Past versus Current Income

[gmanusa 0]

My apologies if this has already been covered, but I've been unable to find this specific question elsewhere after a number of searches.

I am in the USA, my fiance is in China. We are currently waiting to receive Packet 3 from the consulate in Guangzhou.

I began a new position January 2 2008 (today), the income far exceeds the poverty guidelines (3 person household). We should be having our interview in late April or early May, so by then I will be able to show 4-5 months paystubs and employment letter verification as to my current income.

However, due to a variety of reasons, including medical, my income tax return for 2007 will show just under the 125% requirement. Even though I'll also be able to show liquid assets available, I am worried sick that my inadequate income for 2007 will cause a red flag or potential problem. From my research, it appears that some interviewer's at the Guanghzou consulate seem to be more interested in past tax returns than they are in current income. I DO NOT think I will be able to get a co-sponsor if it were needed.

Any thoughts, opinions, experiences anyone has would be very much appreciated! Thanks!

[pushbrk 12,824]

My apologies if this has already been covered, but I've been unable to find this specific question elsewhere after a number of searches.

I am in the USA, my fiance is in China. We are currently waiting to receive Packet 3 from the consulate in Guangzhou.

I began a new position January 2 2008 (today), the income far exceeds the poverty guidelines (3 person household). We should be having our interview in late April or early May, so by then I will be able to show 4-5 months paystubs and employment letter verification as to my current income.

However, due to a variety of reasons, including medical, my income tax return for 2007 will show just under the 125% requirement. Even though I'll also be able to show liquid assets available, I am worried sick that my inadequate income for 2007 will cause a red flag or potential problem. From my research, it appears that some interviewer's at the Guanghzou consulate seem to be more interested in past tax returns than they are in current income. I DO NOT think I will be able to get a co-sponsor if it were needed.

Any thoughts, opinions, experiences anyone has would be very much appreciated! Thanks!

I begin by stating the current income as your current annual salary as well as to provide not just 2007 but three years' tax transcripts or returns with W2. The employer letter and pay stubs should cover you just fine if the 05-06 returns look good or really even if they don't.

I would put together a financial package with the top page being a pay stub with YTD income, followed by the Employer letter, then the I-134 with tax returns beneath the I-134. Let them see the current income first. No matter what the CO asks your fiance for of a financial nature, she should hand over the whole financial package clamped or stapled together. Coach her well on this and I think you'll be fine. The real financial scrutiny I've seen is when the first impression is of a low income petitioner.

[gmanusa 0]

My apologies if this has already been covered, but I've been unable to find this specific question elsewhere after a number of searches.

I am in the USA, my fiance is in China. We are currently waiting to receive Packet 3 from the consulate in Guangzhou.

I began a new position January 2 2008 (today), the income far exceeds the poverty guidelines (3 person household). We should be having our interview in late April or early May, so by then I will be able to show 4-5 months paystubs and employment letter verification as to my current income.

However, due to a variety of reasons, including medical, my income tax return for 2007 will show just under the 125% requirement. Even though I'll also be able to show liquid assets available, I am worried sick that my inadequate income for 2007 will cause a red flag or potential problem. From my research, it appears that some interviewer's at the Guanghzou consulate seem to be more interested in past tax returns than they are in current income. I DO NOT think I will be able to get a co-sponsor if it were needed.

Any thoughts, opinions, experiences anyone has would be very much appreciated! Thanks!

I begin by stating the current income as your current annual salary as well as to provide not just 2007 but three years' tax transcripts or returns with W2. The employer letter and pay stubs should cover you just fine if the 05-06 returns look good or really even if they don't.

I would put together a financial package with the top page being a pay stub with YTD income, followed by the Employer letter, then the I-134 with tax returns beneath the I-134. Let them see the current income first. No matter what the CO asks your fiance for of a financial nature, she should hand over the whole financial package clamped or stapled together. Coach her well on this and I think you'll be fine. The real financial scrutiny I've seen is when the first impression is of a low income petitioner.

Thanks, sounds like a good plan. I guess I'm just worried about the uncertainty of it all - there seems to be no standardization to the interview process at Guangzhou. Some interviewers appear to be way too subjective in their interpretation of what's needed to meet the visa requirements, others seem to already have their mind made up in advance that it will be an "approval". Thanks again.

[pushbrk 12,824]

My apologies if this has already been covered, but I've been unable to find this specific question elsewhere after a number of searches.

I am in the USA, my fiance is in China. We are currently waiting to receive Packet 3 from the consulate in Guangzhou.

I began a new position January 2 2008 (today), the income far exceeds the poverty guidelines (3 person household). We should be having our interview in late April or early May, so by then I will be able to show 4-5 months paystubs and employment letter verification as to my current income.

However, due to a variety of reasons, including medical, my income tax return for 2007 will show just under the 125% requirement. Even though I'll also be able to show liquid assets available, I am worried sick that my inadequate income for 2007 will cause a red flag or potential problem. From my research, it appears that some interviewer's at the Guanghzou consulate seem to be more interested in past tax returns than they are in current income. I DO NOT think I will be able to get a co-sponsor if it were needed.

Any thoughts, opinions, experiences anyone has would be very much appreciated! Thanks!

I begin by stating the current income as your current annual salary as well as to provide not just 2007 but three years' tax transcripts or returns with W2. The employer letter and pay stubs should cover you just fine if the 05-06 returns look good or really even if they don't.

I would put together a financial package with the top page being a pay stub with YTD income, followed by the Employer letter, then the I-134 with tax returns beneath the I-134. Let them see the current income first. No matter what the CO asks your fiance for of a financial nature, she should hand over the whole financial package clamped or stapled together. Coach her well on this and I think you'll be fine. The real financial scrutiny I've seen is when the first impression is of a low income petitioner.

Thanks, sounds like a good plan. I guess I'm just worried about the uncertainty of it all - there seems to be no standardization to the interview process at Guangzhou. Some interviewers appear to be way too subjective in their interpretation of what's needed to meet the visa requirements, others seem to already have their mind made up in advance that it will be an "approval". Thanks again.

I've concluded that although there are certainly some differences in approach among the CO's, that it is the case circumstances that drive most of the the observed range of outcome. It appears to me all cases are reviewed in advance, perhaps by somebody other than the interviewing CO and they proceed based on the case notes attached to the file until or unless something occurs to lead them down a different path.

The process is pretty subjective anyway. One of the biggest mistakes I see, is people thinking that if they've met the minimum requirements on paper, they'll be successful. Interview success in Guangzhou requires a good interview.