HeandI

I am so sorry to hear that that happened to you. Take it from me though and forget about him. I'm not stereotyping or anything but most of these men do that down here. A leopard doesn't changes its spots. Thank God that you found out about it before you paid for the paperwork. Noone cheats "by accident" he knew what he was doing. It may hurt now but imagine if he had gotten to America and ran off with that other lady. Again I'm sorry to hear the pain you are going through but don't waste anymore time with him

yes tax reduction will reduce income to help reduce how much taxes is owe. I could be wrong but I believe total income before tax deductions is what is required.

Total income B4 tax, and 1099 for self employed, I would say
sot out wit accountant if in doubt.

Was any of the income from the ex-spouse? The co-sponsor needs to meet the income requirement on their own, for their own household size plus the foreign fiance(e). Since they are self-employed and it is a joint return, I suggest getting a complete copy of the return with all the forms, schedules, 1099s so it clearly shows whose income is whose. If all that income is the USC petitioner's, and that same amount appears on line 22 of his most recent 1040 form, then he should be ok if his household size is just the two of you.

Line 22 is total gross income, before tax. However, it is not before the business deductions shown on Schedule C are taken out. Those reductions reduce the total gross income amount to lower the amount of taxes.