Help!! with affidavit of support (i864)

[capt.jay7 5]

Goodday Ladies/Gents:

Thank you so much for all the advice on this website. It has helped me understand a lot about how the process works.

Background: I am a USC, and I got married to an F-1 student about a year ago.

My wife and I have filled out all the necessary forms and we're pretty confident about everything, but the affidavit of support (i864). Our concerns are as follows:

1. I am the petitioner/sponsor and my AGI for the last 3 tax years have been well below the poverty line ($0, $3000, $15000), however, I recently got a new job with a total projected earning of over $30000... Even though my projected 2016 income is above 125% of the HHS Poverty Guidelines for myself, my wife and child, I'm worried that the huge gap between my past tax returns and this new number might be a problem. I have attached an unofficial statement of my earnings as shown on my company's employee's selfservice site, but we're still not confident enough. Should we be worried, or should we find another way?

2. Would hiring a lawyer help with the aforestated issue? We were going to do this ourselves, but this issue has given birth to doubts.

3. Would including my wife's earnings from an internship help?

4. Just a side question, Are the following enough for proof of marriage: marriage license, joint tax return, joint auto insurance, voided bank cheques with both names on them, affidavits from my sister, father-inlaw, and I ???

Thanks for you anticipated/expected illumination/help/answers.

[Sandy & Menzi 0]

This is my second time through this process. My 1st time I had just gotten hired, so supplied a letter from my employer stating my income.

In this second marriage, I am on social security with barely enough too meet the requirements, so have included a co-signer in case too give me extra coverage.

Hope this helps you.

Edited March 22, 2016 by Sandy & Menzi

[capt.jay7 5]

Thank you so much for your answer.

Due to the time constraints involved and my belief system, getting a joint sponsor might not be an option now.

I will get a letter from my employer, and hopefully that would be enough. What do you think?

[chioparis 15]

Hi There -

If your current income is over the 125% poverty line then you will be fine and wouldn't need a joint sponsor even though your income for previous years might have been low. You can send (optional) paystubs for the last 6 months as proof of your current income and the employer letter is more than enough.

Your examples of proof of bonafide marriage are perfect some other items you can include are rent/mortgage, pictures (vacation, family gatherings), but what you have is more than enough.