Hi, I have my CR-1 interview next Wednesday (5th Oct) at the US Embassy in London.

My question is to do with the I-864: I am using a joint sponsor and when I submitted all the documents to the NVC we only used the 2010 tax return (as per requirements). In total the tax return shows a gross income of $62k but I just wondered whether I should be taking pay stubs and an employment letter with me?

Any advice greatly appreciated

You say "as per requirements", but the I-864 requires proof of *current* income. Seems NVC passed it on through anyway, but yes, the Joint Sponsor needs to show proof of *current* income, usually done by providing a few recent pay stubs and perhaps a letter from the employer.

The 2010 tax return shows *past* income, which isn't what you need. Yes, you need to bring the 2010 tax returns (and perhaps 2009 and 2008 if the ConOff wants to see them...sometimes they ask for the most recent 3 years). But the actual income they are looking at on the I-864 is the current income amount, so the joint sponsor needs to show proof of that.

Rene

Thanks for quick and informative reply.

The NVC has passed it on but I will still ask the joint sponsor for the 2008/2009 tax returns as well as some recent pay stubs.

If not, I will just have to keep my fingers crossed that what we have will carry sufficient evidential weight.

I would. The 2010 tax year ended more than 9 months ago, we're nearing the end of 2011. A lot of people who were employed in 2010 are, regretably, unemployed today.

Regards, JEff

Recognize what the role of the NVC is - the NVC collects the documents required for the visa application, it does not evaluate them.

The most recent tax return is the only document required to support the I-864. Proof of current income and additional past tax returns become required only if a consular or immigration officer asks for them. Given that the 2010 tax return is getting 'stale', it might be wise to plan on being asked.

Regards, JEff

Hmm my USC husband said he can't get documents for 2011 tax return from the IRS until the end of the tax year, so he can only get them in Jan 2012 How do we get tax docs for 2011?

Basically we have the tax return form he submitted for 2010 (in 2010 he was still working in the UK) and a Foreign Income Tax Exclusion form. He started his new job in USA in July, and so far the only proof of it we have are his work contract and pay stubs, so I'm a bit worried about it.

As you say, you don't get 2011 tax documents until 2012. And they are not required until then, so no problem. Worried about what? You say that he has the documents required to demonstrate current income. Regards, JEff

Beg to disagree -- NVC does evaluate the I-864 for legal sufficiency. That said, they do not evaluate the general "public charge" eligibility -- it is possible, albeit rare, for a legally sufficient I-864 to be submitted and the consul has problems with the public charge provision for other reasons.

Thanks for that clarification. Does "legal sufficiency" mean that the NVC checks that the numbers add up to meet or exceed the financial requirement, in addition to being adequately documented? Or does meeting the financial requirement fall under evaluating the public charge eligibility?

I've seen a fair number of people reporting that the consular officer has required a joint sponsor when the NVC made no mention of it, although those reports have not been here at BE. I.e. the problems have been at IVUs other than London.

Regards, JEff

Thanks to all that have commented, it has been very helpful and I am truly appreciative

I will ask for the tax returns and pay stubs and take these with me to be on the "safe side". Hopefully all goes smoothly, although only being 9 days away the nerves are starting to settle in!