Bank statements and invoices proving the capital was spent in the business, annual tax returns and financial statements, and a payroll file for every employee with Form I-9, wage reports and hours, together with the family’s residence and travel records.
Build the removal file while the business grows
The Form I-829 instructions ask for evidence that the investor invested or was actively investing the capital, sustained it, and created the jobs. For a direct investment the capital evidence is the wire records into the company, the company’s bank statements showing the funds spent on the press, tanks, bottling line, lease improvements and working capital, purchase invoices, and financial statements for each year prepared by an accountant. The job evidence is a payroll file that begins with the first hire: a completed Form I-9 for each employee, the quarterly state and federal wage reports, year-end W-2 forms, and time records showing at least thirty-five hours per week for full-time positions; seasonal harvest labour that does not meet the full-time test should be recorded separately so that it is not counted.
Licences from the alcohol regulator and customer contracts show the business is real, and the family’s cards, passports and travel log show maintained residence. Assembling this file annually rather than in the last month before the window is the difference between a routine petition and a scramble.