How to list last 5 years of Employment when you work Independently?

[Trymester3 6]

So...I work as an Independent Contractor. I don't recall when is the last time I had a "real" job, but it wasn't within the last 5 years. The companies provide me with 1099s as opposed to W-2 when tax season comes. There is technically no end date for these jobs (I mean, some last for like 2 weeks, and some last for 1 day) so I wouldn't know what to put for "end date" on this section of the G-325A. For example in 2011 I made over $18,000 from one of these companies, and now I am working with them again this year, but I am technically not employed by them. Who can help me figure this out?

[Anh map 2,098]

You are an independent *cake decorating* contractor. That's your job. No need to list the companies you do the work for.

[BnT 9]

So...I work as an Independent Contractor. I don't recall when is the last time I had a "real" job, but it wasn't within the last 5 years. The companies provide me with 1099s as opposed to W-2 when tax season comes. There is technically no end date for these jobs (I mean, some last for like 2 weeks, and some last for 1 day) so I wouldn't know what to put for "end date" on this section of the G-325A. For example in 2011 I made over $18,000 from one of these companies, and now I am working with them again this year, but I am technically not employed by them. Who can help me figure this out?

We just had our interview and were approved yesterday with a letter I wrote saying that I have been an indep. contractor since Feb. of this year and make around $xxxxx per year.....I attached pay stubs/checks/bank statements showing deposits to that. So I would just suggest gathering as much evidence as income as possible. That's what they want to be sure of--that you earn enough...not the where and the how of it--as long as it's legal! haha.

[Trymester3 6]

We just had our interview and were approved yesterday with a letter I wrote saying that I have been an indep. contractor since Feb. of this year and make around $xxxxx per year.....I attached pay stubs/checks/bank statements showing deposits to that. So I would just suggest gathering as much evidence as income as possible. That's what they want to be sure of--that you earn enough...not the where and the how of it--as long as it's legal! haha.

Anh Map-I don't get it. Is it a joke or do they actually not care about the different companies I independently work for?

BnT-I like this idea you proposed. I've been working as an independent contractor for the last couple of years, and before that I was either traveling or unemployed (but not receiving unemployment or welfare or anything like that, just not working). I have over 100 different check stubs especially from 2011 and 2012 of about 25 different companies that independently contracted me. Should I make copies and send them all in as evidence?

Anyone with any insight on this, please get back to me. Thanks.

[M J 11]

You need to file taxes right? Just send in the last couple years of tax statements. That's all I plan to do.

Have you ever thought about incorporating yourself? I have worked as an independent contractor for the last 15 years, but I created a corporation and work through that. Gives me a huge benefit when it comes to taxes, it also makes it easier for the companies I do work for to pay me.

[aamirpearl 47]

Ok, i hope this helps you and give you a idea, i have similar job experiences in the past but i was a temporary worker for temp agencies, and i worked for many different temp agencies in the past some positions lasted 5 month or so some only a week, what i did on the G-325A i only put the temporary job assignments that lasted about 6 month or so, and for the other positons that i was assigned too which only last like 2 weeks or one day I didnt bother to write those down on the G-325A, I also include a letter explaining that these positions are temporary and i worked for temp agencies and never held a permanent job and i also let them know that there are other positions that i was assign too but it only lasted a couple days. The main thing is that they will not make a big issue about this. At first, i thought that they will do a social security background check on me and see that i am missing some employments down. but that didn't happen i got approve easily ....oh yeah one thing more , people said that dont leave gap in your employment because it doesntt look good, but in my case i left lots of gap with no problem. I hope this gives you a idea.. good luck

Edited October 12, 2012 by @@mirpeArL

[KayDeeCee 4,893]

You are an independent *cake decorating* contractor. That's your job. No need to list the companies you do the work for.

Exactly. For the G-325A put Self-Employed and then list your occupation(if it is cake decorating then put Cake Decorator) and list the dates, MM/YYYY - Present.

[BnT 9]

Anh Map-I don't get it. Is it a joke or do they actually not care about the different companies I independently work for?

BnT-I like this idea you proposed. I've been working as an independent contractor for the last couple of years, and before that I was either traveling or unemployed (but not receiving unemployment or welfare or anything like that, just not working). I have over 100 different check stubs especially from 2011 and 2012 of about 25 different companies that independently contracted me. Should I make copies and send them all in as evidence?

Anyone with any insight on this, please get back to me. Thanks.

I don't think you need them all....I just took the last 3 months worth to the interview and honestly, the chick didn't spend any time looking at it...all she really checked was the tax info and job letter which I had written myself based on an example I found here on VJ. So take some pay stubs but just make sure that your taxes are in order and you write a decent letter explaining what you do and how much you make doing it.

[Trymester3 6]

I don't think you need them all....I just took the last 3 months worth to the interview and honestly, the chick didn't spend any time looking at it...all she really checked was the tax info and job letter which I had written myself based on an example I found here on VJ. So take some pay stubs but just make sure that your taxes are in order and you write a decent letter explaining what you do and how much you make doing it.

I don't mind doing a letter and providing check stubs. As far as my taxes are concerned, I had to do back taxes recently(still in the process), so I didn't plan on including any tax info. along with the G-325A or I-129F. I figured I'd just include that tax returns later on, like when the affidavit of support is needed. Am I right in this thinking?

[BnT 9]

I don't mind doing a letter and providing check stubs. As far as my taxes are concerned, I had to do back taxes recently(still in the process), so I didn't plan on including any tax info. along with the G-325A or I-129F. I figured I'd just include that tax returns later on, like when the affidavit of support is needed. Am I right in this thinking?

Yes, I didn't put any pay stubs or letter or anything in with the first set of paperwork...I just listed my job (which was different at the time) and you don't need any evidence of it at that point. That first set with the I-129F is all about making sure the relationship is a true one so the evidence is all related to that---at that stage, they are not worried about finances so just put down something like "independent contractor" and what field you work in and then have all of that financial evidence for the interview.

[KayDeeCee 4,893]

I don't mind doing a letter and providing check stubs. As far as my taxes are concerned, I had to do back taxes recently(still in the process), so I didn't plan on including any tax info. along with the G-325A or I-129F. I figured I'd just include that tax returns later on, like when the affidavit of support is needed. Am I right in this thinking?

No financial documents are needed with the I-129F petition. The I-134 affidavit of support form and the supporting financial documents are not needed until months later after the petition is approved and the foreign fiance(e) is going for their K-1 visa interview. Right now you only need what is in this guide: http://www.visajourney.com/content/k1guide