I was unemployed in 2011

[VinnyGambini 0]

I didn't file taxes last year because I was unemployed. Does this make me ineligible in sponsoring my fiancee? I'm working now and will easily meet the requirement.

[X Factor 1,112]

How much unemployment did you collect? Did you have federal taxes withheld from your unemployment check? Unemployment income is taxable federally. Depending on how much you received you may have to file your 2011 taxes ASAP.

[Tintin and Mike 127]

Find out how much you made from EDD check if you've collected them. You have til Oct 12 to file for Federal Tax if qualified to file. For State Tax (depending on your filing state), here's the link

http://www.efile.com/state-tax-return-due-dates-deadlines-refund-status/

[VinnyGambini 0]

I did not receive any unemployment

[Tintin and Mike 127]

I did not receive any unemployment

Then you will need to just provide a written explanation as to why you were exempted to file.

If you were required to file a Federal income tax return during any of the previous three tax years but did not do so, you must file any and all late returns with IRS and attach an IRS generated tax return transcript documenting your late filing before submitting the I-864 Affidavit of Support. If you were not required to file a Federal income tax return under U.S. tax law because your income was too low, attach a written explanation. If you were not required under U.S. tax law for any other reason, attach a written explanation including evidence of the exemption and how you are subject to it. Residence outside the United States dose not exempt U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents from filing a U.S. Federal income tax return.

[Moomin 292]

For the most part, having been unemployed doesn't automatically make you ineligible to petition or to be a sponsor. Current income is far more important than past income(however it does paint a picture of your situation, of course). The embassies are most concerned about your current and future income. Your pay stubs usually reflects a somewhat reliable job and income

Tintin and Mike are spot on sith the tax excemption letter.

It doesn't have to be need and fancy - my husband had stayed at home with his son the first tax year of the 3 and simply wrote a letter(with his signature on) stating he had been a stay at home dad and did not have an income(or received unemployment) and therefore was a tax excempt that year. That was accepted.