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Timestamp: 2016-10-28 06:24:53
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ILW.COM - immigration news: State Cable On Revised Form I-864 Requirements
Revised Requirements for Form I-864 ProcessingUNCLAS STATE 051172
302243Z MAR 06FM SECSTATE WASHDCTO ALL DIPLOMATIC AND CONSULAR POSTS COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATEAMEMBASSY GEORGETOWN IMMEDIATE
SUBJECT: REVISED REQUIREMENTS FOR FORM I-864 PROCESSING
REF: STATE 022685
1. Reftel described changes in requirements for demonstrating asponsor's means to maintain income at a level that establishesthat the visa applicant is not ineligible under INA 212(a)(4).The Department has identified further, related changes inrequirements regarding Form I-864 processing. For ease ofreference, this cable follows the same format as reftel, witheach paragraph and FAM note that contains revised guidanceclearly marked at the beginning of that section with the word"REVISED" in brackets. This cable supersedes reftel in itsentirety.
2. Summary. Effective immediately, sponsors filing an I-864are required to submit only their Federal tax return for theirmost recent tax year, current as of the date of execution of theI-864. The I-864 will remain valid indefinitely absent otherevidence of failure to meet the public charge provisions of thelaw and should be evaluated based on the poverty guidelines ineffect on the date of filing with NVC or with post. [NOTE:Reftel had indicated that poverty guidelines in effect as of thedate of signing would apply. Instead, posts are to consider theguidelines in effect as of the date the I-864 is submitted.]Updated tax returns should not be requested absent positiveevidence of public charge issues. The sponsor signature on FormI-864 does not need to be notarized since the sponsor is signingunder penalty of perjury. Photocopies of Form I-864 that aresubmitted for derivative applicants do not require an originalsignature or notarization. [NOTE: Reftel had included existing9 FAM language, requiring notarized signatures on an original I-864 and an original signature on each photocopy. The newguidance is consistent with current DHS requirements.] Posts arereminded that there are some circumstances in which the I-864 isnot required. (For these exceptions, see 9 FAM 40.41 N3.4, 9 FAM40.41 N3.4-2, 9 FAM 40.41 N3.4-3,and 9 FAM 40.41 N4.6-3.) Endsummary.
3. DHS has recently changed its guidance on handling I-864Affidavits of Support. To make Department and DHS guidanceconsistent, and our requirements more immediately useful, theDepartment is changing some of the requirements that apply indeterminations of whether a sponsor filing a Form I-864,"Affidavit of Support Under Section 213A of the Act", hasdemonstrated the means to maintain income at a level toestablish that an immigrant visa applicant is not excludable asa public charge. Previously, a sponsor was required to providecopies of Federal income tax returns for the three most recenttaxable years as of the filing of the visa application, alongwith evidence of current employment. Posts required updatedincome information for the sponsor if the Form I-864 had beenfiled more than one year prior to the visa interview. Consularofficers determined whether a sponsor's income was sufficient byconsidering the Federal poverty guidelines in effect at the timeof visa adjudication.
4. [REVISED] Effective immediately, income as of the time theForm I-864 was signed should be considered on the basis of thepoverty guidelines that were in effect when the Form I-864 wassubmitted in support of an immigrant visa application. Thesponsor is required to submit with their I-864 an IRS transcriptor photocopy of only the most recent Federal income tax return.However, the sponsor may, at his or her option, submit Federalincome tax returns for the three most recent years if thesponsor believes these additional tax returns may help establishthe sponsor's ability to maintain his or her household income atthe applicable threshold set forth in the poverty guidelines.Note that the sponsor, by signing the Form I-864 under penaltyof perjury, certifies that the transcript or photocopy is trueand correct. This certification meets the statutory requirementof presenting a "certified" copy and, per 28 U.S.C. 1746, therequirement that the affidavit of support be sworn or affirmedbefore a notary, consular officer, or immigration officer.Posts should not require an employment letter except in caseswhere there is a specific reason to question the veracity of theincome stated. The consular officer is to determine whether theincome stated by the sponsor and documented in the tax returnand any other evidence meets the poverty guidelines in effect asof the time of the I-864 was filed with NVC or with post. If theconsular officer determines either that the sponsor's income asof the time the I-864 was signed does not meet the guidelines orthat the facts of the case, as supported by evidence in therecord, provide a specific reason other than the passage oftime, then they should request current year income informationand base the determination of the sufficiency of the I-864 uponthe additional evidence as it relates to the poverty guidelinesfor the current year. In addition, the Department has determinedthat the validity of the I-864 should be considered indefinite,starting from the date the sponsor signs it. Post will no longerbe required to ask for new affidavits or updated tax returnssimply due to long processing delays between the date ofsignature and the date of the visa interview. Detailed guidanceregarding the new requirements will be published in 9 FAM 40.41N5.1, 9 FAM 40.41 N5.4, 9 FAM 40.41 PN2.10-2, 9 FAM 40.41 PN3, 9FAM 42.73 PN3.4, and 9 FAM 40.41 Exhibit I.
5. Section 213A(f)(6)(A)(i) of the Immigration and NationalityAct (INA) provides that a sponsor must submit certified copiesof the sponsor's three most recent Federal income tax returns.However, section 213A(f)(6)(B) of the INA provides the Secretaryof State with the discretionary authority to limit thesubmission of Federal income tax returns, made in connectionwith a visa application, to the most recent taxable year. TheSecretary's authority is delegated to the Assistant Secretary ofState for Consular Affairs pursuant to State DepartmentDelegation No. 74, as amended. Likewise, INA 213A(f)(6)(B)extends the exercise of this discretionary authority to theSecretary of Homeland Security in connection with adjustment ofstatus cases.
6. The Assistant Secretary for CA, in keeping with hercommitment to improving visa processing, via this cable invokesher discretionary authority to adopt the Federal income taxreturn limitation provided for at INA 213A(f)(6)(B). Similarly,the Secretary of Homeland Security has exercised his authorityunder this section to limit the tax return filing requirementfor I-864 adjustment cases to the most recent federal tax returnas of the date the Form I-864 was signed. This applies to allpetitioning sponsors, as well as substitute or joint sponsorssigning a Form I-864 for an adjustment of status case.
7. [REVISED] DHS recently published a policy memorandum thatreports the change regarding the tax return requirement andprovides clarification as to how USCIS officers are to determinethe sufficiency of a Form I-864. The policy memorandum will beincorporated into 8 CFR 213a via a separate rulemaking. Thememorandum provides that USCIS officers should judge incomeinformation provided as of the date the Form I-864 was signedagainst the poverty guidelines in effect at the time the I-864was filed in support of an adjustment of status application. DHSfurther provided that a Form W-2 or Form 1099 is no longerrequired if the copy of the tax return submitted is an IRS-generated transcript. In cases where the sponsor has provided aphotocopy of the tax return and it is missing either a Form W-2or Form 1099, USCIS has given its officers the authority todecide whether it is necessary to require the W-2 or 1099, ifthe record taken as a whole, establishes that information on thetax return is true and correct. 8 CFR 213a(c)(ii)(2) requires asponsor and any other person whose income is being used toqualify to attach evidence of current employment, reflectingsalary or wages, evidence of current self-employment, or thesponsor's statement regarding the length of unemployment orretirement. 9 FAM 40.41 N5.4 (a)(3) has advised consularofficers of this requirement. However, the CIS policymemorandum states a change: if the information on the tax returnestablishes that the sponsor's current income meets the povertyguidelines for the year the sponsor signed the Form I-864, theadjudicator shall determine that the Form I-864 is sufficientwithout requesting any further documentation, such as morerecent evidence of employment or income, unless there is aspecific reason (other than the passage of time) to questionwhether the evidence of income is still reliable. Additionalevidence (i.e., employment letter(s), pay stub(s), or otherfinancial data) should be requested in two specific situations:one, the tax return reflects income that does not meet thepoverty guidelines as of the time of filing and the record doesnot already contain additional evidence that the sponsor meetsthe current income requirements or, two, the facts of the case,as supported by the evidence in the record, provide a specificreason (other than the passage of time) to believe that thesponsor's income is no longer sufficient. In either of thesesituations, the adjudicator shall request current incomeinformation and determine from the additional evidence whetherthe I-864 is sufficient under the poverty guidelines in effectat the time of adjudication.
8. [REVISED] In addition to the change in the number of taxreturns, the Department is revising other I-864 requirements,consistent with the DHS policy memorandum. Consular officersshould no longer refuse applicants under INA 221(g) for failingto provide the three most recent federal tax returns. Thesponsor's most recent Federal tax return as of the date the FormI-864 is signed (not the date of the Immigrant Visa application)is the only one necessary. The consular officer should determinewhether or not the income on the most recent tax return, at thetime of the sponsor signing the AOS, is sufficient to meet thepoverty guidelines that were in effect at the time that the FormI-864 was submitted in support of the Immigrant Visaapplication. If the case was processed through NVC, this wouldbe the time the AOS was submitted to NVC. If the information onthe tax return establishes that the sponsor's income meets thepoverty guidelines for the year the I-864 was filed, theconsular officer should determine that the I-864 is sufficientwithout requesting any further evidence. However, the consularofficer may require additional evidence of income in cases wherethe consular officer concludes either that the incomeinformation fails to meet the standards as of the time the I-864was signed, or there is a specific reason other than the passageof time for the consular officer to question whether the incomeinformation provided in the I-864 or other supporting documentsis accurate. These and other changes are contained in the FAMnotes, procedural notes, and exhibit, which follow.
9. The following FAM notes will be amended to reflect the newpolicy.
Text of amended FAM Notes:
9 FAM 40.41 N5.1 Affidavit of Support Packet[REVISION TO (d)]a. The documents listed below, make up the affidavit ofsupport packet and are designed to assist the sponsor'sunderstanding and proper completion of the affidavit of supportrequired by INA 213A:(1) Form I-864, Affidavit of Support Under Section 213A of theAct;(2) Current Federal Poverty Guidelines;(3) Form I-864A, Contract Between Sponsor and HouseholdMembers;(4) Form I-865, Sponsor's Notice of Change of Address; and(5) Checklist for preparing the Form I-864.b. The National Visa Center (NVC) will include the checklist andother documents in the Instruction Package for Immigrant VisaApplicants, indicating the supporting documents required withthe Form I-864. Posts may reproduce the checklist for local useand include it with the Forms I-864 that are distributedlocally. Posts should also, when possible, make it availablethrough websites and information units. Posts must maintainupdated poverty guidelines and ensure that they are includedwith all affidavit of support forms. NVC and posts should alsomake sponsors aware of the fact that their income must meet thepoverty guidelines at the time of AOS filing with NVC or withpost.c. This documentation, supported by items listed in 9 FAM40.41 N5.1, constitutes the primary (but not sole) evidence forestablishing eligibility under INA 212(a)(4)(C) for thosecategories specified in 9 FAM 40.41 N3.2 above, and establishesthe sponsor's income and, if need be, assets.d. The validity of the Form I-864 is indefinite from the timethe sponsors and contributing household members have signed theForms I-864 and I-864A. The affidavit of support is based on theFederal Poverty Guidelines in effect at the time of itssubmission in support of an Immigrant Visa application. 9 FAM40.41 N5.4 describes circumstances in which additionaldocumentation and/or consideration of income on the basis of thecurrent poverty guidelines may be necessary at post. Newlyissued poverty guidelines generally become effective for INA213A affidavit purposes at the beginning of the second monthafter being published in the Federal Register. However, youmust review the text of the Federal Register notice to determinethe exact date on which new poverty guidelines become effective.
9 FAM 40.41 N5.4 Supporting Evidence Must Be Submitted with FormI-864, Affidavit of Support Under Section 213A of the Act[REVISED]a. The sponsor(s) must provide the following documentation tosatisfactorily complete Form I-864, Affidavit of Support UnderSection 213A of the Act:(1) Sponsor's Federal income tax return for the sponsor's mostrecent tax year:(a) Each sponsor must submit with the I-864 a photocopy or IRS-generated transcript of the most recent income tax return thatthe sponsor had filed prior to the time of the AOS signing. Aperson may obtain a free IRS-generated transcript by filing IRSForm 4506-T. Ordinarily, the sponsor's signature on the Form I-864 is sufficient to qualify the photocopy or transcript as a"certified" copy. In those cases where you question thesubmitted tax return or transcript, you may require the sponsorto submit an IRS-certified copy of the tax return. A personobtains an IRS-certified copy by submitting IRS Form 4506, andpaying the requisite filing fee. In such cases, you shouldgenerally require that the sponsor have the IRS-certified copysent directly to post by the IRS. The sponsor should ask theIRS to include the applicant's name and case number on the formso that it can be readily attached to the correct file uponreceipt at post. You may not require IRS-certified copies of taxreturns of all sponsors prior to review of the submitted taxreturn. IRS-certified copies may only be required on a case-by-case basis when you question the validity of the submitted taxreturn.(b) Failure to file a required income tax return does notexcuse the sponsor from the requirement for tax returns assupporting documents. If a tax return should have been filed,the affidavit will not be considered sufficient until thesponsor has done so and supplied the appropriate copies forconsideration with the Form I-864, Affidavit of Support UnderSection 213A of the Act. If the income requirement cannot bemet, but the sponsor claims to have under-reported his or herincome, an amended return will be necessary. (NOTE: A consularofficer does not have the authority to require an individual topay taxes or correctly report income. You may, however, adviseapplicants or sponsors that an original or amended tax returnwill be required in order to process the immigrant visaapplication to conclusion).(c) If a photocopy of a tax return provided by the sponsorlists income that should have been reflected in a Form W-2 orForm 1099, but such form was not submitted to post with the taxreturn and I-864, you should consider the record, taken as awhole, and determine whether it establishes that information onthe tax return is true and correct. If you conclude that theinformation is true and correct, it is not necessary to requirea copy of the W-2 or 1099. Further, in cases where the copy ofthe tax return is an IRS-generated transcript, it is notnecessary to require a copy of the W-2 or 1099.(2) Tax returns of other household members: If the sponsor isrelying on income from any household member or dependents [asdefined at 40.41 N7.1 below] to reach the minimum incomerequirement, an IRS-issued transcript or a copy of each suchindividual's most recent tax return is also required, and eachsuch person must complete a Form I-864A, Contract BetweenSponsor and Household member;(3) Employment evidence:(a) Except as provided in 9 FAM 40.41 N5.4(a)(3)(c) and (d),below, if the information on the Affidavit of Support and taxreturn establish that the sponsor's current income meets orexceeds the poverty guidelines for the year the sponsorsubmitted the Form I-864 in support of the Immigrant Visaapplication, either by submitting to NVC directly or to post atthe time of application, you must determine that the Form I-864is sufficient without requesting any further evidence. See 9 FAM40.41 Exhibit I, "Poverty Income Guidelines."(b) If the Affidavit of Support or tax return reflects incomebelow the poverty guidelines for the year the Form I-864 wassubmitted, you should request additional evidence of currentemployment or self-employment, such as: recent pay statements, aletter from the employer on business letterhead - showing datesof employment, wages paid, and type of work performed - or otherfinancial data. If the sponsor with income below the povertyguidelines is unemployed or retired, you should request evidenceof ongoing income from other means, such as retirement benefits,other household members' income, or other significant assets.(c) You should request additional evidence (i.e., employmentletter, recent pay statements, or other financial data) only ifthere is a specific reason (other than the passage of time) toquestion the veracity of the income stated on the Form I-864 orthe accompanying document(s).(d) If you determine either that the tax return and/oradditional evidence in the file do not establish that thesponsor meets the poverty guidelines in effect at the time theI-864 was filed, or that the facts of the case, as supported byevidence in the record, provide a specific reason other than thepassage of time for questioning whether the sponsor's incomeinformation is accurate or still meets the guidelines, youshould request current year income information. In thissituation, the sufficiency of the Form I-864 is determined basedupon the additional evidence as it relates to the applicablepoverty guidelines for the current year, rather than the povertyguidelines for the calendar year in which the sponsor signed theForm I-864.b. Tax-free income (such as a housing allowance for clergy ormilitary personnel) and other tangible benefits in lieu ofsalary are considered income. The sponsor bears the burden ofproving the nature and amount of income.c. Assembling the documents is the sponsor's responsibility. Ifthe Form I-864, Affidavit of Support Under Section 213A of theAct, and supporting documents are incomplete or poorlyassembled, the post must refuse the applicant under INA 221(g)and return the entire package to the applicant with a copy ofthe checklist.
9 FAM 40.41 EXHIBIT IPOVERTY INCOME GUIDELINES[REVISED]Poverty guidelines are published annually by the Department ofHealth and Human Services (HHS). The guidelines are asimplified version of the poverty thresholds used by the CensusBureau to prepare statistical estimates of the number of personsand families living in poverty. Applicants who can't meet theapplicable minimum poverty guideline threshold are ineligiblefor visa issuance under INA 212(a)(4)(C).NOTE: The 2006 guidelines should be considered indeterminations of whether a Form I-864 submitted on or afterMarch 1, 2006 meets the minimum federal poverty guidelinethreshold. In cases in which the sponsor has filed the Form I-864 prior to March 1, 2006, consider the guidelines that were ineffect at the time of submission. 9 FAM 40.41 N5.4(a)(3)(d)describes circumstances where a poverty guideline determinationbased on income as of the signing of the Form I-864 should befollowed by a determination based on current income informationand current guidelines.[The exhibit will now contain the guidelines for the five mostrecent years. There are no changes to "WHO NEEDS FORM I-864,AFFIDAVIT OF SUPPORT UNDER SECTION 213A OF THE ACT?" and "WHICHAPPLICANTS FOR FAMILY-BASED IMMIGRANT VISAS DO NOT NEED THE I-864, AFFIDAVIT OF SUPPORT UNDER SECTION 213A OF THE ACT?"]
CHECKLIST FOR PREPARING THE FORM I-864, AFFIDAVIT OF SUPPORTUNDER SECTION 213A OF THE ACT
Documents must be submitted in the following order:a. Petitioner's Documents-Form I-864, Affidavit of SupportUnder Section 213A of the Act. The petitioner in family-basedimmigrants, or the employment-based immigrants where a relativefiled the petition or has ownership interest (5% or more) in thepetitioning entity, or a joint sponsor must complete a Form I-864, Affidavit of Support Under Section 213A of the Act.(1) All pages in correct order, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 andstapled together.(2) Each page filled out completely.(3) Part 7 signed by the petitioner or, for employment cases, bythe relative) (not required to be notarized).(4) Photocopy or IRS transcript of the most recent federal taxreturn with all supporting schedules that the sponsor had filedprior to the time of AOS signing. The return must have all pagesin the correct order and must be stapled together.(5) If you did not have to file a tax return, attach a writtenexplanation and a copy of the instructions from the InternalRevenue Service publication that shows you were not obligated tofile. (For information on most income tax obligations visit theIRS website.)(6) If assets are needed to meet the minimum incomerequirement:(a) Evidence of assets with a cash value that equals at leastfive times the difference between your total household incomeand the poverty guideline for your household size (see chartbelow):
Example for a Household of 4:
125% Poverty Guideline $24,188 (2005)Sponsor's Income $18,000Difference $6,188Multiply by 5 X 5Minimum Required Cash Value of Assets $30,940
(b) Evidence of ownership, location, and the value of eachasset;(c) Evidence of liens, mortgages, and liabilities for eachasset (if any); and(d) When required under 9 FAM 40.41 N5.4(a)(3), evidence ofcurrent employment or self-employment, such as a recent paystatement or a statement from your employer on businessstationery, showing beginning date of employment, type of workperformed, and salary or wages paid.b. Joint Sponsor's Documents (if required):Form I-864, Affidavit of Support Under Section 213A of the Act:Must be completed by a joint sponsor if the petitioner's incomedoes not meet the 125% income requirement.The joint sponsor:Must meet the same qualifications as the petitioner and submitthe same documentation as noted in (a) Petitioner's Documentsabove.
NOTE: The petitioner must also submit a Form I-864, Affidavit ofSupport Under Section 213A of the Act.
c. Household members whose income and assets are to beconsidered:A separate Form I-864A, Contract Between Sponsor and HouseholdMember must be completed for each household member whose incomeand assets are to be considered.(1) Each page must be filled out completely and stapledtogether.(2) All tax, employment, and asset documents must be assembledin the same manner as the sponsor's (see above) and attached tothe correct Form I-864A Contract Between Sponsor and HouseholdMember.(3) Proof of U.S. citizenship or lawful permanent resident(LPR) status must be attached.(4) Part 2 and Part 5 must be completed by sponsor (not requiredto be notarized).(5) Part 3 or Part 4 and Part 6 must be completed by thehousehold member (not required to be notarized).d. Documents for the Principal Immigrant and AccompanyingDependents:(1) Principal Applicant:(a) Original Form I-864, Affidavit of Support Under Section213A of the Act and Form I-864A, Contract Between Sponsor andHousehold Member (if needed), must be signed (not required to benotarized).(b) The sponsor's most recent Federal income tax return filedprior to the time of the I-864 signing is needed for eachprincipal immigrant.(2) Accompanying Dependents:(a) Each dependent must have a signed (not required to benotarized) Form I-864 Affidavit of Support Under Section 213A ofthe Act and Form I-864A, Contract Between Sponsor and HouseholdMember if needed.(b) Copies of the principal's Form I-864 Affidavit of SupportUnder Section 213A of the Act and Form I-864A Contract BetweenSponsor and Household Member may be used (photocopies ofsignaturesand notarizations will be accepted).(c) Copies of supporting documents are not required fordependents applying for visas or adjustment of status togetherwith the principal immigrant. Information about the PovertyIncome Guidelines can be found in 9 FAM 40.41 Exhibit I.Sponsors and visa applicants can find the current povertyguidelines in the Visa Information for Permanent Immigrantssection of http://travel.state.gov.
9 FAM 40.41 PN2.10-2 When Sponsor Cannot Provide Income TaxReturns
If the sponsor is unable to provide a Federal income tax returnfor the most recent taxable year at the time of the I-864signing, he or she must provide a valid explanation. Failure tofile does not excuse the sponsor from the requirement. If a taxreturn should have been filed, the affidavit will not beconsidered sufficient until the sponsor has done so and suppliedthe appropriate copy for consideration with Form I-864,Affidavit of Support Under Section 213A of the Act. If thedeclared income does not meet the 125 percent income requirementbut the sponsor claims to have underreported his or her income,an amended return will be necessary for the affidavit to beconsidered sufficient. (NOTE: You do not have the authority torequest and/or require an individual to pay taxes or correctlyreport income to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). You mayadvise applicants or sponsors that an original or amended taxreturn will be required in order to process an immigrant visapetition to conclusion, however.)
9 FAM 40.41 PN3 When Alien Claims Form I-864, Affidavit ofSupport Under Section 213A of the Act, Is Not Required Based on40 Quarters of Work
a. 9 FAM 40.41 N3.4-2 states that you must waive the Form I-864, Affidavit of Support Under Section 213A of the Act,requirement if the alien can demonstrate 40 quarters of workunder the Social Security Act. Any individual seeking todemonstrate the number of quarters he or she has earned mayrequest a certified earnings record from the Social SecurityAdministration, which shows the number of qualifying quarters heor she has accrued.b. In processing an immigrant visa (IV) for a beneficiaryseeking to benefit from social security quarters, you mustrequire a copy of the certified earnings statement, as well as asigned statement from the person who earned the quarters. Thecertification must contain the language below. (Note: If all thequarters being used were earned prior to December 31, 1996, youdo not need to require the signed statement.)I, (Full Name), certify under penalty of perjury under the lawsof the United States that I did not receive any Federal means-tested benefit, such as temporary assistance for needy families,food stamps, medicaid, social security insurance, or state childinsurance, during any of the quarters I am using to qualify thatwere earned after December 31, 1996.c. You must include a copy of the certified earnings recordand, if applicable, the above signed statement in the immigrantvisa package. Alternatively, you may document the Form I-864,Affidavit Of Support Under Section 213A of the Act, exemption byincluding a statement you have signed to the effect thatpursuant to 9 FAM 40.41 N3.4-2 and a May 17, 2001 DHS/INSmemorandum, no I-864 is required because 40 quarters of SocialSecurity coverage have been established.d. As stated in 9 FAM 40.41 PN1.2, the National Visa Center(NVC) performs a review of documents, including affidavits ofsupport, for certain consular posts. In those instances wherethe petitioner or the sponsor notifies the NVC that they wish touse the social security quarters provision in lieu of an Form I-864, NVC requires submission of the certified earnings recordand the signed statement described in 9 FAM 40.41PN3(b) beforequalifying the case for forwarding to the post. If thepetitioner and sponsor do not inform NVC that they intend to usethe social security quarters provision, NVC will require theForm I-864 and supporting documents, including the most recentFederal income tax return filed prior to the time of the I-864signing.
9 FAM 42.73 PN3.4 Affidavit of Support and other SupportingDocuments
The Form I-864, Affidavit of Support Under Section 213A of theAct, must be included in the stapled visa packet along with theForm DS-230, Application For Immigrant Visa and AlienRegistration, and other supporting documents. Supportingdocuments should be included in the visa packet but should notbe stapled or grommeted to the Form I-864 or other documentsattached to the Form DS-230. Supporting documents consist ofthe following:(1) The most recent Federal income tax return filed prior tothe time of the I-864 signing; and(2) Evidence of assets and liabilities (if applicable).
10. The Department wants to emphasize to consular officers thatwe remain committed to proper application of INA 212(a)(4) andINA 213A. The Department and DHS have exercised their statutoryauthority to require sponsors to demonstrate the means tomaintain annual income at the established level with one taxreturn, rather than three. As indicated in the FAM notes cited,a consular officer is authorized to require further evidence inthe following circumstances in which the I-864 and documentationpresented reflect sufficient income:
- When there is a specific reason to question the veracity ofthe income stated, the consular officer can require additionalevidence of income (i.e., employment letter, recent paystatements, or other financial data). (9 FAM 40.41 N5.4(c))
- When the facts of the case, as supported by evidence in therecord, provide a specific reason other than the passage of timefor questioning whether the sponsor's income information isaccurate, the consular officer should request current yearincome information. (9 FAM 40.41 N5.4(d))
- In a particular case in which the consular officer questionsthe validity of a submitted tax return, they may require thesponsor to submit an IRS-certified copy of the tax return.(9 FAM40.41 N5.4(a))