Employer letter

[Paul123 0]

Hey everyone, I have a bit of a dilema and Ive asked about it before but never really got an answer, probably cause I usually overload my posts with multiple questions lol..

Its about my employer letter. I work for a contractor in a seasonal position. My hours vary week to week and what I make in a year does too. Ive only ever met my boss twice, I work under a supervisor. But theres no way I can give a number for an annual salary since it varies as does my hours per week. I could give an hourly rate but I dont see how that helps. Getting this letter in the first place is going to be a big pain in the butt, It took me over a month just to get the correct amount in a paycheck that I received over the summer. So do I really even need it if I am using a co-sponsor who more than qualifies and if so, What should I do about my annual salary? To make matters more complicated, my job really isnt guaranteed because my boss doesnt know if he will pick up the same contract next spring which means, I may not even be hired back. Any suggestions?

Edited October 17, 2006 by Paul123

[YuAndDan 153]

According to the instructions provided with form I-134 it states this about the letter from employer.

B. Statement of your Employer on business stationary revealing:

1. Date and nature of employment.

2. Salary paid.

3. Whether temporary or permanent.

So all it has to say is when you were hired, and what you do, Salary could be interpreted as how much paid per hour, and if position is temp or perm.

Provide them with past 3 years tax info to show that you are consistently employed, get transcripts from IRS they are free. And have Co-sponsor do an I-134 and provide the same supporting evidence.

Edited October 17, 2006 by YuAndDan

[Paul123 0]

I posted this in the wrong forum by accident, could someone please move it over to the embassy forum? thank you.

Thanks YuanandDan, for your response. Im aware of what is to be included in the letter, Im not sure how well an hourly rate would work when they want yearly salary. I mean what if someone made 50 dollars an hour but worked 2 hours a week? Thats not my circumstance, I work plenty of hours, but thats how it could be looked at by them.

I'm just wondering if I even need the employer letter, knowing the difficulty I will have in obtaining it and since im using a co-sponsor. I dont know if they can even say whether the position is temporary or permanent when they dont even know for sure if they will bid on the contract again, next year. What do you guys think?

Edited October 17, 2006 by Paul123

[YuAndDan 153]

I posted this in the wrong forum by accident, could someone please move it over to the embassy forum? thank you.

Thanks YuanandDan, for your response. Im aware of what is to be included in the letter, Im not sure how well an hourly rate would work when they want yearly salary. I mean what if someone made 50 dollars an hour but worked 2 hours a week? Thats not my circumstance, I work plenty of hours, but thats how it could be looked at by them.

I'm just wondering if I even need the employer letter, knowing the difficulty I will have in obtaining it and since im using a co-sponsor. I dont know if they can even say whether the position is temporary or permanent when they dont even know for sure if they will bid on the contract again, next year. What do you guys think?

Your tax returns will indicate what you make yearly that is why you want to provide past 3 years tax transcripts. Edited October 17, 2006 by YuAndDan

[Mew 0]

See: http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=37385

Edited October 17, 2006 by Mew

[Yodrak 7]

Paul,

For yourself, make a reasonable estimate of current annualized income based on the conditions you are experiencing this year. Provide several years of back taxes (your prior years were under the same employment and employment conditions) to demonstrate that your income, while tenuous, has nevertheless proven to be adequate over the years. Write up an explanation of your employment situation that includes a comparison of salary and hours for each year that you provide tax information, and include discussion of any variables that affect your hours of work (such as perhaps weather for outdoor construction work). The intent being to show that, although your income is tenuous, the circumstances always allow you to earn a sufficient income. (Do they? Or do you sometimes fall short?)

And since you can't escape the fact that your income is tenuous, good thing you've got that alternate sponsor. (Is this person willing to be a Joint Sponsor for your fiancee's adjustment of status?)

Yodrak

Hey everyone, I have a bit of a dilema and Ive asked about it before but never really got an answer, probably cause I usually overload my posts with multiple questions lol..

Its about my employer letter. I work for a contractor in a seasonal position. My hours vary week to week and what I make in a year does too. Ive only ever met my boss twice, I work under a supervisor. But theres no way I can give a number for an annual salary since it varies as does my hours per week. I could give an hourly rate but I dont see how that helps. Getting this letter in the first place is going to be a big pain in the butt, It took me over a month just to get the correct amount in a paycheck that I received over the summer. So do I really even need it if I am using a co-sponsor who more than qualifies and if so, What should I do about my annual salary? To make matters more complicated, my job really isnt guaranteed because my boss doesnt know if he will pick up the same contract next spring which means, I may not even be hired back. Any suggestions?

Edited October 17, 2006 by Yodrak

[Paul123 0]

Paul,

For yourself, make a reasonable estimate of current annualized income based on the conditions you are experiencing this year. Provide several years of back taxes (your prior years were under the same employment and employment conditions) to demonstrate that your income, while tenuous, has nevertheless proven to be adequate over the years. Write up an explanation of your employment situation that includes a comparison of salary and hours for each year that you provide tax information, and include discussion of any variables that affect your hours of work (such as perhaps weather for outdoor construction work). The intent being to show that, although your income is tenuous, the circumstances always allow you to earn a sufficient income. (Do they? Or do you sometimes fall short?)

And since you can't escape the fact that your income is tenuous, good thing you've got that alternate sponsor. (Is this person willing to be a Joint Sponsor for your fiancee's adjustment of status?)

Yodrak

Hey everyone, I have a bit of a dilema and Ive asked about it before but never really got an answer, probably cause I usually overload my posts with multiple questions lol..

Its about my employer letter. I work for a contractor in a seasonal position. My hours vary week to week and what I make in a year does too. Ive only ever met my boss twice, I work under a supervisor. But theres no way I can give a number for an annual salary since it varies as does my hours per week. I could give an hourly rate but I dont see how that helps. Getting this letter in the first place is going to be a big pain in the butt, It took me over a month just to get the correct amount in a paycheck that I received over the summer. So do I really even need it if I am using a co-sponsor who more than qualifies and if so, What should I do about my annual salary? To make matters more complicated, my job really isnt guaranteed because my boss doesnt know if he will pick up the same contract next spring which means, I may not even be hired back. Any suggestions?

Thank you all, for your wisdom. You're all a big help!

Mew, You mentioned they didnt keep your employer letter. But did they read it or look at it? Like the way they look at pictures, keep one and give the rest back? if anybody else went through Rio, I'd love to hear your experiences regarding the letter. I know Rio only wants last years tax returns, so I thought they would need a lil more. I also thought that since my income alone doesnt qualify that It wouldnt really matter, but what do I know.

Yodrak, thanks for your thoughts. I see a one problem with following through with your suggestions though. I have an office job and the office is operated by contractors who bid on a 5 year contract with one base year and 4 option years. the previous two years, I had the same position but for a different contractor whose contract expired at the beginning of the year. I initially took the job because they offered seasonal employment which has allowed me to visit my fiancee in the winter while she has attended college. The new contractor hired me this year so I've only been working for my boss since April. My cousin who will co-sponsor me, plans on making his I134 very comprehensive though with assets and all. He more than qualifies, so I should be okay on his end. I just dont want any unexpected snags at the interview.

My concern is, when they see my past tax returns, theres no way to prove it was the same position that I've worked the previous 2 years since the returns only list the contractors' companies. And also, since its the base year of the contract and next years optional, I dont think my boss will sign a letter stating that I will work for him next year. They usually dont even let us know until February. Sorry for being so bothersome with this. I just want to know exactly what I need to ask for when I contact my boss, given my odd circumstances, because I feel like I only really have one shot to get the letter. Thanks again for all your help!

[Mew 0]

Mew, You mentioned they didnt keep your employer letter. But did they read it or look at it? Like the way they look at pictures, keep one and give the rest back? if anybody else went through Rio, I'd love to hear your experiences regarding the letter. I know Rio only wants last years tax returns, so I thought they would need a lil more. I also thought that since my income alone doesnt qualify that It wouldnt really matter, but what do I know.

They took all the supporting documents I had with me (letter from the bank, letter from employer, last 6 pay stubs, last tax returns + W-2). The consular office gave me back everything, except for the tax returns and W-2. She said they wouldn't need them.

We've discussed the supporting documents asked for in Rio in these threads: http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=31660

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.ph...c=33441&hl=

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=33202

Edited October 18, 2006 by Mew

[Yodrak 7]

Paul,

As I have suggested already, include a statement with your financial documentation explaining your past and present circumstances.

Ask your boss to describe your present and expected future circumstances in as positive a way as he is willing to do. Ask him also to corroborate the fact that your present job is in fact a continuation of your previous job under a different contractor.

There's nothing more you can do to overcome the basic fact that you're in a contract position, and contract positions tend to be more tenuous than being a direct employee. Paint as positive a picture as you can and hope that the consular officer will see it as adequate.

Yodrak

....

Yodrak, thanks for your thoughts. I see a one problem with following through with your suggestions though. I have an office job and the office is operated by contractors who bid on a 5 year contract with one base year and 4 option years. the previous two years, I had the same position but for a different contractor whose contract expired at the beginning of the year. I initially took the job because they offered seasonal employment which has allowed me to visit my fiancee in the winter while she has attended college. The new contractor hired me this year so I've only been working for my boss since April. My cousin who will co-sponsor me, plans on making his I134 very comprehensive though with assets and all. He more than qualifies, so I should be okay on his end. I just dont want any unexpected snags at the interview.

My concern is, when they see my past tax returns, theres no way to prove it was the same position that I've worked the previous 2 years since the returns only list the contractors' companies. And also, since its the base year of the contract and next years optional, I dont think my boss will sign a letter stating that I will work for him next year. They usually dont even let us know until February. Sorry for being so bothersome with this. I just want to know exactly what I need to ask for when I contact my boss, given my odd circumstances, because I feel like I only really have one shot to get the letter. Thanks again for all your help!

[Paul123 0]

Thanks again, Yodrak and Mew, once again you have proved to be very helpful.

When the I-134 asks for my annual income should I put the exact amount from my last transcript? Given my circumstances of being employed under a different employer along with the fact that it varies year to year? I made more this year, but I have to put down an amount that I can back with evidence, right?

In most cases an employer letter with yearly salary would cover that but like I've said, there was never a set salary, hours vary, so It would be hard to get them to include an amount in the letter. Yodrak, I will use your suggestions though and atleast have them state that I am an employee in good standing, etc.

[Paul123 0]

Hi everyone,

I have yet another question relating to this dang letter and the I-134. My earnings for last year were lower than they were this year. Ive been given more hours this year. I still do not qualify for sponsorship but would like to show as much as possible. If one person earned 5,000 in a year and another earned 14,000- despite the second person being under the 125 percent line, it still looks much better IMO.

If I can ever get this letter out of my boss(my supervisor notified him to contact me, still waiting) and I can get him to state how much I earned this year, would the letter alone be enough evidence to put that amount on the I-134 for question: " I derive an annual salary of _____" ? Keep in mind, my earnings weren't that high last year and there is no guarantee or way of knowing that I will earn that much next year as I have already explained. If the word was "derived" instead of derive, I would be more comfortable. I just want to be as honest as possible but would like to show my full earnings this year.

I apologize for being so clueless and any help is much appreciated.

[Paul123 0]

Anyone?