Marriage Green Card Income Requirements

[lucy 242 4]

So I'm not sure if my husband makes enough money to be my sponsor. he is doing his taxes now and we a confused.

He made $24000 in 2018, that is the gross income, but he also has deductions of $13500 (self employed)

Now my question is, the number they look at is before or after deductions? I could not find the answer for this online. 

I know it's before taxes but what about deductions? 

[Pinkrlion 2,607]

They look at Line 22 on his tax return, whatever number that says is how they determine income. If that number is below poverty then u need a co-sponsor. 

[lucy 242 4]

2 minutes ago, Pinkrlion said:

They look at Line 22 on his tax return, whatever number that says is how they determine income. If that number is below poverty then u need a co-sponsor. 

Can't be line 22, maybe you are not aware that the new 1040 form is different..

[lucy 242 4]

Oh you mean on the return? we still don't have that for this year, he is just filing now, what line is it on the 1040?

[bird&bear 43]

Hi! I believe that they look at Total Income for 1040 and 1040A, and Adjusted Gross Income for 1040EZ.

 

From the instructions for i-864:

 

Quote

For purposes of this affidavit, the line for Total Income on IRS Forms 1040 and 1040A will be considered when determining income. For persons filing IRS Form 1040 EZ, the line for adjusted gross income will be considered.

 

https://www.uscis.gov/i-864

 

However, please take a look at the instructions and the form yourself to be sure.

[lucy 242 4]

13 minutes ago, bird&bear said:

Hi! I believe that they look at Total Income for 1040 and 1040A, and Adjusted Gross Income for 1040EZ.

 

From the instructions for i-864:

 

 

https://www.uscis.gov/i-864

 

However, please take a look at the instructions and the form yourself to be sure.

From what I understand it's line 6 on the 1040, meaning we put 24000 but I am still not sure, am I right? what about the deductions?

[kris&me 572]

are the deductions of $13500 business expenses?

or normal deduction?

[lucy 242 4]

Just now, kris&me said:

are the deductions of $13500 business expenses?

or normal deduction?

business expenses 

[ourjourney_pc 118]

35 minutes ago, lucy 242 said:

So I'm not sure if my husband makes enough money to be my sponsor. he is doing his taxes now and we a confused.

He made $24000 in 2018, that is the gross income, but he also has deductions of $13500 (self employed)

Now my question is, the number they look at is before or after deductions? I could not find the answer for this online. 

I know it's before taxes but what about deductions? 

Before deduction 

[lucy 242 4]

What about the standard deduction is it different than business? 

[ourjourney_pc 118]

1 minute ago, lucy 242 said:

What about the standard deduction is it different than business? 

For 2018

single is 12000

Married is 24000

[bird&bear 43]

5 minutes ago, lucy 242 said:

From what I understand it's line 6 on the 1040, meaning we put 24000 but I am still not sure, am I right? what about the deductions?

I'm not a tax expert, full disclosure. But the way I see it, tax deductions are there to allow you to reduce the amount of income that you are taxed on. This is not necessarily applicable to immigration, because immigration isn't interested in how much you're eligible to be taxed on. All they are interested in is what your (or in this case, your partner's) income is, in order to determine if they make enough to support you. So that's why deductions aren't really a part of the i-864, I believe.

[lucy 242 4]

1 minute ago, ourjourney_pc said:

For 2018

single is 12000

Married is 24000

Yes I know, but this won't hurt the total income? I mean is his income of 24000 be enough or not? if he chooses the standard deduction and won't itemize anything else   

[lucy 242 4]

1 minute ago, bird&bear said:

I'm not a tax expert, full disclosure. But the way I see it, tax deductions are there to allow you to reduce the amount of income that you are taxed on. This is not necessarily applicable to immigration, because immigration isn't interested in how much you're eligible to be taxed on. All they are interested in is what your (or in this case, your partner's) income is, in order to determine if they make enough to support you. So that's why deductions aren't really a part of the i-864, I believe.

That's what I thought as well but now I am not sure

[LilyJ 1,258]

Ultimately, it'll be up to the consular officer to make a decision on whether or not your husband earns enough for him to not be concerned that you will become a public charge. He is above the 125% poverty guideline, but by a couple thousand. If you're unsure if the CO will accept this, it might be on the safe side to seek out the possibility of getting a joint sponsor.