Steve S.

Hi-

I am in the process of petitioning for my wife (of 1 week) who is here on a visitor
visa. My question is about the affidavit of support - I-864. I have been out of work
since last July and collecting unemployment benefits while looking for work. The
unemployment checks that I receive puts me well above the 125% poverty level needed
to sponsor her. I have tax returns that show financial health for the last 3 years,
house, cars, statements, blah blah. The question: Can the unemployment payments be
used to show income, or is this not considered income and will be declined. Should I
show proof of liquid assets in addition to confessing my present lack of employment?
I realize that I can enlist a co-sponsor, but if it's not necessary, I'd rather go it
alone. Thank you in advance for any info.

Steve

Ingo Pakleppa

On Fri, 10 May 2002 22:29:58 -0700, "Steve S." <[email protected]> wrote:

    >Hi-
    >
    >I am in the process of petitioning for my wife (of 1 week) who is here on a visitor
    >visa. My question is about the affidavit of support - I-864. I have been out of work
    >since last July and collecting unemployment benefits while looking for work. The
    >unemployment checks that I receive puts me well above the 125% poverty level needed
    >to sponsor her. I have tax returns that show financial health for the last 3 years,
    >house, cars, statements, blah blah. The question: Can the unemployment payments be
    >used to show income, or is this not considered income and will be declined. Should I
    >show proof of liquid assets in addition to confessing my present lack of employment?
    >I realize that I can enlist a co-sponsor, but if it's not necessary, I'd rather go
    >it alone. Thank you in advance for any info.
    >
    >Steve

The problem with unemployment benefits is that it wouldn't last all through the time
until the I-864 expires (which is either after 10 years or when your wife becomes a
US citizen).

If you have liquid assets, you can substitute them at a rate of $5 in assets for each
$1 that you are short of income.

You could simply give it a try. If the examiner decides that you don't have enough
assets, ask at the interview that the case should be continued until you supply a
co-sponsor.

Ingo

I am not a lawyer and this is not legal advice. For reliable advice, please consult
with a professional immigration attorney.

For further information, check the following frequently-requested links.

For many questions, you may find answers at
http://travel.state.gov/visa_services.html (Department of State)

or http://ins.usdoj.gov (INS).

For consular policies and visa reciprocity fees, find your consulate in
http://travel.state.gov/links.html

For visa denial and suggestions what to do about them, see
http://travel.state.gov/visadenials.html

For DOL Online Labor Certification: http://workforcesecurity.doleta.gov/

For information on affidavit of support for marriage to US citizens (I-864), go to
http://travel.state.gov/i864gen.html and http://travel.state.gov/checklist.html

For information on entering the US as a K-1: http://www.k1poelist.com/

For poverty levels, see http://aspe.os.dhhs.gov/poverty/00poverty.htm

For information on H/L/O/P visa extensions at Dept. of State in St. Louis, MO, see
http://travel.state.gov/revals.html

For non-official information, check:

(When using these sites, and any Web sites, please watch out for privacy, as I do not
know all site operators.)

http://www.visalaw.com http://www.shusterman.com http://www.immigration.com
http://members.aol.com/MDUdall http://www.murthy.com/ http://www.richw.org/dualcit/
(dual citizenship FAQ) http://www.ilw.com http://www.srs-usvisa.com
http://www.getusavisa.com http://greencard-lottery.virtualave.net/
http://www.jcvisa.com (H-1B) http://www.h1bresources.com (marriage and fiancee)
http://www.kamya.com/misc/ (marriage and fiancee)
http://www.mindspring.com/~docsteen/...o/visainfo.htm http://www.workpermit.com

This is not an endorsement of any of these Web sites. I am not affiliated with any of
the Web site owners and do not receive nor accept payment in return for listing them,
and typically don't even know them.

(if believe you have a good immigration-related Web site and want your Web site
listed here, please e-mail me).