proof of financial support as self employed poker player

[Harm1307 0]

Believe it or not, there is such a thing as a Professional poker player, especially where I live in California, it is not as absurd a way of living as some of you are making it out to be. I'm not some degenerate gambler, there is much professional skill involved as with ANY and all business' will have risk, skill and experience is what will push you through. It is not as if I just started this business a few months ago on a whim and got lucky. Thank you to everyone for advice and support from those who mean it. I will take all this with me and move forward with my best to accomplish bringing a great woman to America, and in the end as with all things, it will come down to the hand of the most high God showing favor on our situation. God bless all you and good luck with your individual circumstances.

[aaron2020 11,651]

Believe it or not, there is such a thing as a Professional poker player, especially where I live in California, it is not as absurd a way of living as some of you are making it out to be. I'm not some degenerate gambler, there is much professional skill involved as with ANY and all business' will have risk, skill and experience is what will push you through. It is not as if I just started this business a few months ago on a whim and got lucky. Thank you to everyone for advice and support from those who mean it. I will take all this with me and move forward with my best to accomplish bringing a great woman to America, and in the end as with all things, it will come down to the hand of the most high God showing favor on our situation. God bless all you and good luck with your individual circumstances.

No where did I call you a degenerate gambler. No where did I disparage how you make a living.

All I stated was that gambling income is not reliable or steady and not likely to be accepted.

Read what you want about how people think about gamblers.

[kehills 217]

Harm1307: you're required to show a consistent, reliable, steady source of income for petitioning a fiancé(e). How do you intend to do that, especially since you're indicating you largely play in games that do not generate 1099s or with businesses that "forget" to issue them?

Suggesting you need a solid answer to that question does not cast aspersions on gamblers, it merely indicates a familiarity with the K-1 process.

[novedsac 355]

I assume when I file as self employed, maybe I don't get a 1099, but obviously self employed people do have some sort of proof to show their income through what is reported to the IRS, which is what I would use to get her visa, correct? whether a poker player or some other other form of self employment, why should it matter? as long as I pay taxes and show that proof of income, that is all that should matter right?

The issue you have is proving the income.

Professional gamblers are self-employed and they generally complete Schedule C and Schedule SE. They keep meticulous records of their winnings, losses and other associated expenses, resulting in a net profit which gets added to the particular flavor of the 1040 federal income tax return they file.

It matters because is the IRS generally does not like cash-based businesses and such endeavors increase your chances of an audit. It's going to make your tax returns difficult, but not impossible. It's also going to make your late returns costly. It comes down to the quality of your record keeping and whether your lifestyle makes sense based on your reported income.

The self-employed know this and manage accordingly. For example, my neighbor uses a landscaping service that is billed monthly and paid by check. However, I had the same service build be a retaining wall as a one-off job and they requested cash payment with a discount. Why? Presumably, because they take some work as cash and keep it off the books, while keeping the bulk of their regular work on the books to keep their accounting clean and aboveboard. Checks and credit payments provide nice traceability in the event of an IRS audit.

As far as immigration is concerned, without consistent earnings demonstrated by tax returns and other records over several years, it will be hard to justify that your income from poker playing will be consistent and dependable into the future.

Altneratively, you can claim gambling winnings while having another source of employment. This would be listed as other income on Line 21 of Form 1040. The advantage is that you are not on the hook for the additional 7-8% self-employment tax, but you also don't get to offset losses or other associated expenses. From my point of view, earning 20-30k a year playing poker seems more like a sidline than an income to support a family in the future. You may want to consider this for the future.

Good luck.

Edited July 7, 2014 by novedsac

[KayDeeCee 4,893]

Self-employed typically use their tax transcripts or complete returns with all forms and schedules to prove their income. List your current income as what is shown on line 22 of your most recent 1040. To show better what is actually received as income, he could also supply 12 months worth of recent bank statements, instead of just 6. Providing the transcripts from the last 3 years shows the steady, ongoing income of over $20k a year. If you have any records/receipts from when you receive the income and in what amounts, then provide copies of those too, if you wish. If the income is not accepted for the K-1 or AOS, then they will be given the chance to get a co/joint sponsor at that time.

[verysadguy 170]

Believe it or not, there is such a thing as a Professional poker player, especially where I live in California, it is not as absurd a way of living as some of you are making it out to be. I'm not some degenerate gambler, there is much professional skill involved as with ANY and all business' will have risk, skill and experience is what will push you through. It is not as if I just started this business a few months ago on a whim and got lucky. Thank you to everyone for advice and support from those who mean it. I will take all this with me and move forward with my best to accomplish bringing a great woman to America, and in the end as with all things, it will come down to the hand of the most high God showing favor on our situation. God bless all you and good luck with your individual circumstances.

I played poker as a source of income many years back. It is difficult to do as a sole source of income.

Honestly, you need to be a better poker player or disclose all the money you really win!

[Harm1307 0]

I played poker as a source of income many years back. It is difficult to do as a sole source of income.

Honestly, you need to be a better poker player or disclose all the money you really win!

ok, I want to again thank everyone for all the feedback and guidance in this matter, it truly is what I need from all angles to make this work and get in the right direction, I appreciate all of the responses. As far as being a better poker player, I cash out at a rate over 90% as I am extremely disciplined and do not get greedy and play many hours. I treat it very much like a business, I go to work, make my goal of 200-300 a day and get out. I very rarely have a losing session, and in the nearly going on to 4 years of being my sole income, I have only had one losing month at a negative 25 dollars, my second worse month being at plus 700 give or take a few dollars. I am very steady and as consistant as they come, I have averaged 2500 a month take home since 2010 when I made this my sole income. I know that may not seem like much to many of you, but I am taking care of myself, a member of my family elsewhere and have also taken on my woman's rent in her village so she has better living conditions than before she met me. I know how to take care of my family and will do whatever to make sure we have a comfortable life now and in the future should I move on from poker one day. Obviously words mean nothing in the eyes of immigration. With that said, just as KayDeeCee has informed me, I can get all the tax transcripts for the last few years of my poker play, I have various 1099 forms ranging from 800 to 10,000 dollars to include from tournament winnings that my casino reported to the IRS. I also am very well prepared for a tax audit should it pop up out of the blue on me, I have EVERY single poker session since I began saved in my poker income app on my phone and saved on their website online. There are thousands of sessions available immediately to a auditor. I have years worth of western unions proving money I have sent to my woman to pay her rent, showing I have already taken responsibility for her financially. I can easily get bank statements going back as far as the bank will give me (same bank since I began). In other words, I do feel confident in my ability to prove what I do is not only legitimate, but also have years worth of consistent data to show there is no reason I will go bankrupt all the sudden. Poker is far from the boom it was 7 - 10 years ago, but I can tell you first hand, poker is alive and busy EVERY single day of the year including Christmas. It is not going anywhere. Some may say, well it is gambling and it is not guaranteed you will keep winning, but in all honesty, poker is a game of math, calculated odds, and the ability to read and use your mind. I am not going to one day just forget how to play, I have been playing the everyday new kids on the block and also same everyday retired regulars for years who know my game inside and out and they still hate me at the table because I am a rock and no ones money is tougher to take than mine. I am successful in this, have records to back it up, and if the Lord means for this chance meeting with this woman to come to fruition, then nothing can stop his hand at work. Again, truly, thankyou all for your help and responses. Good luck and may God have favor on us all in our long distance relationships. God Bless

Edited July 7, 2014 by Harm1307

[novedsac 355]

With that said, just as KayDeeCee has informed me, I can get all the tax transcripts for the last few years of my poker play, I have various 1099 forms ranging from 800 to 10,000 dollars to include from tournament winnings that my casino reported to the IRS. I also am very well prepared for a tax audit should it pop up out of the blue on me, I have EVERY single poker session since I began saved in my poker income app on my phone and saved on their website online. There are thousands of sessions available immediately to a auditor. I have years worth of western unions proving money I have sent to my woman to pay her rent, showing I have already taken responsibility for her financially. I can easily get bank statements going back as far as the bank will give me (same bank since I began). In other words, I do feel confident in my ability to prove what I do is not only legitimate, but also have years worth of consistent data to show there is no reason I will go bankrupt all the sudden.

Great!

All that's left is to get to it and do it.

Focus on the past tax returns - they'll haunt you otherwise and only become more expensive as time wears on. Being proactive with the IRS will result in a payment plan more amenable to your ability to pay.

The you can focus on the affidavit of support. Considering a sponsor as a backup would be prudent.

Good luck.

[Harm1307 0]

Great!

All that's left is to get to it and do it.

Focus on the past tax returns - they'll haunt you otherwise and only become more expensive as time wears on. Being proactive with the IRS will result in a payment plan more amenable to your ability to pay.

The you can focus on the affidavit of support. Considering a sponsor as a backup would be prudent.

Good luck.

thank you for all your help, We're excited for the next phase. Gathering everything now, will be on top of it as soon as I'm back from Indonesia next month.

[~Alessa~ 26]

thank you for all your help, We're excited for the next phase. Gathering everything now, will be on top of it as soon as I'm back from Indonesia next month.

Hello! I am wondering, if you bring your fiance to the US?

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

Hello! I am wondering, if you bring your fiance to the US?

The person you are asking was only on this website July 6-7, 2014. Two days and never again. I don't think he will be answering you.

(click his picture and it will show you last time active.)

[gracie88 0]

Hello! I am wondering, if you bring your fiance to the US?

Hello is your fiancée a poker player also?

Hello! I am wondering, if you bring your fiance to the US?

Hello is your fiancée a poker player also?