Hourly Wage for I-864 and Employment Letter

[Mrs. Wells 0]

I have searched on this but haven't found out exactly what to do.

I spent most of last year in England with my husband. I got a job once I returned to America (in December) making 9 an hour. My wage just went up to 10 an hour about a week ago. I'm trying to fill out the I864 and am wondering if I should do an average of hours worked x 9.5 (in between my 2 wages) to come up with my annual income ... or what exactly to do. I'm going to be including this information in a letter for my boss to sign as well. Also I took 2-3 weeks off this year so could I do something like average hours worked so far x 9.5 x 49 (weeks, since I took 3 off)? Am I making this too hard?

My current income will put be just above the poverty line but its so close I'm going to keep my co-sponsor, who has no dependents and makes almost 30k a year, smart move?

[OnMyWayID 1,489]

Put your current income. If your past income did not meet the requirements it is all the more important to have an employment letter stating your current income...

[Mrs. Wells 0]

Put your current income. If your past income did not meet the requirements it is all the more important to have an employment letter stating your current income...

Thanks, but do I just put 9 dollars an hour or do I try to determine an annual figure, and if so how? My hours per week vary from 30-40 and during the beginning of my employment I had as little as 10 hours some weeks because I went to England for the holidays.

[Done--Really 331]

Estimate the total for THIS year--that is what they are asking for on lines 23 & 24

[Mrs. Wells 0]

Ok, so basically this is just a rough estimate because I can't seem to find a formula used - so people just do it as they wish?

[Done--Really 331]

Well, it depends on the circumstances. If you worked full time, had the same hourly wage or salary for the full year, and had no unpaid time off, there are 2080 hours in a work year, but you aren't working full time, so you have to make your best estimate with the facts at hand.

[Mrs. Wells 0]

Well, it depends on the circumstances. If you worked full time, had the same hourly wage or salary for the full year, and had no unpaid time off, there are 2080 hours in a work year, but you aren't working full time, so you have to make your best estimate with the facts at hand.

That makes sense. I guess I will include a note describing my calculations and hopefully it wont be too big of an issue since I am using a co-sponsor.

I appreciate your help, thank you.

[Anh map 2,098]

Current and continuing income is what is measured. Support this with an employer letter and recent paystubs. If you have gotten a raise to $10/hour then use that. Annualize the number.For example $10/hr X 40 hours/week X 52 weeks = $20,800

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

My suggestion--come up with an average number of hours you expect to be working in a week X $10/hr. Then estimate how many weeks in the year you will work.

[Weekly earnings] X [weeks worked] = estimated yearly income. Make sure your employer letter matches. He should say you work an average of ___ hours per week at a wage of $10 per hour. If you would hold off and get a few payslips to also show the $10 figure and as many hours as you estimate, that would bear out what you stated.

It is about your current income translated into a year. It's not about what you made last year or a hybrid figure ($9.50). Because your 2010 taxes won't reflect the raise, you will prove the higher figure with the letter and new payslips. If you think it's enough, send it without the co-sponsor. Have the co-sponsor's I-864, income proofs and proof of citizenship/LPR status all completed so if you get an RFE, you can have the other ready to submit immediately. Take it all to the interview too, to pull out if needed there. That shouldn't delay you very long but would save the co-sponsor from being on the hook for what could be a long, long time, even if you and the spouse ever parted. That's just what I think would be a considerate thing to do if you can pull off the support on your own.

Edited July 10, 2011 by Nich-Nick

[Mrs. Wells 0]

My suggestion--come up with an average number of hours you expect to be working in a week X $10/hr. Then estimate how many weeks in the year you will work.

[Weekly earnings] X [weeks worked] = estimated yearly income. Make sure your employer letter matches. He should say you work an average of ___ hours per week at a wage of $10 per hour. If you would hold off and get a few payslips to also show the $10 figure and as many hours as you estimate, that would bear out what you stated.

It is about your current income translated into a year. It's not about what you made last year or a hybrid figure ($9.50). Because your 2010 taxes won't reflect the raise, you will prove the higher figure with the letter and new payslips. If you think it's enough, send it without the co-sponsor. Have the co-sponsor's I-864, income proofs and proof of citizenship/LPR status all completed so if you get an RFE, you can have the other ready to submit immediately. Take it all to the interview too, to pull out if needed there. That shouldn't delay you very long but would save the co-sponsor from being on the hook for what could be a long, long time, even if you and the spouse ever parted. That's just what I think would be a considerate thing to do if you can pull off the support on your own.

Ok so they aren't asking for a 01/2011 to 12/2011 figure, they are asking for a 52 week figure?

[Mrs. Wells 0]

You know I have an idea that what you guys are saying is really simple. I'm just not getting it...

[Done--Really 331]

Let's assume you average 30 hours per week (or whatever number is correct) and $10 per hour, all you do is the following:

30 X 10 X 52 = $15600 estimated for this year--it's that simple...just pick the number of hours and then be sure your employment letter says the same thing.

Math isn't my wife's strong suit either and she would be asking the same questions--just tell us how many hours you will average per week, and we'll do the calculations for you !!

Edited July 10, 2011 by magical

[Mrs. Wells 0]

Ok let me put it this way to see if I can understand. I now make 10 an hour. I've averaged 36.25 hours a week if I exclude 3 outlier (vacation) weeks. I can work 40 hours of week if I chose to do so. Based on my current weekly average I would make 18,850 in 52 weeks. I would make 20,800 if I worked 40 hours a week, which I could start doing this week.

Would I put one of these amounts down as my current income?

Both of these are over the minimum 2 person 18,387 125% income requirement... so would I need a sponsor with the above information? Is it that cut and dry?

[Mrs. Wells 0]

I want to start working 40 hours per week. If I could include in my bosses letter that I am expected to work 40 hours a week from this point forward then I could put down 20800, and not use a sponsor, is this correct? Would I have to wait for a paystub to show this?

[Done--Really 331]

It's not that cut and dry as to a sponsor--depends a lot on the backup information you have from your employer and pay stubs.

As to the amount, use $20800 so long as your employer will put it in writing--or use whatever amount he WILL put in writing.

If you are forced to use $18850, you are just squeaking by, so the CO may require another sponsor. Even at $20800 unless you have a strong letter from your employer, your recent pay stubs aren't going to support that number looking back, so it is not a done deal.