this was overheard today in a bar ..... i wanted to scream!
a few were beginning to rant about 'immigrants' when I politely interjected I love when they are caught offguard by the white girl who speaks perfeck english claiming to be an immigrant hehehe Of course they question me, and finding out I am from Canada, they inform me that I am not really an immigrant because I am 'just from Canada'. I'm like....well tell that to DHS because they dont treat me any differently than the asian guy you were just mouthing off about!
Anyways.....this isnt the first time someone has tried to convince me that immigrants dont have to pay taxes for 7 years after immigrating.....can someone point me in the right direction for documentation on this so I can print it and show people?
I am so tired of the misconceptions ...but I sure love putting (racist) people in thier places when they think they are 'safe' just because of a light coloured skin crowd LOL

7 years??????????????? If only!!

Well, I started paying taxes the moment I got off the plane! How nice it would be if we didn't have to pay for 7 years. Like that is ever going to become law!

I too have listened to people talk about immigrants and think they know it all, but really they have no clue!

Hey, I am Asian. I guess I do not have to pay taxes....I wish

arent the misconceptions ridiculous? one of the guys bascally told me to shut up unless i could prove him wrong!!! i was like 'dude, im in the MIDDLE of the immigration process, i thingk *I* would have more knowledge on the subject than you!
grrr

You tell them girl

Where do they even get that idea?? Since when has the government seemed like it would allow that little loophole?!?

Jeez, people are so fricking IGNORANT! People can't believe it when I tell them how long it took me to get my green card; they're like "but you're from ENGLAND!" and "Oh yeah, because you really look like a terrorist". Then I start talking about the amount of paperwork we had to compile, and that usually shuts them up pretty quick!

and where are these government grants that the President gives all of the immigrants!?!??! My wife would like to start her own business and supposedly there is like this huge windfall for immigrants to start their own businesses etc!!

Come on, relax! How are these folks supposed to know anything about immigration?

I took a class on immigration processing and hiring non-American specialists at school, and I was the only one who had a clue about what foreigners go through. And of course, 90% of the students thought that if you marry a U.S. citizen, you automatically become a citizen too

Yep, everyone asks me that too. "What do you mean you can't work yet? You're English and you married an American!" I've actually started to carry my huge file of submitted paper work around with me to prove to people how complex this process is. My father in law didnt believe me that I couldn't just go and get a job without authorization. Maybe he thought I was being lazy? He was pretty shocked when I showed him everything

People are amazingly ignorant sometimes!!
Oh, if only we could be tax free forever!!

They were probably referring to immigrants subject to tax treaties which from what I know only apply to people on work visas. The US has tax treaties with a bunch of countries and the exact provisions depend on the treaty.

For example, I took advantage of a tax treaty with Germany my first 4 years in the US which allowed me to exempt $2000 a year I think. Interestingly, my husband while working in Germany took advantage of the same treaty and he didn't have to pay taxes on the first $10000 he earned. The problem with those treaties is that if you stay longer you need to pay back the taxes you saved...

No taxes for 7 years? Pick me, Pick me...

I guess then they would be even more incredulous if they find out that some illegal immigrants who get fake SSNs in order to work actually pay income tax and put money into the SS fund.

I think what they are referring to is immigrants who start businesses get that windfall mentioned above, and don't have to pay taxes on the buisness for 7 years...something like that.


Not personal taxes and yes I hear people b!tch about it all the time.

I know, people are amazed when they hear all we have to go through to get here and to remain here. And paying no taxes?? I had to declare my Irish income to the IRS (although it was exempted from double taxation...aren't they just wonderful )

Unless people are involved or know someone involved in the immigration process, they're not really informed about it all. Many of the couples we know here, said they would be hard pressed to gather all the relationship evidence required.

Ah, the world of no taxes...


sorry, I was in a dream world there for a minute!!! Being taxed to death is the "rule" in Canada... I am looking forward to paying U.S. taxes!!! (Sheesh, sounds strange doesn't it!)

Yep, some peoples comments are amazing ! Someone said to me, Oh I guess ya left Canada to have a better life in the US ! HUH!?
I said " No, I came here to be with my husband thats the ONLY reason I would leave canada, matter of fact, living here is a joke compared to back home as far as wages go! I made twice as much for the same job that I was offered here. The wages are pathetic!

The IRS have been happily collecting taxes from me, ever since I got a social security card, my EAD and of course a job! No taxes from immigrants for seven years...quite amusing - unless you're the IRS

ya im getting that one a lot lately....that i only married my husband to stay in the country or that since we got married im an instant citizen....its like sheesh guys..i married him because i love him, its not like the quality of life in canada was so hideous that i had to flee! ahhh gotta love myths it does sort of burn my @$$ tho because we dont want people to think that we got married for any reason other than we love each other and want to be married....i guess as long as we know...ya know

Yeah, I tell myself that too, but every once in a while it doesn't cut it... It's particularly hard when you're with someone from a less developed country, as *everyone* feels free to assume that immigration is the only reason you're married. Somehow peoples' minds (and manners) escape them when it comes to immigration.

Yep, my financial quality of life has been severly DOWNgraded since moving to the US... I certainly did NOT marry for a better life or for money!!! But my husband is worth it all

I get a lot of people asking me the same thing .."how do you know that he didn't just marry you to come to USA for a better life since Jordan is so underdeveloped and primitive. My explanation , although somewhat bltchy, goes something like this... "Although to you Jordan may seem underdeveloped and primitive but what you don't seem to realize is that they are just as developed as everyone else.. its just that their culture is different. They don't care as much about style or nice cars or fancy houses (unless their rich).. their cares go for their families and to the communities that they live in. So to answer the question...NO he DIDN'T marry me to come to USA because his life in Jordan was perfect and more balanced than ours!!!"

sorry for the gripe session but i get so mad at ppl who think such primitive things about foreign countries.. and those people who think that if the other country isn't exactly like the USA then it isn't a good life... Honestly, I would much rather go live in Jordan than USA because the life was so so so much more simple and focused there......

ok i'm done now hehe
ps this was not intended to upset anybody.. I was merely commenting on my feelings about the ppl in my town.

amal

We are here to read you rant and to empathize... so rant away and let it all out! We certainly understand on this forum!!!

thanks, i appreciate that...sometimes I just need to vent, ya know

depends what state you move to. Here in NC I'm paying about the same % as I would back home in Ontario, once you figure in the federal and state income tax rates. The only thing we dont' have here in NC is the GST of course, but then that probably evens out with the property taxes. It still boggles me to have to pay property taxes every year on my freakin car!

anyone know what taxes are like in Wisconsin? We may be moving there this year.

Immigrants are immigrants as apples are apples.
Immigrants should be exempt from paying some of the taxes since they are not endowed with the rights, priveleges and benefits US citizens enjoy.

Immigrants have to deal with USCIS torture. For this alone they should be financially compensated.

Also...Most of us immigrants have come here only after USCIS is presented with an Affidavit of Support.
We are not getting any benefits. Why should we pay taxes?

I say benefits we receive and contributions we make should be commensurate.

Same here. Noone actually says it to my face anymore now that he is here, but it is suggested in other ways...(that little "uh hu" or cheezy grin). Most people are shocked to find out that we have a pretty good relationship and we live a normal married couple life. Still the explaining gets tiresome and demeaning. At times I want to say f**k off. lol.

WI property taxes are pretty high, but sales tax is at 5-5.5%. They always get you one way or the other though. I think I pay like $50 or $75 to get my stickers on my car too.

I live in Southern WI, so many people who move here will actually move to Northern Illinois to avoid the property tax. Kind of a strange game though because house prices are much higher there and there sales tax is like 7.0% or something.

It's true. Illegal immigrants don't pay taxes.....EVER.

I think what you are looking for is proof that this is simply an urban legend ....

and here is a link to your proof.

http://www.snopes.com/business/taxes/immigrants.asp

yay thank you....im printing this and carrying it in my wallet..along with a printout from statscan about the different ethnic groups in canada...apparently "canada has no crime because canadians are all caucasian".....i just walked away from tht one...i couldnt even speak!!!

they do if they have a SSN and a legitimate job. Even if the SSN is fake, income taxes still come off their paycheck and go to Social Security. They're just not eligible to get them back when they retire. So, they're paying into the pool for all us "legals", but they get nothing in return.

Illegals getting paid under the table however, do not pay taxes. But that can be said for anyone with a cash paying job. Illegal or citizen.

Thanks for the WI info merc. We'll be moving to the north west of WI. We've looked at real estate prices, and they're pretty much the same as here in NC. Our sales tax in NC is 7% on non-food and 2% on food. I can't remember what we pay for our license stickers, but I think its only $10 per year.

Is the property tax in WI applicable on vehicles as well? Or just real estate property?

there are chopf##ks everywhere....and stupid ones are the worse...

'immigrants dont pay taxes for 7 years'

To put it in brother Dean's words: what kinda chopf*cks think that is the case