Jump to content
mister007

tax filing for 2014 - first time as married - how without SSN/ITIN

 Share

9 posts in this topic

Recommended Posts

Filed: IR-1/CR-1 Visa Country: Germany
Timeline

Hi community!

Ok, so our interview for the CR1 will be after April 2015 and we definitely need to file taxes 2014 as the latest year for AOS (at least to bring to the interview!)

So my spouse is the USC with a depending child also. I already read a lot about tax filing (married filing separately seems to be the best option)

But I have only found pretty old threads here and in the internet...

Most people that have done it in the past say that you only need to do paper filing instead of e-filing and put into the SSN/ITIN blank "NRA" for "non resident alien". Is that really the best way to do it???

Has anyone late experiences yet? How long will it take to wait for the transcript of 2014?

What tax form can the USC use to file?

Thank you everybody!

NVC: USCIS:

May 06, 2015: Scan Date AOS/IV package Jun 02, 2014: I-130 sent

Jun 05, 2015: Checklist for sponsor's AOS (wrong income amounts) Jun 04, 2014: NOA 1

Jun 10, 2015: received email of Checklist dated June 05, 2015 Nov 24, 2014: RFE

Jun 15, 2015: Checklist corrections mailed (took sooooo long due to post office strikes!) Dec 12, 2014: RFE sent

Jun 26, 2015: Scan Date Checklist Dec 16, 2014: NOA 2

Jul 22, 2015: Case Completed (CC email Jul 28, 2015) Jan 02, 2015: NVC received

CONSULATE:

Aug 25, 2015: P4 Interview Letter via email

Sep 08, 2015: Medical

Sep 17, 2015: Interview in Frankfurt !approved!(changed from Sep 29 on Sep 11)

USA:

Sep 26, 2015: Visa in Hand

Oct 07, 2015: POE (MIA)

Nov 03, 2015: received SSN in mail

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Filed: IR-1/CR-1 Visa Country: Japan
Timeline

I was able to e-file using married filing separately. The software (Taxact) I used asked if my spouse was a non-resident alien, I select yes and it put NRA for the spouse SSN.

If your spouse's software does not give the option for the NRA he will need to fill in NRA himself and then file by mail.

It is important that they list that they are married on the tax forms.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

~~moved to taxes and finances during immigration from IR1 process and procedures as topic is how to file taxes when apart~~

You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose.  - Dr. Seuss

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Filed: IR-1/CR-1 Visa Country: Mexico
Timeline

I plan to paper file using 1040A. You can also use the regular 1040, but you can't use 1040EZ for married filing separately.

See IRS Publication: http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p17.pdf

Page 22 says "If your spouse does not have and is not required to have an SSN or ITIN, enter “NRA” in the space for your spouse's SSN"

11/06: Husband EWI from Mexico
11/08: Started dating

11/11: Husband got deported
1/11/14: Got married
3/13/14-11/2/14:
I-130
1/26/15-3/17/15: NVC

5/28/15: INTERVIEW - denied

6/8/15: I-601/I-212 waivers received

11/17/15: I-601/I-212 waivers APPROVED

12/11/15: HUBBY HOME!! :dance:

Link to comment
Share on other sites

That begs the question.. does a spouse who lives overseas need an ITIN?

USCIS

January 16, 2015 I-130 Mailed, Chi lockbox January 20, 2015 Priority Date, January 21, 2015 NOA1 notice date, Assigned VSC, January 23, 2015 Check Cashed, electronically March 5, 2015 NOA2

NVC

March 27, 2015 NVC received April 6, 2015 Case#, IIN# assigned April 8, 2015 Paid AOS + IV fee Invoices May 5, 2015 AOS + IV package submitted May 11, 2015 Scan Date

June 11, 2015 DS-260 submitted June 25, 2015 False checklist (for ds260).. hello? June 30, 2015 Answered checklist Aug 5, 2015 Escalated to Supervisor review Aug 13, 2015 Case Complete

Consular

Sept 10, 2015 Interview Scheduled Sept 11, 2015 P4 Letter received Sept 21, 2015 file In transit from NVC Sept 23, 2015 file at Embassy

Sept 28, 2015 Medical Oct 14, 2015 Biometrics Oct 15, 2015 Interview (Approved) Oct 19, 2015 IV visa Issued Oct 23, 2015 Passport Pickup

POE

Nov 2, 2015 Entered the US Nov 16, 2015 Applied for SSN, walk-in Nov 20, 2015 Social Security Card recd Jan 15, 2016 GC received

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Filed: IR-1/CR-1 Visa Country: Germany
Timeline

This "Taxact" homepage option sounds pretty interesting and would be the only one so far that allows e-filing with NRA for not availble SSN or ITIN!

I will look into it!

Guys, thank you very much so far!

Other opinions of options still welcome and surely helpful for many members here that need to file taxes with spouses overseas....

NVC: USCIS:

May 06, 2015: Scan Date AOS/IV package Jun 02, 2014: I-130 sent

Jun 05, 2015: Checklist for sponsor's AOS (wrong income amounts) Jun 04, 2014: NOA 1

Jun 10, 2015: received email of Checklist dated June 05, 2015 Nov 24, 2014: RFE

Jun 15, 2015: Checklist corrections mailed (took sooooo long due to post office strikes!) Dec 12, 2014: RFE sent

Jun 26, 2015: Scan Date Checklist Dec 16, 2014: NOA 2

Jul 22, 2015: Case Completed (CC email Jul 28, 2015) Jan 02, 2015: NVC received

CONSULATE:

Aug 25, 2015: P4 Interview Letter via email

Sep 08, 2015: Medical

Sep 17, 2015: Interview in Frankfurt !approved!(changed from Sep 29 on Sep 11)

USA:

Sep 26, 2015: Visa in Hand

Oct 07, 2015: POE (MIA)

Nov 03, 2015: received SSN in mail

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Thailand
Timeline

This "Taxact" homepage option sounds pretty interesting and would be the only one so far that allows e-filing with NRA for not availble SSN or ITIN!

I will look into it!

Guys, thank you very much so far!

Other opinions of options still welcome and surely helpful for many members here that need to file taxes with spouses overseas....

With an overseas spouse, the USC spouse can file MFJ, MFS, and in certain situations HOH (when they have a qualifying dependent). The steps to take are:

1) Which way will yield the greatest value? In the majority of cases, this will be MFJ. The exception is when the foreign spouse makes above the foreign income exclusion or their income kicks the USC spouse into a higher tax bracket. The foreign income exclusion limit for 2014 is $99,200. I recommend everyone calculate it each way (MFS and MFJ) to determine which way yields the most money.

2) If MFS yields the most money, it is pretty straight forward; list the foreign spouse and put NRA in the SSN field on the return.

3) If MFJ yields the most money, then you have options.

a) Does the foreign spouse have a SSN? If so, file MFJ. May need to file by paper for first year and include statement to treat foreign spouse as a resident for tax purposes.

b) If no SSN: Get an ITIN if possible/convenient. Not typically easy as foreign spouses passport has to be sent in or taken to an Acceptance Agent for verification. Acceptance agents are located throughout the USA and at various (limited) locations overseas.

c) If no SSN, but can get one before October 2015: If the foreign spouse will have their EAD or greencard before October, the USC can file for an extension. This gives you another 6 months (until October 15th) to file your 2014 taxes.

d) No SSN, not likely to get before October 2015: The USC spouse can file MFS. Then once the foreign spouse has a SSN, file a 1040X (amended return) changing to MFJ to get the MFJ benefit (bigger return). You have up to 3 years to file an amended return.

This does not cover all cases, but should be a reasonable starting point for those looking at how to file.

K-3

11/15/2006 - NOA1 Receipt for 129F

02/12/2007 - I-130 and I-129F approved!

04/17/2007 - Interview - visa approved!

04/18/2007 - POE LAX - Finally in the USA!!!

04/19/2007 - WE ARE FINALLY HOME!!!

09/20/2007 - Sent Packet 3 for K-4 Visas (follow to join for children)

10/02/2007 - K-4 Interviews - approved

10/12/2007 - Everyone back to USA!

AOS

06/20/2008 - Mailed I-485, I-765 (plus I-130 for children)

06/27/2008 - NOA1 for I-485, I-765, and I-130s

07/16/2008 - Biometrics appointment

08/28/2008 - EAD cards received

11/20/2008 - AOS Interviews - approved

Citizenship

08/22/2011 - Mailed N-400

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hi community!

Ok, so our interview for the CR1 will be after April 2015 and we definitely need to file taxes 2014 as the latest year for AOS (at least to bring to the interview!)

So my spouse is the USC with a depending child also. I already read a lot about tax filing (married filing separately seems to be the best option)

But I have only found pretty old threads here and in the internet...

Most people that have done it in the past say that you only need to do paper filing instead of e-filing and put into the SSN/ITIN blank "NRA" for "non resident alien". Is that really the best way to do it???

Has anyone late experiences yet? How long will it take to wait for the transcript of 2014?

What tax form can the USC use to file?

Thank you everybody!

Mister007--

If the I-864 form was signed and submitted prior to April 15, then it can be considered at the interview as it is. . You do not necessarily have to bring your 2014 tax return. The officer can ask for a newer version if he believes there is reason, other than the passage of time, to think the older one may no longer reflect your current income. That is in the adjudicators field manual.

If she has a child that she can claim on her tax return, then she can file as Head of Household with a lower tax rate than Married filing separately. That means that the child lives with her, she provides more than half the cost of keeping up a home for the child, and the child's other parent does not claim the child on his tax return. Only one parent can claim the child for taxes and she probably knows if she has agreed to let the father do it, or if she lists the child on her return.

Head of Household filing normally is for single parents, however the IRS allows a married person with a dependent child to file HOH if her spouse did not live with her for the last six months of 2014 and she meets all the other requirements mentioned.

Edited by Nich-Nick

England.gifENGLAND ---

K-1 Timeline 4 months, 19 days 03-10-08 VSC to 7-29-08 Interview London

10-05-08 Married

AOS Timeline 5 months, 14 days 10-9-08 to 3-23-09 No interview

Removing Conditions Timeline 5 months, 20 days12-27-10 to 06-10-11 No interview

Citizenship Timeline 3 months, 26 days 12-31-11 Dallas to 4-26-12 Interview Houston

05-16-12 Oath ceremony

The journey from Fiancé to US citizenship:

4 years, 2 months, 6 days

243 pages of forms/documents submitted

No RFEs

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...
Filed: IR-1/CR-1 Visa Country: Germany
Timeline

Thank you guys! That is very helpful!

NVC: USCIS:

May 06, 2015: Scan Date AOS/IV package Jun 02, 2014: I-130 sent

Jun 05, 2015: Checklist for sponsor's AOS (wrong income amounts) Jun 04, 2014: NOA 1

Jun 10, 2015: received email of Checklist dated June 05, 2015 Nov 24, 2014: RFE

Jun 15, 2015: Checklist corrections mailed (took sooooo long due to post office strikes!) Dec 12, 2014: RFE sent

Jun 26, 2015: Scan Date Checklist Dec 16, 2014: NOA 2

Jul 22, 2015: Case Completed (CC email Jul 28, 2015) Jan 02, 2015: NVC received

CONSULATE:

Aug 25, 2015: P4 Interview Letter via email

Sep 08, 2015: Medical

Sep 17, 2015: Interview in Frankfurt !approved!(changed from Sep 29 on Sep 11)

USA:

Sep 26, 2015: Visa in Hand

Oct 07, 2015: POE (MIA)

Nov 03, 2015: received SSN in mail

Link to comment
Share on other sites

 
Didn't find the answer you were looking for? Ask our VJ Immigration Lawyers.

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
- Back to Top -

Important Disclaimer: Please read carefully the Visajourney.com Terms of Service. If you do not agree to the Terms of Service you should not access or view any page (including this page) on VisaJourney.com. Answers and comments provided on Visajourney.com Forums are general information, and are not intended to substitute for informed professional medical, psychiatric, psychological, tax, legal, investment, accounting, or other professional advice. Visajourney.com does not endorse, and expressly disclaims liability for any product, manufacturer, distributor, service or service provider mentioned or any opinion expressed in answers or comments. VisaJourney.com does not condone immigration fraud in any way, shape or manner. VisaJourney.com recommends that if any member or user knows directly of someone involved in fraudulent or illegal activity, that they report such activity directly to the Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement. You can contact ICE via email at Immigration.Reply@dhs.gov or you can telephone ICE at 1-866-347-2423. All reported threads/posts containing reference to immigration fraud or illegal activities will be removed from this board. If you feel that you have found inappropriate content, please let us know by contacting us here with a url link to that content. Thank you.
×
×
  • Create New...