Hi guys, sorry to post this but I'm being slightly paranoid about whether I have collected the correct paperwork for my interview on the 30th. Soooo I have the following and have copied everything for the Embassy peeps:

Interview letter
Passports for me and the kids
Receipt (when I pay it)
Birth certificates for me and the kids
Police certificate for me and my eldest
US size passport pics for me and the kids
Solicitors letter about my son and parental responsibility
I-134 Affidavit of Support (question on that, see below)
Employment verification from fiance's workplace showing salary
Fiance's 2010 tax return (question on that, see below)
House appraisal report? Not sure I need that but added it anyway
Copies of immigration stamps in passports for everyone including my fiance
Photographs of us all together on the various visits

The bits I need clarification on are:

1. Do I really need skype records? It's a ridiculous amount of paper covering over two years

2. On the I-134 my fiance's income is just over $29K per year with the added asset of his house. I cannot begin to tell you how bad my maths is and he assures me that is the 125% over the poverty level for all 4 of us...I'm not doubting him but wondered if anyone can reassure me that is a decent figure and I don't need to scramble for a co-sponsor?

3 His 1040 tax return is here too...he wasn't actually earning a decent income last year and that is worrying him. Should that worry us? I figured no as that was last year, not this year and not present which I think is what they would be concerned about?

Thank you again...I'm nearly at the end of this part! PHEW

Nikki

No.

Take a look at form I-864P, that's where the 125% figure comes from. Go to www.uscis.gov, Forms, I-864P. Look at the 125% column for a family of 4. If the income requirement is less than 29K, then you're good to go.

Perhaps. It depends what the ConOff thinks of the situation. What was the reason his income was less last year?

It's true that it's his current income they look at, but they also might look at his employment history and his ability to maintain his level of income. I notice you only have his 2010 tax return handy. Do you have 2009 and 2008 also? Sometimes the ConOff wants to see the most recent 3 years of tax returns, especially if he's got fluctuating income. If his 2009 and 2008 tax returns are good ones (higher income), it will be helpful to show those at the interview....just to show that 2010 was an oddly bad year and his income isn't usually that low.

Rene

Thank you Rene, and thanks for the link. Seems that 4 people is 27K so we are over the limit. YAY. The house is on the I-134 as an asset too.

His income was very poor last year as he had to sell the business he owned (at a horrible loss) and was then sub-contracted by his friend as employment to get him out of a hole as he wasn't able to claim any welfare help. His wages were basically pin money as he was given a house to live in while trying to sell the one we will be living in (thank goodness it didn't sell!)

The three previous tax years will reflect appalling earnings due to the losses incurred on the gas stations. I'm sure he has them but he is really worried they will go against us somehow, and that is his concern for the 2010 tax return too.

I hope that makes sense, the whole tax thing in the USA confuses me lol

OK, then just go with what you've got. My guess is that you'll be OK at the interview.

The house as an asset doesn't do much good if it's the house you'll all be living in. Assets must be able to be liquidated within 12 months with no hardship to the USC. Obviously if he sells the house, it will be a hardship, because you'll need a new place to live.

Rene

I would not be so sure, based on the skimpy information provided.

What is the income from employment? Conversely how much is the house being counted on for to get to $29,000, which is only marginally over the income requirement?

One's home is not the best of assets these days, since assets must be convertible into cash within 1 year without undue hardship to the owner. Selling or re-mortgaging a house to get cash out of it isn't the easiest thing to do these days, and as a practical matter selling one's home at a discount because one needs the money for basic living expenses is usually a last ditch thing to do and is harmful to the owner.

Regards, JEff

Rene - thanks again, you're a star

Jeffrey - his income from his job is just over 29K alone, the house is on top of that, not counted within that 29K...sorry that's my fault as the way I said it seemed like it was included.

Other than that, is all the paperwork correct? I'm not missing something?

Seems OK to me.

Rene

Thanks Rene

OK, with that understood the situation seems much better.

Regards, JEff