Hi amazon and all other friends,
My spouse earns above 13000$ a year as college stipend and last year she used turbo tax to get more return registering as a undergraduate student instead of graduate student. If I add her income to my as she is the intending immigrant, will the tax return cause a problem ? Please help!
If the petitioner does not have sufficient income, they can add a co sponsor. Please see this forum thread:
http://www.mygcvisa.com/forum/default.aspx?g=posts&t=1043
I think question is not about insufficient funds,it is about tax fraud and if it potentially can come out and become grounds for i-485 denial.
so would it be better not to show the income at all when i have a joint sponsor?
[quote=Svitlana;2456]I think question is not about insufficient funds,it is about tax fraud and if it potentially can come out and become grounds for i-485 denial.[/quote]
Thanks Svet. I thought that if his income is not sufficient to file I-864 (after removing the "incorrect tax" income), he may want to go for joint sponsorship.
[quote=butters;2459]so would it be better not to show the income at all when i have a joint sponsor?[/quote]
If the income you are showing has "tax problem", it is better to skip mentioning that when filing I-864 form. After removing this income, if you do not meet the minimum financial criteria, you can go for joint sponsor.
Tip: A joint sponsor has to be US Citizen or permanent residence. http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/menuitem.eb1d4c2a3e5b9ac89243c6a7543f6d1a/?vgnextoid=720b0a5659083210VgnVCM100000082ca60aRCRD&vgnextchannel=720b0a5659083210VgnVCM100000082ca60aRCRD
Tip 2: You can show income from both sponsor and applicant in the form (applicants income is not joint sponsorship but household income). But make sure there is not tax problems (since that means the actual income could be lower than that shown).
Currently IRS and USCIS does not "share" date with each other (as far as I know); though this could change. You should also make sure that her income is reported correctly to IRS.
You may also find these links helpful:
http://www.uscis.gov/files/form/i-864instr.pdf
http://travel.state.gov/visa/immigrants/info/info_3183.html
thx amazon and everyone for the reply. We did not include the documents of spouse income but are also thinking to ammend the tax return filed for last year if they ask the tax documents..
Be careful about what your wife's status is for tax purposes, if she is a non resident or a resident for tax proposes. Usually, she becomes a "resident" after being in the country for 5tax years. If she was a non resident that year, she needs to file a 1040NR which limits the deductions she is entitled to: no standard deduction, no school credits! Furthermore, she cannot file a joint return with you unless there are some special provisions. I think you should contact the center for international programs at her school for advice on how to proceed when amending the returns!
Hope this helps!