Confused by Income Requirements + W-2s

[whyoOhio 0]

My wife is British. We have been married for 2 months at the time of this post but together for 3 years. Until a few days ago, we assumed I would move to be with her in the next few years but then the UK announced a change in income requirements. So I'm starting the research process from scratch. Having our plans disrupted has been very stressful.

We plan on a spouse or family visa so she can move to be with me in the US.

 

I have a couple of questions/concerns.

 

1: I've heard that you need to have three years of tax returns at some point in the process. I have three years of tax returns. Hell, I have 5 years of tax returns.
     but my question is: do you need to have met the income requirements (125%) for all three of those years? 
2: I have a new job that should satisfy the income requirements. Should I wait a year until I get a tax return that reflects my income, or can I somehow prove this income sooner? I am training to be a pharmacy technician. That pay alone meets the income requirements, but I will earn more after getting my license and possibly move to a higher paying job.

3: Lastly, should I start the process now before I get that next tax return? This website and the USCI website are fairly straightforward with the steps....but I won't meet the income requirements, I don't want to be stuck at that file and have to restart.

Any other basic info will be helpful.

 

Some other info in case it's applicable:
Neither of us have kids/criminal records/previous marriages

[Boiler 43,788]

There is at least one known Immigration Lawyer that insists that you need 3 good years. From a practical perspective you say you have one and you will have 2 more before the interview so not an issue either way.

 

US unlike UK also allows joint sponsors.

[powerpuff 6,006]

*** Topic moved from Bringing Family members of US citizens (other than spouse) forum to IR1/CR1 spousal visa forum ***
 

tax returns are not a reflection of current income, they are a reflection of past income. It helps show you have held stable, continuous income but it’s not a requirement that they be above the 125% poverty level.
 

17 hours ago, whyoOhio said:

can I somehow prove this income sooner? I am

Yes, employment verification letter and/or recent pay stubs.

 

17 hours ago, whyoOhio said:

3: Lastly, should I start the process now before I get that next tax return?

Yes, absolutely. Don’t lose valuable time 

[pushbrk 12,250]

It's not clear to me the source of your income.  You cannot qualify based on foreign income, unless it will continue from the same source in the USA.  Starting the process now, means you'll deal with the financial paperwork in about a year.  Between now and then, you may need to make some serious decisions about how you support your family going forward.

 

Please clarify if the current job produces income that will continue from the same source, once you relocate to the USA.

[whyoOhio 0]

53 minutes ago, pushbrk said:

It's not clear to me the source of your income.  You cannot qualify based on foreign income, unless it will continue from the same source in the USA.  Starting the process now, means you'll deal with the financial paperwork in about a year.  Between now and then, you may need to make some serious decisions about how you support your family going forward.

 

Please clarify if the current job produces income that will continue from the same source, once you relocate to the USA.

My profile might be confusing, I thought it would make more sense to put UK in my sidebar since that's where my wife is from and who I'm gathering information for. 

I am a citizen of the United States. My job is in the USA and I don't plan on relocating.
I don't plan on changing jobs unless I get a better offer for the same position, and even then it would be somewhere in my area with no (planned) gaps in employment

[pushbrk 12,250]

15 minutes ago, whyoOhio said:

My profile might be confusing, I thought it would make more sense to put UK in my sidebar since that's where my wife is from and who I'm gathering information for. 

I am a citizen of the United States. My job is in the USA and I don't plan on relocating.
I don't plan on changing jobs unless I get a better offer for the same position, and even then it would be somewhere in my area with no (planned) gaps in employment

UK is the correct thing to have there.  Not sure why I thought you were in the UK with your wife.  Sounds like you'll be good to go then.

 

[Deker1972 9]

You can also add your partners assets when it comes to filing the Affidavit of support (we're doing just that with my house)

[whyoOhio 0]

1 hour ago, Deker1972 said:

You can also add your partners assets when it comes to filing the Affidavit of support (we're doing just that with my house)

One of the reasons I’m so worried about my income being enough is because neither of us have assets that are large enough to make a difference. The assets I have currently are around $21,000 worth (savings + car) and my wife has a lot less. 
 

I also have no one to joint sponsor which I’ve seen a few other people suggest.

 

 

[Boiler 43,788]

3 hours ago, whyoOhio said:

One of the reasons I’m so worried about my income being enough is because neither of us have assets that are large enough to make a difference. The assets I have currently are around $21,000 worth (savings + car) and my wife has a lot less. 
 

I also have no one to joint sponsor which I’ve seen a few other people suggest.

 

 

A car would not work. Unless it was a second one.

[pushbrk 12,250]

You currently have a job with enough income.  It's London, not Mumbai. Stop worrying about anything else related to the affidavit of support besides keeping your job.  You're covered.

[whyoOhio 0]

11 minutes ago, pushbrk said:

You currently have a job with enough income.  It's London, not Mumbai. Stop worrying about anything else related to the affidavit of support besides keeping your job.  You're covered.

hahaha, thanks. Fair enough.