Indygreg

Hello all! I am currently waiting for an approval of an 129f petition
for my fiancee (I got our first NOA from Nebraska on September the 9th)
and it looks like we may have an approval in about a month or two if
they keep up the pace they are going at.



This leads me to this question: I need 3 years tax returns for Thailand
correct? I know all of them are different, but I seem to remember
Bangkok requiring 3 years. It would be great if anyone can answer this.



The second and more important question is this: I don't know if I am
going to need a co sponsor or not.



I am estimating a timeframe of about February or March for her
arrival, however I don't beleive I will have the current years taxes
back by that time. I can certainly file, but I dont think I will get
them back in time.



I have an income of $29,000 in 2001, well over the limits, but in 2002 I
only have an income of $10,000 (it was a bad year) 2003 the current tax
year, my W2's are going to show that I made around $32,000, so I am good
there too.



I also have a co sponsor, but I would rather do it on my own. Do you
think I will be okay with just my W'2's? Or will I need an actual
return? Thanks for any answers!

Simon&Vik

Hey Greg. I'm in Indiana too, while hubby's in the UK.



Anyway, they care about your current income. I would include the tax
returns, as that's what they seem to ask for. But they also require 2
letters from your employer stating how much you make. That will count
for a lot too, I would assume...

Lpdiver

Two letters? Is that a consulate specific item...this is news to me!!!



Originally posted by Simon&Vik

    > Hey Greg. I'm in Indiana too, while hubby's in the UK.


Anyway, they care about your current income. I would include the tax
returns, as that's what they seem to ask for. But they also require 2
letters from your employer stating how much you make. That will count
for a lot too, I would assume...

Simon&Vik

Originally posted by lpdiver

Two letters? Is that a consulate specific item...this is news to me!!!
In the directions for I-134, it says 2 copies of a letter from
your employer, bank, and other evidence of assests...

Lpdiver

Ahhh COPIES...whew...you had me in a last minute panick for a second
there. I have four originals!





Originally posted by Simon&Vik

In the directions for I-134, it says 2 copies of a letter from your
employer, bank, and other evidence of assests...

Secretgarden

Originally posted by lpdiver

    > Ahhh COPIES...whew...you had me in a last minute panick for a second
    > there. I have four originals!



LOL! Me too! and about eight color photocopies.......



~SG and Mr. Pink

(interview on Tuesday!)

Indygreg

Originally posted by Simon&Vik

    > Hey Greg. I'm in Indiana too, while hubby's in the UK.


    > Anyway, they care about your current income. I would include the tax
    > returns, as that's what they seem to ask for. But they also require 2
    > letters from your employer stating how much you make. That will count
    > for a lot too, I would assume...





Ahh yes, I understand it is the current year. But I beleive I read that
it had to be a copy of a filed return, not just a W2. I hope that I get
my W2's and file quickly.



Okay, so I need one letter from my employer, but two copies of it?



Also, I have my bank statements for the last six months, hopefully this
works good enough. They charge $10 for replacement statments and it
takes 4 to 6 weeks to get them.



Thanks for the help, but I am still a bit mystified! Have you already
got you spouse here?

Simon&Vik

You need 2 *original* copies of the letters. (AKA not just a
photocopy.)



I don't know if just the bank statements are good enough. My
understanding is that they need a total of all deposits made for the
year, which if you have 6 months of statements, you're not going to have
that total for them.



This is something someone posted here as templates. (I saved them and
used them.)



This is what my employer wrote:



To whom it may concern:

Ms. XXXXXXX has been in continuous permanent employment with XXXXXX for
the past 14 years. Her current salary is XXXXX without retirement
contributions and XXXXX including retirement contributions. Her
position is tenured, full time, and permanent. Please feel free to
contact XXXXXXX if more information is required. etc etc



and this is basically what the bank wrote:



Ms. XXXXX has both checking and savings accounts with our institution,
which were opened on XXXXXX. The present balance in Ms. XXXX's
checking account ( number ) is XXXX , and the present balance in the
savings account (number) is XXXXXX. Total amounts deposited for the
last year are as follows:

list amount checking

list amount savings

Please don't hesitate to contact us if we can be of further
assistance.



And no, my husband isn't here yet. But it's getting closer!

Indygreg

Originally posted by Simon&Vik

    > You need 2 *original* copies of the letters. (AKA not just a
    > photocopy.)



    > And no, my husband isn't here yet. But it's getting closer!
    >





Much clearer now! Thank you so much and I hope your husband gets to you
quickly. Is it just me or does all this seem a tad bit too much? My
god they are prying into our lives. I don't see why they need more than
the filed tax returns!

Jeffreyhy

Vik,



You have either mis-information or post-specific information.



Two 'original' copies of an employment letter are not universally
required.



Bank statements are often fine, if required, but unless using assets in
lieu of income neither bank statements nor totals (or lists) of deposits
are universally required.



It is often best to find out what information is required for the DS-
2000 (evidence to meet the public charge provisions of the law) from the
particular post involved. In Bangkok, the post of interest to IndyGreg,
my personal experience is that bank statements or bank letters are not
required when there is evidence of sufficient income.



Regards, JEff



Originally posted by Simon&Vik

    > You need 2 *original* copies of the letters. (AKA not just a
    > photocopy.)


    > I don't know if just the bank statements are good enough. My
    > understanding is that they need a total of all deposits made for the
    > year, which if you have 6 months of statements, you're not going to
    > have that total for them.


    > ...