Questions about Affidavit of Support

[jennaleigh 2]

Hi -- just trying to plan ahead, all we've gotten so far is NOA1.

My fiance will be having her interview at the Montreal consulate in Canada. I heard that Montreal wants your most recent tax return, sometimes your three most recent tax returns, as part of the affidavit of support. I'm only 23 and my past three tax returns won't show that I made enough, although my current income is more than sufficient. Two of the past three years I was a student. This year, 2015, I will have made around $8,000 total. That is because I worked a retail job for two months during the beginning of the year, then taught summer school for a month, then started working in September at my first "real job." I'm an elementary school teacher and my salary is $34,000. I can get a letter from my employer with my salary and submit paystubs since September, etc. But still, those past three tax returns don't look too pretty.

My questions are...

Since I make enough NOW, will my fiance still be approved even though, according to my tax returns, I didn't make enough?

One of my parents or my brother could cosponsor if needed...is it possible to have them fill out the paperwork and then only use it if they deny mine? From the way I understand it, I can't offer to sponsor her PLUS have a cosponsor, it's either I sponsor her or someone else does, right?

A somewhat unrelated question: My grandpa does my taxes every year; will the tax returns he has on file be good enough or do I have to order them from the IRS?

Thank you for any and all help. I've been googling this question for an hour and haven't found a direct answer yet.

[Boiler 45,519]

2 separate requirements

File taxes

Meet the affadavit requirement for income/savings

[tamcloud 92]

Hi,

You've just gotten your NOA1, so you've got a little time before you should collect the documents (you don't want your VOE to be dated too many months in advance). For the Affidavit of Support I-134 form (visa sponsorship), your current salary meets the requirement as long as you're not claiming anyone else on your returns. So, when you know your packet has been forwarded to the embassy, get a verification of employment from your workplace stating when your employment started, your annual salary and that you're a full-time permanent employee; gather the most recent three pay stubs; and, order your past three tax transcripts from the IRS (https://www.irs.gov/Individuals/Get-Transcript) ...you can actually do this last one now, if you'd like.

Your full returns shouldn't be needed (unless his embassy requires/requests them) until after you're married and filing form I-864, where you're sponsoring his green card. I only needed to submit what I've listed above.

Edited November 21, 2015 by tamcloud

[16Valve 9]

Hi,

You've just gotten your NOA1, so you've got a little time before you should collect the documents (you don't want your VOE to be dated too many months in advance). For the Affidavit of Support I-134 form (visa sponsorship), your current salary meets the requirement as long as you're not claiming anyone else on your returns. So, when you know your packet has been forwarded to the embassy, get a verification of employment from your workplace stating when your employment started, your annual salary and that you're a full-time permanent employee; gather the most recent three pay stubs; and, order your past three tax transcripts from the IRS (https://www.irs.gov/Individuals/Get-Transcript) ...you can actually do this last one now, if you'd like.

Your full returns shouldn't be needed (unless his embassy requires/requests them) until after you're married and filing form I-864, where you're sponsoring his green card. I only needed to submit what I've listed above.

My question is: if you have somebody sponsoring your fiance, do you yourself ALSO have to file an I-134 or is the sponsor the only one needed along with their tax, bank, and other info?

[jennaleigh 2]

2 separate requirements

File taxes

Meet the affadavit requirement for income/savings

Hi, would you mind clarifying? I've filed my taxes the last three years, it's just been measly college part-time jobs. And I currently meet the requirement for income/savings. I'm not sure what you're saying.

[jennaleigh 2]

Hi,

You've just gotten your NOA1, so you've got a little time before you should collect the documents (you don't want your VOE to be dated too many months in advance). For the Affidavit of Support I-134 form (visa sponsorship), your current salary meets the requirement as long as you're not claiming anyone else on your returns. So, when you know your packet has been forwarded to the embassy, get a verification of employment from your workplace stating when your employment started, your annual salary and that you're a full-time permanent employee; gather the most recent three pay stubs; and, order your past three tax transcripts from the IRS (https://www.irs.gov/Individuals/Get-Transcript) ...you can actually do this last one now, if you'd like.

Your full returns shouldn't be needed (unless his embassy requires/requests them) until after you're married and filing form I-864, where you're sponsoring his green card. I only needed to submit what I've listed above.

Thanks for the reply! I spelled fiance wrong, oops. I meant fiancee*, engaged to a woman.

As far as being a full-time "permanent" employee, will it matter that I am on a one-year contract? Do they have to know? All first year teachers get a one-year contract and then it is renewed with good performance. Probably overthinking this haha.

Also, what is the difference between a tax transcript and a full return? I'm clueless re: taxes.

[Boiler 45,519]

You have filed taxes.

You meet the income requirements, you are conflating the two.

[jennaleigh 2]

You have filed taxes.

You meet the income requirements, you are conflating the two.

Okay, thanks!!

I just thought the reason they asked for the last three tax returns is to verify that I meet the income requirements. You're saying they just want me to have filed taxes, and that they don't use that to determine if I meet the income requirements -- all that matters is that I can prove I currently make enough, through pay stubs and a letter from my employer, correct?

Edited November 21, 2015 by jennaleigh

[Boiler 45,519]

Yep

Obviously I did not go through your Consulate but it was a very small issue in London.

[tamcloud 92]

Thanks for the reply! I spelled fiance wrong, oops. I meant fiancee*, engaged to a woman.

As far as being a full-time "permanent" employee, will it matter that I am on a one-year contract? Do they have to know? All first year teachers get a one-year contract and then it is renewed with good performance. Probably overthinking this haha.

Also, what is the difference between a tax transcript and a full return? I'm clueless re: taxes.

Apologies! Just re-read your post and saw that you said "her"...the error was mine.

I think you could just state full-time on the VOE and you should be fine - that may not even be necessary. Someone else may have more info on that, if I'm off. It's your current, verifiable, salary that matters.

A tax transcript is a basic or summary view of your full return (hope I've explained that right). And, as pointed out, you meet the income requirement so you don't need a co-sponsor.

Edited November 21, 2015 by tamcloud

[Syt 1]

Hi, would you mind clarifying? I've filed my taxes the last three years, it's just been measly college part-time jobs. And I currently meet the requirement for income/savings. I'm not sure what you're saying.

IN THE I-134 directions it says that you only need tax return if you are self employed. You can see it here

http://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/files/form/i-134instr.pdf

[jennaleigh 2]

IN THE I-134 directions it says that you only need tax return if you are self employed. You can see it here

http://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/files/form/i-134instr.pdf

Yes, however, different consulates want different things and I've read that Montreal wants your last two or three tax returns.

[Syt 1]

Yes, however, different consulates want different things and I've read that Montreal wants your last two or three tax returns.

Oh alright .!

[NikLR 13,227]

Proof of current income along with 1 year of tax return is fine. I suggest the tax return transcript available through the IRS for free vs the entire tax return.

The I-134 isn't that big of a deal, it's the I-864 that is legally binding. But your CURRENT income is more than enough so you're fine.

[jennaleigh 2]

Proof of current income along with 1 year of tax return is fine. I suggest the tax return transcript available through the IRS for free vs the entire tax return.

The I-134 isn't that big of a deal, it's the I-864 that is legally binding. But your CURRENT income is more than enough so you're fine.

Thank you!