I-864: Housing allowance?

[Marie-Eve 3]

Hi!

My husband is a pastor and part of his "pay package" is his housing allowance. His employer letter goes like this:

"To Whom lt May Concern: This letter is to confirm that NAME has been employed as our pastor since June 15. 2014. His total annual salary including housing and benefits is $AMOUNT A for 2014. His base salary is $AMOUNT B. Please feel free to contact us if your office should require further information"

We do not plan to include pay stubs on top of the letter from his employer.

Both amount A and amount B are above the poverty level so I was wondering which amount I should include in part 6 question 5 of the Affidavit of Support. Hubby says full amount including housing and benefits, but I am not sure. I certainly don't want to get a checklist for that!!

What do you think we should use? Amount A or amount B?

Thanks!

Edited January 16, 2015 by Penguin_ie

[Ryan H 3,812]

Moved from Progress Reports to Process & Procedures.

[NikLR 13,227]

Good question. I would think you could include the housing allowance.

Edited January 16, 2015 by NLR

[Marie-Eve 3]

Good question. I would think you could include the housing allowance.

Thanks for you answer, NLR. Thats what my husband think too. I kind of disagree because the instructions say "annual income that you are using to meet the requirements of this form". If we were submitting pay stubs, they'd look at the amount of these and multiply it by the number of weeks ahead. They would not include housing allowance.

Bottom line, I guess my question is this: regardless of the right answer (because i dont think we'll ever be able to find an absolute answer), am I risking a checklist if I use either or? Based on their interpretation of the form vs the employment letter?

[Marie-Eve 3]

So I kept looking and found this information:

"Yes, sponsors receiving housing and other benefits in place of salary may count those benefits as income. The sponsor may count both taxable and non-taxable income (such as housing allowance). The sponsor must prove the nature and amount of non-taxable income. Evidence of such income can be a W-2 Form (such as Box 13 for military allowances), Form 1099 or other evidence."

So yeah. That's that

[NikLR 13,227]

I was going to say I believe military can count their BAH which is a housing allowance so I can't see why you couldn't.