Affidavit of support, I wonder if I messed up

[garnet80 1]

I share a house with my mother. I have the upstairs, and she has the downstairs. It works for both of us to save money. My fiance will be (hopefully) moving in here as well.

My mom does not "support" me. I don't make much, but I buy my own food, pay rent, pay my own bills, etc.

She is my co-sponsor though, and she makes a lot more than me.

Is any of this going to matter? I wonder if I should have done anything special in the paperwork (now that I've sent it off...).

The affidavit of support has me spooked that I did something wrong, now that I'm thinking about it. I don't know what though.

[pushbrk 12,876]

I share a house with my mother. I have the upstairs, and she has the downstairs. It works for both of us to save money. My fiance will be (hopefully) moving in here as well.

My mom does not "support" me. I don't make much, but I buy my own food, pay rent, pay my own bills, etc.

She is my co-sponsor though, and she makes a lot more than me.

Is any of this going to matter? I wonder if I should have done anything special in the paperwork (now that I've sent it off...).

The affidavit of support has me spooked that I did something wrong, now that I'm thinking about it. I don't know what though.

One I-134 from each of you. You are not part of her household and she isn't part of yours.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

I share a house with my mother. I have the upstairs, and she has the downstairs. It works for both of us to save money. My fiance will be (hopefully) moving in here as well.

My mom does not "support" me. I don't make much, but I buy my own food, pay rent, pay my own bills, etc.

She is my co-sponsor though, and she makes a lot more than me.

Is any of this going to matter? I wonder if I should have done anything special in the paperwork (now that I've sent it off...).

The affidavit of support has me spooked that I did something wrong, now that I'm thinking about it. I don't know what though.

In what country is sharing a home "wrong"? No worries.

[garnet80 1]

Thank you, that is a relief. I guess I was just worried that it "looked bad" for our us in one way or another. People do look down on us for this arrangement, although it works wonderfully for us. If I may add a question that I have gotten two answers to...

For the affidavit, I am sending my own I-134. My own employer letter. My own 3 years of tax transcripts. My own 3-5 paycheck stubs (I don't remember what I sent). My mother and co-sponsor is sending her own I-134, her own employer letter, her own 3 years of tax transcripts, and her own 3-5 paycheck stubs.

Now I have heard both ways, in answer to my question if we need to attach W2s with the tax transcripts. Some people say it's silly, there is no point, and some have said I'd be golden if I add them. I've also read on other K1 threads where it is suggested the W2 is added to the mix. My mom has been divorced for well over ten years, so all her taxes have been filed as single, if that matters.

I don't really want to send W2s myself, because they were my ex husbands, not mine (I didn't work outside the home in the end, and he still supported me until the divorce. Now I work again and support myself). Since my income is so small that my moms income is what counts, I wouldn't think this a problem.

Can anyone please give a clear answer? I can scan and send them, but if I don't have to, I'd rather not.

[pushbrk 12,876]

Thank you, that is a relief. I guess I was just worried that it "looked bad" for our us in one way or another. People do look down on us for this arrangement, although it works wonderfully for us. If I may add a question that I have gotten two answers to...

For the affidavit, I am sending my own I-134. My own employer letter. My own 3 years of tax transcripts. My own 3-5 paycheck stubs (I don't remember what I sent). My mother and co-sponsor is sending her own I-134, her own employer letter, her own 3 years of tax transcripts, and her own 3-5 paycheck stubs.

Now I have heard both ways, in answer to my question if we need to attach W2s with the tax transcripts. Some people say it's silly, there is no point, and some have said I'd be golden if I add them. I've also read on other K1 threads where it is suggested the W2 is added to the mix. My mom has been divorced for well over ten years, so all her taxes have been filed as single, if that matters.

I don't really want to send W2s myself, because they were my ex husbands, not mine (I didn't work outside the home in the end, and he still supported me until the divorce. Now I work again and support myself). Since my income is so small that my moms income is what counts, I wouldn't think this a problem.

Can anyone please give a clear answer? I can scan and send them, but if I don't have to, I'd rather not.

Sending your mother's W2 forms won't hurt anything but they are not needed. Yours would be pointless, as they document only your former husband's income, not your own. Frankly your transcripts do the same so you'll want to make a note of what portions, if any are YOUR income. Normally in such a situation, I would recommend copies of returns instead of transcript for you and if none of the income on them is your own, a short letter indicating that would be better than sending any tax information that's just for somebody else's income, IMO.

[garnet80 1]

Sending your mother's W2 forms won't hurt anything but they are not needed. Yours would be pointless, as they document only your former husband's income, not your own. Frankly your transcripts do the same so you'll want to make a note of what portions, if any are YOUR income. Normally in such a situation, I would recommend copies of returns instead of transcript for you and if none of the income on them is your own, a short letter indicating that would be better than sending any tax information that's just for somebody else's income, IMO.

I thought that too, but was given the advice on this board that sending my tax transcripts showed that I at filed taxes (we filed joint despite my lack of income, every year). Do you think it's okay to just go with the transcripts for both of us? Or is this a big enough deal that I should change what my fiance takes for my portion?

Or can I do tax transcript for me, plus a letter that I did not work in those 3 years? Just don't want to mess up at this stage of the game.

[JimVaPhuong 4,863]

I thought that too, but was given the advice on this board that sending my tax transcripts showed that I at filed taxes (we filed joint despite my lack of income, every year). Do you think it's okay to just go with the transcripts for both of us? Or is this a big enough deal that I should change what my fiance takes for my portion?

Or can I do tax transcript for me, plus a letter that I did not work in those 3 years? Just don't want to mess up at this stage of the game.

Transcripts are generally preferred over copies of the tax return. As you say, they are evidence from the IRS that you actually filed a return, and didn't just fill out some forms. Some consulates specifically ask for transcripts for this reason.

I've never heard of W2's being requested when transcripts are provided. They certainly don't add any additional "authority" to the information provided in the transcript. Again, transcripts come from the IRS. W2's can be produced by anyone. You can even download blank W2's from the IRS website.

If I were in your shoes, I would certainly provide an explanation that the income on the tax returns was your ex-husbands, just to eliminate any possibility the consulate might think you're trying to represent the income as your own. I'd make it clear that I was providing the tax records because the consulate requires them, and not because I was claiming the income as mine, and I'd refer them to the employment letter and paystubs as evidence of my own income. It's common for married couples to file a joint return, even if only one of them is working. That filing status provides the lowest tax liability. I'm sure this is nothing new to the consulate.

[pushbrk 12,876]

Transcripts are generally preferred over copies of the tax return. As you say, they are evidence from the IRS that you actually filed a return, and didn't just fill out some forms. Some consulates specifically ask for transcripts for this reason.

I've never heard of W2's being requested when transcripts are provided. They certainly don't add any additional "authority" to the information provided in the transcript. Again, transcripts come from the IRS. W2's can be produced by anyone. You can even download blank W2's from the IRS website.

If I were in your shoes, I would certainly provide an explanation that the income on the tax returns was your ex-husbands, just to eliminate any possibility the consulate might think you're trying to represent the income as your own. I'd make it clear that I was providing the tax records because the consulate requires them, and not because I was claiming the income as mine, and I'd refer them to the employment letter and paystubs as evidence of my own income. It's common for married couples to file a joint return, even if only one of them is working. That filing status provides the lowest tax liability. I'm sure this is nothing new to the consulate.

Generally means generally. At least one Consulate routinely asks for W2 forms to go with transcripts.

I always advise complete returns and W2's etc. when the returns were filed jointly. Transcripts don't detail individual income from a joint return. Full returns with all W2's and 1099's are needed in those cases and instead of declaring income from line 22, the sponsor adds up the W2 and 1099 forms that apply to them as an individual

Edited March 20, 2010 by pushbrk

[garnet80 1]

None of it applied to me. So I guess I could simply add a letter to my tax transcripts explaining that the income was not mine, but my ex husbands. We are using the Vancouver Canada consulate which I think is one of the slightly more mellow ones. It's easy enough when it's all his income to use the transcripts and just add a letter. Does this sound acceptable?

[garnet80 1]

I could write something like:

The income shown on the tax transcripts from years 2007, 2008, and 2009 was that of my ex husband, xxx xxxx, and his alone. I was unemployed during those years. xxxx continued to support me until I started my current job at xxxx, summer of 2009, despite his having moved out early 2008.

I provided the tax transcripts simply to show that I always filed taxes, and because it's required of the consulate.

Does that work? Can anyone tell me how to improve it, or what needs changing? Thanks...

[wantknow 11]

I would like to understand this part about the AOS: Cause like Garnet my adult daughter lives with me but has her own bills to pay, so do she need to fill out AOS also cause she's apart of household and she is unemployeed at this time also?

[pushbrk 12,876]

I could write something like:

The income shown on the tax transcripts from years 2007, 2008, and 2009 was that of my ex husband, xxx xxxx, and his alone. I was unemployed during those years. xxxx continued to support me until I started my current job at xxxx, summer of 2009, despite his having moved out early 2008.

I provided the tax transcripts simply to show that I always filed taxes, and because it's required of the consulate.

Does that work? Can anyone tell me how to improve it, or what needs changing? Thanks...

Excellent.

I would like to understand this part about the AOS: Cause like Garnet my adult daughter lives with me but has her own bills to pay, so do she need to fill out AOS also cause she's apart of household and she is unemployeed at this time also?

Not unless you need to combine your income with hers to qualify.

[wantknow 11]

No... I don't need her income thanks Pushbrk for clearing that up for me ... I thought I read somewere that you have to list all members of household on the AOS