Current Income

[P.&S. 3]

I am filling out I-864. I live overseas and work overseas and get paid in local currency.  For my annual income, should I put zero? Should I put zero for my spouse too even though he contributes to the household? Thanks! 

[EatBulaga 315]

22 minutes ago, P.&S. said:

I am filling out I-864. I live overseas and work overseas and get paid in local currency.  For my annual income, should I put zero? Should I put zero for my spouse too even though he contributes to the household? Thanks! 

US citizens should be filing their taxes regardless of currency.

You can look up the currency conversion for the tax year at

https://www.irs.gov/individuals/international-taxpayers/yearly-average-currency-exchange-rates

You can determine if you qualify for the foreign earned income exclusion which should be part of what you plan to file with the IRS.

https://www.irs.gov/individuals/international-taxpayers/foreign-earned-income-exclusion

So your I-864 income should reflect what you will file with the IRS.

Edited May 30, 2023 by EatBulaga

[Chancy 6,241]

34 minutes ago, P.&S. said:

I live overseas and work overseas and get paid in local currency.  For my annual income, should I put zero? Should I put zero for my spouse too even though he contributes to the household?

 

Yes -- put $0 for current annual income if your current employment will not continue after you move back to the US.  Your spouse beneficiary's foreign income also cannot be used for the I-864 if it will not continue from the same company after he immigrates to the US.

 

[pushbrk 12,879]

44 minutes ago, Chancy said:

 

Yes -- put $0 for current annual income if your current employment will not continue after you move back to the US.  Your spouse beneficiary's foreign income also cannot be used for the I-864 if it will not continue from the same company after he immigrates to the US.

 

Correct.  There is context to the questions on the form, and also instructions that make this clear.  Sounds like you'll need either a qualified joint sponsor or to qualify based on liquid assets instead of income.  $3 in assets to replace $1 of income when sponsoring spouse of US Citizen.

[SalishSea 17,827]

2 hours ago, EatBulaga said:

So your I-864 income should reflect what you will file with the IRS.

Not for immigration purposes if the income will not continue in the US.

[pushbrk 12,879]

2 hours ago, SalishSea said:

Not for immigration purposes if the income will not continue in the US.

Let's not confuse "current income" with the income entered in the tax section.  For most expats working abroad, their income will be exempt from US taxes already, resulting in the "total income" line of their 1040 reading zero.  

 

Current income is a different animal.  While it may still be zero, it would not be, if it will continue from the same source.

[P.&S. 3]

Thanks everyone!

[Coming2America 0]

In same situation, I am the applicant and wife the petitioner. We both currently live in UK. We used her foreign income earned here in UK on the I-864 form and was just under the minimum requirement to which we were RFE’d for “evidence of income” instead. We submitted her last 6 months payslips and 2 weeks later, this weekend, were notified by NVC that we are now Documentarily Qualified. No further RFE or any note for use of a Joint Sponsor. Is this correct on their part or an error? Is it possible to be DQ’d like this? 

[Crazy Cat 41,845]

2 hours ago, Coming2America said:

In same situation, I am the applicant and wife the petitioner. We both currently live in UK. We used her foreign income earned here in UK on the I-864 form and was just under the minimum requirement to which we were RFE’d for “evidence of income” instead. We submitted her last 6 months payslips and 2 weeks later, this weekend, were notified by NVC that we are now Documentarily Qualified. No further RFE or any note for use of a Joint Sponsor. Is this correct on their part or an error? Is it possible to be DQ’d like this? 

Income which will not continue after re-locating to the US cannot be used to determine current annual income.  If that got by NVC, it was an error which the Consulate Officer won't make.  If her income will not continue after locating back to the US, you should find a well-qualified joint sponsor.

Edited June 4, 2023 by Crazy Cat

[pushbrk 12,879]

4 hours ago, Crazy Cat said:

Income which will not continue after re-locating to the US cannot be used to determine current annual income.  If that got by NVC, it was an error which the Consulate Officer won't make.  If her income will not continue after locating back to the US, you should find a well-qualified joint sponsor.

Exactly.  NVC does make mistakes.  In this case the petitioner/sponsor also made the mistake of not studying and heeding the I-864 instructions.  Never a good idea.

Edited June 4, 2023 by pushbrk

[Coming2America 0]

12 hours ago, pushbrk said:

Exactly.  NVC does make mistakes.  In this case the petitioner/sponsor also made the mistake of not studying and heeding the I-864 instructions.  Never a good idea.

Thanks both for confirming. I have a joint sponsor I can use so I will get that done. I can just bring the new documentation in hand at the interview right? The I-864 form and proof of income and US Citizenship?

[pushbrk 12,879]

11 hours ago, Coming2America said:

Thanks both for confirming. I have a joint sponsor I can use so I will get that done. I can just bring the new documentation in hand at the interview right? The I-864 form and proof of income and US Citizenship?

Usually the Consular Officer will want that uploaded.