Affidavit of Support

[Bassi and Zainab 1]

Ok, so I'm getting paperwork together and feel a little confused because the quantity of paperwork seems a bit overwhelming. I ran into a snag and I'm wondering if anyone else encountered this and have advice beyong throttling the bank manager. I asked for a letter stating the date I opened the account, the total amount of deposits over the past year, and the current balance. They gave me a letter stating my current balance, average balance and date I opened the account. Hmmmm, I thought. Well, I really need to have all the things listed on this sheet. I don't want to give them a reason to deny me. So I asked again and they gave me a letter stating my current balance, average balance and date I opened the account. Hmmmm, I thought. This looks strangely similar to the last letter that didn't satisfy my needs. Let's try one more time......... So, this time, stressing that I also need to have them note the total amount of deposits over the past year, I got a letter stating my current balance, average balance and date I opened the account.......AND 12 months of statements. And they told me, they can go through the statements and add up the deposit amounts. So, at this point, I politely asked for a manager. He said, We don't do that. I said, I've been a member here for over 10 years and this is what I need. So go and do it. He blinked, and told me he would see what he could do. That was Friday.

What did you use to fulfill this requirement? If I don't have to go to the CEO of the bank for this letter, I'd prefer not to. Maybe it really is as hard as they are making it. Or maybe I'm not asking for the right thing. I just can't imagine giving the embassy 12 months worth of bank statements and that the CO is going to sit with a calculator and add up my deposits.

[AUBGER 0]

Well Michael only asked for the date the account was opened and the current balance really..nothing else was needed for my bank statement. Plus, a bank statement is optional and it is there only to support what was written in the Affidavit of Support. At least this is my understanding

[knl 0]

I was not able to get the letter from my bank either. They told me they don't do that. I thought, yeah right, how could they not look in the computer and see everything. But I was upset, and left the bank, decided to copy the front page of my bank statements, for the months I could find, up to a year. Which it actually had a section that said total deposits, for that month. I don't recall my husband having to show them at the interview. Take what ever they gave you, it's better to have it. Best wishes.

[monagoz 2]

I don't think you really have to stress over the AOS if you meet the income requirement. So long as you have the IRS transcript of your income, the bank statement is just optional.

[Ricca711 1]

The same thing happened to me last Friday. They are not going to do it. Just take the front of each of your bank statements for one year. I went from November 2006 to November 2007. Take your deposits and put them into an Excel spreadsheet. Add them up. Take the Excel spreadsheet and have the Manager of the branch verify your total. She/He can then copy the spreadsheet onto their letterhead and sign it. Take the paper she has already given you, attach it with a card from the branch and send what you have.

God Bless

[Asante Maroon 0]

Ok, so I'm getting paperwork together and feel a little confused because the quantity of paperwork seems a bit overwhelming. I ran into a snag and I'm wondering if anyone else encountered this and have advice beyong throttling the bank manager. I asked for a letter stating the date I opened the account, the total amount of deposits over the past year, and the current balance. They gave me a letter stating my current balance, average balance and date I opened the account. Hmmmm, I thought. Well, I really need to have all the things listed on this sheet. I don't want to give them a reason to deny me. So I asked again and they gave me a letter stating my current balance, average balance and date I opened the account. Hmmmm, I thought. This looks strangely similar to the last letter that didn't satisfy my needs. Let's try one more time......... So, this time, stressing that I also need to have them note the total amount of deposits over the past year, I got a letter stating my current balance, average balance and date I opened the account.......AND 12 months of statements. And they told me, they can go through the statements and add up the deposit amounts. So, at this point, I politely asked for a manager. He said, We don't do that. I said, I've been a member here for over 10 years and this is what I need. So go and do it. He blinked, and told me he would see what he could do. That was Friday.

What did you use to fulfill this requirement? If I don't have to go to the CEO of the bank for this letter, I'd prefer not to. Maybe it really is as hard as they are making it. Or maybe I'm not asking for the right thing. I just can't imagine giving the embassy 12 months worth of bank statements and that the CO is going to sit with a calculator and add up my deposits.

One of my bank accounts was with Commerce. I walked in and specifically asked for all the things you listed above. The first letter she gave me did not include the average balance for last year. When I drew this matter to her attention, she told me that the system does not automatically calculate that, so she would have to do it manually. She added my statement balance for each month and then divided by 12 months.

If they want to do it they can. Banks are fully aware that this information is needed to file for someone. Commerce was so helpful, they even notarized my Affidavit of Support . I think you should try another branch of your bank and see if you have better luck.

[Divine Mercy 0]

Ok, so I'm getting paperwork together and feel a little confused because the quantity of paperwork seems a bit overwhelming. I ran into a snag and I'm wondering if anyone else encountered this and have advice beyong throttling the bank manager. I asked for a letter stating the date I opened the account, the total amount of deposits over the past year, and the current balance. They gave me a letter stating my current balance, average balance and date I opened the account. Hmmmm, I thought. Well, I really need to have all the things listed on this sheet. I don't want to give them a reason to deny me. So I asked again and they gave me a letter stating my current balance, average balance and date I opened the account. Hmmmm, I thought. This looks strangely similar to the last letter that didn't satisfy my needs. Let's try one more time......... So, this time, stressing that I also need to have them note the total amount of deposits over the past year, I got a letter stating my current balance, average balance and date I opened the account.......AND 12 months of statements. And they told me, they can go through the statements and add up the deposit amounts. So, at this point, I politely asked for a manager. He said, We don't do that. I said, I've been a member here for over 10 years and this is what I need. So go and do it. He blinked, and told me he would see what he could do. That was Friday.

What did you use to fulfill this requirement? If I don't have to go to the CEO of the bank for this letter, I'd prefer not to. Maybe it really is as hard as they are making it. Or maybe I'm not asking for the right thing. I just can't imagine giving the embassy 12 months worth of bank statements and that the CO is going to sit with a calculator and add up my deposits.

One of my bank accounts was with Commerce. I walked in and specifically asked for all the things you listed above. The first letter she gave me did not include the average balance for last year. When I drew this matter to her attention, she told me that the system does not automatically calculate that, so she would have to do it manually. She added my statement balance for each month and then divided by 12 months.

If they want to do it they can. Banks are fully aware that this information is needed to file for someone. Commerce was so helpful, they even notarized my Affidavit of Support . I think you should try another branch of your bank and see if you have better luck.

I just had the same problem at the bank. They gave me a letter saying the current balance and when the account opened. The thing is, I only made one deposit and I don't know if I care to point that out to the embassy so I'm leaving it alone. I sold my house a few months ago and that's the only thing in the bank. I have made withdrawals (way too many, I'm sorry to say). The current balance works to my advantage. I do have another account at a different bank that handles my paychecks, I haven't tried to get a letter from them yet, I was figuring on just going with my statements. You can print statements from online for most banks.

I do have a question about the aff. of supp too though.

everyone seems to stress having the tax situation in order as being so important and that scares the ####### out of me.

Here's my situation for the last three years:

2004 - Filed joint w/ my ex husband even though we were separated, I had a part time job, he had a full time job.

2005 - filed but didn't need to pay because I only worked part time and didn't make even remotely close to poverty guidlines

2006 - didn't file at all.. didn't work at all. I was pregnant, had the baby, baby got sick for a while... looked for a job to no avail...

2007 - started working in Feb. and I make enough to meet poverty guidelines

By the time the interview comes along I will probably have to show that I paid in 2007 also. That will get rid of the joint return from 2004.

How big a deal is this? I currently have enough (more than enough when you add the money from the sale of the house) to meet the requirements. Do you think this will be a major issue?

As for the bank issue, I think that's true, I wouldn't worry about how everything is worded exactly. If you are worried about it show them your statements. Get a letter from your employer, show pay stubs, show bank records.. child support if you have it.. not sure how to get records for that. I can get an online deposit record printed out, not sure how good that is though. Any thoughts on that one?

[angel73 0]

Just like monagoz said, it is optional, I didnt use my bank statements I just summited my 3 years of tax papers and they accept that.

[ForeverAmen 0]

I submitted exactly what your bank gave you. As a matter of fact, I had them to notarize the letter as well as my Affidavit of Support. Finally I went to my banks website and printed out my statements from the past 12 months, and sent them as well. I had absolutely no problem.

[Ta Ta 1]

I also suggest adding up the deposits yourself and then bring them to the manager of the bank to verify.

Write down for them what you need this time.

Date account opened.

Current balance.

Average balance.

Total deposits.

On the banks letterhead. Signed. Notarized if necessary.

I have Regions Bank and had no problem, they added up the deposits themselves. I went directly to the bank manager.

[His Glory 25]

I also have a question. I thought I would just take copies of my last 3 years tax returns that I have, but am I to understand that I have to get the irs to do it for me? How long does it take for them to do it? Cause im filing in jan or feb and would need 2007 tax return on that list wouldnt I?

[His Glory 25]

I also have a question. I thought I would just take copies of my last 3 years tax returns that I have, but am I to understand that I have to get the irs to do it for me? How long does it take for them to do it? Cause im filing in jan or feb and would need 2007 tax return on that list wouldnt I?

I forgot to add that I want the 2007 taxes to be on the list because it will be the second year we file joint and that will add weight to the interview. I also need the money for the trip

[MaRob 0]

I had two banks to get statements from the first one, Broadway Bank, she went through my statements online and added up my total deposits for me and wrote me the letter same day!! Bank of America I was worried about, but I went and sat with a manager and she told me that if I brought in all my statements for the year, she would go through them with me and add them up. It took a couple more days for her to write the letter, but overall, i was surprised they even did that much! Just keep insisting, and if you have to give them the whole sob story, do it!

Good luck!

[Bassi and Zainab 1]

Thanks for all your responses. I'm gonna keep trying cause quite frankly they use my piddling dollars to make money and I'm one of those people that insist on being treated like a valuable customer. I guess it's good to know some alternatives. They printed out twelve months of statements for me, so maybe on my lunchbreak tomorrow, I'll make up a spreadsheet like Ricca suggested and total out the balances. I have both letters that they gave me and in fact I told them that I need three originals, cause I want to be safe.

Now, it doesn't say I need tax returns unless I'm self employed, which I'm not so I wasn't going to include tax returns. Did all of you include tax returns and you weren't self employed? If you did, and you weren't self employed, did the consulate ask for it even though you weren't listed to send it? Should I order IRS transcripts or can I just send my signed copies that I keep for my files?

[boo boo 1]

Hello,

I included the IRS transcripts, just to be on the safe side. Also, my bank was ridiculous...they wanted to charge me all of these fees to get info, so I just printed 12 months of bank statements and then just gave them the pages that had the monthly deposit total.

We did get an RFE for W2 forms...we included them when we sent the info, but they probably overlooked them during our AOS phase.

Remember to make doubles of everything because you will need all the same documents when your SO gets here and you actually file the AOS...it will save you alot of time and headaches.

Best wishes on your journey