I864 assistance

Hello all,

I'm long time UK Yankee lurker and user, I used this site to get a UK spousal visa, then an ILR, and as gluttons for punishment we're now back for repatriation. I have actually posted my question elsewhere, in a site more geared towards the acquisition of US visas, but I wanted to put it here as well since the UK Yankee community has always been so good to us.

I would like to ask a couple of (hopefully) simple questions. I am in the final straight in applying for an immigrant visa via DCF in London, UK. My wife is a US Citizen who has been living in the UK for over 3 years on an ILR. We are now at the point at which we have an interview scheduled. I have the following questions regarding the I864 sponsorship forms.

My wife's Step-Father has agreed to be our joint sponsor and will actually be wholly meeting the sponsorship requirement.

1 - He has provided a copy of his Birth certificate as his proof of US citizenship, he does not have an original currently available. Will this copy suffice, the I864 form itself suggests that only a copy is needed, but other parts of the DCF instructions tend to state that everything should be an original or a certified copy. If he does need the original, does anyone know what the best way to source the original is, and how quickly this can be done?

2 - He has provided me with his tax returns for the past 3 years. should he also provide me with payslips or any other financial information regarding this year, as clearly the best part of a year has passed since his last tax return.

3 - As the petitioner my wife will be my sponsor, although she will have no finances to add to her form as she has been living in the UK with me for the last few years. She will be moving back to the US together with me and we will be moving in with her Step-Father and Mother. in this situation I am unsure whether the Step Father should be a joint sponsor or simply a household member? Can someone confirm?

Thankyou in advance for taking the time to read this, and I sincerely apologise if these questions or similar have been answered before, it was not for lack of looking I can assure you!

thanks again,

Joe909

Hi all,

Bit of an update, I've taken question 1 & 2 off the table since I've asked my Father in Law to obtain a certified copy from the county. He's also got a letter from his employer and some recent payslips.

But I could still really use some advice on question 3, so if anyone can shed any light, I'd be extremely grateful.

Thanks again
Joe909

I thought you said he was your joint sponsor already? My understanding was that if it is his money that you are using to show you can live on he will be the joint sponsor, not a member of household. Maybe I am confused by your question.

Hi Joe,

I just successfully sponsored my (UK) husband with my dad's help as a joint sponsor in a situation almost identical to what you described.

At the interview at the embassy, they *did* ask to see payslips and a W-2 in addition to tax returns, so it is good that you have those available from your wife's step-dad.

We also moved in with my parents and were unsure whether to list my dad as the joint sponsor or sponsoring household member. We ended up deciding on joint sponsor, but made sure his income was enough to sponsor the entire household (his household + my husband the immigrant + me) just in case. They did not question this at all or suggest that it was wrong. I've heard of others filling out the forms in both versions just in case, so you could have your wife's step-dad do that as well.

Just as reassurance: don't worry about your wife having been in the UK all this time. I was exactly the same (3 years in UK, so no US income at all, and a student before that; no assets to speak of) and my husband and I successfully entered the US last week using his new CR-1 visa.

Good luck!