I-134/Co-sponsor stress!

[Rose&Saif 0]

Hey everyone!

This is my first time posting on here because I usually find the answers to all my questions already However, I'm really stressing out about the financial aspect of my fiance's and my K1 visa. Here's what's going on:

He and I are both 18 (will be 19 at the time of marriage) and he's Tunisian. I graduated from high school last year and decided to take a gap year to work, save money, travel, and get married. Plus, he's a year behind me so I wanted us to be able to go into college at the same time. Anyway, I work online as a freelance writer/graphic designer and I just recently have been investing in owning websites. However, I do not make above the required amount to sponsor my fiance myself, so my stepfather (basically my father for all intents and purposes) has decided to co-sponsor with me. He makes about $75,000+ per year so that's way above the required amount and a comfortable cushion for my much lower earnings.

I had another job throughout high school but resigned after graduating so that I could travel freely to/from Tunisia (the online nature of my work now allows me to work from anywhere). Up until now my earnings have been about $500 a month (more or less) but just in this past month I've started to see a quickly increasing income from these websites in which I invested back in March. In fact, just from advertisements alone I made over $1200 last month and it's getting even higher this month. I didn't file my tax returns the last two years in high school and because I've just started actually making a decent amount of money, I didn't file tax returns for 2012/13. However, the directions say that if I'm self-employed, I need to submit a copy of my tax returns with my affidavat of support.

Now I have no idea at all what I should do or how I should fill out my I-134. I don't really use my bank account except to receive my payments from advertising, which only just started coming in significantly last month. I use PayPal for basically all of my other transactions. Should I submit a copy of my PayPal statements? I also own several websites, all appraised at several hundred dollars apiece. Should I submit their appraisals? I'm really lost. I'm planning to find a part-time brick-and-mortar job to supplement my income after we get married (as is he). Basically the plan is to go to the US, get married, stay with my mother (my current legal address) for a few months saving money until the spring semester, then enroll in college (and depending on where we decide to go to college, get an apartment).

Another thing to note: my mom owns the house and property with no mortgage or anything as it was inherited from my grandparents. Do you think I could include this on my I-134? Or should I ask her if she could give me joint ownership so I could list it? I'm sure that wouldn't be a problem; in fact I paid last year's property taxes for her. I just don't know if it would even help or if that would even be ready in time for his interview, as he's already gotten his approved NOA2

As far as every other aspect of the visa goes, we're completely fine. We've been in a relationship for three years, I visit constantly (in fact I'm Tunisia now!), we have all the pictures and other evidence we could possibly need. It's just this financial aspect I'm worried about. Even though my dad is co-sponsoring with me, I'm afraid that after coming all this way it will get rejected because of me. Does anyone have any advice about 1) how I should fill out my I-134; 2) what I should submit as evidence; 3) anything else I should do? Anyone in a similar situation? Do you think I'll be safe with that co-sponsor at the Tunis consulate?

Thank you for reading. I actually feel better already just sharing my troubles. Please let me know what you think, good or bad.

[EricaandHafedh 23]

First off, I don't think the Tunis embassy is very strict about the I-134. At least that's what has been said in recent reviews. We are waiting for our interview so if it happens soon I'll let you know how the I-134 was handled. Since your stepfather will be co-sponsoring, I wouldn't worry too much about proving your income. You're both going to need to fill out separate forms, but since he is the one sponsoring I believe that they will look at his supporting evidence more closely than yours. You could also print out your paypal account history and bank statements to show your deposits and what not, but since your income alone won't be enough to support him they will probably focus on your stepfather's. You can add the website appraisals if you want. Extra information wouldn't hurt. Just make sure your stepfather fills his out accurately and provides the necessary supporting evidence. I believe you can only have 1 sponsor so i wouldn't confuse anyone by adding your mom into the mix. Good Luck!

[Rose&Saif 0]

Thanks for the reply. Definitely let me know how you did! I feel a lot better now about it actually after typing it all out. I'll definitely send as much as I can; after all, better to have too much evidence than not enough!

[KayDeeCee 4,893]

Even if you could get through the K-1 interview without having to produce tax transcripts, that will not be the case when it comes time to file for AOS and you have to provide an I-864. You have to list the info from your last 3 tax returns and provide a copy of your most recent tax transcript. If you have not filed, you must provide a statement explaining why you were not legally required to file. Your problem is that you need to file and pay self-employment tax if you have made at least $400. You may want to speak to an accountant about filing your back taxes > http://www.irs.gov/Businesses/Small-Businesses-&-Self-Employed/Filing-Requirements-for-Self-Employed-Individuals

[Rose&Saif 0]

Even if you could get through the K-1 interview without having to produce tax transcripts, that will not be the case when it comes time to file for AOS and you have to provide an I-864. You have to list the info from your last 3 tax returns and provide a copy of your most recent tax transcript. If you have not filed, you must provide a statement explaining why you were not legally required to file. Your problem is that you need to file and pay self-employment tax if you have made at least $400. You may want to speak to an accountant about filing your back taxes > http://www.irs.gov/Businesses/Small-Businesses-&-Self-Employed/Filing-Requirements-for-Self-Employed-Individuals

Yes, I read that in my research, but am unsure whether or not to try to file my taxes now online or to wait until I return to the US (which won't be until after my fiance's interview). My mom is a professional tax consultant so I've been waiting on her to help me out with at least the returns for my previous employment. She said I have three years to file the returns anyway, so it's not as if I'd be penalized for not filing, at least not yet. Since I just recently started making a significant amount of money, I'm not sure whether it would even be appropriate to file for 2012.

[Rose&Saif 0]

I mean either way I plan to file sometime within the next year, but will it have a negative effect if I don't before the interview?