GI Bill as source of income - received Request for Initial Evidence

[flst 1]

Hi guys,

First of all I'd like to thank you all for the help you've given me so far.

About a month ago my husband and I sent my AOS application with him as my sponsor. He's an U.S. Army veteran and at this moment his only source of income is the GI Bill, which he gets for going to school. He gets more than $20k a year so from a "poverty line" point of view, we're good. However, yesterday we received a Request for Initial Evidence saying that we say he gets more than $20K per year but we didn't "prove it."

Now the tricky thing is, the GI Bill is NOT taxable and VA say it should NOT be included when you do your taxes. Therefore the only proof we have of his income is his bank statements and a letter we receive from VA monthly saying how much he is entitled to. With the original package, we sent 3 bank statements and this letter from VA.

What do you guys think we should do now?

As I read on a similar topic here, we want to send them 12 bank statements, highlight how much he made from GI Bill every month and add them all together, then add all the months and show that it's more than poverty line. But I'm afraid that's not going to be enough. We're going to try to find a co-sponsor but we're not sure if we can find one.

Do you guys have any other recommendation???????

Thanks from a desperate wife

[teanet 20]

Hi guys,

First of all I'd like to thank you all for the help you've given me so far.

About a month ago my husband and I sent my AOS application with him as my sponsor. He's an U.S. Army veteran and at this moment his only source of income is the GI Bill, which he gets for going to school. He gets more than $20k a year so from a "poverty line" point of view, we're good. However, yesterday we received a Request for Initial Evidence saying that we say he gets more than $20K per year but we didn't "prove it."

Now the tricky thing is, the GI Bill is NOT taxable and VA say it should NOT be included when you do your taxes. Therefore the only proof we have of his income is his bank statements and a letter we receive from VA monthly saying how much he is entitled to. With the original package, we sent 3 bank statements and this letter from VA.

What do you guys think we should do now?

As I read on a similar topic here, we want to send them 12 bank statements, highlight how much he made from GI Bill every month and add them all together, then add all the months and show that it's more than poverty line. But I'm afraid that's not going to be enough. We're going to try to find a co-sponsor but we're not sure if we can find one.

Do you guys have any other recommendation???????

Thanks from a desperate wife

I think 5th comment can answer your question

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/288042-affidavit-of-support/

Edited April 19, 2016 by teanet

[teeak 224]

There is a helpline specifically for military members and families also: https://www.uscis.gov/military/military-help-line

[teanet 20]

There is a helpline specifically for military members and families also: https://www.uscis.gov/military/military-help-line

It is the same helpline like for everybody else, it just skips on wait. When we asked them about some military related stuff they didnt know a lot.

[flst 1]

It is the same helpline like for everybody else, it just skips on wait. When we asked them about some military related stuff they didnt know a lot.

Hey teanet,

did you have the same problem proving source of income for 864??

I'm so afraid of sending them 12 bank statements, etc and it being denied...

[teeak 224]

Ohh really? Wow, that is really unfortunate since they market it as "exclusively for members of the military and their families."

[Ellie__ 8]

Me and my future husband have the same problem! But seems like Gi Bill can be used as income.

[flst 1]

Me and my future husband have the same problem! But seems like Gi Bill can be used as income.

Yes, I think it can too because I also read some threads with lawyers on those websites that you ask and the lawyer replies ha and they all said yes you can use it!

I'd just like to know what exactly we need to show as evidence. Basically all we have are bank statements and this letter from the VA. I'm thinking we should also include a letter from the IRS stating that GI Bill income is not taxable and shouldn't be in tax return, but I don't know how to get this type of document

[teanet 20]

Hey teanet,

did you have the same problem proving source of income for 864??

I'm so afraid of sending them 12 bank statements, etc and it being denied...

No we didnt have that problem. We had different problem about missing last year tax return, because we were told wrong information and we just sent them explanation and bank statements. I was just stating that military helpline is like normal helpline, they dont know too much about military. When did your husband retire?

[Ellie__ 8]

Yes, I think it can too because I also read some threads with lawyers on those websites that you ask and the lawyer replies ha and they all said yes you can use it!

I'd just like to know what exactly we need to show as evidence. Basically all we have are bank statements and this letter from the VA. I'm thinking we should also include a letter from the IRS stating that GI Bill income is not taxable and shouldn't be in tax return, but I don't know how to get this type of document

Yes, I read the same! I asked the same question here, and people said the income has to be lower because they are in the military, I mean, my fiance is in the national guard right now. So the poverty line is 120% and not 125%.

Maybe you don't need to prove it is not taxable, they already know it for sure!

Is not Gi bill paid 8 months per year?

Edited April 19, 2016 by cupcake3