Cannot file a tax return this year - How to explain to HCMC interviewer?

[Matt_Stevens 5]

OK, this is going to be a problem. I'm a writer and last year made no money (officially) as I was working on a project that will not be finished until this Summer and therefore cannot file a tax return because I have no taxes to file for.

But my fiance is in Vietnam and that means she will be dealing with the psychopaths in Ho Chi Minh City, who always demand 3 years tax returns.

Because of my strange situation I will need a co-sponsor and my parents, who understand my whacky line of work, are glad to do it for me. But from what I read here I will still need to supply tax returns because I am not a student.

Is that wrong?

What to do? I really do not know. Frankly, I am losing sleep over it and so many other worries. HCMC denies more visas than they approve, some for no reason and some here have been waiting for YEARS with no end in sight!

P.S. By the time she has her interview I may in fact have a big giant fat paycheck in my account for 18 months work. Would proof of that help matters? Or be irrelevant with a co-sponsor?

P.S.S. Please forgive my poor spelling. Like many dwriters I am terribly dyslexic and cannot spell to save my own life.

Edited February 24, 2006 by Matt_Stevens

[jaaaaamas 0]

I wouldn't worry so much about it. At least at the interview in the UK, so long as you have a cosponsor who has three years worth of tax returns, you should be fine. For instance, I am the USC and I was a student at the time and never filed for taxes in my entire life. So obviously on my end, I didn't have any taxes at all to show them. This was completely fine, as I brought in a lettr explaining my situation and also let them know that my cosponsor at least had her taxes. It was all fine. They questioned nothing.

I would supply what taxes you can, make sure your parents provide their taxes, and if they ask why you're missing one year's worth yourself, just explain it to them. They know everyone's situations are unique and different.

Good luck!

[Matt_Stevens 5]

Unfortunately, when dealing with HCMC, you are dealing with people who are notorious for having chips on their shoulder and for denying visas to people they know deserve them. It's a bad situation over there.

[pax 0]

Yes, Jamie, HCMC is a whole nother ball game, unfortunately.

I wonder if, in the OP's case, it might not make sense to simply file a tax return declaring nothing. If they really, really want one, there they'll have it. What concerns me is having a co-sponsor going through HCMC at all, and while I don't know much about HCMC, I know that Manila is very tough on co-sponsors.

Matt, do you know how HCMC will treat the co-sponsor issue? I truly don't, and I'm curious to know what you've found out.

[KiminON 0]

you should still be able to file. just file a NIL return. may not look so great not having income, but you can still file.

k

[Miranda&James 8]

I wouldn't worry so much about it. At least at the interview in the UK, so long as you have a cosponsor who has three years worth of tax returns, you should be fine. For instance, I am the USC and I was a student at the time and never filed for taxes in my entire life. So obviously on my end, I didn't have any taxes at all to show them. This was completely fine, as I brought in a lettr explaining my situation and also let them know that my cosponsor at least had her taxes. It was all fine. They questioned nothing.

I would supply what taxes you can, make sure your parents provide their taxes, and if they ask why you're missing one year's worth yourself, just explain it to them. They know everyone's situations are unique and different.

Good luck!

London doesn't require tax returns last I heard, unless you are self employed.

I would call/email the embassy and see if they can answer your question. Always better to hear it from the horses mouth!

[Saigon 0]

Hello Matt,

Your Co-sponsor would be enough. No tax return for you since you did not have any income? Write in a letter explain it as you did to us. If you can, ask your "Publisher" to write an official letter states that they are commissioning you to write this book for them.

As for HCMC, you're right, they are denying more K-1 Visa than they approve them. I see that your timeline isn't filled, it makes a little bit harder to guess what stage are you in right now... but in any case... be prepared for the worse and hope for the best.

You and your parents MUST fill out the I-134 forms. Give them what you got, do not make up things. 2 years tax return and a SWORN STATEMENT that you are writer who did not make any money last year... you know to explain it

That's the truth and it's simple.

Good luck!

[meauxna 15]

But from what I read here I will still need to supply tax returns because I am not a student.

Can you please show me where you read that?

It is not correct, by the way.

[Matt_Stevens 5]

Saigon, my Timeline is filled out. I just sent the I-129F app in last week.

I have so much confusion about WHEN to have my parents fill out the I-134 form and what to include it with. Can someone give me a definitive answer to that? I have not found it yet and yes I have read the faw's. Maybe I am missing it.

Edited February 24, 2006 by Matt_Stevens

[meauxna 15]

Saigon, my Timeline is filled out. I just sent the I-129F app in last week.

I have so much confusion about WHEN to have my parents fill out the I-134 form and what to include it with. Can someone give me a definitive answer to that? I have not found it yet and yes I have read the faw's. Maybe I am missing it.

The Affidavit of Support is presented at the visa interview, by the visa applicant.

See the Guide, section "What to send to your fiance(e) once the I-129F is approved (Receive NOA2)"

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.ph...om&page=k1guide

[Miranda&James 8]

Saigon, my Timeline is filled out. I just sent the I-129F app in last week.

I have so much confusion about WHEN to have my parents fill out the I-134 form and what to include it with. Can someone give me a definitive answer to that? I have not found it yet and yes I have read the faw's. Maybe I am missing it.

The instructions of what to include with the I-134 are listed on the actual form, so download it from the Downloads section and you can read it in there. Your embassy may ask for more, so that is something you can find out from their website or once you get Packet 3 (or whatever number, some are different) from your Embassy.

[Matt_Stevens 5]

Thanks for the help, everyone. I am going to file a return nest week.

[Saigon 0]

Ok, you're at the very very very early stage of K-1!!!

You can start by collecting Every evidence you have to support your relationship. Included but not limited:

- Your OWN credit card statement where it shows you bought your flight-tickets to VN to meet your fiance

- Three years worth of TAX Return, if not, explain why not in a sworn statement letter. Get notarized.

- Have her to translate all of her government issued id/document birth certificate, school diplomat, divorce paper etc. into English by the local government office in HCMC. She should be able to find that out easy in Saigon. All translated documents must be done by the government with official seals and stamps affixed on them.

- Both sign "Sworn statement of single status" if you are both single and available to be married.

- Keep extra detail of your phone bills/ chat logs/ emails.

- Do recommend hand-written love letters, post-card, special event greeting cards. They read that kind of stuff during the interview and they help out tremedeously with your case.

- Packet-3 will be sent to your wife and in there it will list all required documents for the interview. What you can do now is calling and chating, writing love letter (MUST) to her regularly!!! She can bring those to the interview as proof of REAL relationship...

Anyway... you can email too, but their mindset on email seem to be: well, too easy, hand-writen letter is more passionate..."

Good luck...