Amsterdam embassy - Poverty line

[ayla_42 39]

My boyfriend works full time but that will not qualify him for the 2 person household poverty line i think by about 2000.
However he does do freelance graphic design. Which will put him over the poverty line. But the state where he lives in pays in cash most of the time. so no pay stub. He does have a few pay stubs for the freelance work. but not for everything he did.

So my question is how strictly do they look at that stuff in the Amsterdam embassy? I have more the enough savings to get me trough it all. around 12.000 dollars.

Will they take that into consideration? or do they need his income to be 125% with taxes?
We can always get him mom to co sponsor me. But if we don't have to we rather not.

Thanks

[EireneFaith 58]

He can get any body to co sponsor you if he does not meet the poverty line the Immigration requires. If he has an assets or bank savings he can use it also.

[ayla_42 39]

He can get any body to co sponsor you if he does not meet the poverty line the Immigration requires. If he has an assets or bank savings he can use it also.

Thank you for the answer. I already know that any body can co sponsor. However that's not my question

[kitthekat 1,317]

Does he pay taxes on the freelance income? If no, then I'm not sure if you'd be opening a can of worms trying to include that income using paystubs that aren't accounted for on his tax returns.

Either way he needs to show 125% of the poverty guidelines (before taxes are taken out). If he is $2000 short, he needs between 3-5x the amount in assets, so anywhere between $6000-$10000. If you have savings, you can also submit them, it is at the consular officer's discretion whether or not to accept them. You could drop the embassy an email to see if they'll consider your savings as well.

[Kaylara 814]

Having dealt with the consulate in Amsterdam a lot in the past, I can tell you that they are very good, but you will need to make sure you meet the requirements. They will catch the descrepency.

[ayla_42 39]

Thank you!! okay so since if he makes around 17,000,- a year before taxes. We should be good?
Cuz after taxes he only around 13,000? and that's not enough but that doesn't matter then?

[ayla_42 39]

Anyone?

[kitthekat 1,317]

You will need to meet 125% of the poverty guidelines - 17000 is not enough. Even counting the savings, you'd be borderline. Personally I think you'd be safer with a co-sponsor.

[ayla_42 39]

Ohh right I forgot about the 125% so he would need to make around 20.000 before taxes to have enough?

Not sure if my calculations are right

[Ryan E 10]

Ohh right I forgot about the 125% so he would need to make around 20.000 before taxes to have enough?

Not sure if my calculations are right

$19,387 to be exact according to the 2013 guidelines. 2014 should be released shortly and can be expected to be slightly more. Since he is 3000 short he will need to have 9000 in assets which can be converted to cash within 1 year.

http://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/files/form/i-864p.pdf

Not to sidetrack the thread, but considering this is related:

It seems his cash income was unreported income. He could file updated tax returns reporting that income. His income is low enough that the income taxes shouldn't be too much, but I think he will need to pay about 15% self-employment tax. He might also have some penalties. Consider talking to a tax adviser if it will get him over the threshold and so he doesn't have to worry about the tax man later.

He should also know that if he was paid more than $600 by any one company, they were required to file a 1099-misc to the IRS. If this was filed, then the IRS knows about the income already.

[baron555 934]

My boyfriend works full time but that will not qualify him for the 2 person household poverty line i think by about 2000.

However he does do freelance graphic design. Which will put him over the poverty line. But the state where he lives in pays in cash most of the time. so no pay stub. He does have a few pay stubs for the freelance work. but not for everything he did.

So my question is how strictly do they look at that stuff in the Amsterdam embassy?

ALL Embassies look at the income requirements the same and with total seriousness.

I have more the enough savings to get me trough it all. around 12.000 dollars.

Doesn't count unless you send it to his bank account, then only about 1/3 (or something like that) of the value is countable.

Will they take that into consideration? or do they need his income to be 125% with taxes?

MUST meet the minimums.

We can always get him mom to co sponsor me. But if we don't have to we rather not.

Then wait to immigrate here until he has better income. Go with Mom and thank her a lot.

Edited February 13, 2014 by baron555

[ayla_42 39]

Thank you guys a lot!!

We will go with his mom.