Ok, so I'm getting paperwork together and feel a little confused because the quantity of paperwork seems a bit overwhelming. I ran into a snag and I'm wondering if anyone else encountered this and have advice beyong throttling the bank manager. I asked for a letter stating the date I opened the account, the total amount of deposits over the past year, and the current balance. They gave me a letter stating my current balance, average balance and date I opened the account. Hmmmm, I thought. Well, I really need to have all the things listed on this sheet. I don't want to give them a reason to deny me. So I asked again and they gave me a letter stating my current balance, average balance and date I opened the account. Hmmmm, I thought. This looks strangely similar to the last letter that didn't satisfy my needs. Let's try one more time......... So, this time, stressing that I also need to have them note the total amount of deposits over the past year, I got a letter stating my current balance, average balance and date I opened the account.......AND 12 months of statements. And they told me, they can go through the statements and add up the deposit amounts. So, at this point, I politely asked for a manager. He said, We don't do that. I said, I've been a member here for over 10 years and this is what I need. So go and do it. He blinked, and told me he would see what he could do. That was Friday.

What did you use to fulfill this requirement? If I don't have to go to the CEO of the bank for this letter, I'd prefer not to. Maybe it really is as hard as they are making it. Or maybe I'm not asking for the right thing. I just can't imagine giving the embassy 12 months worth of bank statements and that the CO is going to sit with a calculator and add up my deposits.

Well Michael only asked for the date the account was opened and the current balance really..nothing else was needed for my bank statement. Plus, a bank statement is optional and it is there only to support what was written in the Affidavit of Support. At least this is my understanding

I was not able to get the letter from my bank either. They told me they don't do that. I thought, yeah right, how could they not look in the computer and see everything. But I was upset, and left the bank, decided to copy the front page of my bank statements, for the months I could find, up to a year. Which it actually had a section that said total deposits, for that month. I don't recall my husband having to show them at the interview. Take what ever they gave you, it's better to have it. Best wishes.

I don't think you really have to stress over the AOS if you meet the income requirement. So long as you have the IRS transcript of your income, the bank statement is just optional.

The same thing happened to me last Friday. They are not going to do it. Just take the front of each of your bank statements for one year. I went from November 2006 to November 2007. Take your deposits and put them into an Excel spreadsheet. Add them up. Take the Excel spreadsheet and have the Manager of the branch verify your total. She/He can then copy the spreadsheet onto their letterhead and sign it. Take the paper she has already given you, attach it with a card from the branch and send what you have.

God Bless

One of my bank accounts was with Commerce. I walked in and specifically asked for all the things you listed above. The first letter she gave me did not include the average balance for last year. When I drew this matter to her attention, she told me that the system does not automatically calculate that, so she would have to do it manually. She added my statement balance for each month and then divided by 12 months.

If they want to do it they can. Banks are fully aware that this information is needed to file for someone. Commerce was so helpful, they even notarized my Affidavit of Support . I think you should try another branch of your bank and see if you have better luck.

I just had the same problem at the bank. They gave me a letter saying the current balance and when the account opened. The thing is, I only made one deposit and I don't know if I care to point that out to the embassy so I'm leaving it alone. I sold my house a few months ago and that's the only thing in the bank. I have made withdrawals (way too many, I'm sorry to say). The current balance works to my advantage. I do have another account at a different bank that handles my paychecks, I haven't tried to get a letter from them yet, I was figuring on just going with my statements. You can print statements from online for most banks.

I do have a question about the aff. of supp too though.

everyone seems to stress having the tax situation in order as being so important and that scares the crap out of me.

Here's my situation for the last three years:

2004 - Filed joint w/ my ex husband even though we were separated, I had a part time job, he had a full time job.
2005 - filed but didn't need to pay because I only worked part time and didn't make even remotely close to poverty guidlines
2006 - didn't file at all.. didn't work at all. I was pregnant, had the baby, baby got sick for a while... looked for a job to no avail...
2007 - started working in Feb. and I make enough to meet poverty guidelines

By the time the interview comes along I will probably have to show that I paid in 2007 also. That will get rid of the joint return from 2004.

How big a deal is this? I currently have enough (more than enough when you add the money from the sale of the house) to meet the requirements. Do you think this will be a major issue?


As for the bank issue, I think that's true, I wouldn't worry about how everything is worded exactly. If you are worried about it show them your statements. Get a letter from your employer, show pay stubs, show bank records.. child support if you have it.. not sure how to get records for that. I can get an online deposit record printed out, not sure how good that is though. Any thoughts on that one?

Just like monagoz said, it is optional, I didnt use my bank statements I just summited my 3 years of tax papers and they accept that.

I submitted exactly what your bank gave you. As a matter of fact, I had them to notarize the letter as well as my Affidavit of Support. Finally I went to my banks website and printed out my statements from the past 12 months, and sent them as well. I had absolutely no problem.

I also suggest adding up the deposits yourself and then bring them to the manager of the bank to verify.
Write down for them what you need this time.

Date account opened.
Current balance.
Average balance.
Total deposits.

On the banks letterhead. Signed. Notarized if necessary.

I have Regions Bank and had no problem, they added up the deposits themselves. I went directly to the bank manager.

I also have a question. I thought I would just take copies of my last 3 years tax returns that I have, but am I to understand that I have to get the irs to do it for me? How long does it take for them to do it? Cause im filing in jan or feb and would need 2007 tax return on that list wouldnt I?

I forgot to add that I want the 2007 taxes to be on the list because it will be the second year we file joint and that will add weight to the interview. I also need the money for the trip

I had two banks to get statements from the first one, Broadway Bank, she went through my statements online and added up my total deposits for me and wrote me the letter same day!! Bank of America I was worried about, but I went and sat with a manager and she told me that if I brought in all my statements for the year, she would go through them with me and add them up. It took a couple more days for her to write the letter, but overall, i was surprised they even did that much! Just keep insisting, and if you have to give them the whole sob story, do it!

Good luck!

Thanks for all your responses. I'm gonna keep trying cause quite frankly they use my piddling dollars to make money and I'm one of those people that insist on being treated like a valuable customer. I guess it's good to know some alternatives. They printed out twelve months of statements for me, so maybe on my lunchbreak tomorrow, I'll make up a spreadsheet like Ricca suggested and total out the balances. I have both letters that they gave me and in fact I told them that I need three originals, cause I want to be safe.

Now, it doesn't say I need tax returns unless I'm self employed, which I'm not so I wasn't going to include tax returns. Did all of you include tax returns and you weren't self employed? If you did, and you weren't self employed, did the consulate ask for it even though you weren't listed to send it? Should I order IRS transcripts or can I just send my signed copies that I keep for my files?

Hello,
I included the IRS transcripts, just to be on the safe side. Also, my bank was ridiculous...they wanted to charge me all of these fees to get info, so I just printed 12 months of bank statements and then just gave them the pages that had the monthly deposit total.

We did get an RFE for W2 forms...we included them when we sent the info, but they probably overlooked them during our AOS phase.

Remember to make doubles of everything because you will need all the same documents when your SO gets here and you actually file the AOS...it will save you alot of time and headaches.

Best wishes on your journey

Hello Everyone,

And the paper work continues. I received my letter from BB&T but my credit union refused to do it. I am attaching a print out of all my deposit in that account, I simply did a search online for deposit only.

QUESTION: Should I attach tax returns for the I-134 or should that be when I file for AOS? Now it's getting complicated.

God Bless You all on your continued journey.

Hakeem and Constance

They wanted my tax return papers and joint sponsors, at my husbands interview. This was in Ghana, but I bet Nigeria is the same.

They asked him for tax returns at the interview? Then I guess I'd better get IRS transcripts just in case. For one year, or more than one year? How many years, like five years? Do you think it matters if in those previous years you were married and filing jointly?

They asked your husband for joint sponsors? Is that specific to your meeting the poverty requirement? Did you meet the requirement and they still asked for a joint sponsor? I wonder if I should line up a co-sponsor even though I'm well above the poverty limit. I wonder why would they do that.

Good morning all,

Hope all is well this morning. I will attach three years of tax returns (dang) fortunately I am well above the guidelines. Thank God I don't need a sponsor, I wouldn't know who to ask.

Like Efia said, co-signer for husband. Still haven't gotten over that one.

Hakeem and Constance

Tax transcripts are the most important!!!!!!! You can order them from the IRS for free. You also can use a copy of your tax returns but you have to include your W-2's. I would use the past three years to be on the safe side. At my husband's interview in Lagos they took my tax transcripts for the past three years and didn't ask for my bank statements or my employment letter. Bank statements are optional if you make the poverty guideline.
Good Luck!

I think the tax returns/transcripts are used to prove your income and while it says just the past year most people show 3 years worth.

If you meet the poverty level you need: pay stubs, letter of employment, tax transcripts OR tax returns and W-2. No need for the bank statements, assets info, or any of that other stuff.

Okay, thanks Zee.

I'll order the transcripts today.

It's odd how the instructions contradict the reality. No wonder the lawyers are always messing it up, they are probably reading the instructions.

Hey is it too early to get mine? since im also going to use my 2007 tax return? Do you guys know how it will get the transcripts?

I would say get your transcripts for the previous years and then attach a copy of your return and W2 for 2007 for the interview because you may not be able to get a transcript in time.

Here is the website to get a transcript: http://www.irs.gov/individuals/article/0,,id=110571,00.html

For those of you who used Turbotax, etc. you can pull your past tax returns from their website.

Hope this helps someone.

Constance

Good point

FYI: if you are going to use your tax returns you need to attach your W2s as well.

Yes tax returns were asked for at the interview. It's always better to be safe then sorry, I brought everything that people were talking about, having been asked for in the past. The joint sponsor only gave the most current tax returns to us and did not include the W-2. I brought my 3 most current years of returns, now I can't remember if I included my W-2's either. They only took my most recent tax return. I would just get the transcripts instead of having to bother, with having the W-2's and tax papers.

It's not that they asked him for a joint sponsor. I used one, because I was not sure if I met the requirements. My income with having 4 dependents total, was like 2,000 dollars short a year, though I own a house and had money in the bank. I just didn't want them to turn my husband down for that, plus my parents were offering to be the joint sponsor. But if you make enough and feel safe, then I doubt you need a joint sponsor. Don't worry, just make sure you have everything they could possibly ask for.
Don't forget the letter from your employer, even though, they did not want it from us.

I had no problem getting the letter from Bank of America. I called their 800#, told them what I needed and why, and they faxed it to one of my local branches.

Efia - I ordered my tax transcripts from the IRS two weeks ago, and it took approximately 3 business days to get to me. I'm in Maryland though, and can't recall where they send the transcripts from. But it was fairly quick...

thanks nix. I called them yesterday so hopefully it will be soon for me too

You are right, they do respond quickly. I contacted them to fax my tax transcripts and they did so within 24 hours.

This is unrelated to post, but didn't want to start a new thread for one question....

Does anyone know if my fiance will need his birth certificate at the interview? Lagos consulate....

Uh oh...he doesn't even have one...lol. Ok..now we'll just figure out how to get one.

Thanks Zee.

Bassi got his in two weeks and I think that's a record for Accra. But he's famous for losing things, so I've threatened him severely if he loses ANY of this paperwork, passport, birth certificate, anything! He's guarding it with his life. (or so he claims) Get on it girl, your interview date is coming up quickly! Woooo Hooooo January here we come!

Yes, my fiance was asked for an original birth certificate at lagos

I sent copys of page 1 and 2 of the IRS 1040 for 2006 and 2005. I did not send any attachments or transcripts. This was all they needed at Lagos.

I put my 3 most recenet Earning Statements and copies of my signed 1040 (front and back only) for 2 years. I did not send attachments or transcripts. They looked at the earning statements, but did keep the tax returns. I am not self-employed.

This is true. If you meet the income requirements, they do not require the bank statements or asset information. I sent them my bank statements for one year to be safe. However, they did not look at them. The only thing they took was the 2 copies of tax returns I sent. I did not send the W2s with the returns.

UPDATE:

Just wanted to let you all know that the bank letter came in the mail and it fulfilled all of the things listed on the I-134. I knew they could do it. Interesting cause the bank manager never called me, never returned any of my calls or anything. I was planning to let him have a Merry Christmas and then go in there next week. But the letter came in the mail, so now I don't need to ruin his new year. So, I've got to photocopy my paychecks, although, I may just send the originals cause I don't really need those stubs for anything. I work in HR, I can always get a record of my salary if I need to. But I doubt I will. I guess I should try to file taxes early this year so that I can include my 2007 tax returns in the package. Plus I could use the refund to fund my next trip. Mama B wants me and the baby to come and stay at the house she and her husband just built out in the countryside. It's their retirement house. And I think she misses Accra, so she's looking for company.