Update + Question about Tax Records

[GJen 9]

So! I've told one parent! It went better than I thought- kind of. She said I should wait to tell my dad after I'm already comfortably above the poverty line. Well this is how it went:

Me: I don't really know how I should tell dad.

Mom: Well, what kind of timeline are you looking at?

Me: Well, I guess I'll go talk to the people at La Cabana to see if they could give me some extra hours.

(I had told her that I needed to make a certain amount of money and that's when she said I should wait.)

Well, my six month evaluation is coming up and I plan on telling them our situation and hoping and praying they'll have mercy on us! (I think I've done a pretty good job, but I don't know if they'll think I've done $2 per hour worth of a good job, but I'm praying!)

I also heard about this other job that said they are hiring and will be paying $8-$10. So, I could go in there and let them know I do a good job, but that I woud need $10 an hour or else there'd be no reason for me to leave my current job. (I really do enjoy my current job).

My question is will I need to have worked an entire year at $10 in order to be considered meeting the minimum? I ask because I just started my two jobs late last year. In fact, I only made $8,000 in 2009- not even enough to file federal taxes!

We've been reading a lot lately and we're really eager to file, but I want to know if I should wait to file until I for sure meet the minimum long enough to show up on my tax returns because my 2008 returns will disappoint them!

Thanks for all the help!!

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

So! I've told one parent! It went better than I thought- kind of. She said I should wait to tell my dad after I'm already comfortably above the poverty line. Well this is how it went:

Me: I don't really know how I should tell dad.

Mom: Well, what kind of timeline are you looking at?

Me: Well, I guess I'll go talk to the people at La Cabana to see if they could give me some extra hours.

(I had told her that I needed to make a certain amount of money and that's when she said I should wait.)

Well, my six month evaluation is coming up and I plan on telling them our situation and hoping and praying they'll have mercy on us! (I think I've done a pretty good job, but I don't know if they'll think I've done $2 per hour worth of a good job, but I'm praying!)

I also heard about this other job that said they are hiring and will be paying $8-$10. So, I could go in there and let them know I do a good job, but that I woud need $10 an hour or else there'd be no reason for me to leave my current job. (I really do enjoy my current job).

My question is will I need to have worked an entire year at $10 in order to be considered meeting the minimum? I ask because I just started my two jobs late last year. In fact, I only made $8,000 in 2009- not even enough to file federal taxes!

We've been reading a lot lately and we're really eager to file, but I want to know if I should wait to file until I for sure meet the minimum long enough to show up on my tax returns because my 2008 returns will disappoint them!

Thanks for all the help!!

The affidavit of support is one of the subjective parts of this process. You have maybe 3-4 seconds of the CO reading your document to convice them that your fiance will not be aq public charge. In general NO, you do no thave to work a full year. If you get a job tomorrow paying $20 per hour and have fill out your I-134 the next day, your current annual income is a bit over $40,000. (Full time job) $40,000 + would be the correct answer for that question, even if you had yet to receive your first paycheck. And that is what you would enter, and attach documentation, employment letter, check stubs, etc. In most case this is enough and last years income tax is academic (but should be attached). But each consulate can vary. So in addition to meeting the guidelines, check the regional forums and the consulate reviews. If this is a sticky point with that consulate, it will show up in the reviews or in regional threads.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

So! I've told one parent! It went better than I thought- kind of. She said I should wait to tell my dad after I'm already comfortably above the poverty line. Well this is how it went:

Me: I don't really know how I should tell dad.

Mom: Well, what kind of timeline are you looking at?

Me: Well, I guess I'll go talk to the people at La Cabana to see if they could give me some extra hours.

(I had told her that I needed to make a certain amount of money and that's when she said I should wait.)

Well, my six month evaluation is coming up and I plan on telling them our situation and hoping and praying they'll have mercy on us! (I think I've done a pretty good job, but I don't know if they'll think I've done $2 per hour worth of a good job, but I'm praying!)

I also heard about this other job that said they are hiring and will be paying $8-$10. So, I could go in there and let them know I do a good job, but that I woud need $10 an hour or else there'd be no reason for me to leave my current job. (I really do enjoy my current job).

My question is will I need to have worked an entire year at $10 in order to be considered meeting the minimum? I ask because I just started my two jobs late last year. In fact, I only made $8,000 in 2009- not even enough to file federal taxes!

We've been reading a lot lately and we're really eager to file, but I want to know if I should wait to file until I for sure meet the minimum long enough to show up on my tax returns because my 2008 returns will disappoint them!

Thanks for all the help!!

I am not sure why you have waited until now. The I-134 portion is several months out if you file today...go for it! I cannot tell you what you will be making in 3-4 months. You can only guess and do your best. You are no tso far from qualifying now. My feeling is you can do it, go for it!

You could land a $60,000 per year job tomorrow and get laid off the week before you file the I-134. My job's pay structure has changed so much since I filed the I-129f I can't even keep track! Same job, just different pay, bonus plan, etc. It was not the same for the AOS as it was for the I-134 and now I am doing another I-134 for a K-2 interview in June and it is different than the AOS was in January, and I doubt if the I-864 to follow in July will be the same as this months I-134. Who cares? It is what it is, what it is. The stated annual income on each is different and none is false, it is what is true that day that I sign it. I wouldn't wait any longer for the "perfect situation" that could well change before the I-134 is completed.

[tallcoolone 102]

Here is another option:

I see you have spent almost 2 years apart already.

Get her here asap. Use Co-Sponsor.

Either you or her get enrolled in a Community College and get you Associates Degree in Nursing.

Community Colleges are very cheap and it will take about 2 years to get your Associate Degree.

School loans are easy to get if your low on cash.

You or her can then register to sit for NCLEX to become a Registered Nurse

Pay will be about 3 times what you are making now.

When your young you really don't earn that much money, you need to be schooling yourself so you can have a easier life when you get older.

[Anh map 2,098]

Glad to hear that you got a positive (or so) response from mom. Now to get dad on board. From what you said about mom's response dad may be swayed by your securing a better paying job. Will that translate into him signing off as a co-sponsor?

The restaurant industry is not the best place to get rapid salary growth starting off. Are you working as a server? Supervisor? As a server you can get as many shifts as possible and declare all your tips. And you can get more than one job to boost earnings.

You will need to show current and continuing income that will exceed the minimum. There is a time lag from filing the 129F to the interview where the 134 is submitted. So you can begin the process once you are settled in to the new higher paying job. That being said, you don't have a strong income history so far. Not sure how that will be viewed by the CO. As mentioned before you should get a feel from others in the Latin America forum as to what thery expect at Caracas with regard to sponsorship.

Keep working at it.

[GJen 9]

Glad to hear that you got a positive (or so) response from mom. Now to get dad on board. From what you said about mom's response dad may be swayed by your securing a better paying job. Will that translate into him signing off as a co-sponsor?

The restaurant industry is not the best place to get rapid salary growth starting off. Are you working as a server? Supervisor? As a server you can get as many shifts as possible and declare all your tips. And you can get more than one job to boost earnings.

You will need to show current and continuing income that will exceed the minimum. There is a time lag from filing the 129F to the interview where the 134 is submitted. So you can begin the process once you are settled in to the new higher paying job. That being said, you don't have a strong income history so far. Not sure how that will be viewed by the CO. As mentioned before you should get a feel from others in the Latin America forum as to what thery expect at Caracas with regard to sponsorship.

Keep working at it.

Thanks. I currently work as a receptionist and a waitress. The place that might be hiring is a reallt nice hair salon that needs a receptionist and it's only right around the corner from my house. I'm gonna see if maybe my current employer might work with me before I pursue that though.

Here is another option:

I see you have spent almost 2 years apart already.

Get her here asap. Use Co-Sponsor.

Either you or her get enrolled in a Community College and get you Associates Degree in Nursing.

Community Colleges are very cheap and it will take about 2 years to get your Associate Degree.

School loans are easy to get if your low on cash.

You or her can then register to sit for NCLEX to become a Registered Nurse

Pay will be about 3 times what you are making now.

When your young you really don't earn that much money, you need to be schooling yourself so you can have a easier life when you get older.

I don't think being a RN is for me, thanks for the suggestion though! I looked into what it would take to teach Spanish. See, I have my Associate's in Spanish- but I didn't take any education classes because I didn't think I was interested in teaching. And well, now, I am! But with all the questions I've been asking and all the people I've spoken with, I'm more confused than when I started.

So! I've told one parent! It went better than I thought- kind of. She said I should wait to tell my dad after I'm already comfortably above the poverty line. Well this is how it went:

Me: I don't really know how I should tell dad.

Mom: Well, what kind of timeline are you looking at?

Me: Well, I guess I'll go talk to the people at La Cabana to see if they could give me some extra hours.

(I had told her that I needed to make a certain amount of money and that's when she said I should wait.)

Well, my six month evaluation is coming up and I plan on telling them our situation and hoping and praying they'll have mercy on us! (I think I've done a pretty good job, but I don't know if they'll think I've done $2 per hour worth of a good job, but I'm praying!)

I also heard about this other job that said they are hiring and will be paying $8-$10. So, I could go in there and let them know I do a good job, but that I woud need $10 an hour or else there'd be no reason for me to leave my current job. (I really do enjoy my current job).

My question is will I need to have worked an entire year at $10 in order to be considered meeting the minimum? I ask because I just started my two jobs late last year. In fact, I only made $8,000 in 2009- not even enough to file federal taxes!

We've been reading a lot lately and we're really eager to file, but I want to know if I should wait to file until I for sure meet the minimum long enough to show up on my tax returns because my 2008 returns will disappoint them!

Thanks for all the help!!

I am not sure why you have waited until now. The I-134 portion is several months out if you file today...go for it! I cannot tell you what you will be making in 3-4 months. You can only guess and do your best. You are no tso far from qualifying now. My feeling is you can do it, go for it!

You could land a $60,000 per year job tomorrow and get laid off the week before you file the I-134. My job's pay structure has changed so much since I filed the I-129f I can't even keep track! Same job, just different pay, bonus plan, etc. It was not the same for the AOS as it was for the I-134 and now I am doing another I-134 for a K-2 interview in June and it is different than the AOS was in January, and I doubt if the I-864 to follow in July will be the same as this months I-134. Who cares? It is what it is, what it is. The stated annual income on each is different and none is false, it is what is true that day that I sign it. I wouldn't wait any longer for the "perfect situation" that could well change before the I-134 is completed.

Thanks for the encouragement! We're gonna go ahead and get started and just pray, pray, pray that everything else falls in to place.

[Old Dominion 26]

Waitressing is fun, and the tips are sometimes wonderful. For a young person, it's a good learning experience up to a point...but it has no future. What are you really motivated to do in life? Just get married? Who will be the breadwinner, and I mean the kind of serious bread that supports a marriage and family?

[GJen 9]

Waitressing is fun, and the tips are sometimes wonderful. For a young person, it's a good learning experience up to a point...but it has no future. What are you really motivated to do in life? Just get married? Who will be the breadwinner, and I mean the kind of serious bread that supports a marriage and family?

hey this is Gabriel. her job as a waitress is just a part job! she only works for a few hours! it's not her full time job! she is a receptionist, too and she actually works a lot and she is planning on teaching Spanish and she will do so because she does have profesional goals. she has good savings and a goodlife projects! but people have to start somewhere no?. thanks for the advice and all the questioning but if you have any suggestion about the question above that would be better.

Edited April 28, 2009 by GJen

[GJen 9]

Here is another option:

I see you have spent almost 2 years apart already.

Get her here asap. Use Co-Sponsor.

Either you or her get enrolled in a Community College and get you Associates Degree in Nursing.

Community Colleges are very cheap and it will take about 2 years to get your Associate Degree.

School loans are easy to get if your low on cash.

You or her can then register to sit for NCLEX to become a Registered Nurse

Pay will be about 3 times what you are making now.

When your young you really don't earn that much money, you need to be schooling yourself so you can have a easier life when you get older.

Actually, we spent April 8-April 15th of this year together.. so it's only been about 13 days(though it feels more like 13 years!) since we've seen each other.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

So! I've told one parent! It went better than I thought- kind of. She said I should wait to tell my dad after I'm already comfortably above the poverty line. Well this is how it went:

Me: I don't really know how I should tell dad.

Mom: Well, what kind of timeline are you looking at?

Me: Well, I guess I'll go talk to the people at La Cabana to see if they could give me some extra hours.

(I had told her that I needed to make a certain amount of money and that's when she said I should wait.)

Well, my six month evaluation is coming up and I plan on telling them our situation and hoping and praying they'll have mercy on us! (I think I've done a pretty good job, but I don't know if they'll think I've done $2 per hour worth of a good job, but I'm praying!)

I also heard about this other job that said they are hiring and will be paying $8-$10. So, I could go in there and let them know I do a good job, but that I woud need $10 an hour or else there'd be no reason for me to leave my current job. (I really do enjoy my current job).

My question is will I need to have worked an entire year at $10 in order to be considered meeting the minimum? I ask because I just started my two jobs late last year. In fact, I only made $8,000 in 2009- not even enough to file federal taxes!

We've been reading a lot lately and we're really eager to file, but I want to know if I should wait to file until I for sure meet the minimum long enough to show up on my tax returns because my 2008 returns will disappoint them!

Thanks for all the help!!

And hey! Why do Mom's always get told first!!!!!!!????????? Us Dad's aren't so bad! We want in on some secrets too! Now you are both schemeing against Dad. Poor guy doesn't have a chance.

[GJen 9]

And hey! Why do Mom's always get told first!!!!!!!????????? Us Dad's aren't so bad! We want in on some secrets too! Now you are both schemeing against Dad. Poor guy doesn't have a chance.

Yeah, I bet he does feel out of the loop. It's just, he's very.... military! I had an idea of what it would be like when I told my dad I found the man I want to marry. Before I could though, he interrogated me about what my "intentions" were. ! He's just a lot of subjective:"He is far away, I don't see how it can work out."and not very much "Oh, I'm so excited for you finding the love of your life!". That talk felt more like a math problem instead of the very special thing I thought it would/should have been!

And I don't think we have to worry about teaming up on him! If anyone's going to be teamed up against, it'll be me! But I'll be confident and defend myself!

[GJen 9]

Well, I had my 6 month evaluation today and employees aren't eligible for a raise until their yearly review. So... that sucks. That means the earliest I could possibly get a raise would be November. Also, I heard the max was 3%. That would mean 0.24? I would have to wait 7 months for the chance to get 24 more cents?? Max?!

What makes this so bad is I don't even care about the money myself! I can go without. I just want to be near him. Sigh.