K-1 Income Question

[evilmonkey 2]

Hi everyone,

First I just wanted to let you know you guys are a great resource and everyone out there who uses this forum truly appreciates all your help & advice.

Now here is my question.

I am a recent graduate with a Bachelors degree however due to the economy taking the plunge, I cannot seem to find any permenant work. Every employer loves to offer an internship but not a permanent position to me, dont know why, anyhow so currently I have an internship which will be good until May 2009 and I make $17 an hour(and work 40 hrs a week) (i.e. approximately $32640 a year). Now will this be enough to satisfy the income requirements(I have no other dependents so the household size is 2) or will I need to get a permanent job?

[SunDrop 59]

Hi everyone,

First I just wanted to let you know you guys are a great resource and everyone out there who uses this forum truly appreciates all your help & advice.

Now here is my question.

I am a recent graduate with a Bachelors degree however due to the economy taking the plunge, I cannot seem to find any permenant work. Every employer loves to offer an internship but not a permanent position to me, dont know why, anyhow so currently I have an internship which will be good until May 2009 and I make $17 an hour(and work 40 hrs a week) (i.e. approximately $32640 a year). Now will this be enough to satisfy the income requirements(I have no other dependents so the household size is 2) or will I need to get a permanent job?

It has to be a permanent job, so find a co-sponsor. London allows them.

[Nik+Heather 121]

It has to be a permanent job, so find a co-sponsor. London allows them.

While I tend to agree with the ultimate advice, I'd like to elaborate a little on the statement that a permanent job is required.

Many self employed/contractor people successfully sponsor, yet they are not considered to hold "permanent" positions. However, since the job isn't permanent, they are sometimes asked to show an earning history - in the form of tax transcripts for previous years. This is the step where you'll get tripped up.

Anyway, since they probably won't be interviewing until May or later, it's a bit of a moot point, as EM will either be unemployed or (hopefully) in a new, more permanent position. EM, I'm sure you are already planning to work like crazy and try to get that internship turned into an entry level position by May, but I'll also agree with SunDrop that you need to have a plan B - someone to cosponsor the visa.

[Bobby+Umit 161]

May 2009

Did you mean 2010?

[evilmonkey 2]

Did you mean 2010?

Yes, I apologize I meant May 2010. Also I have had this internship for the last 3 years so I have income tax receipts for years 2007-2009(2009 will be available shortly after I file in a day or so) showing an annual income of 32,xxx.00

So do you guys think, this will suffice or should I work my #### off either on finding a full time position(well i have to do that anyway) and/or a co sponsor

Edited January 25, 2010 by evilmonkey

[Nik+Heather 121]

I guess I really can't say for sure how having or not having an employer letter would affect the outcome of your visa interview, as I submitted an employer letter. The instructions for the I134 ask for an employer letter.

You can try to sponsor on your own with the previous years' transcripts/returns+W2s, and a current pay stub - if your interview is so early. You might be fine, but I wouldn't guarantee it.

The risk is that they may say that they require an employer letter or a cosponsor, and then you're scrambling to get something together, instead of being able to hold your cosponsor information in reserve to be handed over just in case.

Edit: typo.

Edited January 25, 2010 by Nik+Heather

[SunDrop 59]

Yes, I apologize I meant May 2010. Also I have had this internship for the last 3 years so I have income tax receipts for years 2007-2009(2009 will be available shortly after I file in a day or so) showing an annual income of 32,xxx.00

So do you guys think, this will suffice or should I work my #### off either on finding a full time position(well i have to do that anyway) and/or a co sponsor

What is the likelihood that your internship will be renewed again come May? And if it will, do you sign any type of contract that stipulates you will hold that position for another year?

I know that a lot of Americans work without employment contracts and so if this is the case, I would see if you can get a written promisory note of this renewal. You will likely know more closer to the time and that's fine as long as you have it in time for the interview.

If you do find a permanent position, don't worry about your employment only being very recent. As long as you can calculate projected gross annual earnings (so you get paid $3,000 a month gross, you'll have a projected annual income of $36,000) coupled with a letter stating the condition of your employment and ideally a couple of wage slips supporting your $3000 monthly income, then you're golden.

Unless you find a permanent position, I would still line up a co-sponsor as there's no such thing as being over-sponsored!

[evilmonkey 2]

What is the likelihood that your internship will be renewed again come May? And if it will, do you sign any type of contract that stipulates you will hold that position for another year?

I know that a lot of Americans work without employment contracts and so if this is the case, I would see if you can get a written promisory note of this renewal. You will likely know more closer to the time and that's fine as long as you have it in time for the interview.

If you do find a permanent position, don't worry about your employment only being very recent. As long as you can calculate projected gross annual earnings (so you get paid $3,000 a month gross, you'll have a projected annual income of $36,000) coupled with a letter stating the condition of your employment and ideally a couple of wage slips supporting your $3000 monthly income, then you're golden.

Unless you find a permanent position, I would still line up a co-sponsor as there's no such thing as being over-sponsored!

To be honest, I can say nothing for sure about it being renewed or not, it totally depends on their budget; but I have continued to do everything that I can everyday over the past years to give a full 100% to my job and I guess each time they are happy to renew it.

Men I wish the copious amount of interviews that I gave, apart from advancing me to round 2,3,4,5 etc someone would actually hire me. Pray for me people please! I really really need a permanent job!

[Erynn 0]

You will also probably need a letter from your employer stating that the job is good indefinitely... which you're not going to get unless you discuss it with your employer and sort something out. You could always ask your parents to offer sponsorship. If you can get another internship or something else right after, it's not going to be an issue - but it will ensure that you can bring him/her over. You don't want to have it fail inspection and the London embassy is mostly interested in the affiliates (from my own experience).

[SunDrop 59]

To be honest, I can say nothing for sure about it being renewed or not, it totally depends on their budget; but I have continued to do everything that I can everyday over the past years to give a full 100% to my job and I guess each time they are happy to renew it.

Men I wish the copious amount of interviews that I gave, apart from advancing me to round 2,3,4,5 etc someone would actually hire me. Pray for me people please! I really really need a permanent job!

If you find a spare one, send my fiance's way! lol...

You're not likely to be interviewing until June at the very earliest. Is a co-sponsor a difficult find for you? I'm just thinking that getting one set up will alleviate your stress over having a permanent job in time for interview. If you then don't need one, that's great but it's not panic stations if you're still only interning/ not permanently employed.

[evilmonkey 2]

If you find a spare one, send my fiance's way! lol...

You're not likely to be interviewing until June at the very earliest. Is a co-sponsor a difficult find for you? I'm just thinking that getting one set up will alleviate your stress over having a permanent job in time for interview. If you then don't need one, that's great but it's not panic stations if you're still only interning/ not permanently employed.

Sure I will lol

Difficult? I think its almost near impossible because as I said I am recent grad and all my friends are looking for jobs also.

My family and my fiance's family don't get along very well [typical Pakistani family bs against love marriage] so I cannot ask my parents to sign it.

Lets see who else? my boss (he is a good friend) ? If I ask him to be my co sponsor that will not look very good. And again, it is a professional friendship so it might end up doing more bad then good if I ask him.

Men I really do need a full time job. Are any of you big bosses looking to hire a Computer Engineering grad from Georgia Tech with 3 years of field applications engineering experience in the semiconductor industry ? lol I thought I might just throw it out there You never know?

[pushbrk 12,969]

Yes, I apologize I meant May 2010. Also I have had this internship for the last 3 years so I have income tax receipts for years 2007-2009(2009 will be available shortly after I file in a day or so) showing an annual income of 32,xxx.00

So do you guys think, this will suffice or should I work my #### off either on finding a full time position(well i have to do that anyway) and/or a co sponsor

Then what I would do is complete and sign your I-134 in March or April using current pay stubs and at least one tax return as income and employmnet evidence. An employer letter is not a requirement. There's no place on the I-134 to indicate whether the employment is permanent. Permanent employment doesn't really exist in States with "at will" employment laws anyway.

Be truthful on the date of signature. Don't add information that won't help you. Send the latest possible pay stub to be carried to the interview.

[SunDrop 59]

Then what I would do is complete and sign your I-134 in March or April using current pay stubs and at least one tax return as income and employmnet evidence. An employer letter is not a requirement. There's no place on the I-134 to indicate whether the employment is permanent. Permanent employment doesn't really exist in States with "at will" employment laws anyway.

Be truthful on the date of signature. Don't add information that won't help you. Send the latest possible pay stub to be carried to the interview.

The only glitch with this is that if his employment doesn't continue after May, he's not going to have the most recent pay-stub to send as she's likely to be interviewing in July, assuming there are no delays.

[pushbrk 12,969]

The only glitch with this is that if his employment doesn't continue after May, he's not going to have the most recent pay-stub to send as she's likely to be interviewing in July, assuming there are no delays.

Most recent is most recent. May pay stubs for a July interview are reasonable. When somebody is that far over the guideline and shows three years of good income, the financials are not generally a big issue, particularly in London.

Edited January 26, 2010 by pushbrk

[SunDrop 59]

Most recent is most recent. May pay stubs for a July interview are reasonable. When somebody is that far over the guideline and shows three years of good income, the financials are not generally a big issue, particularly in London.

And what happens if the CO asks where he works and she potentially has to reply he's out of work at the moment? Having said that, I'm a firm believer in crossing bridges as you get to them. And if financials ard not generally a big issue in London, then what is? Out of all the potential areas of focus this is the one they concentrate on most.