I'm having to think a bit far ahead because my life is getting ready to go in fast forward and I need to have my thinking clear. So here is my question. My family and I own a private school. I am the actual owner, and I also teach at the school. So in order to prove the support, how does a self-employed person do that? I have tax forms, of course, but I don't have official pay slips but have deposit slips and bank account documentation. I haven't run across anything in the hints or guides that addresses this situation. Any thoughts on what I will need? Thanks in advance:)

kellyc,

It's quite possible no one at VJ has encoutered your problem before, and therefore, no one is responding.

I suggest trying to get *free legal advice from 2 attorneys:

- There is a law firm that answers brief, concise e-mail and phone questions like yours (*free):
http://www.satherlaw.com/contact.html

- Attorney Laurel Scott answers questions for free each Wed. at 11:00 a.m. CENTRAL Standard Time in the chatroom of her website: http://www.visacentral.net/forum.html
She's been recommended by several VJers. If you can't wait until next Wed., she charges $125.00 for a 30 minute discussion of your case.


Good Luck!

Thank you so much! I have already e-mailed satherlaw. You were most helpful and I appreciate your suggestions.

Actually I was in the same situation. It depends on two things:

a) The structure of your private school from a business aspect (ie C Corp, LLC, SCorp)

How you are primarily compensated (owner draw, salaried employee, etc)

In my case for example I have a C Corp and Im the only shareholder but I work for the company and draw a salary like any employee would.
I actually get to use this twice: first my salary is what is reported for the wage criteria and second the shares of my company as assets.
My personal tax return is all that is required as a C Corp is technically a standalone entity and thus means that I am not self employed.

Dont you just love US Business and tax law.

It gets tricky when you need a letter from your employer. My suggestion is and what I am doing is that you type a letter as the principal business owner and have it cosigned by your accountant or whomever certifies your books.


Anyhow hope it helps.

CM

Thank you for all the wonderful legal-ese! It is a pain, isn't it? My company is an LLC, so I guess I'll just have to write a letter as you are doing and explain the situation. What about bank account balances?

Ive always maintained a seperate personal account and issued myself paychecks rather than just drawing from the company accounts. It just makes the taxes a whole lot easier with a C Corp. With your LLC, I would suggest that if you dont have a seperate personal account you should get one and deposit your salary into that at least for a while and maybe some cash from the LLC accounts to sort of jump start it.

The required bank letter doesnt have to say when you opened the account just the sum of deposits over the last 12 months. I have to do my bank letter and my employer letter today so if you'd like I'll post it here and you can use it as a template.

How many members are in your LLC? Is it just you? If there are more members and it is a member managed LLC then in the eyes of Immigration and pretty much every other agency except the IRS, you arent technically self employed.

CM

I would very much appreciate the posting of your letters. Thanks so much. And yes, I do have several personal bank accounts and pay myself as well. There are two more members to my LLC who happen to be my parents since we own and operate the business together. However, the corporation is in my name. I'm thinking it would be a good idea for my tax attorney to write a letter verifying my position and salary in our company as well as an additional proof to paying taxes as well. Good idea?