Can you interview from a country other than your home country?

[MichaelC0728 0]

2 hours ago, JeanneAdil said:

Can she get a residency permit in Columbia to interview there?   

you need  to research this 

 

FYI if she can get a residency permit ,  she should get the criminal reports from Cambodia before she leaves (to any country she may go to to live) and have it translated into English for Immigration purposes  later.

So for both Ecuador and Colombia, if I get a retirement visa (which is a 2-3 year temporary residency visa that can be renewed) then she will have the same status. 
we would need the criminal report from Cambodia for both countries to get the visa there, so this is not a problem.
 

27 minutes ago, pushbrk said:

I'm not clear on his current income.  The 1k figure appeared to be his sideline income, not his total income.  Would be good to clarify.  Sideline "revenue" often ends up as little or no income carried forward as taxable.

So my actual VA income is about $2,300 per month currently.

[pushbrk 12,876]

9 minutes ago, MichaelC0728 said:

So for both Ecuador and Colombia, if I get a retirement visa (which is a 2-3 year temporary residency visa that can be renewed) then she will have the same status. 
we would need the criminal report from Cambodia for both countries to get the visa there, so this is not a problem.
 

So my actual VA income is about $2,300 per month currently.

That's marginal for a household of two, so enough to qualify.  Your side income appears to be self employment, meaning it will not count until it appears on the "total income" line of a US Federal tax return, which you would legally be required to file, not that you have taxable income.  Provided revenue minus business expenses is a positive number, that will help.  Financial aspect must be thought about now, but are not dealt with, in your case, until early 2025,

[MichaelC0728 0]

34 minutes ago, pushbrk said:

That's marginal for a household of two, so enough to qualify.  Your side income appears to be self employment, meaning it will not count until it appears on the "total income" line of a US Federal tax return, which you would legally be required to file, not that you have taxable income.  Provided revenue minus business expenses is a positive number, that will help.  Financial aspect must be thought about now, but are not dealt with, in your case, until early 2025,

 

Well, It will be me, her and 2 children....so I think for that it is below the limits that I need for family of 4.

That said, I do plan to document my self employment income with minimal deductions against it because my VA income is not taxable, so even if I get up to 2k a month for 2025 on self employment income my taxes will be like $1,000 for the year...worth it if it simplifies the process. 2024 I will show 12-15k self employment income. Mainly because it will document my connection to the US still, show that I am still filing taxes at least and that amount of income will not result in any taxes. 

By time I am getting closer to actually coming to the US I will have several IT certifications and can take on a 30k a year basic remote helpdesk job which in addition to my VA will be well over that I need income wise, and will show that I can continue that when I move to the US. Although once I get in US I should be able to double that immediately, I think showing that I am making 30k from a US job or even self employment income that I am documenting and paying taxes on, will be more likely to get me in than saying "I have an offer letter to make $$$ when I get to the US."

[Boiler 45,466]

You will probably need a joint sponsor so I would get that lined up.

[pushbrk 12,876]

4 hours ago, MichaelC0728 said:

 

Well, It will be me, her and 2 children....so I think for that it is below the limits that I need for family of 4.

That said, I do plan to document my self employment income with minimal deductions against it because my VA income is not taxable, so even if I get up to 2k a month for 2025 on self employment income my taxes will be like $1,000 for the year...worth it if it simplifies the process. 2024 I will show 12-15k self employment income. Mainly because it will document my connection to the US still, show that I am still filing taxes at least and that amount of income will not result in any taxes. 

By time I am getting closer to actually coming to the US I will have several IT certifications and can take on a 30k a year basic remote helpdesk job which in addition to my VA will be well over that I need income wise, and will show that I can continue that when I move to the US. Although once I get in US I should be able to double that immediately, I think showing that I am making 30k from a US job or even self employment income that I am documenting and paying taxes on, will be more likely to get me in than saying "I have an offer letter to make $$$ when I get to the US."

Offer letters and "shoulds" are not going to  cut it.  Your math of 2k a month plus even 15k in self employment income are still below the 37,500 minimum for a household of 4.  Do be aware also, you will be filing 3 I-130 form, one for each immigrant. You can file them together but separate checks for each fee.

 

If you don't have well over the required income by NVC stage, your cases are not going to progress to even get into the interview queue.  Your best bet is going to be either actually returning to the USA for an adequate job, secure a qualified joint sponsor.  Domicile is not your issue.  It's lack of current income.

[MichaelC0728 0]

2 hours ago, pushbrk said:

Offer letters and "shoulds" are not going to  cut it.  Your math of 2k a month plus even 15k in self employment income are still below the 37,500 minimum for a household of 4.  Do be aware also, you will be filing 3 I-130 form, one for each immigrant. You can file them together but separate checks for each fee.

 

If you don't have well over the required income by NVC stage, your cases are not going to progress to even get into the interview queue.  Your best bet is going to be either actually returning to the USA for an adequate job, secure a qualified joint sponsor.  Domicile is not your issue.  It's lack of current income.

I appreciate the info. 
Income is not going to be my issue. 
As I said, I can get a 30k a year job.
If I need to show it self employed, I will take on an additional client.
I consulted for almost 20 years. If I need more income, I can make a few phone calls, take on another client and have more income.
I am not wanting to work all that hard right now if I do not have to though. 
If it is really going to be an issue, then The one person that I continue to consult and coach makes roughly $700k a year. 
If I need to use him as a sponsor, he will. 
But I would prefer not to.

So my VA (its actually $2,318/mo) is almost $28,000/year. 
Another $15,000 is $43,000/year. 
Again, if I need to start a $30k job in early 2025....I can do that (but prefer not to).....that will push me showing almost $60k/yr.
 

I didnt think domicile or income was going to be my problem. I was worried if I was going to need to fly us all back to Cambodia for an interview. 
It sounds like as long as we have a solid long term visa....then that is not the case. I will just need to get us to Quito or Bogota etc.

 

[pushbrk 12,876]

5 hours ago, MichaelC0728 said:

I appreciate the info. 
Income is not going to be my issue. 
As I said, I can get a 30k a year job.
If I need to show it self employed, I will take on an additional client.
I consulted for almost 20 years. If I need more income, I can make a few phone calls, take on another client and have more income.
I am not wanting to work all that hard right now if I do not have to though. 
If it is really going to be an issue, then The one person that I continue to consult and coach makes roughly $700k a year. 
If I need to use him as a sponsor, he will. 
But I would prefer not to.

So my VA (its actually $2,318/mo) is almost $28,000/year. 
Another $15,000 is $43,000/year. 
Again, if I need to start a $30k job in early 2025....I can do that (but prefer not to).....that will push me showing almost $60k/yr.
 

I didnt think domicile or income was going to be my problem. I was worried if I was going to need to fly us all back to Cambodia for an interview. 
It sounds like as long as we have a solid long term visa....then that is not the case. I will just need to get us to Quito or Bogota etc.

 

Just be aware, that with self employment, it is not "income" until it appears on the total income line of a US Federal Income tax return.  That is WILL, next time, means nothing.