Joint Sponsor For Affidavit Of Support Article

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Joint Sponsor for Affidavit of Support

Affidavit of Support is legally essential for many family-based and some employment based immigrants to demonstrate that they will have satisfactory means of support after immigration to the U.S.

Author: Hazel Ickes

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Generally, Applicants for family-based immigrant visas, with certain orphans and applicants for employment-based immigrant visas where a relative filed the immigrant visa petition or has a 5 percent or bigger ownership interest in the business needs an Affidavit of Support. People you wish to adjust their status to LPR in order to file US Citizenship Application in the future also require this Affidavit of Support.

Sponsorship Requirements
A sponsor must be at least 18 years old and either an American citizen or a lawful permanent resident (LPR). The sponsor must also have a domicile (residence) in the United States. The total net value of assets, less liens and liabilities against them, must equal five times the difference between the sponsor's income and 125% of the poverty level for the household size. Sponsors of spouses and children of U.S. citizens must only prove assets valued at three times the difference between the poverty guideline and actual household income. Sponsors of orphans who will acquire citizenship after admission to the United States must only prove assets equal to the difference between the poverty guideline and actual household income.

When Joint Sponsor Come Into Scene?
A joint sponsor may submit an Affidavit of Support to sponsor all or some of the family members if the primary sponsor does not meet the income requirements. A joint sponsor is a person who assumes legal responsibility for financially supporting an immigrant until that immigrant becomes a U.S. citizen or completes 40 quarters of work. A maximum of two joint sponsors per petition can be used. Each sponsor is only responsible for the applicant(s) listed on that joint sponsor’s Affidavit of Support. If a joint sponsor is used, the petitioning sponsor must submit Form I-864, not Form I-864EZ. A joint sponsor assumes this responsibility by signing Form I-864 Affidavit of Support.

Requirements for Joint Sponsor
A joint sponsor must meet all the same requirements as the sponsor, except the joint sponsor does not need to be related to the immigrant. The joint sponsor (or the joint sponsor and his or her household) must reach the 125% income requirement alone. You cannot combine your income with that of a joint sponsor to meet the income requirement. An organization, corporation or entity cannot be a joint sponsor. Only a person can act as a joint sponsor

If there are two joint sponsors then each joint sponsor should meet the income requirements individually.

Notify the Change of Address
Federal law needs that every sponsor reports every change of address to the USCIS within 30 days of the change. To do this, send a completed Form I-865, Sponsor's Change of Address, to the Service Center having authority over your new address.

How Long Does My Responsibility as a Sponsor Continue?
Your obligation to care for the immigrant(s) you are sponsoring in this affidavit of support will continue until the sponsored immigrant becomes a U.S. citizen, or can be qualified with 40 qualifying quarters of work in the United States.

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http://www.uscitizenship.info/us-citizenship/U-S-Citizenship-application-Form-N-400.jsp

Article Source: http://www.1888articles.com/author-hazel-ickes-41169.html

Joint Sponsor for Affidavit of Support