I am trying to figure out if I will need a co-sponsor or not...

January 2006 - March 2006 : 2 months in Turkey with boyfriend/fiance.
May 2006 - July 2006 : 2 1/2 months in Turkey again with fiance/husband.
October 2006 - got a new job making approx. $23,000 per year.
October 2006 - sent in I-130 & I-129F petitions.
November 2006 - got a 2nd job, approx. $16,000 per year

I will receive a salary increase in April 2007, $27,000 per year.
With both jobs, I should be making $43,000 per year.
This is well over the 125% poverty level, which is required.
But because this year I only worked 3 months so far, my tax forms will show I made a very low
income. I asked an immigration lawyer if I need to make +$16000 before the end of the year,
and he said no... that as long as I have a letter from my employer stating I am a permanent employee
with my salary information, that I should be okay with the Affidavit of Support.

I am also concerned because in 2005, I was laid off and part of the year I collected unemployment.
My total income was $21,000, but $6,000 was unemployment compensation... my salary from other jobs was only $15,000. Will this look bad? Every year before, I made over $20,000 per year.

Will I need a cosponsor? I doubt that anyone in my family would help me.

Thanks,
Dayna

Dayna,

Listen to the attorney - current income on an annualized basis is the first consideration.

Your employment history seems to me to be neutral at worst, certainly not negative. It shows that year after year you've been able bring in sufficient income, despite some adversity.

Yodrak