Income Guidelines and Alternatives to Joint Sponsors

[Natasha M. 2]

So I have a question about income limits. I was told I needed to submit tax information for 2017, 2018 and 2019. I was also told that my income for those years or at least 2019 could not be less than 27,000. I didn’t make much money last year (18,350) but my current job salary is 39,000. any suggestions on what I can do without needing an additional affidavit.  I can submit paystub‘s to prove what I have made up till now; And technically speaking there are only five more pay periods Left this year So technically I’ve already made over the limit that is required.

[Crazy Cat 41,904]

CURRENT income is king.  Past years' tax filings are useful to the CO, but Current annual income is the primary indicator for ability to support the new immigrant.  Current annual income is determined by current pay stubs.  After all, you can't provide support with past income.....

 

Current Monthly Income x 12 = current annual income

Current pay period income x number of pay periods per year = current annual income

Current weekly income x 52 = current annual income

 

 

[Natasha M. 2]

3 hours ago, Lucky Cat said:

CURRENT income is king.  Past years' tax filings are useful to the CO, but Current annual income is the primary indicator for ability to support the new immigrant.  Current annual income is determined by current pay stubs.  After all, you can't provide support with past income.....

 

Current Monthly Income x 12 = current annual income

Current pay period income x number of pay periods per year = current annual income

Current weekly income x 52 = current annual income

 

 

Do you suppose this letter along with approve of this current annual income would suffice?

[Ryan H 3,812]

Moved from Progress Reports to Process & Procedures.

[pushbrk 12,908]

On 10/19/2020 at 5:55 PM, Natasha M. said:

So I have a question about income limits. I was told I needed to submit tax information for 2017, 2018 and 2019. I was also told that my income for those years or at least 2019 could not be less than 27,000. I didn’t make much money last year (18,350) but my current job salary is 39,000. any suggestions on what I can do without needing an additional affidavit.  I can submit paystub‘s to prove what I have made up till now; And technically speaking there are only five more pay periods Left this year So technically I’ve already made over the limit that is required.

"I was told" usually indicates a source that is questionable at best.  Why not read actual instructions???  Current income is King and "trumps" anything from the past unless you are applying in Mumbai.

[Natasha M. 2]

On 10/25/2020 at 4:57 AM, pushbrk said:

"I was told" usually indicates a source that is questionable at best.  Why not read actual instructions???  Current income is King and "trumps" anything from the past unless you are applying in Mumbai.

So actually the source was an immigration lawyer; and this was exactly what ended up happening, “current income” does not trump anything. They look at your taxes for the past three years if it doesn’t add up than you need an affidavit. 

[pushbrk 12,908]

10 hours ago, Natasha M. said:

So actually the source was an immigration lawyer; and this was exactly what ended up happening, “current income” does not trump anything. They look at your taxes for the past three years if it doesn’t add up than you need an affidavit. 

And I still disagree based on lots of experience since 2005.

[Natasha M. 2]

1 minute ago, pushbrk said:

And I still disagree based on lots of experience since 2005.

Well you are welcome to disagree; believe me I wish it were not true. I made 45k 2020 and submitted paystubs with NVC application and was still told I needed an Affidavit of support. I also have the choice of submitting 2020 taxes upon embassy appointment day and it is at their discretion if they want to accept.

[pushbrk 12,908]

1 minute ago, Natasha M. said:

Well you are welcome to disagree; believe me I wish it were not true. I made 45k 2020 and submitted paystubs with NVC application and was still told I needed an Affidavit of support. I also have the choice of submitting 2020 taxes upon embassy appointment day and it is at their discretion if they want to accept.

Again, who actually told you that?  Of course you need an affidavit of support.  I think you mean a joint sponsor.  Was this a suggestion given at the same time they told you "The Consular Officer will make the decision."?  If so, the mention of a joint sponsor is boilerplate.  It's a suggestion.

 

Consider this for a moment.  If you made double the required income the past three years but lost your job a month before submitting your affidavit of support, your current income would be zero.  Do you think they'll issue a visa when the sponsor's income is currently zero?  The answer is not unless there are sufficient assets to cover the requirement.  (Minimum 3X the income requirement in liquid assets)

 

The same notice including "Consular Officer will make decision" language is given even if the sponsor has a million bucks in a savings account.  It's a suggestion, not a requirement.

 

So, what was the actual language from NVC?

[Natasha M. 2]

2 minutes ago, pushbrk said:

Again, who actually told you that?  Of course you need an affidavit of support.  I think you mean a joint sponsor.  Was this a suggestion given at the same time they told you "The Consular Officer will make the decision."?  If so, the mention of a joint sponsor is boilerplate.  It's a suggestion.

 

Consider this for a moment.  If you made double the required income the past three years but lost your job a month before submitting your affidavit of support, your current income would be zero.  Do you think they'll issue a visa when the sponsor's income is currently zero?  The answer is not unless there are sufficient assets to cover the requirement.  (Minimum 3X the income requirement in liquid assets)

 

The same notice including "Consular Officer will make decision" language is given even if the sponsor has a million bucks in a savings account.  It's a suggestion, not a requirement.

 

So, what was the actual language from NVC?

OK so I will explain again. In 2020 I made over 45K. However 2017 2018 and 2019 I was an independent worker and did not really report more than 17,000 each year. Upon submitting forms to NVC in November of 2020 ( hence I had already produced more than 75% of my income for the year ) Along with all of the proof that states that in 2020 I made more than needed, I was still told by NVC that I would need to produce a joint sponsor (additional affidavit of support) because my taxes for the past three years did not add up. Thankfully I was able to find a joint sponsor, however I also have the choice of submitting 2020 taxes upon his appointment day at the embassy because he still has not been given a date due to embassy closings because of Covid. 

[Natasha M. 2]

Just now, Natasha M. said:

OK so I will explain again. In 2020 I made over 45K. However 2017 2018 and 2019 I was an independent worker and did not really report more than 17,000 each year. Upon submitting forms to NVC in November of 2020 ( hence I had already produced more than 75% of my income for the year ) Along with all of the proof that states that in 2020 I made more than needed, I was still told by NVC that I would need to produce a joint sponsor (additional affidavit of support) because my taxes for the past three years did not add up. Thankfully I was able to find a joint sponsor, however I also have the choice of submitting 2020 taxes upon his appointment day at the embassy because he still has not been given a date due to embassy closings because of Covid. 

What I’m trying to tell you is that it does not matter how much you made in the year you are in, Basically how much you’re making in the moment. What they care about is how much your past three tax years add up to and that are at or above their consideration of income guidelines. In my case I am petitioning my husband in the Dominican republic. I already have one dependent my 12-year-old child. Show my 2019 taxes stated I made less than what they considered enough (17,800) Even though I provided enough proof stating that I had a better job in the current year. It did not matter I still needed to find joint sponsor.

[pushbrk 12,908]

2 minutes ago, Natasha M. said:

OK so I will explain again. In 2020 I made over 45K. However 2017 2018 and 2019 I was an independent worker and did not really report more than 17,000 each year. Upon submitting forms to NVC in November of 2020 ( hence I had already produced more than 75% of my income for the year ) Along with all of the proof that states that in 2020 I made more than needed, I was still told by NVC that I would need to produce a joint sponsor (additional affidavit of support) because my taxes for the past three years did not add up. Thankfully I was able to find a joint sponsor, however I also have the choice of submitting 2020 taxes upon his appointment day at the embassy because he still has not been given a date due to embassy closings because of Covid. 

Please look at the email from NVC and tell us the exact wording of the two sentences that mentioned a joint sponsor.

 

Note also there is no question on the I-864 about 2020 or "current year" income.  Your current income is your gross for a pay period, times the number of pay periods in a year.  If you lose your job in November, it makes no difference what you made so far in 2020.  If you get a new job in November paying 50k a year, your current income is 50k a year, even if you didn't make a dime during the year until you started the job.  Current income really is the "King", but not an absolute ruler. Maybe YOU needed a joint sponsor and maybe you didn't.  Please copy and paste the actual wording from NVC that makes you think they asked for a joint sponsor.

[pushbrk 12,908]

4 minutes ago, Natasha M. said:

What I’m trying to tell you is that it does not matter how much you made in the year you are in, Basically how much you’re making in the moment. What they care about is how much your past three tax years add up to and that are at or above their consideration of income guidelines. In my case I am petitioning my husband in the Dominican republic. I already have one dependent my 12-year-old child. Show my 2019 taxes stated I made less than what they considered enough (17,800) Even though I provided enough proof stating that I had a better job in the current year. It did not matter I still needed to find joint sponsor.

And I'm telling you I have lots of experience with visa approvals when the sponsor does NOT have three years of past qualifying income.  I get what you are saying.  Again, please post the exact wording from NVC that caused you to think they were requiring a joint sponsor.

 

Also note the current income is not the same thing as current year income.  If you misinterpret that, don't you think it's possible you misinterpreted other things?

 

Edited January 9, 2021 by pushbrk