K1 Visa - I-134 Declaration of Financial Support

[Xgwint1014 0]

Hello,

 

I am currently preparing Form I-134 for my fiancé’s upcoming K-1 visa interview in Jamaica and would appreciate your guidance regarding financial eligibility.

 

My household size is three, including myself, my minor child, and my fiancé. On my 2025 tax return, my adjusted gross income (AGI) was $23,696, which I understand may be below the recommended threshold for a household of this size. However, this figure does not reflect my current earning capacity.

 

I currently hold two positions. My primary job provides an annual salary of $85,000, and my secondary job pays $33 per hour at approximately 40 hours per week. I began my primary position mid-year in 2025 following maternity leave after the birth of my child in late 2024, which contributed to the lower reported AGI.

 

As of February 2026, I have been out of work due to a job-related injury and am currently receiving workers’ compensation benefits. I remain employed and expect to return to work once medically cleared.

 

Given these circumstances, could you advise on the best way to demonstrate sufficient financial support for purposes of the I-134, particularly when prior tax returns do not accurately reflect current income? Additionally, please let me know what supporting documentation you would recommend submitting in this situation.

 

Thank you for your time and assistance.

[Boiler 48,824]

Joint Sponsor would be the most secure and safest option.

 

The I 134 is no biggie, some Consulates are very lax about it as it is not binding, now the I 864 is and that is the one you need to be set up for. I do not know how Kingston? look at the I 134.

[pushbrk 14,433]

Your current income is king here.  In my opinion, no need for a joint sponsor.  Your AGI is not the number shown on the I-134 though.  While the number is often the same, you use the "total income" not AGI.  For current income, state your current income of way over 100k.  Calculate it using gross pay for a full pay period, times the number of pay periods in a whole year.  Add those two figures together and that is your current income.  Document it with the copies of the pay stubs you used to calculate it.

 

Once you file to adjust status, you do the same. Perhaps you will have filed a new tax return by then.

 

"Joint sponsor" takes about two seconds for me to type, but securing one, asking them to disclose the information, then complete and sign an I-134 is a much bigger deal. Even a bigger deal for the binding I-864.  Expect success based on your actual current income.

[Xgwint1014 0]

12 minutes ago, pushbrk said:

Your current income is king here.  In my opinion, no need for a joint sponsor.  Your AGI is not the number shown on the I-134 though.  While the number is often the same, you use the "total income" not AGI.  For current income, state your current income of way over 100k.  Calculate it using gross pay for a full pay period, times the number of pay periods in a whole year.  Add those two figures together and that is your current income.  Document it with the copies of the pay stubs you used to calculate it.

 

Once you file to adjust status, you do the same. Perhaps you will have filed a new tax return by then.

 

"Joint sponsor" takes about two seconds for me to type, but securing one, asking them to disclose the information, then complete and sign an I-134 is a much bigger deal. Even a bigger deal for the binding I-864.  Expect success based on your actual current income.

I just don’t have any current pay stubs because I have been on workers comp.
 

 

Is it true that I can use my W2s for last year’s tax income? Instead of my actually 1040? Because on my W2 I’m way over the qualified income. 

[pushbrk 14,433]

5 minutes ago, Xgwint1014 said:

I just don’t have any current pay stubs because I have been on workers comp.
 

 

Is it true that I can use my W2s for last year’s tax income? Instead of my actually 1040? Because on my W2 I’m way over the qualified income. 

 

Well then, that's a completely different story.  Holding a position and being currently employed seem to be different things.  No, you cannot use W2s instead of a tax return.  When will you be back to work and have pay stubs?  It might be wise to wait until your facts match my advice.

[rbv_shard 96]

On 3/28/2026 at 6:32 PM, Xgwint1014 said:

I just don’t have any current pay stubs because I have been on workers comp.
 

 

Is it true that I can use my W2s for last year’s tax income? Instead of my actually 1040? Because on my W2 I’m way over the qualified income. 

Why is there a discrepancy between the two?  Normally the tax return will show more total income than the W2, because it includes the W2 plus other sources such as 1099-INT or 1099-B.  Are they from different years?  Are you looking at taxable income (after deductions) instead of total income?

[Xgwint1014 0]

4 minutes ago, rbv_shard said:

Why is there a discrepancy between the two?  Normally the tax return will show more total income than the W2, because it includes the W2 plus other sources such as 1099-INT or 1099-B.  Are they from different years?  Are you looking at taxable income (after deductions) instead of total income?

On the 1040 form, I’m going off my AGI. I’m not sure why my W2 is higher. Maybe it’s before taxes, HSA, etc. plus I was also self employed for another job. 

[rbv_shard 96]

14 minutes ago, Xgwint1014 said:

On the 1040 form, I’m going off my AGI. I’m not sure why my W2 is higher. Maybe it’s before taxes, HSA, etc. plus I was also self employed for another job. 

@pushbrk said you should use Total Income (line 9) not AGI (line 11).  And definitely not Line 15 which is taxable income.  On the W-2 are you primarily looking at Box 1 (compensation) or Box 3 (Social security wages)?

Edited Monday at 01:34 AM by rbv_shard

[Xgwint1014 0]

2 minutes ago, rbv_shard said:

@pushbrk said you should use Total Income (line 9) not AGI (line 11).  And definitely not Line 15 which is taxable income.  On the W-2 are you primarily looking at Box 1 (compensation) or Box 3 (Social security wages)?

Line 9 & 11 equal the same amount. 
 

im looking at box 1. 

[rbv_shard 96]

Just now, Xgwint1014 said:

Line 9 & 11 equal the same amount. 
 

im looking at box 1. 

And you're looking at W-2 and 1040 both for 2025 (i.e. the one you received in January 2026 and the one you filed between then and now?)

Does the number from the W-2 appear on line 1a of the Form 1040 and feed into line 1z?  Maybe line 8 is large and negative if the self-employment had a new loss.  If a negative Line 8 doesn't explain the difference between W2 compensation and Line 9 on the 1040, you might need to double-check that the 1040 math is done right.

[pushbrk 14,433]

1 hour ago, rbv_shard said:

@pushbrk said you should use Total Income (line 9) not AGI (line 11).  And definitely not Line 15 which is taxable income.  On the W-2 are you primarily looking at Box 1 (compensation) or Box 3 (Social security wages)?

The W2 itself is not relevant to the affidavit of support, even if some of the numbers may be the same. I'm using the I-864 criteria, which is what the Consular Officer will consider.   When asked about any number from a past tax return, it is the Total Income number unless you filed using the 1040EZ. In that case it is AGI.  It is often true the Total Income and AGI are the same number but use the Total  income number.

[pushbrk 14,433]

1 hour ago, rbv_shard said:

@pushbrk said you should use Total Income (line 9) not AGI (line 11).  And definitely not Line 15 which is taxable income.  On the W-2 are you primarily looking at Box 1 (compensation) or Box 3 (Social security wages)?

Again, the W2, is not relevant to the Affidavit of Support.  Total income from a tax return, and pay stub for current income.  Tax returns are about the past, not the present.