Questions about DCF, paperwork, etc

[ahlpo 0]

Dear VJ members,

For those of you who have experience with the DCF process and paperwork, can you please help me?

In the DS-230 form:

1. Question 11 asks where you want the Green Card sent if different from Question 10 (permanent/temporary address). What should you enter if it's the same as in Question 10: 'Same,' 'N/A,' or just write the address again as in Question 10?

   For some reason, N/A doesn't seem correct in this case and I know they can be picky about these things.

2. Section 14 asks for Address of Spouse (myself) if different from your own. What should we put there if we live together?
3. Question 20 asks for places where lived and requests City/Town and Province. Do they not want a street address for each place you've lived?
4. Question 22 asks for history of employment. Under the Location column, do you put the street address or just the city and county?

For the DS-2001 form which requests Evidence of Support, is that just the I-864 affidavit of support?

Regarding the I-864 affidavit of support:

1. In Question 13, what do I enter as Place of Residence (if different from mailing address in Question 12) if it's actually the same?
2. In Question 15, what do I enter as the domicile? I think it's USA but just want to confirm.
3. Question 21 asks for the household size but to not count anyone twice. Unfortunately, 21a says to enter the number I entered in Question 10 (total number of immigrants you are sponsoring on this form, so in my case, just 1 - my wife), then 21b has the number 1 for myself, then 21c says to enter 1 if currently married which brings my total household size in 21h, adding the lines in 21, to 3 people which is not correct. How do you enter this field correctly?

   Another VJ member has suggested that I enter 21c as 0. What did you do that worked when sponsoring only your wife/husband?

4. In Question 25, I'm entering my adjusted gross income (AGI) for 2007, 2006, and 2005 since I haven't done my 2008 taxes yet. Is that OK?
5. Also in the same question, my 2007 is really low (less than $1000) because I took the foreign earned income exclusion and housing deduction. Will that be a problem? The rest of my tax return shows significantly higher wages though before the exclusions are taken in my return.

Thanks in advance for your help.

Edited February 3, 2009 by ahlpo

[English Muffin 59]

I think you've posted this in the wrong place, it should be in the DCF forum.

[ahlpo 0]

Perhaps, but I'm also applying through the US Embassy in London...

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[Chica Yeyé 41]

I responded to you in the DCF forum

[ahlpo 0]

I responded to you in the DCF forum

Len, thank you very much...

Do you have any responses though to my questions regarding the I-864 affidavit of support?

[elmcitymaven 9,712]

Comments in red below:

For the DS-2001 form which requests Evidence of Support, is that just the I-864 affidavit of support? Yes, with its supporting documents (tax returns, proof of sponsor's citizenship, etc)

Regarding the I-864 affidavit of support:

1. In Question 13, what do I enter as Place of Residence (if different from mailing address in Question 12) if it's actually the same? I put "Same as for Question 12."
2. In Question 15, what do I enter as the domicile? I think it's USA but just want to confirm. This MUST be USA.
3. Question 21 asks for the household size but to not count anyone twice. Unfortunately, 21a says to enter the number I entered in Question 10 (total number of immigrants you are sponsoring on this form, so in my case, just 1 - my wife), then 21b has the number 1 for myself, then 21c says to enter 1 if currently married which brings my total household size in 21h, adding the lines in 21, to 3 people which is not correct. How do you enter this field correctly? You do not count anyone who has already been counted in another category, so the answer is "0" for 21c.

   Another VJ member has suggested that I enter 21c as 0. What did you do that worked when sponsoring only your wife/husband? See above -- this is what I did and it was correct.

4. In Question 25, I'm entering my adjusted gross income (AGI) for 2007, 2006, and 2005 since I haven't done my 2008 taxes yet. Is that OK? If your interview is before April 15th (which I assume it will be given you're doing these forms now) then yes. If you're close to that date, they may ask for you to provide 2008 returns.
5. Also in the same question, my 2007 is really low (less than $1000) because I took the foreign earned income exclusion and housing deduction. Will that be a problem? The rest of my tax return shows significantly higher wages though before the exclusions are taken in my return. You are probably going to need a joint sponsor -- do you have one lined up? Most of us DCF folk have needed one due to the fact that our income is insufficient to act as a sole sponsor. You can't count your UK income unless it will be continuing after you return to the US. My adjusted earnings for 2004/5/6 were all less than $1,000 after I took the foreign earned income exclusion (although significantly more before that), so I had my mom act as joint sponsor. Not a biggie. The only exception to this would be if you had sufficient and liquid assets to use in lieu of income.

Hope this helps!

[ahlpo 0]

5. Also in the same question, my 2007 is really low (less than $1000) because I took the foreign earned income exclusion and housing deduction. Will that be a problem? The rest of my tax return shows significantly higher wages though before the exclusions are taken in my return. You are probably going to need a joint sponsor -- do you have one lined up? Most of us DCF folk have needed one due to the fact that our income is insufficient to act as a sole sponsor. You can't count your UK income unless it will be continuing after you return to the US. My adjusted earnings for 2004/5/6 were all less than $1,000 after I took the foreign earned income exclusion (although significantly more before that), so I had my mom act as joint sponsor. Not a biggie. The only exception to this would be if you had sufficient and liquid assets to use in lieu of income.

Thanks elmcitymaven.

Just some additional information though about your advice for my question 5 above.

I actually have a well-paying job working abroad for a US employer. I earn over $90k and they've agreed to relocate me at my discretion. I have their offer letter in writing which we signed a few months ago.

The only reason why my adjusted gross income (AGI) is low is because of the foreign earned income exclusion and housing deduction which allow me to waive over $85k in tax liability since I'm working abroad.

It shouldn't be a problem since I have a guaranteed job and source of income upon our move but I'm just concerned that entering my actual AGI of about $1000 will trigger a red flag for them, even though it's very misleading.

What do you think?

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

Arent you going to be presenting these tax returns at the interview? Then you will be face to face with a person that you can tell these income exclusion examples to. You show them the income/job you have been promised in the USA. You explain everything you're telling this forum to a live person. He will understand your income situation. It's not like a computer will read $1000 AGI and throw your application in a dungeon. Your income of 90K will support an immigrant, so you will be fine.