Affidavit of Support - Minimum docs needed?

[CookiesGalore 11]

Hey China VJ'ers!

 

I'm having a little trouble understanding exactly what documents are needed for the affidavit of support? Looking around I see people sending from just a few pages up to 100+ pages of documents. 😵

 

I am a relatively lazy individual and would rather not have to go digging up all sorts of financials, esp. since it sounds like if you are above the poverty guidelines you are pretty much set.

 

Looking at the instructions the Guangzhou Consulate provides it sounds like the minimum list of docs I can get away with are:

• Completed I-134
• 2018 Tax Returns (most recent US Federal tax return)
• 2018 W-2 (verification of income reported on most recent tax return)

 

Can anyone confirm that this is sufficient?

 

Very excited to be nearing the end of this process!

 

Thank you!

[RandyW 149]

On 3/12/2019 at 1:23 PM, CookiesGalore said:

 

 

Looking at the instructions the Guangzhou Consulate provides it sounds like the minimum list of docs I can get away with are:

• Completed I-134
• 2018 Tax Returns (most recent US Federal tax return)
• 2018 W-2 (verification of income reported on most recent tax return)

 

 

 

You answered your own question here. As to whether it is sufficient, that is at the discretion of the Visa Officer, who is required by law to make a determination, above and beyond what is reported on the Affidavit of Support, as to whether your fiance might become a public charge in the United States.

[visafrompa 9]

https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/Supplements/Supplements_by_Post/GUZ-Guangzhou.html#ExternalPopup

 

Never asks for your return, but rather an IRS Transcript.  The I-134 also never requests your returns, only the IRS transcript.

 

Affidavits of Financial Support:

 

For returning residents (SB-1), diversity visa (DV), and fiancé (K1): The sponsor or petitioner who will financially support you should complete a Form I-134 and provide a copy of his/her IRS-issued tax transcript and all supporting financial documents needed to verify the income reported on his or her tax returns - i.e. W-2 form, 1099-MISC form, proof of rental income, proof of business income, proof of social security benefits, etc. for the latest year available OR a statement of why the petitioner did not file federal taxes. If your sponsor does not meet poverty income guidelines, you will need to find a joint sponsor and have them submit a Form I-134, IRS-issued tax transcript, and all supporting financial documents.

[WaterLeaf 200]

I never did submitted my IRS-issued tax transcript and didn't get RFE, but now that I'm aware of that I'll also get that too for the AOS stage...(Maybe?)

[RandyW 149]

3 hours ago, WaterLeaf said:

I never did submitted my IRS-issued tax transcript and didn't get RFE, but now that I'm aware of that I'll also get that too for the AOS stage...(Maybe?)

 

 

There is no requirement for the transcript - you have a choice of which to submit. They contain the SAME information, and carry the same weight from a legal point of view.

[visafrompa 9]

On 6/11/2019 at 11:57 PM, RandyW said:

 

 

There is no requirement for the transcript - you have a choice of which to submit. They contain the SAME information, and carry the same weight from a legal point of view.

 

Me thinks you may be mistaken.

 

https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/Supplements/Supplements_by_Post/GUZ-Guangzhou.html#ExternalPopup

 

Affidavits of Financial Support:

 

For returning residents (SB-1), diversity visa (DV), and fiancé (K1): The sponsor or petitioner who will financially support you should complete a Form I-134 and provide a copy of his/her IRS-issued tax transcript 

 

They never mention your returns at all.  Only the transcript.  Do you have something that says otherwise??

Edited July 2, 2019 by visafrompa

[RandyW 149]

the I-134 instructions say

 

Quote

As the sponsor, you must show you have sufficient income or financial resources to assure that the foreign national you
are sponsoring will not become a public charge while in the United States.
Evidence should consist of copies of any of the documents listed below that apply to your situation.
Failure to provide evidence of sufficient income or financial resources may result in the denial of the foreign national’s
application for a visa or his or her removal from the United States.
Submit in duplicate evidence of income and resources, as appropriate:
A. Statement from an officer of the bank or other financial institutions with deposits, identifying the following details
regarding the account:
(1) Date account opened;
(2) Total amount deposited for the past year; and
(3) Present balance.
B. Statement(s) from your employer on business stationery showing:
(1) Date and nature of employment;
(2) Salary paid; and
(3) Whether the position is temporary or permanent.
C. If self-employed:
(1) Copy of last income tax return filed; or
(2) Report of commercial rating concern.
D. List containing serial numbers and denominations of bonds and name of record owner(s).

 

They are concerned about INCOME, not about whether taxes were filed - although if you ARE a tax scoflaw, you may very well have other problems with your application.

[RandyW 149]

This is from the I-864 instructions

 

 

Quote

You must provide either an Internal Revenue Service (IRS) transcript or a photocopy from your own records of your
Federal individual income tax return for the most recent tax year. If you believe additional returns may help you to
establish your ability to maintain sufficient income, you may submit transcripts or photocopies of your Federal individual
income tax returns for the three most recent years.

 

 

Again, it's the financial information FROM the tax return that they're interested in.

[visafrompa 9]

18 hours ago, RandyW said:

This is from the I-864 instructions

 

 

 

 

Again, it's the financial information FROM the tax return that they're interested in.

No, they want an I-134 at Guangzhou and if you READ the instructions:

 

C. If self-employed:
(1) Copy of last income tax return filed; or
(2) Report of commercial rating concern.

 

 

I'll just leave this here (again, please read)

 

https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/Supplements/Supplements_by_Post/GUZ-Guangzhou.html#ExternalPopup

 

For returning residents (SB-1), diversity visa (DV), and fiancé (K1): The sponsor or petitioner who will financially support you should complete a Form I-134 and provide a copy of his/her IRS-issued tax transcript and all supporting financial documents needed to verify the income reported on his or her tax returns - i.e. W-2 form, 1099-MISC form, proof of rental income, proof of business income, proof of social security benefits, etc. for the latest year available OR a statement of why the petitioner did not file federal taxes. If your sponsor does not meet poverty income guidelines, you will need to find a joint sponsor and have them submit a Form I-134, IRS-issued tax transcript, and all supporting financial documents.

 

 

 

You're welcome.