Showing proof of financial support with a foreign income last year?

[chrissytooth 0]

Hi!

So, a little background: I am a grad student and just moved back to the U.S. in December. I lived in Japan for 2.5 years, and I met my fiance there. He is still living and working in Japan while we go through this whole visa process. Right now, we are in the phase of either finding a co-sponsor or deciding that I will be his sponsor. Like I said, I'm a grad student, so it's a little hard for me to meet 125% of the poverty guidelines. If we can't find a co-sponsor, I will probably cut down to part-time in school so that I can work more and meet the poverty guidelines. I am working as an ESL teacher, by the way.

Anyway, my question is about showing proof of financial support. Since I only earned Japanese income for the past few years, my 2013 U.S. tax return shows my income as $0. If I decide to be the sole sponsor, is that going to be a problem when I have to show financial support? Will they accept pay stubs to prove my income instead? If the pay stubs are sufficient, would I have to have all of my pay stubs from that year or just the few most recent ones? I hope the pay stubs are good enough, because I really don't want to have to wait even longer until my 2014 tax returns have been filed.

Any and all help is appreciated. Thanks!

Chrissy