AOS. Prior tax transcripts do not reflect current income. Do I need a co-sponsor?

[Dan&Ellen 1]

Hi Everyone,

I am the USC sponsoring my husband from the UK. I now need to file the AOS and am wondering if we need a co-sponsor. I've browsed the forums, but given how nerve-wracking this all is, I am soliciting second opinions. Please be forgiving.

Now...

I have requested tax transcripts, but I know my last three years of tax transcripts do not meet the financial requirement. In 2010 I graduated from undergrad; in 2011/12 I lived abroad off of modest fellowship stipends; and in 2013 I was largely unemployed or only worked part-time. I did not even file for the 2012 tax year, because I did not need to file as a single person at the time.

Now and since August 2013, I started a funded grad program and am employed as a graduate teaching assistant, making an annual salary of $20,159. This does meet the financial requirement for just the two of us, albeit not by very much. If my tax transcripts reflect a prior income that does not meet the financial requirements and fails to reflect my current income, which does meet the financial requirement, do we need a co-sponsor?

There is also one pesky thing. My gross income is $20,159, but I do have graduate fees to pay ($2,200/year), which I have deducted directly from my paycheck. Will this be a red flag in the AOS? How about the fact that I am a graduate student and my position is consequently not permanent?

Obviously, it would be ideal if we did not need a co-sponsor.

Thanks a bunch!

[Ryan H 3,812]

Moved from Progress Reports to Process & Procedures.

[Dan&Ellen 1]

Hi Everyone,

No one has seemed to comment, but I'm feeling quite desperate at this point. What are people's thoughts?

Thank you!

[dens 5]

Just two things your case could went through or not, just guess if you pass over from NVC stage well lucky you for that but way back of that AOS on the interview probably CO will further come up onto that.make sure you always have back up documents just incase may ask it from you that would definitely look for it. In my experience Lately march interview they were few applicants has been struggling during interview talking about Affidavit of support and other some sort of things

[waiting_______ 92]

Hi Everyone,

I am the USC sponsoring my husband from the UK. I now need to file the AOS and am wondering if we need a co-sponsor. I've browsed the forums, but given how nerve-wracking this all is, I am soliciting second opinions. Please be forgiving.

Now...

I have requested tax transcripts, but I know my last three years of tax transcripts do not meet the financial requirement. In 2010 I graduated from undergrad; in 2011/12 I lived abroad off of modest fellowship stipends; and in 2013 I was largely unemployed or only worked part-time. I did not even file for the 2012 tax year, because I did not need to file as a single person at the time.

Now and since August 2013, I started a funded grad program and am employed as a graduate teaching assistant, making an annual salary of $20,159. This does meet the financial requirement for just the two of us, albeit not by very much. If my tax transcripts reflect a prior income that does not meet the financial requirements and fails to reflect my current income, which does meet the financial requirement, do we need a co-sponsor?

There is also one pesky thing. My gross income is $20,159, but I do have graduate fees to pay ($2,200/year), which I have deducted directly from my paycheck. Will this be a red flag in the AOS? How about the fact that I am a graduate student and my position is consequently not permanent?

Obviously, it would be ideal if we did not need a co-sponsor.

Thanks a bunch!

I would really go with co-sponsor, if your previous tax returns don't reflect your current income it's recommend to show proof of current income via paystubs and employment letter. In your case it being so close to the line plus the income being deducted already.

With the above considerations, I would recommend a co-sponsor. If you want to take a chance; send to NVC w/o co-sponsor; they might give you a checklist or instructions to get a co-sponsor prior to interview. But I would worry about the consular officer's discretion in that scenario.

Go with a co-sponsor to save your self time and heart-ache of worrying of getting an approval.

[gumbi2400 1]

Not sure if this is helpful, but here was my experience. I was largely unemployed for the years before I got married to my UK spouse. I had a well payed job for a few months before we were married. When we sent in our AOS I submitted my 3 previous tax transcripts (even though the income didn't qualify), and also included bank statements, pay stubs, and a letter from my then employer saying how much my estimated income that year was, as well as how long I was employed and that I was in good standing with the company. We had no problems with the AOS portion of the process, and we did not need the co-sponsor.

All that being said, if you have someone that qualifies, and is willing to co-sponsor, I would recommend sending in as much information as you can from both people on the AOS, and err on the side of caution.

A couple of final thought to keep in mind. In my experience, the people working these cases do care, and will usually only deny a visa if something is seriously wrong. They WANT to grant the visa. It's a stressful time in life, but you'll be surprised how quickly after it's over it all becomes a distant memory and you two start your life together!

All the best!

[Dan&Ellen 1]

Thanks guys! We just found out that we were approved, and the husband is scheduled for his interview on June 16th! I didn't end up co-sponsor in the end. For those of you curious how I was approved considering the situation I described above, here is what I submitted in addition to my tax transcripts:

- 6 months paystubs (though they seemed redundant given the employment letter)

- documentation from my employer: one letter from payroll indicated my annual salary ($20,159) and another letter saying how long my position (funding as a graduate assistant) would last for (i.e. 3-5 years contingent on degree progress)

- additional financial assets

- copies of my monthly bank account statements going back 6 months and demonstrating steady savings (~$1,500)

- notarized copies of savings bonds and they're estimated value from the treasury.gov website (~$1,100)

- the annual statement for my roth IRA (~$3,000)

I don't know what if any of this was superfluous, but I went out all out and it worked!

[Ryan H 3,812]

Moved from Process & Procedures to Progress Reports.

[Olga & Randy 0]

Hi Everyone,

No one has seemed to comment, but I'm feeling quite desperate at this point. What are people's thoughts?

Thank you!

Hi how are you/ I will suggest to have a co sponsor ready just in case. if you happened to need it/

[christ09 3]

Thanks guys! We just found out that we were approved, and the husband is scheduled for his interview on June 16th! I didn't end up co-sponsor in the end. For those of you curious how I was approved considering the situation I described above, here is what I submitted in addition to my tax transcripts:

- 6 months paystubs (though they seemed redundant given the employment letter)

- documentation from my employer: one letter from payroll indicated my annual salary ($20,159) and another letter saying how long my position (funding as a graduate assistant) would last for (i.e. 3-5 years contingent on degree progress)

- additional financial assets

- copies of my monthly bank account statements going back 6 months and demonstrating steady savings (~$1,500)

- notarized copies of savings bonds and they're estimated value from the treasury.gov website (~$1,100)

- the annual statement for my roth IRA (~$3,000)

I don't know what if any of this was superfluous, but I went out all out and it worked!

I am in similar situation now. I dont have tax info for last 3 years because I was full time student with no income. This year I started working and my estimated income is 37 k. Do I need a co sponsor. ? Plz help. All I have is paystubs and employment letter