Sponsorship qualification questions (split topic)

[steve-phuket 10]

hi all, i wonder if i can get some advice here

i'm a US citizen, lived legally in Thailand for 10 years and married to Thai wife for 10 years. currently both of us living in Thailand. i'm interested to try get a IR1/CR1 visa for my wife but not sure if i can qualify on money grounds. i have filed US tax returns for last several years based on income from my internet business but the level i've been reporting is a couple of thousand $ below the $22000 minimum required for the 125% of povety rule and its all reported as foreign earned income. i have cash in the bank in Thailand and significant retirement savings in the US but not much cash and no property in the US. i'm 55 so can't easily get to that retirment money now.

i have no job offers in the US but plan to look around when i get back.

i do however have a son in the US that makes about 65,000/year and would co sponsor my wife

any ideas if we would qualify for visa and if so, how?

thanks, steve

Edited March 31, 2014 by steve-phuket

[pushbrk 12,898]

This likely to be spit into its own topic but if you business income will continue from the same source once you're back in the USA, and you're only a couple thousand short of qualifying, move at least three times the income shortfall from your Thai account to a US account, then state and document your retirement savings. That should do it. Your current income will be your total income that would be on line 22 of the 2013 1040.

[steve-phuket 10]

This likely to be spit into its own topic but if you business income will continue from the same source once you're back in the USA, and you're only a couple thousand short of qualifying, move at least three times the income shortfall from your Thai account to a US account, then state and document your retirement savings. That should do it. Your current income will be your total income that would be on line 22 of the 2013 1040.

thanks. i havn't got around to filing my 2013 return yet, but it will be about $25,000 for 2013. i wonder if they will accept that? do they usually want to see details or do they just accept tax returns as proof enough?

[Boiler 45,525]

Current income level is the one that counts.

[steve-phuket 10]

Current income level is the one that counts.

ok, thanks

not to sound like i'm beating a dead horse here but just to confirm, do you think its ok that this is all foreign earned income from my own internet business?

if they ask for proof, will a paypal statement printed on my computer be enough?

thx

Edited March 31, 2014 by steve-phuket

[Ryan H 3,812]

Posts split into separate topic as poster is asking about their own case and not replying to the OP of the other thread.

[pushbrk 12,898]

ok, thanks

not to sound like i'm beating a dead horse here but just to confirm, do you think its ok that this is all foreign earned income from my own internet business?

if they ask for proof, will a paypal statement printed on my computer be enough?

thx

Normally, if you're willing to claim on a tax return that you earned it, they accept that you earned it. However, if you also claimed its as exempt foreign earned income, they may well want to see documentation. A Paypal statement should do nicely. Maybe a print of your home page for the business would be good too, if applicable.

Edited April 1, 2014 by pushbrk

[steve-phuket 10]

Normally, if you're willing to claim on a tax return that you earned it, they accept that you earned it. However, if you also claimed its as exempt foreign earned income, they may well want to see documentation. A Paypal statement should do nicely. Maybe a print of your home page for the business would be good too, if applicable.

ok thanks.