Income requirement.. experience feedback please.

[Donna&Noelia 6]

This year 2013 I will have made 21,000 year to date which is just BARELY above income level requirement. ( which requirement is around 19,300 I believe)

My concern is this....

The 2011-2012 tax years I barely made 10,000 dollars year to date because I was really depressed with the death of my parents...

..I am scared that the 2011 and 2012 years of taxes being so low might make them think I am not a hard worker or able to provide.

Does anyone know if they are concerned about 2011 or 2012 income?

I started my current job July 18th 2011 ( therefore so far 2 years I have been with the company so hopefully that looks good to them,!) .... I was only part time because I had just lost my parents, and it was very hard on me.

I didn't go full time until December 2012....40 hours a week... 11.28 an hour...

Any feedback would be helpful.!

..which btw I intend to provide death certificates of my parents, and on the tax forms explain how I was only part time 2011-2012 because of the death of my parents. Brief, and simple for them to understand.

[KayDeeCee 4,893]

When you say you have made $21k year to date, do you mean so far, as in from Jan, until Aug.? That is not what you list. Use your annualized income, as in $11.28 times 40 hours a week, then multiply that weekly number by 52 weeks. Your current annual income is $23,462. Provide a letter from your employer and/or recent pay stubs to prove that income amount. You only need to provide your most recent tax transcript, unless your consulate specifically asks for more in their instructions. You can provide an explanation as to why you made less last year, if you wish. However, your income is currently above the 125% level and has been for almost a year.

[Donna&Noelia 6]

It will be roughly 21,000 or so I estimated because I had a medical loa from work for a few weeks, and then I have an unpaid vacation coming up soon.

So in december it will be roughly 21,000 shown YTD on my paystubs that I will provide during the interview.

We are hoping for an interview in december, we shall see!

How do I find out how many tax transcripts the embassy would want? It's for Lima, Peru.

I really hope previous tax transcripts from past years do not count!

[KayDeeCee 4,893]

If it is just the 2 of you, then you still beat the requirement of $19,387. By the time the interview comes, I do not think you should have a problem since you will have worked an entire year at your current income. If your consulate instructions do not state anything about how many tax returns, then just bring your most recent one. The income requirement is based on what you are earning, not what you earned in the years past.

You can check here for info on your consulate, and check the reviews too to see if people listed what they brought with them > http://www.visajourney.com/consulates/index.php?ctry=Peru&cty=Lima

[MariaElizabeth92 5]

Shouldn't be an issue, they do take the 2012 tax return into account, but I think they would take your explanation into consideration. Just make sure to prove your current income properly.

At this point, you do not need to prove 125% of the poverty line, that comes when your fiance is adjusting status...at which point you will most likely have your 2013 tax returns to hand.

The interview favours (but does not legally require) you to prove 100% of the poverty line, or that at the very least your fiance will not become a public burden.

If you are concerned about the financial aspect, then find a co-sponsor, but I do not think you need to worry about it!

[KayDeeCee 4,893]

It is not that black and white. It will depend on the consulate. Always follow the instructions from your specific consulate and supply what they ask for, no matter what the I-134 instructions state. It is also only supposed to be 100% of the poverty level for an I-134 but many consulates follow the I-864 guidelines and expect to see your income at 125% even when using the I-134 for the K-1. What works for London does not work everywhere.