Weird Income Issue on I-864

[Marina-Del 10]

Hello,

I'm actually filing DCF, but I figured that this forum might give me quicker responses, so I'm asking over here!

My husband's interview is next Monday and I'm going over all our forms again to make sure we have everything in order. I was just looking at our I-864 and noticed that my income looks really really strange! I live in Brazil and work here in Brazil at a school as an English teacher. I am NOT registered as working with the government, although my school can write me a letter affirming how much I make per month.

For the years of 2007-2009 I made about $2000.00 each year, so obviously not much at all! I was a student and things of that nature. I started working a this school back in February 2010 (so on my 2009 tax forms there was no income from Brazil as I was unemployed). Then on question 23 it asks for my current individual annual income (around $20,000.00/year). My mom is joint sponsoring so whether I am over the limit or not for sponsoring one person it besides the point.

Basically my question is this: Will it look really really really weird and strange to have income at $2,000.00 for 3 years and then write all of a sudden that my income is $20,000. Will the fact that my school can write a letter confirming this make any difference? And of course, once my husband and I move back to the US in June, I won't be working anywhere for at least a month.

I can get my school to write any amount on the letter that I want (assuming it's not MORE than what I make). But asking them to write the letter for less wouldn't be a problem. Do you think it would be wise to get them to write the letter for less than I make so that these numbers aren't so different....what do you think??

Sorry to be so confusing!

[pushbrk 12,824]

Hello,

I'm actually filing DCF, but I figured that this forum might give me quicker responses, so I'm asking over here!

My husband's interview is next Monday and I'm going over all our forms again to make sure we have everything in order. I was just looking at our I-864 and noticed that my income looks really really strange! I live in Brazil and work here in Brazil at a school as an English teacher. I am NOT registered as working with the government, although my school can write me a letter affirming how much I make per month.

For the years of 2007-2009 I made about $2000.00 each year, so obviously not much at all! I was a student and things of that nature. I started working a this school back in February 2010 (so on my 2009 tax forms there was no income from Brazil as I was unemployed). Then on question 23 it asks for my current individual annual income (around $20,000.00/year). My mom is joint sponsoring so whether I am over the limit or not for sponsoring one person it besides the point.

Basically my question is this: Will it look really really really weird and strange to have income at $2,000.00 for 3 years and then write all of a sudden that my income is $20,000. Will the fact that my school can write a letter confirming this make any difference? And of course, once my husband and I move back to the US in June, I won't be working anywhere for at least a month.

I can get my school to write any amount on the letter that I want (assuming it's not MORE than what I make). But asking them to write the letter for less wouldn't be a problem. Do you think it would be wise to get them to write the letter for less than I make so that these numbers aren't so different....what do you think??

Sorry to be so confusing!

If it's true, it doesn't matter how it "looks". They aren't going to consider any of your income unless it will continue from the same source after you move back to the USA. Just answer truthfully and document your answers as needed.

[Anh map 2,098]

Moved from IR1/CR1 Spouse Visa Process & Procedure forum to US Embassy and Consulate forum

[Marina-Del 10]

Not that it really matters, by why was it moved form the IR-CR-1 forum??

And push, it is true, and like you said, since we're leaving, it shouldn't matter anyway...I just don't want to raise any red flags.

My mom suggests that instead of multiplying my monthly income by 12 I only multiply by 5 (Feb-June), since that's how much I'll make at this company this year...that seems like it will make more sense.

What do you think?

[Marina-Del 10]

And moved back to IR-1/CR-1...

Anyway, for future reference to others, I did just write my annual income as what I'll make at this job for 5 months (so from Feb to June when we leave).

[pushbrk 12,824]

And moved back to IR-1/CR-1...

Anyway, for future reference to others, I did just write my annual income as what I'll make at this job for 5 months (so from Feb to June when we leave).

What part of truthful did you not understand? Just kidding. The appropriate answer is the 12 month figure. Answer the question asked. It is not how much will you make. It is how much do you make. The answer is an annualized amount. It's NOT a red flag. Tell the truth.

[Anh map 2,098]

Not that it really matters, by why was it moved form the IR-CR-1 forum??

And push, it is true, and like you said, since we're leaving, it shouldn't matter anyway...I just don't want to raise any red flags.

My mom suggests that instead of multiplying my monthly income by 12 I only multiply by 5 (Feb-June), since that's how much I'll make at this company this year...that seems like it will make more sense.

What do you think?

I moved the thread because the Affidavit of Support is a more of a Consulate/Embassy stage issue and put it there to try and get the best feedback for your question. Trying to keep the forum organization consistent. Not a judgement on the question.

Don't know how it bounced back. Some of the VJ ghosts at work.

[Marina-Del 10]

What part of truthful did you not understand? Just kidding. The appropriate answer is the 12 month figure. Answer the question asked. It is not how much will you make. It is how much do you make. The answer is an annualized amount. It's NOT a red flag. Tell the truth.

Okay, thanks push. I actually already printed the forms out with the 5 month salary figure on them (I don't have a printer at home, so I have to go to a printer shop). Do you think it's a big deal to leave it like it is (with the 5 month salary) or should I really print out that page of the form with an amended 12 month salary?

I totally see your point in that the question DOES ask for annual income. At the same time I guess it really doesn't matter because this is my job here in Brazil and not in the US where we'll be moving, and in June when we leave I won't be making anything at all.

The full 12 month salary puts me well over the 125% poverty line limit and the 5 month salary clearly does not. But I think I'd probably need a co-sponsor anyway since this job will not continue past June.

Anyway, do you think I need to change the forms or can I just leave them as is?

[pushbrk 12,824]

Okay, thanks push. I actually already printed the forms out with the 5 month salary figure on them (I don't have a printer at home, so I have to go to a printer shop). Do you think it's a big deal to leave it like it is (with the 5 month salary) or should I really print out that page of the form with an amended 12 month salary?

I totally see your point in that the question DOES ask for annual income. At the same time I guess it really doesn't matter because this is my job here in Brazil and not in the US where we'll be moving, and in June when we leave I won't be making anything at all.

The full 12 month salary puts me well over the 125% poverty line limit and the 5 month salary clearly does not. But I think I'd probably need a co-sponsor anyway since this job will not continue past June.

Anyway, do you think I need to change the forms or can I just leave them as is?

I assure you that truthful and accurate answers are not only important but critical. Whether this is going to make a difference or not, is hard to say. I certainly would reprint the affidavit with the correct annualized income as requested. What's more important, it seems, is for you to review everything you've already done for accuracy and truth, as you've shown that you have more concern about how it looks than truth and accuracy. Where else have you already erred? Where else will you?

[Marina-Del 10]

Okay, I'll change it.

And I haven't erred/lied/whatever, anywhere else. As I stated, it's not really erring. I'm NOT going to earn the money that I'll be writing on the form. The way I look at it that could really be thought of as lying on the form too. From the form directions, "You may include evidence supporting your claim about your expected income for the current year if you believe that submitting...." That's why I thought changing it to the 5 month period might be the right course of action. My expected income for the current year is only what I will be making at this job from Feb-June of this year. I expect to make NOTHING from July until at least October and then from October until December, who knows.

I'll change it to the yearly income (or better yet, have both copies with me so that if there is an issue (although I doubt there would be one) but if there is I have all the bases covered. If you say I should put the annual income (rather than my EXPECTED annual income) then I trust you as you always seem to know what you're talking about.

I just wanted to point to the directions and explain why I was thinking the way that I was...and not that I was trying to change the truth of lie as you implied I was in your post.

[trailmix 77]

I understand what you are saying, but you are overthinking that question, that's really the bottom line. It asks for your annual income, they don't want you second guessing their intent with that question

If you want to over-think it in the opposite way - then consider that people are told over and over again not to make any plans until they have that visa approved, so then you could say, because you don't have that visa in your hand, that the 12 month income figure is the correct answer.

Good luck!

[pushbrk 12,824]

I understand what you are saying, but you are overthinking that question, that's really the bottom line. It asks for your annual income, they don't want you second guessing their intent with that question

If you want to over-think it in the opposite way - then consider that people are told over and over again not to make any plans until they have that visa approved, so then you could say, because you don't have that visa in your hand, that the 12 month income figure is the correct answer.

Good luck!

Exactly. Forget all the, "How is it going to look." and "could be interpreted" BS. Just answer the question with a literal interpretation. If you're executing an affidavit of support today and your salary is 60k but you know the company is going out of business in June, the correct answer to current annual earnings is still 60k because that's your annual salary today. The truth is the truth, today, and nobody knows what tomorrow will bring, even if you think you know what June will bring.

I can't resist this last bit. Pay very close attention to what the definition of "is" is.