During the Interview, (Proof of Income) When and how is it reviewed?

[ziggyzaazaa 14]

Hello, i am hoping to get answers from anyone who has actually been through the interview process and may know the answer to my question. So, we have our interview scheduled in Lagos, Nigeria next month, and my fiancee has everything he needs to be prepared. I wanted to ask specifically how they approve the affidavit and income sources of the USC petitioner, which is me since I am under the assumption that I was supposed to just mail everything to my fiancee in Lagos. When do they go through the approval process for the financial stuff? Does the officer at the interview actually review the income there in front of the beneficiary and make a decision based on what hard copies he has with him, or is the income documentation sent off to another place for formal approval. To me it just seems strange to send over all the income bank stuff and documentation and not have a finance person per say review it versus an officer.  Anyone know? 

 

Thanks!

[Fr8dog 312]

Amsterdam looked at the tax returns and called it good. But they are not known as a "hard" embassy. Nor is Holland known as a "high risk" country.

You may find more info in the embassy review section

Edited February 9, 2017 by Fr8dog

[NewBrunswicker 19]

As far as I know, the officer reviews the documentation. It is not hard to determine if you qualify are not. They look at the numbers. Your tax transcript says exactly how much you brought home last year. There is no need for a finance person.

[ConOfficer 167]

The officer reviews it during the interview. Not sure about Lagos, but at most consulates the officer will only look at the most recent year's tax return (including the number of dependents you have claimed). If you're trying to meet the income guidelines through savings, real estate holdings etc., write a letter explaining how your assets meet the guidelines. ConOffs are not accountants (nor are they immigration law experts). 

[Ash.1101 1,756]

12 minutes ago, ziggyzaazaa said:

Hello, i am hoping to get answers from anyone who has actually been through the interview process and may know the answer to my question. So, we have our interview scheduled in Lagos, Nigeria next month, and my fiancee has everything he needs to be prepared. I wanted to ask specifically how they approve the affidavit and income sources of the USC petitioner, which is me since I am under the assumption that I was supposed to just mail everything to my fiancee in Lagos. When do they go through the approval process for the financial stuff? Does the officer at the interview actually review the income there in front of the beneficiary and make a decision based on what hard copies he has with him, or is the income documentation sent off to another place for formal approval. To me it just seems strange to send over all the income bank stuff and documentation and not have a finance person per say review it versus an officer.  Anyone know? 

 

Thanks!

It's all done right then and there in front of the beneficiary.

Basically they will look at it, and decide if it's good enough.

 They can use their own discretion based on the proof that they get. Example: I was unemployed when my husband did his fiance visa, this was for Canada, a traditionally low fraud embassy. I used my mom as a cosponsor and she made more than what was needed for the poverty lines (She needed to make like 22k, she made about 27k, with paystubs, W2/Tax return and working at the same place for years). The CO was worried about me being unemployed, even though the we met the technical requirements. That worry was enough for them to ask us to get ANOTHER cosponsor. If there's any question or worry about the financial info, they can ask for more.


Note, you are at a VERY tough embassy, so you'll want to make sure that the financial proof is more than enough. 
 

Edited February 9, 2017 by Ash.1101

[Sholabite 5]

Tax transcript remains the best proof of income. They look at the last line which shows total income for the year and they make their decision based on that.  They don't look at Bank statement or any other documents. It is much easier for them verifying through the tax transcript.  

And yes they will review it right in front of your fiancee.  It's a very fast process .

[dwheels76 5,468]

Lagos CO's review right there. Why would a finance person need to review anything. It's a simple meeting the guidelines or not. For Lagos I can tell you Current income and most current income tax return must meet or exceed guidelines.

 

If for some reason they need more, like some send Tax forms (Lagos like Tax Transcripts) they will just put you in AP and request what they want whether it be more documentation or you need a joint sponsor.

 

You know one way or another if you are approved, denied, or in AP before leaving the embassy.

[MeAlone 161]

17 hours ago, ziggyzaazaa said:

Hello, i am hoping to get answers from anyone who has actually been through the interview process and may know the answer to my question. So, we have our interview scheduled in Lagos, Nigeria next month, and my fiancee has everything he needs to be prepared. I wanted to ask specifically how they approve the affidavit and income sources of the USC petitioner, which is me since I am under the assumption that I was supposed to just mail everything to my fiancee in Lagos. When do they go through the approval process for the financial stuff? Does the officer at the interview actually review the income there in front of the beneficiary and make a decision based on what hard copies he has with him, or is the income documentation sent off to another place for formal approval. To me it just seems strange to send over all the income bank stuff and documentation and not have a finance person per say review it versus an officer.  Anyone know? 

 

Thanks!

it suppose as an American citizen you don't lie to US government therefore everything you present, your documents, your statement, all you are saying should be the total truth. Marriage visa takes longer because they verify more but fiance visa doesn't need the verification, you will do the marriage and the green card, there it will be another affidavit of support, so you need to have all in order for then

Tasha

[Pogue Mahone 26]

On 2/8/2017 at 8:20 PM, ziggyzaazaa said:

Hello, i am hoping to get answers from anyone who has actually been through the interview process and may know the answer to my question. So, we have our interview scheduled in Lagos, Nigeria next month, and my fiancee has everything he needs to be prepared. I wanted to ask specifically how they approve the affidavit and income sources of the USC petitioner, which is me since I am under the assumption that I was supposed to just mail everything to my fiancee in Lagos. When do they go through the approval process for the financial stuff? Does the officer at the interview actually review the income there in front of the beneficiary and make a decision based on what hard copies he has with him, or is the income documentation sent off to another place for formal approval. To me it just seems strange to send over all the income bank stuff and documentation and not have a finance person per say review it versus an officer.  Anyone know? 

 

Thanks!

They review it right there on the spot,. Send your employment letter, the latest tax papers and your pay-stubs. The figures shall determine if you qualify(above the poverty guideline) or not. 

[YsabelEric 5]

Have I missed something in the instructions for the I-134 Affidavit of support? I dont see where it says anything about sending in your taxes or is that something extra people are sending in with it? 

[Pogue Mahone 26]

5 hours ago, YsabelEric said:

Have I missed something in the instructions for the I-134 Affidavit of support? I dont see where it says anything about sending in your taxes or is that something extra people are sending in with it? 

You might want to read this link very carefully http://www.visajourney.com/content/k1guide

[ckurt 23]

They review it right there and you don't need to be a finance person to read tax transcripts or letter from work indicating how much money you are making a year  I sent my tax transcripts + bank statements + official letter from my employer indicating how long I have worked there and how much is my yearly compensation. It was probably too much but I didn't want to take any chance Keep in mind that the person who will be interviewing your fiancee is a US citizen and knows exactly what to look for in the documents you provided.  Good luck 

[Adenicole 1]

On Thursday, February 09, 2017 at 2:20 AM, ziggyzaazaa said:

Hello, i am hoping to get answers from anyone who has actually been through the interview process and may know the answer to my question. So, we have our interview scheduled in Lagos, Nigeria next month, and my fiancee has everything he needs to be prepared. I wanted to ask specifically how they approve the affidavit and income sources of the USC petitioner, which is me since I am under the assumption that I was supposed to just mail everything to my fiancee in Lagos. When do they go through the approval process for the financial stuff? Does the officer at the interview actually review the income there in front of the beneficiary and make a decision based on what hard copies he has with him, or is the income documentation sent off to another place for formal approval. To me it just seems strange to send over all the income bank stuff and documentation and not have a finance person per say review it versus an officer.  Anyone know? 

 

Thanks!

I did my interview on the 9th of Feb. Before you interview some Nigerians at the same immigrant stand will check everything you have before they will pass it to the CO, they will review it. I saw everything wrh my own eyes. My advice for anyone going for interview for immigrant visa is to make sure everything that asked for is complete.  The questions they will ask individual is different. Any before you got there, they've already concluded. Cos all the document from uscis is with them. Just make sure the additional document is ready. The interview is like abc. Easy

[Ash.1101 1,756]

6 hours ago, YsabelEric said:

Have I missed something in the instructions for the I-134 Affidavit of support? I dont see where it says anything about sending in your taxes or is that something extra people are sending in with it? 

The instructions for the I-134 versus what they ACTUALLY want are very different. Since it's a non-immigrant visa technically, they use the I-134 form instead of the I-864 form. The I-134 instructions say you only need tax returns if you're self employed, but since K-1 is a nonimmigrant visa with immigrant intent, they lean towards the rules for the I-864, which is tax returns and proof of current income. They want to make sure if you're coming into the country to immigrate, that you can pretty much meet the criteria of the I-864, which is something you ideally would do within 90-100 days of coming in on the K-1.

You may want to check with your countries info, but overall the most commonly wanted/accepted forms of proof are:

Official Tax Transcript
OR
Tax Return + W2 Combo

Paystubs from current job
Employer letter

and then you can add on additional statements from the banks stating how long the account has been opened, how much has been depositeded, etc.

If you are using assets, then you would provide a copy of your bank statement where ever those assets are, or an official note from an appraiser if it's a house or car you want to use as an asset.



But, overall, if you don't send the taxes, they can either decline the sponsor right then and there, ask for a cosponsor, or be kind enough to let you provide the information and hold you case in AP until they receive it.

[Akwaaba02 7]

Wishing you the best!