Income proof - a couple questions.

[Badgerella 5]

Something I am unsure about - how many years of tax reports/income proof do sponsors need to present at the Embassy? I've heard both one year, and then three years as well. Which one is actually true? Is it just the more, the better, or is there a set requirement?

For our interview (when we assume it will be), my fiance will have tax reports for only 2008. Would that be enough? He'll have all the documents ready for co-sponsors, too, but we'd both prefer if he could do it on his own. Is this even possible? (Starting an interview and, in case of fiancial issues, adding more proof right there, at the spot?)

[KimandRuss 0]

Every Consulate is different in what they require. The standard used to be 3 years, now it seems to be 1 at many. You will need to find out from your Consulate.

Tax transcripts are free and easy to get in just a matter of a few days.

[Badgerella 5]

Every Consulate is different in what they require. The standard used to be 3 years, now it seems to be 1 at many. You will need to find out from your Consulate.

Tax transcripts are free and easy to get in just a matter of a few days.

How do I find out about the Embassy in Croatia? Can I call them and ask, or is that, again, some sort of a lottery (I know I sound horrible whenever I mention that particular insitution, but my own experience has taught me to simply not trust .gov sites, especially those belonging to the Embassy here and to double and triple check elsewhere before making a move)?

As for tax transcripts, the fact is that he can't get them, but for 2008, because they just don't exist. That's why we hope one year would be enough or that, otherwise, we can present Affidavits with co-sponsors on them only if we can't get things done on our own (based on my fiance's 2008. income).

[pushbrk 12,883]

Every Consulate is different in what they require. The standard used to be 3 years, now it seems to be 1 at many. You will need to find out from your Consulate.

Tax transcripts are free and easy to get in just a matter of a few days.

How do I find out about the Embassy in Croatia? Can I call them and ask, or is that, again, some sort of a lottery (I know I sound horrible whenever I mention that particular insitution, but my own experience has taught me to simply not trust .gov sites, especially those belonging to the Embassy here and to double and triple check elsewhere before making a move)?

As for tax transcripts, the fact is that he can't get them, but for 2008, because they just don't exist. That's why we hope one year would be enough or that, otherwise, we can present Affidavits with co-sponsors on them only if we can't get things done on our own (based on my fiance's 2008. income).

The best practice is three years of tax transcripts. Only one year is actually required but the Consular officer can ask for anything they want, effectively making their request a requirement.

You might email the Consulate and have them tell you only one year is required. Then, when the interview occurs, the CO sees the one year and decides they need more. I'd get them three years and if there's a reason why you can't, provide a cover sheet indicating why.

[KimandRuss 0]

If you click on the portals / Embassy info/reviews links above you may find some other couples who have dealt with the same Consulate.

pushbrk is right in that it's better to be safe than sorry by ordering 3 years of transcripts. And so is your mistrust of information ...even from supposed 'good sources'. It's quite likely you will be told one thing but the CO will ask another... happened to us.

If he did not file taxes for the two years previous include a letter stating why he was not required to file. In any case, your best bet is still to contact the Consulate and ask what they recommend for your particular situation. Be sure to print out their reponse to take to the interview as well. Saved us a lot of hassle.

[minibadger 1]

If the official standards are 1 year of transcripts, I don't see how they can actually ask me for more than that and have it effectively be required. Can they, then, ask to see our stained bedsheets as evidence of a relationship and deny us if we don't comply? They should have to stick to their own guidelines and rules.

I will be bringing, as stated in the OFFICIAL GUIDELINES, 1 year of tax returns. I will keep on my person a written statement of why I don't have two more, along with college transcripts backing up that I had other things to do besides a full-time job and a notarized letter that I was undergoing job training while working relatively few hours and therefore didn't make enough to file.

Also on my person and in the same folder will be the I-134 from my parents, as co-sponsors who have more than enough to meet the requirements for however many years. I will only provide this folder with the letter, statement and I-134 if the consulate decides they want things that they technically shouldn't be asking for.

And, after a harsh lesson, I won't be providing them those things at the start of the meeting with the main batch of papers. My parents shouldn't be obligated to be co-sponsors if I, according to their own standards of 1 year, fully meet the financial requirements. And I shouldn't be obligated to present any evidence which may even remotely be used against me by some ridiculous stretch.

If they have a problem with the order in which I do things, I'll just simply have the printed page that says "last year of tax returns" and say that I really didn't think their own forms were inaccurate, but brought the rest just to be safe. Which will all be true.

According to their own standards, we/I should have more than enough to be approved and just about zero reasons to even have a shred of doubt about anything. So, I put my total faith in the fairness of the wonderful and efficient system and I just know everything will go great this time! We can't wait. We've seen so many happy and clearly legitimate couples get visas here on VisaJourney, so we know nothing could possibly go wrong when the love in our eyes can be seen in a rose-colored glow by everyone we meet.

Smiles and huggles =)