Proof of Relationship - how much?

[drewcaro 0]

My wife and I have been married for over 5 years and have been living in Colombia since then (a year before that in Argentina). Plus we have a 2 1/2 year old daughter. We're living in Colombia until I get a job in the US and/or my wife gets the visa. We just got our NVC Welcome letter and...

The NVC asks for:

1. Financial Documents

Affidavit of Support

IRS Tax Transcript

Federal Income Tax Return

Form W2

Evidence of Income

Proof of Relationship

Proof of US Status

SS Earnings Report

Proof of Assets

2. Supporting Documents

Birth certificates

Marriage certificate

Petitioner Documents

Photocopy of valid passport

Photographs

Police Certificates

Translations

Photocopies

How much of this do I actually need to send? First of all, I haven't had any income in the US since I left over six years ago, so I haven't filed taxes, which I assume that one of my parents could be the "Agent". But Proof of Relationship? Should I send a couple of photos? A hundred? A thousand? Exaggerating here... but do I need to be worrying about getting a bunch of docs together? Will they even look at everything?

Thanks for your advice!

Andrew

[Done--Really 331]

First and foremost, file the back tax returns, or it won't matter what else you provide.

[ChicagoSarah 127]

I'd send all those things, and as mentioned above, you need to file back taxes or provide a letter of why you were legally (according to IRS rules) not required to file taxes during that time. But earning $ abroad doesn't mean you don't have to file, and you'll need tax transcripts during this process.

As for pictures, they're supporting evidence. It sounds like you have tons of other proof together, so I'd send just a handful of photos from across the time you've been together (make sure some are recent).

And be sure to read the forms closely and send originals only if specifically asked to do so...otherwise you may never get them back, and then it's a hassle to replace them.

[Morganalmonshid94 84]

Proof of relationship is referring how the household members if any are being included by doing a i864a are related to you not proof of your relationship with your spouse .

[Morganalmonshid94 84]

As well proof of us status is if you have a co sponsor they need to prove this .

[j&ana 363]

You will most likely need a joint sponsor. The choice of agent is referring to who you will like for the Nvc to contact regarding the petition. So yes if you want the parents to be. However it is probably best if you being the petitioner choose yourself as the agent and when you call ( you will need to call) NVcC to get your case and invoice number you can give them both yours and your spouse e-mail

As some one mention proof of relations is if you use a joint sponsor and they have others in the household and the house hold member is filing out the I-864a.They would need to prove their relationship to the joint sponsor.

As far as your relationship it seems like you and your spouse have been together for quite a while so you should have no trouble proving that when it is time for your interview

For the NVC just send in the require civil documents needed from your spouse

[drewcaro 0]

Hello, I'm returning to this post now with new, more specific questions.

I'm finally at the point of filing back taxes for the last 5 years that I've been away from the US. But my tax attorney said that it'll take between 4-6 months to receive a response (maybe even up to a year). If I wait for this, then my wife can't get her VISA for another year!

I did find this other post that talks about providing some sort of written document that says I didn't need to pay taxes during those years because I didn't make any money (all income in Colombia was made under my wife's name, so I didn't -legally- make anything).

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/548622-proof-of-relationship-how-much/

My question is... how can I move on with this process? My wife and I are ready to move to the US, but this is our only hold up. Ideas? What do I submit for financial history with my I-864? And likewise, for my father/mother as a join sponsor?

Thank you for your help!

[drewcaro 0]

Well, I did some research on VisaJourney and on the Internet and found other people who have had relatively similar issues. This person had the same issue in 2011:

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/309388-what-do-you-do-when-you-file-the-i-864-and-the-petitioner-hasnt-filed-taxes-for-10-years/

And after discovering this page by TurboTax, I found that if we jointly make under US$20,300 a year or as single individual, $10,150, we don't legally have to file taxes. This is good news!

https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/1901490-do-i-need-to-file-a-2014-tax-return-with-the-irs

In the end I will prepare the letter from the VJ post above and submit my i-864 immediately.

Any other thoughts or suggestions? Thanks!

[NikLR 13,220]

If you made no income you weren't required to file taxes.

There is an earning threshold to filing taxes and if you make under it you're not required to file. You simply write a letter and copy the relevant info from the IRS website. So you're correct that you do't need to file taxes.

Do you have a joint sponsor however?