Brainstorming on ways to meet the minimum requirements to petition for fiance visa

[GJen 9]

They do not "estimate" anything, ever. First, you state your CURRENT ANNUAL income and its source.

That's just the thing! I don't know my total current annual income. I know my full time is a little over $15,000--- with my part time job, I haven't a clue! (My tips are reported and I will pay taxes on them) but I have no way of predicting 1) how much I'll make in tips for this year or 2) the hours I'll be work [since it's been so slow... some weeks I barely get 4 hours in]

Edited February 20, 2009 by GJen

[Gary and Alla 3,696]

They do not "estimate" anything, ever. First, you state your CURRENT ANNUAL income and its source.

That's just the thing! I don't know my total current annual income. I know my full time is a little over $15,000--- with my part time job, I haven't a clue! (My tips are reported and I will pay taxes on them) but I have no way of predicting 1) how much I'll make in tips for this year or 2) the hours I'll be work [since it's been so slow... some weeks I barely get 4 hours in]

This really isn't so difficult. What is your wage per hour at your full time job? Multiply by 2080 hrs. per year. Add that result to the sum of your part time job...wage times number of hours worked per year. Add in your declared tips to date, for which you have receipts at the time of your interview. Divide the documented tip income by the number of months in your calculation to get your "per month" tip income to date. Multiply this result by 12 and add it to the base wages. The result is your total CURRENT annual income. Now attach employment letters, check stubs, etc. which will support what you state...voila!!!!!!! It is a statement of CURRENT income backed by evidence and it WILL be considered. Your employment letter should state if the jobs are permanent, full or part time, etc. Attach last years tax return and a bank letter showing 12 previous months deposits and you are good to go (IF the total is above the guidelines)

Here endeth the math lesson

[GJen 9]

Here endeth the math lesson

I must not be explaining myself very clearly. While it may be as simple as a math equation, I can't possibly solve it because there are too many variables(see X and Y).

Part Time Job

2.35(hourly wage)

X (hours I will work in one year) [unknown until the week after I finish working them]

Y (tips earned) [unknown until the very moment I receive them, one table at a time]

Full Time Job

15,000 (roughly what I earn in a year)

Therefore:

15,000 + 2.35(X)+Y=Z

I can't solve for Z because I don't find out X or Y until after the year has passed! So how on Earth can I possibly know the sum of my CURRENT income?

[pushbrk 14,171]

Here endeth the math lesson

I must not be explaining myself very clearly. While it may be as simple as a math equation, I can't possibly solve it because there are too many variables(see X and Y).

Part Time Job

2.35(hourly wage)

X (hours I will work in one year) [unknown until the week after I finish working them]

Y (tips earned) [unknown until the very moment I receive them, one table at a time]

Full Time Job

15,000 (roughly what I earn in a year)

Therefore:

15,000 + 2.35(X)+Y=Z

I can't solve for Z because I don't find out X or Y until after the year has passed! So how on Earth can I possibly know the sum of my CURRENT income?

Sounds like you know Z = a number less than it needs to equal. What else do you need to know in order to understand you do not currently qualify to sponsor your fiance?

[belinda63 3,055]

One piece of advice, since I am a full time waitress and got his K-1 approved. The law states you must report 100% of ur tips

At my job we actually enter when we clock out the amount of tips we made for that shift. Make sure you report 100% and keep a record of it, in my case it is reported as income on my W-2. If you don't report the tips directly to your company, which I can't think of anyone who wouldn't, make sure you keep a tip diary and report all your tips on your tax return.

I admire you for working two jobs and good luck.

[Old Dominion 26]

A co-sponsor or joint sponsor will be required. Might as well get on with your life; tell your folks and maybe you have an aunt or uncle who would step up, pen in hand, ready to sign on your behalf. Or, move to Chavez-land and see how the coffee smells down there.

[GJen 9]

One piece of advice, since I am a full time waitress and got his K-1 approved. The law states you must report 100% of ur tips

At my job we actually enter when we clock out the amount of tips we made for that shift. Make sure you report 100% and keep a record of it, in my case it is reported as income on my W-2. If you don't report the tips directly to your company, which I can't think of anyone who wouldn't, make sure you keep a tip diary and report all your tips on your tax return.

I admire you for working two jobs and good luck.

Wow... really? Without a co-sponsor? What restaurant do you work at and are they hiring?? lol

[GJen 9]

Are any of those "work from home" things legit? Or are they just scams?

Could I pay someone to be my co-sponsor?

Or get a loan and deposit that into savings and then make small payments to pay it off?

Sounds like you know Z = a number less than it needs to equal. What else do you need to know in order to understand you do not currently qualify to sponsor your fiance?

I understand I do not currently qualify to sponsor my fiance. What I'm trying to find out is what more I'll need to do in addition to my two current jobs in order to qualify to sponsor my fiance(i.e. how much in savings)- but since I have no clue what z is... I can't adequately subtract that from the number it needs to equal.

Edited February 20, 2009 by GJen

[Gary and Alla 3,696]

Here endeth the math lesson

I must not be explaining myself very clearly. While it may be as simple as a math equation, I can't possibly solve it because there are too many variables(see X and Y).

Part Time Job

2.35(hourly wage)

X (hours I will work in one year) [unknown until the week after I finish working them]

Y (tips earned) [unknown until the very moment I receive them, one table at a time]

Full Time Job

15,000 (roughly what I earn in a year)

Therefore:

15,000 + 2.35(X)+Y=Z

I can't solve for Z because I don't find out X or Y until after the year has passed! So how on Earth can I possibly know the sum of my CURRENT income?

Sounds like you know Z = a number less than it needs to equal. What else do you need to know in order to understand you do not currently qualify to sponsor your fiance?

[Gary and Alla 3,696]

Here endeth the math lesson

I must not be explaining myself very clearly. While it may be as simple as a math equation, I can't possibly solve it because there are too many variables(see X and Y).

Part Time Job

2.35(hourly wage)

X (hours I will work in one year) [unknown until the week after I finish working them]

Y (tips earned) [unknown until the very moment I receive them, one table at a time]

Full Time Job

15,000 (roughly what I earn in a year)

Therefore:

15,000 + 2.35(X)+Y=Z

I can't solve for Z because I don't find out X or Y until after the year has passed! So how on Earth can I possibly know the sum of my CURRENT income?

Sounds like you know Z = a number less than it needs to equal. What else do you need to know in order to understand you do not currently qualify to sponsor your fiance?

That is possibly the case, Pushbrk.

But here is another formula for you. You KNOW how many hours you have worked at your part time job TO DATE, correct? ("date" being the date you fill out the I-134) This amount, divided by the number of months "to date" gives you your monthly base income for your part time job, this is X, PLUS the calculated monthly tips times 12 = Y. Now you can do it, correct? This is a plausible, supportable, true-to-the-best-of-your-knowledge, answer for the question of "I am employed and derive an annual income of __________________."

I filled out my I-134 in July, so of course I did not have my total annual income for 2008 and I wasn't about to wait until now to fill it out. So I used my base salary at the time PLUS the bonuses I had received until July, divided the bonuses by 7 and multiplied by 12, then added that to my base to arrive at my answer for "annual income". I supported it with check stubs an employment letter and 12 months bank statements. Now as it turns out, I did not earn for 2008 exactly what I said in July. Problem? NO, because it was a good, true and supportable statement when I made it in July. My statement for the I-864 in November was different as I had more knowledge at the time, the formula was the same. True, neither statement was anywhere close to the guidelines, they were way over, bonus or not. My company even tossed into the mix that I had company paid medical insurance and a vehicle, not that it mattered a whit. But the fact is that if I had qualified by $1 it would have been the same as having 3 times more than needed, or 10 times.

It is absolutely feasible for you to provide an accurate statement as to what your current level of income is. It is not guessing, it is not an estimate, it is a calculation using KNOWN and supportable figures that you have at hand right now. If it doesn't exceed the magic number, it is a wasted exercise, but it is free to try. There is no way to "brainstorm" around the requirements but I am, really, trying to give you ways to COMPLY with the requirements.

If you will insist there is no way to calculate your income or no way to support it with documents, you will not qualify to sponsor your fiance.

[Gary and Alla 3,696]

1) I currently have a second job as a waitress where I earn money in tips in addition to the hourly wage. I'm trying to find out how many hours I would need to work in addition to my full time job, but I'm not sure how that works when it comes to tips.

----How do I go about filling out the I-134 when tips are involved?

2)I would eventually like to have my own my own jewelry store once I get in to metalworking. At the moment I'm just making jewelry from beads and wire. I was thinking of taking some of my things around to different stores in the area to see if they may be interested and if they are, maybe I could go ahead and get my busines started by doing consignment until I become more skilled in the area of metalworking.

----I had read before if you were self-employed, you use your assets. Problem is, I don't own a house or car, so is there anyway I could just show my earnings?

Thanks so much and feel free to leave any suggestions! We're still keeping our eyes open for co-sponsors, but I want to have a back up just in case.

Let's do this backwards and see if it helps.

You need, now, to make $18,300 or so, that's the new guideline or close to it (please don't make me go look it up) That's for two people, you and your fiance. You make $15,000 at your full time job. So you need to make $3,300 per YEAR at your part time job to qualify. Divided by 12 equals $275 per month. Do you make $275 per month at your part time job? HAVE you made, to date, since you started there $275 per month or more? Including wages and tips? That should be simple enough to answer

[pushbrk 14,171]

1) I currently have a second job as a waitress where I earn money in tips in addition to the hourly wage. I'm trying to find out how many hours I would need to work in addition to my full time job, but I'm not sure how that works when it comes to tips.

----How do I go about filling out the I-134 when tips are involved?

2)I would eventually like to have my own my own jewelry store once I get in to metalworking. At the moment I'm just making jewelry from beads and wire. I was thinking of taking some of my things around to different stores in the area to see if they may be interested and if they are, maybe I could go ahead and get my busines started by doing consignment until I become more skilled in the area of metalworking.

----I had read before if you were self-employed, you use your assets. Problem is, I don't own a house or car, so is there anyway I could just show my earnings?

Thanks so much and feel free to leave any suggestions! We're still keeping our eyes open for co-sponsors, but I want to have a back up just in case.

Let's do this backwards and see if it helps.

You need, now, to make $18,300 or so, that's the new guideline or close to it (please don't make me go look it up) That's for two people, you and your fiance. You make $15,000 at your full time job. So you need to make $3,300 per YEAR at your part time job to qualify. Divided by 12 equals $275 per month. Do you make $275 per month at your part time job? HAVE you made, to date, since you started there $275 per month or more? Including wages and tips? That should be simple enough to answer

Either of your last two formulas will work. The OP hasn't even filed a petition yet. I think she's trying to figure out whether to file now or later because she doesn't want to tell Daddy what she's doing until after her fiance is here. The variable not being considered is that there's no guarantee that a documented income of $18,300 or even $20,000 will satisfy the Consular Officer when the time comes.

[GJen 9]

There is no way to "brainstorm" around the requirements but I am, really, trying to give you ways to COMPLY with the requirements.

In case you glanced over the title of this thread too quickly, I was brainstorming on ways to meet the requirements, not ways around them.

If you will insist there is no way to calculate your income or no way to support it with documents, you will not qualify to sponsor your fiance.

I wasn't insisting there wasn't a way, I was asking because I wasn't able to see the "way" myself because, well, I was thinking of current annual income as me having to guess at what I'll make this year instead of using records (I wasn't thinking that would be past income not current) So I guess that's what was throwing me off. I do have supporting documents.

I guess I was thinking too hard. Your last post made perfect sense to me. I guess I'm just a backwards thinker.

[GJen 9]

Gary & Alla and Pushbrk

Is it just me or are the two of you ganging up on me in a very condescending and demeaning manner?

You couldn't possibly understand the situation with my father and I'm so sorry for having to be explained the same thing to ten times in a row, everyone learns differently. I guess it just took that tenth time for it to finally make sense to me.

If this is "tough love", I suggest you draw the line before typing snide comments.

[pushbrk 14,171]

Gary & Alla and Pushbrk

Is it just me or are the two of you ganging up on me in a very condescending and demeaning manner?

You couldn't possibly understand the situation with my father and I'm so sorry for having to be explained the same thing to ten times in a row, everyone learns differently. I guess it just took that tenth time for it to finally make sense to me.

If this is "tough love", I suggest you draw the line before typing snide comments.

It's you.