Supporting documents for I-864

[Wingnutfish 18]

Hi all,

I've been reading up on the I-864 Affidavit of Support form in advance of receiving my NOA2, and I just need some clarifications about what documents I and my joint sponsor will need to submit with it. I am currently well below the federal poverty guideline (living in Taiwan), but have filed my taxes over the last three years. My joint sponsor has a long-term career job which puts him well over the federal poverty guideline (far beyond the 125% required).

Here is the documentation I understand we each need to submit in relation to financial support:

Me (petitioner):

-Form I-864

-Federal tax transcript for last year (OR copy of my 1040 plus any W-2s or 1099s)

-Copy of my 1040 Schedule C form (because I'm self-employed)

-Proof of intent to reestablish domicile (because I'm filing from Taiwan)

Joint Sponsor:

-Form I-864

-Federal tax transcript for last year (OR copy of his 1040 plus any W-2s or 1099s)

-Proof of U.S. citizenship

Is this all? I know that there is an option to also include (1) pay stubs and a an employer letter and/or (2) tax documents for two and three years ago, but is any of this necessary for either of us? Recall that I need a joint sponsor, and the joint sponsor is well above 125% of the poverty guideline.

Also would love to know if you see anything missing, or if I've included anything that we don't need.

Thanks so much.

[Darnell 8,479]

employment letter and pay stubs are used to show proof of 'current annual income',

which you not mention yet.

on the I-864 - there's two major blocks, aye?

1. current annual income and

2. prior year(s) income

2 is shown via tax records - usually a tax transcript (alone) is sufficient

1 is shown via various things - employment letter, cpa audited quarterly income/loss statement (if a business), pay stubs - it's not that ALL are required - but 1 thing is required to show the current annual income.

you'll never use tax documents to prove up current annual income, fwiw.

[Wingnutfish 18]

employment letter and pay stubs are used to show proof of 'current annual income',

which you not mention yet.

on the I-864 - there's two major blocks, aye?

1. current annual income and

2. prior year(s) income

2 is shown via tax records - usually a tax transcript (alone) is sufficient

1 is shown via various things - employment letter, cpa audited quarterly income/loss statement (if a business), pay stubs - it's not that ALL are required - but 1 thing is required to show the current annual income.

you'll never use tax documents to prove up current annual income, fwiw.

Thanks. But the official instructions for the I-864 make it very clear that documentation of current income is optional:

"You may include evidence supporting your claim about your expected income for the current year if you believe that submitting this evidence will help you establish ability to maintain sufficient income. You are not required to submit this evidence, however, unless specifically instructed to do so by a Government official." (p. 5)

So I'm just trying to get an idea of under what circumstances people choose to send in that optional documentation.

[Ozz777 23]

Under all circumstances, from what I've read.

[Wingnutfish 18]

So people consider it to basically be required even though the instructions explicitly say it isn't? That seems kind of strange.

[KayDeeCee 4,902]

The instructions say it is optional, but you really should send proof of current income with a letter from employer and/or pay stub(s), if you are not self-employed. I have seen people get RFEs asking for proof of their income meeting the 125% requirement. Of course you may not get an RFE by just providing your tax transcript, but you might. Easiest to just provide the proof up front and not worry about it.

[Wingnutfish 18]

Okay, thanks. I'm starting to get the idea. I'd just rather not have to ask my joint sponsor for so much stuff, especially since the tax transcripts will clearly show he has an income well above the 125% thresshold. But yeah, I guess maybe it's better to play it safe if that's what most people do.

[Wingnutfish 18]

Wait, I thought someone told me the NVC doesn't send RFEs? That that's only the USCIS stage that you get those?

[NikLR 13,234]

Wait, I thought someone told me the NVC doesn't send RFEs? That that's only the USCIS stage that you get those?

The NVC sends things called checklists which are their version of an RFE. Checklist is the proper term.

[Wingnutfish 18]

Oh, I see. Thanks for the clarification!

[Darnell 8,479]

Wait, I thought someone told me the NVC doesn't send RFEs? That that's only the USCIS stage that you get those?

It's called a 'checklist letter' , not an RFE.

If there's no proof of current annual income, expect a checklist letter about it, and note theer will be some delay in your processing time because of it.

[Wingnutfish 18]

Got it. Thanks.

[KayDeeCee 4,902]

Wait, I thought someone told me the NVC doesn't send RFEs? That that's only the USCIS stage that you get those?

My apologies for using the wrong terminology and causing confusion. I was not thinking about the I-864 going through the NVC when responding earlier.

[NikLR 13,234]

My apologies for using the wrong terminology and causing confusion. I was not thinking about the I-864 going through the NVC when responding earlier.

If I had a nickel for every time it happened, I'd have at least $50. Lol.

[KayDeeCee 4,902]

If I had a nickel for every time it happened, I'd have at least $50. Lol.

Haha! That applies to many things said here on VJ. We need to start collecting our nickels!