College financial aids as income for I-134?

[Pamme 0]

Hello everyone,

My present situation is I have to be a sole sponsor for my fiance. Co-sponsor is not an option for my case. My question is can scholarships and grants be qualified as income on I-134? I filled taxes on these income last year (2007) and I have financial aid award package for 2008-09. They both are on the borderline ($17K) but I will have stocks and savings to make it more solid.

I also work part-time at a small restaurant. But I just started in June 08. The paystubs are a small piece of paper that looks more like a receipt. Worse, they are handwritten!!. I'm wondering if this is needed. If so, I would probably have to remake my paystubs using excel. In addition, the tips are tricky. Tips are paid in cash daily. It was included in the paystubs to calculated taxes, but it's not shown on the check. The check only includes wages. To make it more complex, I don't know what to write for ANNUAL income since I just started two months ago.

Anyone has an insight or experience on any of these situations?

This thread might be similar to mine. But stipend from a fellowship is definitely an income, while scholarships and grants are more obscure in my opinion.

Edited September 1, 2008 by Pamme

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

Scholarships are supposed to be reported when you file taxes. They can be offset by your expenses. So say you got $10,000 in scholarships and you added up tuition, books, supplies, not room and board and came up with $9000 in costs. Then the income is only $1000 for tax purposes. It would show up on your tax return as income. But most people don't know that, so you may not have included it. Normally your costs are as much, or more than your scholarship pays so it's a wash and not reported. You would only report it and count it as income if you got more than college cost. http://www.irs.gov/faqs/faq-kw166.html

A couple of ideas:

Get a letter from the owner of the business stating that you work 21 hours a week and while your income varies you earn on average x dollars a week (or month) including your tips. It's an estimate but some verification.

How to calculate yearly income. Take the 2 months you've worked and average them to get a one month figure. Then mulitiply by 12 for a year. That's about the best you can do to show them a picture of your current earnings. Tell your boss what figure you estimated so he can put the same thing down.

List your investments and their worth. Pick a day the stock market is up.

25 share of Coca Cola $xxxxx.xx

30 shares of Google $xxxx.xx

Send a copy of the financial aid package. List it as income. Maybe they won't understand it either and count it as income. One can always hope. The worse that can happen is they will scratch it out.

Edited September 1, 2008 by Nich-Nick

[pushbrk 12,822]

Hello everyone,

My present situation is I have to be a sole sponsor for my fiance. Co-sponsor is not an option for my case. My question is can scholarships and grants be qualified as income on I-134? I filled taxes on these income last year (2007) and I have financial aid award package for 2008-09. They both are on the borderline ($17K) but I will have stocks and savings to make it more solid.

I also work part-time at a small restaurant. But I just started in June 08. The paystubs are a small piece of paper that looks more like a receipt. Worse, they are handwritten!!. I'm wondering if this is needed. If so, I would probably have to remake my paystubs using excel. In addition, the tips are tricky. Tips are paid in cash daily. It was included in the paystubs to calculated taxes, but it's not shown on the check. The check only includes wages. To make it more complex, I don't know what to write for ANNUAL income since I just started two months ago.

Anyone has an insight or experience on any of these situations?

This thread might be similar to mine. But stipend from a fellowship is definitely an income, while scholarships and grants are more obscure in my opinion.

No, you cannot use scholarships and grant as "income" but you can use three dollars in assets to offset one dollar in income shortfall and may annualize your income. From what you say, there's really no way to substanciate the income.

"No money, no honey" is not what you want to hear but there are certain practical matters associated with marriage and the visa process that simply cannot be escaped. If you're not prepared to meet the sponsorship requirements and don't find a qualified co-sponsor, it's unlikely a visa would be issued at this time.

[Pamme 0]

I attend a public university so the tuition, fees, and books add up to about $1500 each semester. My financial aids total $17000 so the amount left over is $14000. This $14000 is considered taxable income and I filed taxes for that amount in 2007.

If the irs consider it as income, why would the CO disregard it?

Thank you for everyone's input.

Edited September 1, 2008 by Pamme

[KarenCee 3]

Well, I'm thinking that they might not because it's not a source of employed income. Does that make sense? What the IRS thinks and what the USCIS officer thinks are two different things. As a student, I understand you have this excess left over. But what about when you're no longer a student and have to actually find a job to support not only you but your SO? I'm guessing this is what they're going to look at...something stable so that your SO doesn't become a public charge.

Anywho, this is merely my opinion.

[Pamme 0]

One more thing is that income does not have to be only from employment. Social security benefits, disability, child support, retirement could be considered income on I-134.

[KarenCee 3]

One more thing is that income does not have to be only from employment. Social security benefits, disability, child support, retirement could be considered income on I-134.

I agree, those things ARE income, but you need to realize that the CO has the final say in this. I'm saying that whatever the income is, it has to be stable. I'm just wondering if the CO will consider your student aid as a stable form of income. Make sense?

[Pamme 0]

Yes, I agree.

[pushbrk 12,822]

One more thing is that income does not have to be only from employment. Social security benefits, disability, child support, retirement could be considered income on I-134.

I agree, those things ARE income, but you need to realize that the CO has the final say in this. I'm saying that whatever the income is, it has to be stable. I'm just wondering if the CO will consider your student aid as a stable form of income. Make sense?

The concern the financial documents must satisfy the Consular officer about is that of the foreign fiance becoming a public charge, so all financial submissions are evaluated with that in mind.

Your timeline says your interview occured a couple weeks ago. What was the outcome?

[Pamme 0]

I have my teacher as a co-sponsor but they won't accept it in Bangkok. They disallow co-sponsors in general but they will accept it if 1) the petitioner is a full-time student and 2) co-sponsor is a family member. So, I am given one year to find a co-sponsor or work on my I-134.

One more thing is that income does not have to be only from employment. Social security benefits, disability, child support, retirement could be considered income on I-134.

I agree, those things ARE income, but you need to realize that the CO has the final say in this. I'm saying that whatever the income is, it has to be stable. I'm just wondering if the CO will consider your student aid as a stable form of income. Make sense?

The concern the financial documents must satisfy the Consular officer about is that of the foreign fiance becoming a public charge, so all financial submissions are evaluated with that in mind.

Your timeline says your interview occured a couple weeks ago. What was the outcome?

[Pamme 0]

I have my teacher as a co-sponsor but they won't accept it in Bangkok. They disallow co-sponsors in general but they will accept it if 1) the petitioner is a full-time student and 2) co-sponsor is a family member. I am given one year to find a co-sponsor or work on my I-134. My mom is the only family member I have in the States but she does not make a lot of money to meet the 125% poverty line. So, my only option is to be a sole sponsor.

I had not been working because I was living off of financial aids. With $15000 a year, I see no point of working just to make money. I know that this is not the time to do so. Therefore, I spend my time studying, volunteering, and running the club. My motto is study for a living. I want to be a doctor so studying is my first priority. And I am doing well academically.

I guess scholarships and grants won't fly. My backup plan is to work on my letters and paystubs from the restaurant. If it can be prorated, this letter would say my estimate annual income is $13K. In addition, I work as a TA for 3 courses at my university. They hired me in Jan 08 and they paid me $5K for spring and summer. They will pay me another $3K for this fall. For 2008, I get $8K from this job.

If these two jobs seem legit my finances would be:

1) $21K (income from being a TA at school and server at a restaurant) would put me above the poverty line

2) Financial aid of $17K will be coming in for 2008

3) stocks and savings of $25K

If more money is needed, I might be able to max out my credit cards and apply for student loans. But this is really really my last resort.

Any suggestions?

Edited September 1, 2008 by Pamme

[pushbrk 12,822]

I have my teacher as a co-sponsor but they won't accept it in Bangkok. They disallow co-sponsors in general but they will accept it if 1) the petitioner is a full-time student and 2) co-sponsor is a family member. I am given one year to find a co-sponsor or work on my I-134. My mom is the only family member I have in the States but she does not make a lot of money to meet the 125% poverty line. So, my only option is to be a sole sponsor.

I had not been working because I was living off of financial aids. With $15000 a year, I see no point of working just to make money. I know that this is not the time to do so. Therefore, I spend my time studying, volunteering, and running the club. My motto is study for a living. I want to be a doctor so studying is my first priority. And I am doing well academically.

I guess scholarships and grants won't fly. My backup plan is to work on my letters and paystubs from the restaurant. If it can be prorated, this letter would say my estimate annual income is $13K. In addition, I work as a TA for 3 courses at my university. They hired me in Jan 08 and they paid me $5K for spring and summer. They will pay me another $3K for this fall. For 2008, I get $8K from this job.

If these two jobs seem legit my finances would be:

1) $21K (income from being a TA at school and server at a restaurant) would put me above the poverty line

2) Financial aid of $17K will be coming in for 2008

3) stocks and savings of $25K

If more money is needed, I might be able to max out my credit cards and apply for student loans. But this is really really my last resort.

Any suggestions?

$21k income and $25k in liquid assets would do it quite nicely. Student loans and maxed out credit cards won't help you qualify (other than showing the cash from the loans as assets) but they may help you support the two of you once she gets here.

I'd say it's going to depend on how well you can document the income and assets and how well it's presented. At worst, it sounds like you would qualify once you file taxes for 2008. Sooner is better, of course but early 2009 is better than a year from now.

[ErinMeetsJohny 0]

do u need two or three years of ur tax forms to send with the support forms?

[Pamme 0]

They only request for 1 year of tax return.

[KimandRuss 0]

do u need two or three years of ur tax forms to send with the support forms?

Each Consulate is different. Check with your own.