Married Joint Taxes for AoS?

[gmsalpha 0]

Hi everyone,

My wife and I are at the AoS (Affidavit of Support) stage, and we are curious if filing our taxes married/joint would help us meet the income requirements?

We live together in China, and I only earned $805 in 2015, but she earned the equivalent of about $45,000 USD. In 2013 and 2014, my income was fine, as I was working in the U.S. My wife is self-employed, her income is from an online business, and it WILL continue once we're in the US.

Can our combined income for 2015 count toward the AoS? Or do we need to go the joint sponsor route?

[newacct 688]

It doesn't matter how you filed your taxes. What matters is current income, not what it says on your taxes (except for self-employed people). You can always include the intending immigrant's income, if it will continue after immigration.

[gmsalpha 0]

Thanks. So my wife can be her own joint sponsor, since her income will continue after immigrating?

[arken 4,197]

Thanks. So my wife can be her own joint sponsor, since her income will continue after immigrating?

Your wife is not exactly a joint sponsor, you are the solo sponsor and you will include her income as well in the i864 form. You need to include evidences to prove that her current income will continue immigrating to the US.

[NikLR 13,227]

No she's technically a household member.

However the consulate doesn't have to accept her income either.