Interview date set!!

[Jason-Sasha 1]

Had a great trip to Russia!! But sad to be away from Sasha again Anyway, thanks everyone for your congratulations. Only little more than a month before our interview. She's very nervous but anxious at the same time. If all goes well, she'll be here on the 1st of April. Finally... Waiting through March will be a breeze if she has her visa. Can't wait for February

[slim 1,514]

You should get your tax return just in time to pay for her flight here. Thanks Uncle!

[Jason-Sasha 1]

Hey Slim, that has me thinking.....I was still technically married for the first couple of months of 2007. (my divorce hadn't been finalized yet). Does this mean I can still file as married for 2007?? Just wondering. Since I'll be getting my W-2 next week. Which is great because I made plenty of money in 2007 to support my I-134. 2006 was not so friendly. So, thankfully I'll have good tax history for 2007 for Sasha's interview. I've been stressing this a bit. But it seems I'll have the documents in plenty of time to send to her before the interview. Also, since I am working in the service industry and most of my income is from gratuity, I may owe money to the government. I claimed almost everything I made in tips because I needed my earnings statement to reflect I made more than the required amount. So, I'm kinda thinking I will owe money. If this is the case, will I need to pay when I file? I mean I know I can pay Uncle Sam over time if needed, but I wasnt sure if the embassy will require that I have my taxes paid for 2007, not only state what I was taxed on my earnings. Does this make sense to you? My wording is probably all screwy. Say I owe the government a cool grand. Will they send me the return document without being paid in full?? I've never owed before, mainly because all of my earnings were not claimed. Usually I receive a return. But like I said, this year I claimed damn near every penny. Or will W-2 be good enough on its own? Do I absolutely need to have the transcript for the year also? And will they give me this transcript if I owe them money? Do you think I can have what I need and send it to Sasha in time for her interview on February 22nd? If not, I'm simply going to have to go with the W-2, paystubs, employer letter, etc. Thanks for any info you can give... or anyone else for that matter.

[slim 1,514]

Jason, I get what your asking. Several questions to answer and I'm not sure about all of them but basically it goes like this.

The good -

The embassy doesn't care about your tax status - if you owe, are current, etc. All they care about is that you make enough money to support your beneficiary and she's not going to become a public charge if and when they give her a visa. You show them that on the I-134 you submit and then you "prove it" with your W-2, check stubs, etc.

You do not need to send tax transcripts. (That's for self-employed.) So don't even worry about that. Don't worry about if you owe or not, that doesn't matter either.

Basically, the only thing you need, tax wise, is that W-2 that "proves" you make $26,000+ (or whatever the current amount of 125%/poverty level is) I would use an employer letter, recent check stubs and bank statements to further support that as well.

Also, if you claimed most of your gratuities (and paid taxes on them) then you shouldn't have to pay the IRS squat. Even if you do, then it shouldn't be that much. That's the beauty of having all of your income reported and your tax status in line with that. Most people view a tax return as something of a savings plan or "extra" money. In reality, it's neither. You earn that money throughout the year. Use it!!!

The bad -

I don't know if you can file as "married" or not. You may have to talk to your ex-wife about this one!

[Jason-Sasha 1]

Whew....Thanks Slim. Feel a bit better now. I just searched for the poverty guidelines and found that for a household of 2 the 125% requirement is only $17,112. seems so low. Its for 2007. But the bottom of the form says these guidelines are good until the spring of 2008 when they will increase a little. I made plenty more than this, so all should be good. Glad to hear that W-2 is all that's needed and not transcripts. I think I'll file as single for 2007 just to avoid any problems later. I'll be mailing the I-134 and other documents to Sasha next week. By then I should have my new W-2s. I took the last two months worth of paystubs, letter from employer, original birth certificate, original NOA2 to Moscow with me. So she has all of these things. All I need to send her now is the W-2, I-134 notarized, more recent check stubs, more recent letter of intent.....am I missing anything?? She has recent photos together, a ring on her finger, recent boarding passes and itineraries.

Just hoping I have everything. You say to keep an extra copy of her vaccinations for adjustment later. How do you do this? Isnt it part of the medical exam? Those documents are sealed and not opened until the interview, correct? Again...thanks!

[eekee 182]

Whew....Thanks Slim. Feel a bit better now. I just searched for the poverty guidelines and found that for a household of 2 the 125% requirement is only $17,112. seems so low. Its for 2007. But the bottom of the form says these guidelines are good until the spring of 2008 when they will increase a little. I made plenty more than this, so all should be good. Glad to hear that W-2 is all that's needed and not transcripts. I think I'll file as single for 2007 just to avoid any problems later. I'll be mailing the I-134 and other documents to Sasha next week. By then I should have my new W-2s. I took the last two months worth of paystubs, letter from employer, original birth certificate, original NOA2 to Moscow with me. So she has all of these things. All I need to send her now is the W-2, I-134 notarized, more recent check stubs, more recent letter of intent.....am I missing anything?? She has recent photos together, a ring on her finger, recent boarding passes and itineraries.

Just hoping I have everything. You say to keep an extra copy of her vaccinations for adjustment later. How do you do this? Isnt it part of the medical exam? Those documents are sealed and not opened until the interview, correct? Again...thanks!

Hmm... let's say you are working in Russia and therefore don't pay US income tax, but want to move back to the states with your spouse... how do you get around this requirement?

[Jason-Sasha 1]

Whew....Thanks Slim. Feel a bit better now. I just searched for the poverty guidelines and found that for a household of 2 the 125% requirement is only $17,112. seems so low. Its for 2007. But the bottom of the form says these guidelines are good until the spring of 2008 when they will increase a little. I made plenty more than this, so all should be good. Glad to hear that W-2 is all that's needed and not transcripts. I think I'll file as single for 2007 just to avoid any problems later. I'll be mailing the I-134 and other documents to Sasha next week. By then I should have my new W-2s. I took the last two months worth of paystubs, letter from employer, original birth certificate, original NOA2 to Moscow with me. So she has all of these things. All I need to send her now is the W-2, I-134 notarized, more recent check stubs, more recent letter of intent.....am I missing anything?? She has recent photos together, a ring on her finger, recent boarding passes and itineraries.

Just hoping I have everything. You say to keep an extra copy of her vaccinations for adjustment later. How do you do this? Isnt it part of the medical exam? Those documents are sealed and not opened until the interview, correct? Again...thanks!

Hmm... let's say you are working in Russia and therefore don't pay US income tax, but want to move back to the states with your spouse... how do you get around this requirement?

Good question! You know, Sasha and I have actually considered this idea in the past. And we decided against it simply for the tax factor. But in the event that something should keep her from getting her visa on Feb 22nd, I am going to pack up and move to Moscow. And this question has come into our conversations several times. I think maybe Slim can help with this one.

Paging Dr. Slim, Dr. Slim could you please come to the information desk?......

[ramzis51 0]

That is one terrific Christmas present! I am so happy for you both!

Thanks everyone. Hope you're all enjoying a wonderful Christmas!! And....love the hats Jeff! Very cool touch

Wonderful news, Jason. I keep emailing the embassy every day and they still are saying they don't have our documents yet, even though NVC has confirmed over and over with me that it was sent on the 21st. Any ideas on what I can do? I am getting super frustrated, the patient one, Alane & Ramzis

[slim 1,514]

Hmm... let's say you are working in Russia and therefore don't pay US income tax, but want to move back to the states with your spouse... how do you get around this requirement?

You would require a co-sponsor that is willing to sponsor your beneficiary. Basically, you still file the I-129 or I-130 or whatever it is that you're filing to petition for your fiancee/spouse and then when they go to their interview instead of them having an I-134 with your financial information on it, they'd have an I-134 from someone else; mom, uncle, etc.

This is actually a pretty common thing for students or those who have been living abroad for a while. Don't think that getting a co-sponsor is going to hurt your chances. In actuality, it may help! If you make $19,000 and you're trying to sponsor your spouse (and yourself since you're moving back to the States too!) you are technically "meeting the requirement." But, if your rich uncle, who makes $94,000 and is single decides to be your co-sponsor, then there's no question that he's "meeting the standard." (Don't worry if you don't have a rich uncle either, just make sure it's someone that makes a little more than 125% of the poverty guidelines.)

Just hoping I have everything. You say to keep an extra copy of her vaccinations for adjustment later. How do you do this? Isnt it part of the medical exam? Those documents are sealed and not opened until the interview, correct? Again...thanks!

Good question! You know, Sasha and I have actually considered this idea in the past. And we decided against it simply for the tax factor.

The form you want to get it the DS-3025. It is a simple immunization record that she can request a copy of either at the medical or the interview. If they give her only a sealed document at the medical then have her request a copy of that form specifically. Or, have her get one from the interview. Simply have her ask them to make a copy for her to use during AOS.

I keep emailing the embassy every day and they still are saying they don't have our documents yet, even though NVC has confirmed over and over with me that it was sent on the 21st. Any ideas on what I can do? I am getting super frustrated, the patient one, Alane & Ramzis

Yes. I have an idea on what you can do.

CHILL OUT!!!

If you're emailing EVERY DAY then you're going to drive yourself crazy. First of all, your docs were sent from NVC on the 21st. That means they had to leave the U.S. during the Christmas and New Years holidays. Then, they had to be received by the embassy in Russia during the Russian New Years and Christmas (Jan. 7th, remember?) holidays. Then, they have to be processed and then after several more weeks, you get an interview date.

I understand you're excited and want to see when they get there and all that. But, truth be told, all you're going to find out by "confirming" they have your packet is another date to put on your signature line. Then, you're still going to have to wait a couple more weeks until you FINALLY get the interview date. I hope you're not calling and emailing the embassy every day during the time between when they receive your case and the time you get notified of the interview date. And I really hope you're not spending all your time in the K-1 forum asking what the tricks are to finding out the dates before they're posted on the website because the website doesn't update very often and you need to know. You've been waiting for six days. Where's your interview date?????

I know you want that interview to happen and this process to go on and get over with and the good news is... it will! But, it's not going to happen today. Try to calm down a little bit and not worry so much about when they sign for this or when they update that and what they're doing in relation to your case. Just have faith that it is going to happen.

I'd also recommend catching up on anything you really enjoy doing by yourself because once your fiance gets here, your freetime and your "me time" is going to be nil.

Good luck in all of this and I hope to see some dates posted soon. But in the mean time. Relax a little and just have a little more patience. It would be a tragedy if you had a heart attack trying because you were so stressed about finding out when this or that happened.

Edited January 14, 2008 by slim

[eekee 182]

Hmm... let's say you are working in Russia and therefore don't pay US income tax, but want to move back to the states with your spouse... how do you get around this requirement?

You would require a co-sponsor that is willing to sponsor your beneficiary. Basically, you still file the I-129 or I-130 or whatever it is that you're filing to petition for your fiancee/spouse and then when they go to their interview instead of them having an I-134 with your financial information on it, they'd have an I-134 from someone else; mom, uncle, etc.

This is actually a pretty common thing for students or those who have been living abroad for a while. Don't think that getting a co-sponsor is going to hurt your chances. In actuality, it may help! If you make $19,000 and you're trying to sponsor your spouse (and yourself since you're moving back to the States too!) you are technically "meeting the requirement." But, if your rich uncle, who makes $94,000 and is single decides to be your co-sponsor, then there's no question that he's "meeting the standard." (Don't worry if you don't have a rich uncle either, just make sure it's someone that makes a little more than 125% of the poverty guidelines.)

Thanks, that's what I figured. And I definitely have family who could sponsor us. It just freaked me out because my Russian SO has a way better career and more job skills than me, so how could I prove that I could support him in the US if I had no semblance of a career there and he would probably find a new job sooner than me?!

[Blues Fairy 0]

If not, I'm simply going to have to go with the W-2, paystubs, employer letter, etc. Thanks for any info you can give... or anyone else for that matter.

Jason don't sweat. My fiance only sent me I-134, employer letter and paystubs. When the embassy people asked why I didn't bring tax returns, I reminded them that they were optional and paystubs should be enough. No problem!

In reality, my fiance's lawyer advised him against sending his tax and SSN information to Russia, for security reasons. Enough said.

[Jason-Sasha 1]

If not, I'm simply going to have to go with the W-2, paystubs, employer letter, etc. Thanks for any info you can give... or anyone else for that matter.

Jason don't sweat. My fiance only sent me I-134, employer letter and paystubs. When the embassy people asked why I didn't bring tax returns, I reminded them that they were optional and paystubs should be enough. No problem!

In reality, my fiance's lawyer advised him against sending his tax and SSN information to Russia, for security reasons. Enough said.

Very helpful! Thanks alot. I'll still send the W-2s. But I feel much better now.

[Jason-Sasha 1]

6 more days!!!

[KGSodie 0]

I get this at a very visceral level! I leave for Moscow in 5 days for Natasha's interview in 12 days! I hope you/Sasha posts about the interview/visa experience, even though I probably won't be able to read it until I get back! GOOD LUCK YOU TWO!!!!!

[Jason-Sasha 1]

Thank you so much. Good luck to you, too and have a good time in Russia! I will certainly post about my interview experience here.

Sasha