What is the point of showing bank statements?

[JonasMichaels 0]

I know they can be used as financial proof for the I-134 but what are they supposed to be showing? Yearly statements or monthly? I can print out my statements online...is that sufficient? thanks very much!

Jonas

[lostinblue 1,989]

I know they can be used as financial proof for the I-134 but what are they supposed to be showing? Yearly statements or monthly? I can print out my statements online...is that sufficient? thanks very much!

Jonas

You would need notarized letters from your bank saying when you opened your accounts and showing average monthly deposits and current balance!.If you are above the 125% poverty level then often it is not needed.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

I know they can be used as financial proof for the I-134 but what are they supposed to be showing? Yearly statements or monthly? I can print out my statements online...is that sufficient? thanks very much!

Jonas

Sure, that is sufficient.

The bank statements are benerally used by self employed people as a back-up to their income taxes as a way to show proof of income. If you state, for example, that you make $40,000 per year from your business and your tax return or transmittals show this is amount you claimed and paid taxes on, it is still not proof that you really made this much money, you just paid tax on this claimed amount. Bank statements for the year, if they show a similar amount of deposits would be an indication all is true and correct. For a w-2 employee with tax returns, w-2s, and an employment letter, the bank statements or letter is "fluff". Better fluff than a denial or RFE. It is, maybe, simpler to ask your bank to write a letter stating when the account was opened, the current balance and the amount of deposits in the last 12 months. At lease it is less paper to present. I had all that stuff at my interview and they never looked at it. Oh well, better to have and not need I always say.

[Otto 83]

If your income is sufficient and/or you're not using your back/savings/checking account as an asset - you do not need to submit a bank statement at all. The only point of submitting a bank statement (or similar asset) is if you need it to offset any deficiency/shortfall in income.

Edited February 9, 2009 by Karin und Otto