Appeal CR1 Blue Slip?

[celiothrkn 0]

My wife had her CR1 interview in US Consulate-Guangzhou, China on March 8. The VO said everything looked fine, except for our $45K salary. For whatever reason, it's not enough to satisfy the $22K requirement for a household size of three. The VO gave us a blue slip to get a co-sponsor, which I feel is absolutely unnecessary because I am 2X the required amount.

I have a very ordinary job. Annual salary of 45K. No sales commission or anything. Some people online think that it may be because I only started the job on Jan 5, 2010. But I fail to see how that is a legitimate concern since the government is more concerned on whether my projected future earnings will be sufficient to support our family of three.

Asides from finding a co-sponsor, what other options do I have? I vaguely remember reading that you have 28 days to appeal a CR1 decision in-person? Is that true? I do not mind flying to Guangzhou and having a chit-chat with them.

[christeen 966]

My wife had her CR1 interview in US Consulate-Guangzhou, China on March 8. The VO said everything looked fine, except for our $45K salary. For whatever reason, it's not enough to satisfy the $22K requirement for a household size of three. The VO gave us a blue slip to get a co-sponsor, which I feel is absolutely unnecessary because I am 2X the required amount.

I have a very ordinary job. Annual salary of 45K. No sales commission or anything. Some people online think that it may be because I only started the job on Jan 5, 2010. But I fail to see how that is a legitimate concern since the government is more concerned on whether my projected future earnings will be sufficient to support our family of three.

Asides from finding a co-sponsor, what other options do I have? I vaguely remember reading that you have 28 days to appeal a CR1 decision in-person? Is that true? I do not mind flying to Guangzhou and having a chit-chat with them.

Yes, it might have something to do with the length of time employed... Did you have proof of prior employment? Did you have a letter from your employer? How about assets to offset it?? Have you done the 2009 taxes and did that meet the requirement or is this the first year of gainful employment... If you show a history of earning enough that might aid in your rebuttal... If you do not have a history of enough earnings, from a consulate point of view they have nothing to suggest that you are able to maintin your spouse.... Just trying to think of additional evidence that might back up your case...

As far as HOW to appeal at the GZU consulate.. I am not sure of consulate specifics... the regional forum might have more tips on that...

[pushbrk 12,969]

My wife had her CR1 interview in US Consulate-Guangzhou, China on March 8. The VO said everything looked fine, except for our $45K salary. For whatever reason, it's not enough to satisfy the $22K requirement for a household size of three. The VO gave us a blue slip to get a co-sponsor, which I feel is absolutely unnecessary because I am 2X the required amount.

I have a very ordinary job. Annual salary of 45K. No sales commission or anything. Some people online think that it may be because I only started the job on Jan 5, 2010. But I fail to see how that is a legitimate concern since the government is more concerned on whether my projected future earnings will be sufficient to support our family of three.

Asides from finding a co-sponsor, what other options do I have? I vaguely remember reading that you have 28 days to appeal a CR1 decision in-person? Is that true? I do not mind flying to Guangzhou and having a chit-chat with them.

What exactly does the blue slip say? You don't appeal blue slips. You comply with them. If you have a salary of 45k from employment and showed recent pay stubs as evidence, it would be unusual to be denied but certainly possible. Again, what exactly does the blue slip say?

[celiothrkn 0]

What exactly does the blue slip say? You don't appeal blue slips. You comply with them. If you have a salary of 45k from employment and showed recent pay stubs as evidence, it would be unusual to be denied but certainly possible. Again, what exactly does the blue slip say?

Blue slip said Lacking Documents/Further Processing. Need 2006-2008 tax returns/transcripts for co-sponsor. Need original signed I-864.

[Darnell 8,478]

It is possible to 'appeal' a blue slip at GUZ - (IE - change a VO's decision to even issue a blue slip)

BUT

IMO - has to be 'done in person' by the USCitizen, showing up at Americian Citizen Hour (ACH) at the IV Unit in Guangzhou.

If you feel that the VO 'glossed over' the I-864 packet, and MISSED SOMETHING, then you might have a good case.

But - it's 'nothing official'. There is no defined 'process' to do this - one simply GOES and makes the attempt.

If you can't 'go and make the attempt' -

then you might have small chance to address this via fax and email into the IV unit at GUZ.

Small Chance.

Otherwise - submit the things they've asked for with the blue slip.

IF you'd like a 'better' sanity check - check in with Marc Ellis (google Marc Ellis immigration) and ask him via email. If he suggests prepaying for two hours of consult, I suggest you do that.

Good Luck !

[pushbrk 12,969]

What exactly does the blue slip say? You don't appeal blue slips. You comply with them. If you have a salary of 45k from employment and showed recent pay stubs as evidence, it would be unusual to be denied but certainly possible. Again, what exactly does the blue slip say?

This is a simple request and if it's all they need, just comply with their request precisely. However, the reason they are requesting this is important. Make certain the sponsor qualifies. Is this employment or self-employment? If employment, the income documentation is pretty straight forward. If self-employed, not so much. Either way, they'll be looking at line 22 on the 1040 form. That's the income figure that needs to qualify at least to 125% of the poverty level for the sponsor's household size plus the intending immigrant. If the sponsor actually doesn't qualify, find a new one and submit the same kind of documentation from the qualified sponsor.

[y2catalyst 3]

Along the same question. I filed electronic tax returns, how can I get a certified recipt or copy of the return for last 3 years?

[AlanM 1]

Along the same question. I filed electronic tax returns, how can I get a certified recipt or copy of the return for last 3 years?

It does not make a difference whether you filed the taxes electronically or not. You can get tax transcipts from the IRS for each tax year mailed or faxed to you. Google IRS/Tax Transcripts and you will find the instructions.

[Darnell 8,478]

Along the same question. I filed electronic tax returns, how can I get a certified recipt or copy of the return for last 3 years?

Unless you need them CERTIFIED by the IRS (which is a rare thing, in of itself)

then IRS Tax Transcripts are sufficient.

If you'd like to add some 'umpppph' to a tax transcript -

have them faxed to you.

The IRS fax header at the top, IMO, trumps a lot of silliness.

If you still need the IRS contact info, post back.

[celiothrkn 0]

We found a joint sponsor so we will be pursuing this route in lieu of appealing. Our joint sponsor says her latest tax returns were 40-50 pages. Would it be OK if we only sent the Form 1040 (2 pages) and W-2? I believe it's basically all the schedules that are creating weight.

Also, the blue slip asked for 2006-2008 tax returns. In theory we can get away with only the latest tax return, right? If we follow their directions word-for-word, the joint sponsor will be mailing roughly 150 pages to China (3 years x 50 pages per tax return = 150 pages).

If we request a tax transcript from IRS, would it be a lot of pages too? I would prefer not going this route because tax transcripts take up to 2 weeks, especially now (end of March) that the IRS is in busy-mode. So I am looking for legitimate ways to get our package to Guangzhou as fast and as conveniently as possible.

[Darnell 8,478]

Need 2006-2008 tax returns/transcripts for co-sponsor. Need original signed I-864.

comply exactly with what it says.

But - should be able to get tax transcripts FAXED same day - let us know if you can't find the phone number to handle this? (It's a different #, btw, not the general IRS helpline #)

IMO, faxed transcripts are better - the IRS fax header is at the top of each page.

I would never bemoan the weight of the package - just pay the fees and get it there.

Good Luck !

Edited March 24, 2010 by Darnell