I-864

[SDNOMAD 17]

Currently completing the I-864 and I have taken the last year off to be with my husband in Canada so under my current annual income should I put my 2018 annual income from my tax return or put $0 since I didn’t work since last feb?!

[SorrowL 138]

If your 2018 tax return says zero, then put in zero. If you did not file, submit your 2017 tax return and add an explanation to why you did not file in 2018.

Edited February 17, 2020 by SorrowL

[geowrian 22,337]

Current annual income = your (qualifying) income right now. Not what you made in 2018.

It sounds like you are not working right now, so that would be $0.

 

If you did not file for 2018 because you were below the threshold to be required to file, then mark the checkbox as such on the I-864 and explain why. No need for anything from 2017, except for the income numbers listed on the I-864.

[SDNOMAD 17]

I have filed my 2018 taxes just not my 2019 yet but that’s fine Because it’s only April so my question is do I put my current annual income from my most resent tax year being 2018?

[SDNOMAD 17]

7 minutes ago, geowrian said:

Current annual income = your (qualifying) income right now. Not what you made in 2018.

It sounds like you are not working right now, so that would be $0.

 

If you did not file for 2018 because you were below the threshold to be required to file, then mark the checkbox as such on the I-864 and explain why. No need for anything from 2017, except for the income numbers listed on the I-864.

I worked up until Feb 2019 since then I have been unemployed. I worked and made more then enough in 2018 and have my return which I am submitting but since I have been away and unemployed the last 10 months I am also using my mother as a joint sponsor. 

[Crazy Cat 41,851]

28 minutes ago, SDNOMAD said:

I have filed my 2018 taxes just not my 2019 yet but that’s fine Because it’s only April so my question is do I put my current annual income from my most resent tax year being 2018?

Reread what @geowrian posted.  Current income means your income right now (this year).  That has nothing to do with your 2018 tax return.....If you are not currently working, then your current income is likely $0.

Edited February 17, 2020 by missileman

[geowrian 22,337]

15 minutes ago, SDNOMAD said:

I worked up until Feb 2019 since then I have been unemployed. I worked and made more then enough in 2018 and have my return which I am submitting but since I have been away and unemployed the last 10 months I am also using my mother as a joint sponsor. 

If you are unemployed, then you have $0 in current income (barring unemployment compensation or other sources that could apply).

Edited February 17, 2020 by geowrian

[pushbrk 12,883]

5 minutes ago, missileman said:

Reread what @geowrian posted.  Current income means your income right now (this year).  That has nothing to do with your 2018 tax return.....If you are not currently working, then your current income is likely $0.

To be more precise, your current income is "current", meaning if you took a job last week for $50k a year, 50k is your current income.  Unless self employed, NO tax return will reflect "current income".  The I-864 requires INFORMATION from three tax returns but none of that has anything to do with your current income.  If you made 50k last year and lost your job last week, your current income is zero, no matter what number appears on any PAST tax return.  Tax returns are always about the past. 

 

NOTE: (except if self employed.  They are really about the past then too, but for the self employed, it isn't "income" UNTIL it appears on a tax return and the business expenses have been deducted. Before that, it is only "revenue".)

[SDNOMAD 17]

Thanks guys! One last question in regards to physical address I’m using my mothers address as my domicile in the US but as I’m temporarily in Canada with my husband should I use his address as my physical addess?

[pushbrk 12,883]

6 minutes ago, geowrian said:

If you are unemployed, then you have $0 in current income (barring unemployment compensation or other sources that could apply).

Correct, but note that unemployment compensation is only temporary.  Even though you can declare it as current income, when you document it as unemployment compensation, it is not actually "qualifying income", no matter how much it is, BECAUSE it is temporary.  It is no indication of a future ability to support an immigrant.

[pushbrk 12,883]

Just now, SDNOMAD said:

Thanks guys! One last question in regards to physical address I’m using my mothers address as my domicile in the US but as I’m temporarily in Canada with my husband should I use his address as my physical addess?

If you are only a visitor in Canada, indicate your mother's address for both mailing and physical.

[pushbrk 12,883]

Just a general note to those who respond explaining "current income".  The OP wasn't "getting it".  The question is about current income, not about ANY calendar year.  Certainly not about "THIS year) I have found over 15 years of responses, that the surest way to get the point across about current income is to include these two statements.

 

1.  Current income is "current", meaning if you took a job last week for $50k a year, 50k is your current income.

2.  If you made 50k last year and lost your job last week, your current income is zero, no matter what number appears on any PAST tax return.

 

Works every time it is tried.

[geowrian 22,337]

12 minutes ago, pushbrk said:

Correct, but note that unemployment compensation is only temporary.  Even though you can declare it as current income, when you document it as unemployment compensation, it is not actually "qualifying income", no matter how much it is, BECAUSE it is temporary.  It is no indication of a future ability to support an immigrant.

I agree that it would generally not be accepted as qualifying income.

Although I would disagree that - as a general rule - temporary income sources do not qualify. I know plenty of people that do contract work - as full time, temporary employees of the company (not self-employed) - for several months at a time, and they have qualified as sponsors using the income from their current, fixed-term contract. So the determining factor was not that it was temporary employment or temporary income.

 

Edit: I should probably clarify the above...rereading it makes me think it may be unclear what was meant.

I know people who are W-2 employees, but are brought on to fulfill a contract that may last several months. Their employment agreement states that they will terminate employment at the end of the contract. Some of those people submitted said letter with their packet and were approved (others did not include it).

 

12 minutes ago, SDNOMAD said:

Thanks guys! One last question in regards to physical address I’m using my mothers address as my domicile in the US but as I’m temporarily in Canada with my husband should I use his address as my physical addess?

How long and on what basis (status) are you in Canada? "Temporary" could mean a work visa for years.

If you're just a visitor, then your domicile and physical address would still be in the US.

Edited February 17, 2020 by geowrian

[SDNOMAD 17]

8 minutes ago, pushbrk said:

If you are only a visitor in Canada, indicate your mother's address for both mailing and physical.

Thank you! I have been confused with which form my mom should fill out aswell since she will be a joint sponsor as well as living in the same house hold temporarily as we do not intend to live with her permanently. Does she fill out the I-864 or the I-864a? 

 

Btw I just wanna add a big thank you as I see you answering question for everyone you have been a huge help! 

[SDNOMAD 17]

4 minutes ago, geowrian said:

I agree that it would generally not be accepted as qualifying income.

Although I would disagree that - as a general rule - temporary income sources do not qualify. I know plenty of people that do contract work - as full time, temporary employees of the company (not self-employed) - for several months at a time, and they have qualified as sponsors using the income from their current, fixed-term contract. So the determining factor was not that it was temporary employment or temporary income.

 

How long and on what basis (status) are you in Canada? "Temporary" could mean a work visa for years.

If you're just a visitor, then your domicile and physical address would still be in the US.

Yes just a visitor as I’m not on any type of working visa nor do I have any status here just staying with my husband during the process.