How to ask for co-sponsor?

[timnbo 0]

Does anyone have any suggestions on how to ask a parent for help with a co-sponsorship? I have already submitted the I-129 and it's currently in processing.

I have a good job, but have only been at it for 4 months because of just moving back from Thailand. I lived in Thailand for 8 years and did not file US taxes while there. I already hinted to my father that I might need some help and he said he probably would, but I'm not sure what to tell them would be their responsibility if something went wrong. I'm making $53k/year, but started in September.

Also, is there a FAQ or anything to help guide putting together the sponsorship/co sponsorship paperwork?

Thanks

[msbau764 245]

Does anyone have any suggestions on how to ask a parent for help with a co-sponsorship? I have already submitted the I-129 and it's currently in processing.

I have a good job, but have only been at it for 4 months because of just moving back from Thailand. I lived in Thailand for 8 years and did not file US taxes while there. I already hinted to my father that I might need some help and he said he probably would, but I'm not sure what to tell them would be their responsibility if something went wrong. I'm making $53k/year, but started in September.

Also, is there a FAQ or anything to help guide putting together the sponsorship/co sponsorship paperwork?

Thanks

You need to a bare minimum file taxes for the last 3-7 years. I guarantee you the the gov't will keep your tax return in perpetuity until you do so, not to mention it is a possibility that your tax returns for the last 3 years are asked for at the embassy. Tell them that they will have no responsibility. There really isn't any teeth to the affadavit of support. I wouldn't even stress out about that part.

[slangofoil 50]

You've been at your job for 4 months, and it will probably be another 6 months or more before your fiancee goes for interview. By then you'll have almost a full year of work behind you. You shouldn't need a co-sponsor. Your income exceeds the poverty guidelines. Your 2014 tax transcript, a history of pay stubs, and a letter from your employer verifying your employment should be sufficient at the time of interview.

I had moved back to the US and only been employed a year at the time my then fiance had his K-1 interview and we were fine without a co-sponsor.

[Boiler 45,655]

2 separate issues, I see no need for a co sponsor.

[msbau764 245]

You've been at your job for 4 months, and it will probably be another 6 months or more before your fiancee goes for interview. By then you'll have almost a full year of work behind you. You shouldn't need a co-sponsor. Your income exceeds the poverty guidelines. Your 2014 tax transcript, a history of pay stubs, and a letter from your employer verifying your employment should be sufficient at the time of interview.

I had moved back to the US and only been employed a year at the time my then fiance had his K-1 interview and we were fine without a co-sponsor.

at certain embassies they ask for 3 years of tax returns. she hasn't filed for 8 years.

[icv21 110]

The only issue I can see here is that Americans citizens have to file taxes even if they live abroad.

when you do AOS yo have to show US taxes for the past years, saying you lived in Thailand wont work as an excuse and even if you had a co sponsor you still need to show your taxes because you still file the form.

[slangofoil 50]

Unless they were below the filing threshold. I didn't file while I lived in Ireland, because my income was below the threshold that requires filing (which was about $9k at the time...now it's a little over $10k). Not sure if this is the case for the OP, but it could be if they were a student, volunteering, etc.

For AOS, the I-864 only actually requires the most recent year's tax transcript be submitted. The instructions say you can submit additional years if you feel it will help, but it's not required. I included a note in our AOS that I was not required to file for 2008 due to income being below the minimum threshold (included this only because, though you are not required to submit more than the previous year's transcript, it does ask you to assert that you filed the last three years).

And more importantly, a search of VJ topics indicates that co-sponsors for K-1s are rarely accepted in Bangkok. The embassy can ask for 3 years of tax returns if they want, but if they're not available then they're not available. I think the OP has a good chance of being approved with the current income after nearly a year of working.

[timnbo 0]

The reason I did not file taxes while living in Thailand was that my income did not reach the $10,000 threshold so I was not required to file.

By the time she does her interview, I will be working at my $53k/year job for 7 months, I have about $25,000 savings and no debt.

I also have another part time job that makes about $3,000 /year.

Should I not bother with a co-sponsor and just hope for the best? Get one anyway?

Thanks

[msbau764 245]

The reason I did not file taxes while living in Thailand was that my income did not reach the $10,000 threshold so I was not required to file.

By the time she does her interview, I will be working at my $53k/year job for 7 months, I have about $25,000 savings and no debt.

I also have another part time job that makes about $3,000 /year.

Should I not bother with a co-sponsor and just hope for the best? Get one anyway?

Thanks

In Thailand were you self employed?

[j&ana 363]

The reason I did not file taxes while living in Thailand was that my income did not reach the $10,000 threshold so I was not required to file.

By the time she does her interview, I will be working at my $53k/year job for 7 months, I have about $25,000 savings and no debt.

I also have another part time job that makes about $3,000 /year.

Should I not bother with a co-sponsor and just hope for the best? Get one anyway?

Thanks

I am sure you will be ok without co sponsor just make copies of your paystubs get employment letter and make sure to file taxes this year and keep copy to send in. You can also include your savings, it will not count that much toward the income but it will help. IF you are still not sure and think you will need a sponsor just be honest with your dad and explain the situation the best you can to him

[msbau764 245]

The reason I did not file taxes while living in Thailand was that my income did not reach the $10,000 threshold so I was not required to file.

By the time she does her interview, I will be working at my $53k/year job for 7 months, I have about $25,000 savings and no debt.

I also have another part time job that makes about $3,000 /year.

Should I not bother with a co-sponsor and just hope for the best? Get one anyway?

Thanks

Your debt and savings don't matter. By virtue of your part-time job you should file taxes. You are just asking for a giant headache with the IRS. Just because someone got away with it doesn't mean that you won't be audited, ESPECIALLY after being off the radar for a decade and suddenly pulling in 53k a year. Your future refunds could be siezed by the IRS until you file your missing years. You won't owe anything so there is nothing to lose by filing.

[j&ana 363]

Your debt and savings don't matter. By virtue of your part-time job you should file taxes. You are just asking for a giant headache with the IRS. Just because someone got away with it doesn't mean that you won't be audited, ESPECIALLY after being off the radar for a decade and suddenly pulling in 53k a year. Your future refunds could be siezed by the IRS until you file your missing years. You won't owe anything so there is nothing to lose by filing.

The op did not say he was not going to file his taxes .He said he did not file living in Thailand because he did not make enough which is perfectly ok. No where did any of his post said he was not going to file his taxes. yes saving can count toward the income requirement. please read entire post before replying

[timnbo 0]

Right. I did not file because I did not have to. Therefore, I have no tax returns for the past 8 years. I will however have a tax return for 2014, but only have about $19k income since I did not start my $53k/year job until September.

Also, one poster above states that the Bangkok embassy does NOT accept co-sponsors. Is this true? If this is true, then it means I obviously don't need to worry about asking a parent to co-sponsor.

It seems there are many different opinions so far on this. Still not sure if I need a co-sponsor and if I do, but the Bangkok embassy doesn't accept them, then what? Is there no clear-cut way to determine if I need a co-sponsor?

Thanks

[msbau764 245]

The op did not say he was not going to file his taxes .He said he did not file living in Thailand because he did not make enough which is perfectly ok. No where did any of his post said he was not going to file his taxes. yes saving can count toward the income requirement. please read entire post before replying

Savings can be counted if you don't meet the income requirement; however, the amount of savings/assets required is far and above the amount the OP has, something close to $90k. So no savings are NOT counted in her case. It is for those who have NO income or are below the requirement. If the OP were self-employed living abroad and she makes more than $400 she has to file. Yes that is right. I suggest you learn to read and think.

[KayDeeCee 4,893]

It is not simply making more than $400 for self-employed. You must make more than $400 net. http://www.irs.gov/Businesses/Small-Businesses-&-Self-Employed/Self-Employed-Individuals-Tax-Center

The OP never even stated whether or not they were self-employed.

If the OP was required to file, then they need to file their back taxes for the last 3 years. If they were not required to file, then they do not have to file now, unless they want to. You can provide a statement explaining why you were not legally required to file any of the last 3 years you did not.

The OP has a current annual income of $53k. That is what they list on the I-134, and they provide a letter from their employer and recent pay stubs to prove that income amount. They will show their 2014 tax return and at $19k showing, that alone is almost enough to meet the requirement for a household of 2. Listing their savings is not needed, since they far exceed the income requirement, but they can list their savings and provide proof of ownership and value of those if they so choose. You do not have to be below the income requirement to list assets, you just are not required to list assets and if not needed you can leave that section blank.

To the OP> It is very difficult to use a co-sponsor in Thailand. They are typically not accepted there. You earn far more than enough though. Provide what I and another poster have mentioned in this thread when going to your K-1 interview. You also will not need a joint sponsor for the I-864 when filing AOS later. As I said above, if you were not required to file, then you are not required now for the affidavit of support forms. If you were required, then you must file your back taxes before providing the I-134 and I-864.

~Moved from Tax & Finances During US Immigration to K-1 Process - topic is about I-134 for K-1 interview ~

Edited December 23, 2014 by KayDeeCee