tanith

Sorry about what I'm sure is a silly question - my brain is buzzing with form numbers, so just wanted an 'easy' answer.

My husband now lives with his sister who is our co-sponsor, should she fill out an I-864 or I-864A?

jeffreyhy

The word "co-sponsor" is ambiguous and does not allow for an answer to your question.

If his sister will be his joint sponsor then she fills out I-864.
If his sister will be his household member then they jointly fill out I-864A.

Read the instructions for both forms to determine which approach is most appropriate for the situation.

Regards, JEff

tanith

I've read through the forms again and discussed with Chris, we think I-864 is the way to go.

The basic situation is that he was unemployed most of the last year before moving South to live with his sister. She declared him as a dependant on last years tax return (2012) for a part of the year. He now has a job where he would make above the poverty line but has been officially taken on as a seasonal employee. So given that we cannot prove his continuing ability to 'support me' - we thought that having a 'co-sponsor' would be prudent.

ian-mstm

There is no such thing as a "co-sponsor". You keep using the word and there is no such word where US immigration is concerned. There is a "sponsor" and there is a "joint sponsor". There is nothing else. If his sister is providing the financial resources for your visa, she is a joint sponsor. The sister must file an I-864. Your husband, as the USC sponsor, must also file an I-864. Since your husband is living with her, she must demonstrate sufficient income to cover 3 people: her, your husband, and you.

Ian

tanith

Ok, thank you

jeffreyhy

Yes there is something else. There is a [contributing] household member. Hence the ambiguity of the term "co-sponsor" and the reason for a form I-864A.

OP's husband needs to determine if his sister is a joint sponsor or a household member.

Regards, JEff

jeffreyhy

Did you see the word "co-sponsor" on the forms? Or in the instructions?

Unfortunately, you may have seen the work "co-sponsor in the instructions, but mostly you saw the terms "joint sponsor" and "household member". Your husband's sister can be one or the other, but not both.

Regards, JEff

tanith

The word co-sponsor is used almost exclusively on another forum that I frequent - I guess it stuck in my head, like using the brand name Dyson when you actually mean vacuum cleaner.

Chris' sister makes more than the guidelines for 3 people, so not a problem there.

ian-mstm

A contributing household member is neither a sponsor nor a joint sponsor. Ergo, where the word "sponsor" is concerned, there's nothing else.

Ian

ian-mstm

They're wrong, and you should feel free to tell them so!

Ian

jeffreyhy

Well, that explains your confusion.

Just out of curiosity, do you like being confused?

Regards, JEff

jeffreyhy

True if your going to limit the discussion to the word 'sponsor', but when the issue is coming up with sufficient financial resources to support an immigrant, the household members of a sponsor or of a joint sponsor can contribute as well.

Regards, JEff

ian-mstm

Yes, I agree!

Ian