DQ'd But Insufficient Income Issue

[Ben Dover 13]

We received our DQ notice, but also got this message:

The income reported on Form I-864/I-864A is insufficient to overcome the public charge grounds of inadmissibility.... A consular officer will decide if you meet these requirements at the interview.

I suspected this might happen because I worked less than half of last year while caring for a dying parent. As a result, my 2024 tax transcript shows income below the required level.

 

Currently, my salaried job alone provides 50% more than the minimum requirement, and with contract work included, I make about double. I submitted proof of current income (employer letter and pay stubs), but it seems current income isn’t enough without a qualifying tax return.

 

The issue is timing: I won’t have a full-year tax return showing sufficient income until early 2025. My wife will likely be scheduled for a January interview in Manila, but she wouldn’t immigrate until after April anyway (our son finishes middle school in April).

 

My questions:

• Can we choose or delay the interview until February/March so I can present my 2025 tax return?

• Would the new tax return resolve this, or do we still need a joint sponsor?

• Do consular officers focus more on current income or on past tax documents?

 

Thank you for any guidance.

Edited Wednesday at 01:59 PM by Ben Dover

[Crazy Cat 45,054]

Current annual income is king (income expected over the next 12 months). That message is common when a tax return appears low.  If your current annual income is well above the minimum, you are probably fine.  I would not delay the interview. 

Edited Wednesday at 02:30 PM by Crazy Cat

[Boiler 47,773]

No harm having a Joint Sponsor to hand just in case

[pushbrk 13,727]

8 hours ago, Crazy Cat said:

Current annual income is king (income expected over the next 12 months). That message is common when a tax return appears low.  If your current annual income is well above the minimum, you are probably fine.  I would not delay the interview. 

I agree and would add that you certainly can delay the interview, or if there's a financial issue at interview, you can respond afterwards with that new tax return.  My advice is to simply ignore the notice and proceed. Make sure the spouse has a copy of a recent pay stub in hand for the interview.

[From_CAN_2_US 1,138]

4 hours ago, Boiler said:

No harm having a Joint Sponsor to hand just in case

I concur. Manila is by far the slowest consulate out there, and you don't want to be delayed any longer. If the consular officer decides your 2024 income is not sufficient, and asks for a joint sponsor, and she does not have that ready at the interview, she would have to go home, get the documents for cosponsor ready and mail to the consulate, and they can take months to review it and issue a decision. I know you have until April, but such things can make your file fall into a black hole where it is sitting on a shelf somewhere waiting to be looked at. I wouldn't take the chance, and have a co-sponsor ready BEFORE the interview. Don't have to submit it unless asked.

 

Others here, who may be more experienced do think you will be ok without cosponsor, but my philosophy is to always cater for all scenarios in a case such as an CR1/IR1 interview, where a small deficiency can cause HUGE delays. Good luck whatever route you choose to take.

Edited Wednesday at 11:28 PM by From_CAN_2_US

[Ben Dover 13]

Thanks for all the advice. I guess I'll try to line up a co-sponsor just in case. 

[appleblossom 4,747]

11 hours ago, From_CAN_2_US said:

Manila is by far the slowest consulate out there

Things must have changed, it’s pretty quick now! Only 4 months or so from DQ to IL, other consulates are 1-2+ years. 
 

And all consulates can take months to review things that need to be sent in after an interview or complete AP (or years even). That’s not Manila specific. 
 

But yes, I agree that having a joint sponsor just in case would be the most sensible solution. Fingers crossed it won’t be needed but better to be prepared if the OP has a willing family member/friend. 

Edited yesterday at 11:16 AM by appleblossom

[From_CAN_2_US 1,138]

8 hours ago, appleblossom said:

Things must have changed, it’s pretty quick now! Only 4 months or so from DQ to IL, other consulates are 1-2+ years. 

I hadn't realised that, That is certainly a change. Happy to see the improvement.

 

8 hours ago, appleblossom said:

And all consulates can take months to review things that need to be sent in after an interview or complete AP (or years even). That’s not Manila specific. 

This is very true. I interviewed at Montreal and heard of MANY cases in the black hole for months, just because one minor document was missing, so I was paranoid and was hyper prepared for my interview, taking with me any and every document they could possibly ask me for.

[top_secret 2,741]

On 8/27/2025 at 6:57 AM, Ben Dover said:

We received our DQ notice, but also got this message:

The income reported on Form I-864/I-864A is insufficient to overcome the public charge grounds of inadmissibility.... A consular officer will decide if you meet these requirements at the interview.

 

 

Look at that message as advisory.  It means she better come to the interview very well prepared to discuss and document your current income.