I-864 Sponsor Uncertainties

[HandmadeTurnip 151]

I'm currently preparing my AOS package and I'm unsure if the financial situations of my possible sponsors will be good enough. It's somewhat convoluted but I'll try to lay out all the information as best as possible. Here's all the info I've collected from their past three tax returns:

 

Primary Sponsor (self-employed, no dependents)

2016 Income - $20,567

2015 Income - $11,956

2014 Income - $13,029

 

Joint Sponsor(s) (married joint-filers, no other dependents)

Total Income

2016 Income - $30,259

2015 Income - $22,531

2014 Income - $23,680

Husband (self-employed)

2016 Income - $5,799

2015 Income - $2,818

2014 Income - $5,390 (minus $5,390 NOL on the "Other Income" line, I'm not entirely sure what that means)

Wife (salary)

2016 Income - $24,149

2015 Income - $19,661

2014 Income - $23,588

 

So while both sets of sponsors earned over the required poverty guideline for their household size in 2016, I'm worried that the erratic nature of their income might mean they get rejected.

 

To add to the confusion, the wife's salary is actually higher than gets reported on her W-2, hence her differing incomes. Apparently they've had a long running problem at her office with whoever prepares their W-2s entering in the information incorrectly. So I think her pay stubs actually show a yearly salary that's just over the $25,525 poverty guideline.

 

Can anyone give me some guidance on what I should do in this situation? Would sending an employer letter and pay stubs for the joint sponsor help to make up for their erratic income history or should I look for a completely different joint sponsor altogether?

 

[Wuozopo 4,293]

The income from the tax return needs to come from Line 22 of the Form 1040. Is that where you got

Primary Sponsor (self-employed, no dependents)

2016 Income - $20,567

It's over the required poverty level. Do either of you have any assets/savings to sweeten the pot with?

 

 

[Wuozopo 4,293]

1 hour ago, HandmadeTurnip said:

 

Joint Sponsor(s) (married joint-filers, no other dependents)

Total Income

2016 Income - $30,259

 

Is that the total on Line 22 of their joint tax return?

Also over the poverty level for a household of 3.

Husband and wife can pool their income for an I -864

Wife does I-864 and adds husband's income to her form as household member contributing. Total household income is $30,259 on the I-864.

Husband does an I-864A which his agreement for his income to be used in support of the immigrant on wife's I-864.

 

 

 

Edited June 1, 2017 by Wuozopo

[HandmadeTurnip 151]

11 minutes ago, Wuozopo said:

The income from the tax return needs to come from Line 22 of the Form 1040. Is that where you got

Primary Sponsor (self-employed, no dependents)

2016 Income - $20,567

It's over the required poverty level. Do either of you have any assets/savings to sweeten the pot with?

 

 

 

2 minutes ago, Wuozopo said:

 

Is that the total on Line 22 of their joint tax return?

Also over the poverty level for a household of 3.

Husband and wife can pool their income for an I -864

Wife does I-864 and adds husband's income to her form as household member contributing. Total household income is $30,259 on the I-864.

Husband does an I-864A which his agreement for his income to be used in support of the immigrant on wife's I-864.

 

 

 

 

All the total income amounts are from line 22, yes. I know they both meet the requirements in their most recent tax returns but I'm worried that the much lower incomes on their 2015 and 2014 tax returns might be a problem, especially as both of them only just met the requirement last year. We don't have any assets or savings, unfortunately. 

[Wuozopo 4,293]

 

3 minutes ago, HandmadeTurnip said:

 

 

All the total income amounts are from line 22, yes. I know they both meet the requirements in their most recent tax returns but I'm worried that the much lower incomes on their 2015 and 2014 tax returns might be a problem, especially as both of them only just met the requirement last year. We don't have any assets or savings, unfortunately. 

 

Well if that's what you've got then that's what you go with, right?

There's a mark in the sand called poverty level. One side you're in and one side you're out. If they really required more, then they would set the mark differently. Nowhere in the instructions does it say three years must be over. I wouldn't worry about it. It's kinda like when you turn 18 you can go to the pub and buy a pint. They don't say "Oh mate, I don't know because you were just 17 last week."

I'd go with the I'm over the mark theory because you obviously don't have another option or you wouldn't be asking the question.