Tax Transcripts

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From page six of the I-864 instructions:

"If you believe additional returns may help you establish your ability to maintain sufficient income, you may submit transcripts or photocopies of your Federal individual income tax returns for the three most recent years."

[Hank_ 9,174]

It states you MAY (may is not required, but you can include if you want to).

Where as at the beginning of that section it states you MUST provide a tax return for the most recent year.

http://www.uscis.gov/files/form/i-864instr.pdf

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I've never heard of Manila asking for more than one copy of a tax return/transcript at the time of the interview. However, it's always a good idea to have a back up copy of everything.

Four days after Chinook's K-1 interview at the U.S. Embassy Manila, a Filipino caseworker at the Embassy's IV unit called Chinook and asked her to bring in copies of my I-134, 1040, W-2, and pay stubs. The caseworker assured Chinook that my documents she submitted at her interview had not been lost, but they simply had been "misplaced."

[Hank_ 9,174]

I agree it a good idea to have backup copies of everything... files do get lost or misplaced. Sh!t happens, no doubt. But I would have those safely tucked away, not with me at the interview. I had everything on a memory stik, plus had it tucked away online should I need to access it from elsewhere. I still have copies of everything from petition to AOS.

I remember reading about your misplaced files.

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It states you MAY (may is not required, but you can include if you want to).

That's one reason why I posted the quote.

The other reason I posted it is to provide some context; the USCIS realizes and accepts the fact that some sponsors could benefit by submitting more than their current tax return. They may not "want to," but they may need to.

[MJandJON 1]

So glad i read this thread. Lots of thoughts on my mind that was answered by this topic. Now one question, do I really need to DUPLICATE my AOS papers? Or one copy of everything is alright?

[Tahoma 2,298]

So glad i read this thread. Lots of thoughts on my mind that was answered by this topic. Now one question, do I really need to DUPLICATE my AOS papers? Or one copy of everything is alright?

Never give away your last copy of anything.

[Hank_ 9,174]

That's one reason why I posted the quote.

The other reason I posted it is to provide some context; the USCIS realizes and accepts the fact that some sponsors could benefit by submitting more than their current tax return. They may not "want to," but they may need to.

I understand what you are saying and totally agree. There are always exceptions to all rules....

Like with me, I didn't provide a tax return or W-2 even though they are required for the interview, yet my wife was approved.

But for the day to day Joe, follow what is required and all will be fine.

[DavenRoxy 1,073]

So glad i read this thread. Lots of thoughts on my mind that was answered by this topic. Now one question, do I really need to DUPLICATE my AOS papers? Or one copy of everything is alright?

Send in one copy, but for sure keep a copy for yourself. I'm sure it's not necessary, but my wife has copies of EVERYTHING we have submitted along the way, and I have a digital copy on the computer. It's not hard to keep it, though it's most likely not necessary, either.

Like with me, I didn't provide a tax return or W-2 even though they are required for the interview, yet my wife was approved.

But for the day to day Joe, follow what is required and all will be fine.

And for us, we did the tax return and W-2, not the transcript, cuz I didn't want to wait for it to be sent to Afghanistan, yet I had digital copies of my taxes on my computer that I just emailed to my wife. Too easy, and it worked.

[BughouseMaster 3]

Hey Jeff feel free to provide the last 3 years bec that's what I did and talked to many who did just that and took the average of the last 3 yrs as the "income". Whatever you need to do to INCREASE your chances go for it.

[Hank_ 9,174]

That's what you did?

You timeline shows you haven't even done the interview yet, you just got your NOA2 and in another topic are asking "what to do next"... yet here you are giving bad advice.

No the embassy does not take the "average of the past three years income" (seem to remember your rambling this BS before in another topic it wasn't good advice then either)

Best advice is - follow the embassy instructions letter, and requirements.

[BughouseMaster 3]

"No the embassy does not take the "average of the past three years income" (seem to remember your rambling this BS before in another topic it wasn't good advice then either)"

Really?? Is that why I talked to 5 DIFFERENT COUPLES WHO ALL AVERAGED THEIR INCOME FROM LAST 3 YRS and all told me that none of the consultates gave them a hard time as they PASSED the interview and have gotten their visas already? I'll take their experience over yours any day of the week.

And when did I claim to do my interview already? You really should quit ASSuming. I'm sure you know what it means by now.

So as I said, I'll take EXPERIENCE from 5 different couples who all did what I did too over yours anyday. Call it what you want, but if it got them their visa, then obviously it isn't that bad of an advise!

Btw, your K-1 Visa process post NOA2 is chalked full of typos. You might want to fix that, so people wont think that a dyslexic person just rambled on page after page.

[BughouseMaster 3]

I'm bringing both, as well as the previous 3 years'. So whatever they ask for, we'll have it.

Go for it. That's exactly what I sent my fiancé and the more info the better! Especially if one's income for 2012 didn't meet the qualification, it certainly makes perfect sense to show the last 3 to balance out. PM me for more details if you wish, but many did just this to surpass the poverty limit requirement.

[DavenRoxy 1,073]

Hey Jeff feel free to provide the last 3 years bec that's what I did

And when did I claim to do my interview already? You really should quit ASSuming.

Well, you said the first line, and I inferred that you have completed the process because you imply that you did it and it worked for you.

"No the embassy does not take the "average of the past three years income" (seem to remember your rambling this BS before in another topic it wasn't good advice then either)"

Really?? Is that why I talked to 5 DIFFERENT COUPLES WHO ALL AVERAGED THEIR INCOME FROM LAST 3 YRS and all told me that none of the consultates gave them a hard time as they PASSED the interview and have gotten their visas already? I'll take their experience over yours any day of the week.

You may have talked to people who led you to believe that, but it's most likely not true. If it were, then how come my wife wasn't asked for 3 years worth of returns? Because it's NOT true. What if I showed years 5-8 ago? Would that work? No. Because the MOST RECENT is required. If the most recent wasn't enough money, USEM would not care what the other two years showed for income. Why not? Because what you USED to make is nothing compared to what you DO make now. I cannot support a foreigner if I made $100k per year two years ago, but only $5k per year now.

And FIVE different couples, when compared to the thousands who have gone before... not what I would call a statistical precedent. Remember, things change. COs ask different things. And people remember things differently after an event, especially when stressed (as most are during the interview). Glad they made it thru the process, but I seriously doubt a CO took the time to add up all their tax forms and average them out. Why would they, when it's not a requirement?

[Hank_ 9,174]

So you talked to 5 different couples where the embassy averages their income for the past 3 years to qualify them .... have a good time with that.

That's just fine that you don't find value in my guide ... I will leave it at that.

As for when did you claim you already did your interview - HERE

Hey Jeff feel free to provide the last 3 years bec that's what I did and talked to many who did just that and took the average of the last 3 yrs as the "income". Whatever you need to do to INCREASE your chances go for it.

Edited August 17, 2013 by Hank_