Cr1 Income Question - 3 years

[pcubes99 20]

There's quite a few income questions today. I've been trying to research online on the 3 year tax return, some say its not required, some say it is. I worked overseas for 2014 - Dec, 2018. I moved back to the states and started working Dec, 2018. 

 

My adjusted gross income for the past 3 years:

 

2016: $19k

2017: $26k

2018: $110k (I got a nice bonus when I left the company). 
 

I have a steady income now at a US company making over $65k/year, not a lot, but enough for my simple lifestyle. I do have a w2 for 2018 even its only one month and we are planning to submit the i130 in a week so I assume by the time the tax return is needed, I'll have a few more months of income.

 

Am I overthinking things or should I start looking for a joint sponsor? I know the minimum requirement is $26,662 for 3 people including myself. But the 2016 and 2017 AGI is giving me some worries or do they only look at current income? 

[givionte 138]

If you bring all your paystubs for your current job, and provide tax transcripts for the 3 years, you have a very good chance of your income being approved since you are well over the poverty guidelines minimums.  The 2 years prior to last is to help those who may have had a down year, that can prove their income was steady.  They might scrutinize your evidence more since your income jumped a lot in a short time, but if you bring all the evidence of your current job (paystubs, original offer letter if you have, etc), you probably won't need a joint sponsor.  It doesn't hurt to line somebody up as a backup though, should they do ask you to find one.

 

Oh, and yes, you should provide 3 years, they often ask for it, so sending just one year in, getting an RF3 for 3 years and having to send that in will delay your process.

Edited June 5, 2019 by givionte