to the government, you can always call USCIS and ask about your situation they will tell you exactly what to do, they are representative and do a good job, I pay for my one step 1500.00 back on 2008 all the other processes I did it myself without any issues. good luck!

She will be coming back, and we will then get married, around October. She comes over on the ESTA, we are just waiting for 4 months since her last visit to be safe for border officers. The financial part is covered, I was overseas and wasn't employed for almost 3 years, and only came back about six months ago. I never made money, even the <$501 that is exempt from taxes.

When I came back I went to get my license at the DMV, and met a guy trying to get his immigrant wife a license. He told me the horror stories of the K1, that's why I prefer it the way I'm doing it. My wife also experienced a lot of hostility at the US border patrol, she's the quiet passive type, but she says the border agent was pretty angry and was making legal threats right off. This and the hostility towards culture and immigration I typically see makes me nervous about the application process.