Rebecca and Tim

Thanks, so do we - we're glad that today it was our turn for good news and hope that tomorrow is someone else's lucky day.

We were approved today!!

Please add us too:

Rebecca and Tim - New form - NOA1 July 25th - Pending (no touches)

Also anyone else confused by the USCIS timeline saying they're only looking at February applications? Thankfully a lot of you are getting approved faster than that!

Hi, I'm curious: what do London consider to be qualifying income?

It is 125% of the poverty guidelines regardless of which consulate for the I-864. For a household of 2 (you & your immigrating spouse) you need to show $16,500. See the chart and further I-864 information HERE including the new rulings.

Thanks, so my next question is, will my letter from school promising a stipend of $18,000 during the coming year take precedence over the 2005 tax return? Much appreciated (I've bookmarked your I-864 reference).

Well after muchhhhh searching I found this:

18. Which income line from the federal tax return is used for income determination?

The line for gross (total) income on IRS Forms 1040 (line 22 in 1996) and 1040A (line 14 in 1996) is used to determine income. The line for adjusted gross income is used for persons filing IRS Form 1040 EZ (line 4 in 1996).

Thanks for the research. I was pointed explicity to line 37 in Philly, which again goes to show that you can't believe anything you're told in person, you have to find the law. It's frustrating that the DHS employees can be so careless over something that can cost us weeks of time. Glad someone's on the ball. T

Hey all, I'm looking at question 7 on the I-134 Affidavit of Support. I'm a lil stumped as to what to put there as I have my W-2 and tax return saying one thing and a military statement of compensation. As you just read, I am in the military. What do you normally put there? Thanks for any words

I went to the Philly District Office to ask about that, among other things and they said very firmly that it should be the tax return AGI (1040 line 37). This makes sense because your employer's documentation will not account for other factors that make up an AGI like benefits, self-employment income and business expenses (whether you have any of these or not). So the tax return is the most thorough way to go, and I get the impression they like to deal with government documents rather than external ones wherever possible. Good Luck!

Tim

Ok we had the interview. The crazy thing the girl at the desk went through our file and pulled out explanations and other documents related to the Affidavit of Support. She gave them to him and told him, we dont need these for the interview.

Then he goes to the interview and the man says, well based on 2005, your wife does not qualify as a sponsor (I have only been at my job since May 2005 so my income tax reflected only this 1/2 year amount) for my income). However, I had documents indicating my income and verifying my employment for 2006 and that if you total the two together I more than qualify as a sponsor. Plus I had included my assets, which include my clear title of my vehicle. These were all in the papers the girl pulled out and said, you dont need in the interview.

Thus, the officer then marked on the paper stating you need a co sponsor to receive visa.

Hi, I'm curious: what do London consider to be qualifying income? I read that so long as you make 120% of the poverty line (which in Philly is $9,000/single person, unbelievably) you're OK. I'm on a PhD fellowship and had an AGI of around $15,000 in 2005. In practice I make more than this through self-employment but have claimed it all as legitimate business expenses, as I started a piano studio this year and had to buy a piano etc, so it's invisible on my tax return. Am I likely to need a co-sponsor based on your experience in London?

Thanks - please send this info as private message if you don't want to post it!

Tim