My employment last 5 yrs on G-325? SELF-NONE?

[hodad1 0]

Hello all,

first time poster long time lurker. We are going to file our I-129 & G-325 in Jan after I visit my fiancee in Mexico again over Christmas.

My question is how to answer the employment question as I basically have been living off of my home sale proceeds/ real estate investments the last 5 years (San Diego) and been traveling/living back and forth in Mexico studying spanish, doing photography, teaching private english lessons etc... tough I know : )

I have shown no income for last 5 years on Tax returns. But I have letters from 2 CPA's stating I am a real estate investor, (which I am, owning 4 properties) that I have used to get further loans and refis.

So what should I state for employment? self employed? NONE? Or attach a letter explaining my unique situation and attach one or both CPA letters or do I keep it simple on the g-325 saying none or self and then use the CPA letters, bank letters for the I-134??

I am leaning towards doing this myself w-out a Lawyer although I am meeting with one tomorrow just to review the forms and ask her these same questions she is in Tucson and only charges $1000 for a K-1 and $50 for a consult.

I will post a follow up question about the I-134 later and what to put for my address last 5 years!!

Thanks

[joeyjoey 1]

Hello all,

first time poster long time lurker. We are going to file our I-129 & G-325 in Jan after I visit my fiancee in Mexico again over Christmas.

My question is how to answer the employment question as I basically have been living off of my home sale proceeds/ real estate investments the last 5 years (San Diego) and been traveling/living back and forth in Mexico studying spanish, doing photography, teaching private english lessons etc... tough I know : )

I have shown no income for last 5 years on Tax returns. But I have letters from 2 CPA's stating I am a real estate investor, (which I am, owning 4 properties) that I have used to get further loans and refis.

So what should I state for employment? self employed? NONE? Or attach a letter explaining my unique situation and attach one or both CPA letters or do I keep it simple on the g-325 saying none or self and then use the CPA letters, bank letters for the I-134??

I am leaning towards doing this myself w-out a Lawyer although I am meeting with one tomorrow just to review the forms and ask her these same questions she is in Tucson and only charges $1000 for a K-1 and $50 for a consult.

I will post a follow up question about the I-134 later and what to put for my address last 5 years!!

Thanks

If you have had no income for 5 years, then from what source do you derive an income to support yourself? If your primary income is derived from real estate sales, you are describing self-employed. Your situation is not unique. And unless there's something very complicated with your case, I'd doubt that you need a Lawyer for this. Visa Journey probably has more answers and gives you more access to the big picture and the smallest questions. And they are open 7/24! The Lawyer will be happy to take your money! But if you can afford it and it makes you feel better, then pay the man. It's a $170 filing fee for the I-129F. The Lawyer wants $50 just to chat about the opportunity of filing. You probably won't get to many votes from your fellow VJers for a Lawyer's services!

Edited December 18, 2006 by joeyjoey

[midicat 0]

Yes you are describing self employed. I have seen others on here go that route.

However, you say that it shows no income on your tax returns the last 5 years. This will be a problem when you get to the point that you have to fill out the affidavit of support because you have to show your tax returns to show your sufficient income (Which has to be 125% above poverty level) to support your fiancee. I'm not sure how you would get around that, maybe someone else with a similar situation can elaborate more.

I also agree with the fact that you can probably do it without a lawyer. Unless you have some really strange case you probably won't be needing a lawyer that will fleece money out of you to fill out a few pages and send them in. You'll probably still be in charge of gathering all the evidence needed. So you'll be doing a large part of the work for the visa. They have guides on here to show you exactly how to fill out all the forms and even templates for the other pages that you should include. It took me about a day to gather all the information, make photo copies, etc. and send it out, without a lawyer!

Good luck in your journey!

[Ladylethal 12]

Even if self-employed you should file taxes, as far as I know, there's no way around that.

[hodad1 0]

Hello all,

first time poster long time lurker. We are going to file our I-129 & G-325 in Jan after I visit my fiancee in Mexico again over Christmas.

My question is how to answer the employment question as I basically have been living off of my home sale proceeds/ real estate investments the last 5 years (San Diego) and been traveling/living back and forth in Mexico studying spanish, doing photography, teaching private english lessons etc... tough I know : )

I have shown no income for last 5 years on Tax returns. But I have letters from 2 CPA's stating I am a real estate investor, (which I am, owning 4 properties) that I have used to get further loans and refis.

So what should I state for employment? self employed? NONE? Or attach a letter explaining my unique situation and attach one or both CPA letters or do I keep it simple on the g-325 saying none or self and then use the CPA letters, bank letters for the I-134??

I am leaning towards doing this myself w-out a Lawyer although I am meeting with one tomorrow just to review the forms and ask her these same questions she is in Tucson and only charges $1000 for a K-1 and $50 for a consult.

I will post a follow up question about the I-134 later and what to put for my address last 5 years!!

Thanks

If you have had no income for 5 years, then from what source do you derive an income to support yourself? If your primary income is derived from real estate sales, you are describing self-employed. Your situation is not unique. And unless there's something very complicated with your case, I'd doubt that you need a Lawyer for this. Visa Journey probably has more answers and gives you more access to the big picture and the smallest questions. And they are open 7/24! The Lawyer will be happy to take your money! But if you can afford it and it makes you feel better, then pay the man. It's a $170 filing fee for the I-129F. The Lawyer wants $50 just to chat about the opportunity of filing. You probably won't get to many votes from your fellow VJers for a Lawyer's services!

To elaborate on tax returns and income-

I have derived income from refis which do not have to be reported as income and yes I have filed taxes but showed no real income only one home sale last year. I do feel I will do this w-out a lawyer as I read more here and get que. answered it seems very doable. Thanks for the response. I plan to use assets, bank statements showing deposits, whatever job I have by then also and if that fails to satisfy the I-134 I will use my dad as well as a back up co-sponser as he qaulifies and is willing.

[Tim&Poonam 0]

You may want to speak to a lawyer. You need to make 125% the poverty level and you must submit your tax returns for the past 3 years. If you cant prove you make 125% of the poverty level, you will need a sponser.

[Alex+R 0]

You may want to speak to a lawyer. You need to make 125% the poverty level and you must submit your tax returns for the past 3 years. If you cant prove you make 125% of the poverty level, you will need a sponser.

You can replace income with assets, but the assets need to be worth 3 times the minimum income level.

Is the real estate assets? I don't even really know....