W-2 and tax documents from foreign income / overseas I-864

[elvenshadow 19]

I am confused about how to go about sending my tax documents with the I-864.

First of all, I live in Japan and have worked in Japan for 7 years. I have filed every year with the IRS. I have not filed yet this year since it isn’t due until June. The forms are ready to go and I plan to file any day now so that I can use the 2013 tax info for our AOS. I will be reporting $0 as my total income because I will have to leave this job before we move to the US after visa approval and will most likely not have a new job until after moving. I am going to file with a joint sponsor because of this.

In the past tax years, I never sent the W-2 from my employer with the tax forms (just the 1040, 2555ez and some supporting documents). We have no actual W-2 in Japan but there is a similar document that can act as one. I have never owed anything and have never gotten any word from the government that I made a mistake, but I realized this time that I should send that document with a simple translation, so I have prepared it this time. I also have a contract letter in English signed by the Super Intendant stating my salary. I plan to send this as well.

In light of that information here are my questions:

1. Seeing as how I am stating $0 for total income and approval will be based on the joint sponsor, will I be OK to just send the documents from the 2013 tax year that I filed this year? Do you think they will request files from the previous 2 years as well?

2. Will a crude rough translation of the Japanese W-2 equivalent suffice or will I get a checklist for not having a proper certified translation?

3. Should I just request an IRS transcript? If so, will I still need the W-2 anyway?

I have read a few threads about this but they seem to have conflicting information so I just want to clear everything up. Thanks for any help!

[Jettechfsr 5]

Order tax transcripts from the IRS I was working overseas also but was making good money but no W2 because was paid in local currency then moved money back to USA account your joint sponsor will be important in your case but the transcripts will show you where mainting your residency and paying taxes

[elvenshadow 19]

I was under the impression that ordering tax transcripts was a long and tedious process but I just looked into it more and I was able to create an account on the IRS website and download them almost instantly as PDF files for free! It even asks you what you need them for and if you click “immigration” it highlights the exact versions you need!

It also seems that there was no problem about me not having sent in the Japanese equivalent of the W-2s during previous years (Or at least, nothing was stated on the transcripts indicating there is any problem. My registered address for taxes is my parents’ US address and I doubt they opened anything so even if the IRS did send something for me in the mail, I never saw it.)

So, what I am going to do is just send in BOTH the transcripts AND the 1040, 2555EZ for all 3 years. In addition, I will send the Japanese versions of the W-2s with the AOS packet even though they were not in the original files for 2012 and 2011 just in case they want them. That should cover all of my bases! (Right!? Is there any reason NOT to send all of those things?)

The only other thing I need to know is if I really need to send a thorough translation of the Japanese W-2s with statement signed from translator. Does anyone know if this is necessary?

[T M F 0]

Any updates to your AOS status?