On 2/22/2024, USCIS confirmed receipt on my wife's AOS package sent to Eglin. One week later they sent an RFE:
"Based on the documents submitted, we could not determine that the petitioning sponsor on Form I-864,
Affidavit of Support, is qualified. In order to be a qualified sponsor, the petitioning sponsor's Form I-864 must
be properly completed and signed, and the supporting documents must establish that the petitioning sponsor's
income meets 125 percent of the federal poverty guideline for the sponsor s household size. See Form I-864P
for information on the Federal Poverty Guidelines."
I checked the form a thousand times. everything was filed out and signed properly. I included evidence of income for the past three years: IRS Transcripts, latest 1099 from the Social Security Disability, and a letter of benefits from the Veterans Administration indicating that my payments are permanent. My number of dependents (including my immigrant spouse and an adult disabled child NOT LIVING WITH ME, puts me a 3 people in the household, according to the worksheet. Even with her daughter coming next year (separate IR-2 petition), it would be 4 people in the household.
On Page 5, questions 24.a,b,c, I wrote down my income over the past 3 years as per my Tax Transcripts for 2020, 2021, 2022. The IRS "computer income" is a bit below the 125% HHS Poverty guidelines because it reflects the reduction "on paper" of 85% of my SSDI being tax exempt. In reality between those two income streams alone my gross income is way over 125% limit for a household with 8 people. Adding my VA compesation, however, DOUBLES my annual income and makes it leap OVER the guidelines for a household of 15 people. I clearly stated my GROSS income on Part 5 (7), and Part 6 (20), which dramatically differs from the IRS tanscript, but for which I submitted official government documentation as proof.
Having read beforehand that some veterans had problems with USCIS refusing to acknowledge VA disability compensation pay as a source of income, I included the following statements in the "Additional Information" page:
"Real Gross Income is $xx1,711/yr, $x,316/ monthly: Military retirement ($x,124); Social Security Disability ($x,990); VA Disability Compensation ($x,202). VA benefits are tax-exempt and not reflected on tax records. 85% of SSDI is tax-exempt making Total Income Per Computer on Tax Transcripts artificially low."
"IRS Tax Transcripts do not reflect VA benefits (projected $X0,424/yr for 2024) since these are tax-exempt and not reflected on tax records. 85% of SSDI is tax-exempt making Total Income Per Computer on Tax Transcripts artificially low."
So my questions are:
Are these forms machine read and therefore prone to "logic errors" or lack of context?
Do they even bother to read the "additional information" pages for context?
What new information am I supposed to send that I have not already submitted?
*Should I send a message to the officer reviewing my case via the USCIS message tool?
Of note, the letter was sent from- and must be replied to- this address. It is normal to parse out AOS packages to field offices? My assigned center was Chicago as I am in Maryland.
U.S. Department of Homeland Security USCIS,
Attention: Adjustment of Status
PO Box 648004 850 NW Chipman Rd
Lee s Summit, MO 64002
Thank you all in advanced for your responses.