Income requirement for interview

[B&ANZ 134]

I've been spending heaps of time on VJ to try and clear my worries to now avail.

 

We got DQ'd with an FE note saying I do not meet the income requirement to sponsor my husband and the decision will be up to the consulate officer. I was working abroad for 2019 so my income is $0 and the two years prior, I was a graduate student so my income was below the requirement. I started a new job in the US in May and make over 3x the minimum income requirement. 

 

I am having my husband bring in all my payslips, official transcripts to show my bacherlors and masters degrees and to justify my low income for 2017 and 2018, letter from my HR stating my yearly salary, letter from HR stating my husband is able to be on my health insurance plan within 30 days, my NZ tax returns and former offer letter in NZ to show that I am still working in the same industry and my pay is consistent when converted to USD (actually making a few thousand more now since I have more experience), my CV, my husband is bringing his resume as he has certifications and over 12 years of solid work experience in his industry, my bank statements, and my husband's bank statements/tax returns. I have never been on any kind of government assistance and my husband has never been on any kind of government assistance in his country. There is absolutely no way we can get a joint sponsor because my parents do not make enough and we have no one else to ask. 

 

Any help/support, particularly from those who are in a similar position would be greatly appreciated. I really do not want my husband to be denied because I was not in my job long enough to sponsor him

[Binbin22 232]

22 minutes ago, B&ANZ said:

I've been spending heaps of time on VJ to try and clear my worries to now avail.

 

We got DQ'd with an FE note saying I do not meet the income requirement to sponsor my husband and the decision will be up to the consulate officer. I was working abroad for 2019 so my income is $0 and the two years prior, I was a graduate student so my income was below the requirement. I started a new job in the US in May and make over 3x the minimum income requirement. 

 

I am having my husband bring in all my payslips, official transcripts to show my bacherlors and masters degrees and to justify my low income for 2017 and 2018, letter from my HR stating my yearly salary, letter from HR stating my husband is able to be on my health insurance plan within 30 days, my NZ tax returns and former offer letter in NZ to show that I am still working in the same industry and my pay is consistent when converted to USD (actually making a few thousand more now since I have more experience), my CV, my husband is bringing his resume as he has certifications and over 12 years of solid work experience in his industry, my bank statements, and my husband's bank statements/tax returns. I have never been on any kind of government assistance and my husband has never been on any kind of government assistance in his country. There is absolutely no way we can get a joint sponsor because my parents do not make enough and we have no one else to ask. 

 

Any help/support, particularly from those who are in a similar position would be greatly appreciated. I really do not want my husband to be denied because I was not in my job long enough to sponsor him

You will need a sponsor.. if ur taxes For 2019 is below the poverty level.. 

[Crazy Cat 41,979]

Current income is king....not what was reported in previous tax returns (although it can be used by the CO to evaluate the entire picture)...... ..Current income is evidenced by pay stubs, current employment letters, etc.

 

Current weekly pay x 52 = Current annual income

Current monthly pay x 12 = Current annual income

Current pay period x number of pay periods per year = Current annual income

 

 

34 minutes ago, Binbin22 said:

You will need a sponsor.. if ur taxes For 2019 is below the poverty level.. 

Not necessarily.....Current income is the key.

[Binbin22 232]

21 minutes ago, Lucky Cat said:

Current income is king....not what was reported in previous tax returns (although it can be used by the CO to evaluate the entire picture)...... ..Current income is evidenced by pay stubs, current employment letters, etc.

 

Current weekly pay x 52 = Current annual income

Current monthly pay x 12 = Current annual income

Current pay period x number of pay periods per year = Current annual income

 

 

Not necessarily.....Current income is the key.

Thank u lucky cud’s... I say this because my cousin had a job making over 100k when she finished school.. but she was only working for 5 months... they put their case is AP until they could come up with a sponsor.. according to my cousin the CO said her taxes for that year which was 2018 was not enough 

[Crazy Cat 41,979]

1 minute ago, Binbin22 said:

Thank u lucky cud’s... I say this because my cousin had a job making over 100k when she finished school.. but she was only working for 5 months... they put their case is AP until they could come up with a sponsor.. according to my cousin the CO said her taxes for that year which was 2018 was not enough 

Consulate Officer's look at the "whole picture" including past taxes......but enough CURRENT income can help overcome past years' income.

[B&ANZ 134]

15 minutes ago, Binbin22 said:

Thank u lucky cud’s... I say this because my cousin had a job making over 100k when she finished school.. but she was only working for 5 months... they put their case is AP until they could come up with a sponsor.. according to my cousin the CO said her taxes for that year which was 2018 was not enough 

What country was this? I was reading that because NZ is an extremely low fraud country and not many NZers move to the US, we could be ok, but the uncertainty is tough!

[Binbin22 232]

1 hour ago, B&ANZ said:

What country was this? I was reading that because NZ is an extremely low fraud country and not many NZers move to the US, we could be ok, but the uncertainty is tough!

It’s Dominica 🇩🇲.. it’s also a low fraud country.. but then again every CO interprets things differently.. 

[carmel34 3,639]

You should be okay, you were a student for a few years and now you are employed full-time and your current US income is good.  Plus it's NZ so don't worry too much.  Worse case scenario is if they deny based on lack of stable income history, that you then try to find a co-sponsor or wait and try again with more pay stubs.  Check the NZ forum, but I would predict that you will be just fine with what you have.  Good luck!

[pushbrk 12,969]

6 hours ago, Binbin22 said:

It’s Dominica 🇩🇲.. it’s also a low fraud country.. but then again every CO interprets things differently.. 

The Dominican Republic is definitely NOT a "low fraud country" in this context.  If there are four levels of fraud (and there are) Low, Medium, High, and Lagos, then the DR is Medium to High.  How much tends to pretty directly relate the country's economic state, but Western Africa is "special".

 

Also PART of the totality of circumstances includes the employment history and employability of the intending immigrant spouse.

[Binbin22 232]

10 minutes ago, pushbrk said:

The Dominican Republic is definitely NOT a "low fraud country" in this context.  If there are four levels of fraud (and there are) Low, Medium, High, and Lagos, then the DR is Medium to High.  How much tends to pretty directly relate the country's economic state, but Western Africa is "special".

 

Also PART of the totality of circumstances includes the employment history and employability of the intending immigrant spouse.

Dominican Republic and Dominica are two different countries.. 

[pushbrk 12,969]

3 minutes ago, Binbin22 said:

Dominican Republic and Dominica are two different countries.. 

Thanks.  Not sure that makes it different from the DR with regard to fraud, but it's still the totality of circumstances, not just a single issue that prompts a Consular Officer to request a joint sponsor when current income is sufficient.  Still a judgment call.  There is no actual requirement that the most recent tax year income meets the minimum.

[Binbin22 232]

16 minutes ago, pushbrk said:

Thanks.  Not sure that makes it different from the DR with regard to fraud, but it's still the totality of circumstances, not just a single issue that prompts a Consular Officer to request a joint sponsor when current income is sufficient.  Still a judgment call.  There is no actual requirement that the most recent tax year income meets the minimum.

These r two very different countries. Look it up and u will see.. my cousin also was a student for 5 years Pursuing  her doctorate..that was what she was told by the CO and was placed in AP.. I say it’s better to be safe than sorry.. I would get a sponsor... that’s the reason there is a note from NVC 

[pushbrk 12,969]

2 minutes ago, Binbin22 said:

These r two very different countries. Look it up and u will see.. my cousin also was a student for 5 years Pursuing  her doctorate..that was what she was told by the CO and was placed in AP.. I say it’s better to be safe than sorry.. I would get a sponsor... that’s the reason there is a note from NVC 

We'll see what we see, but the same exact note from NVC goes out when using hundreds of thousands in liquid assets.  Totality of circumstances include a lot more things than one tax return.

[Binbin22 232]

2 minutes ago, pushbrk said:

We'll see what we see, but the same exact note from NVC goes out when using hundreds of thousands in liquid assets.  Totality of circumstances include a lot more things than one tax return.

Ok 👍🏿

[Cndn 98]

It is a judgement call, and not earning because you’re a student vs not earning because you’re not employable or hardworking is something the CO will likely consider. Your explanation in regards to your past income is very legit. You were a student and now you’re employed. That’s what the CO is looking for. They’re trying to ascertain if you can support your immigrant spouse in the future. You have a good case. If you’re making enough now you should be fine. Worst case scenario you have to wait and try again after having been working and earning longer. I wouldn’t stress too much.