Jump to content
Tee and Megan

Need help; So confused about Taxes during AOS

 Share

11 posts in this topic

Recommended Posts

Hi all!

I've searched around a bit on the forums, but can't find anything quite current for this tax season. I am in desperate need of answers to a few questions.

1. My husband just got here on Oct. 18, 2014 under a K-1 visa. He hasn't worked yet, (just got his EAD last week. Yay!) and still waiting for his Green Card. Since he has been in the U.S. only a few months and has had no income since coming here, do we need to file jointly? Or can i just say I'm married on my taxes and leave him off?

2. In Box 1 of a W-2, where it says wages, tips, other comp. is this number before or after taxes are taken out?

I should've made more than enough to cover the income requirement; but with all my taxes taken out, it looks like I didn't. Gah! Had a really panicky moment last night over this. If I add the taxes back into the "wages, tips, and other comp." number, I have more than enough, but if that number is after taxes had already been taken out, that really stinks. Trying not to freak out. Going to try to add in some of my babysitting money and other odd jobs to see if that will make ends meet. Anyway, thank you all so much for your help.

Blessings

Megan and Tee

All that we are and all that will be we dedicate to the One who brought us together

Timeline:

K-1 Journey:

Petition sent: 03/27/2014

Interview date!!! 10/06/2014

AOS:

Packet received at Chicago Lockbox: 2/2/2015

EAD approved! 2/26/2015

AP approved! 2/26/2015

Green card received!! 09/24/2015

ROC: 

I-751 sent off to CSC: 7/25/2017

NOA1: 7/27/2017

Filed Inquiry into Biometrics status: 9/18/2017

10 Year Green Card Approved!!! 10/22/2018

 

Next Stop, Citizenship! 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

1. My husband just got here on Oct. 18, 2014 under a K-1 visa. He hasn't worked yet, (just got his EAD last week. Yay!) and still waiting for his Green Card. Since he has been in the U.S. only a few months and has had no income since coming here, do we need to file jointly? Or can i just say I'm married on my taxes and leave him off? You can file "jointly" even if he didn't work. The other option would be to file "married filing separate", but there is no reason for that if he didn't have an income.

2. In Box 1 of a W-2, where it says wages, tips, other comp. is this number before or after taxes are taken out? That is how much federal income you earned before taxes

Edited by Jose&Eli

21 Aug 2013: I-129F Sent

11 Feb 2014: Visa APPROVED!

20 May 2014: Wedding!

--

31 Jul 2014: Mailed AOS Packet

12 Feb 2015: AOS Interview - Approved

--

22 Feb 2017: Mailed ROC Packet

08 Aug 2018: ROC Approved

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Mexico
Timeline

1. You can file jointly, even if only one spouse has an income. Also, the non-resident can choose to be treated as a resident for the whole tax year. You need to include a statement, so would need to paper file instead of e-filing > http://www.irs.gov/Individuals/International-Taxpayers/Nonresident-Spouse-Treated-as-a-Resident

2. Box 1 is what you made before taxes, your taxable income. Box 2 is the amount of federal taxes that were withheld.

~ Moving from AOS from Family Based Visas to Tax & Finances During US Immigration - topic is filing taxes ~

Link to K-1 instructions for Ciudad Juarez, Mexico > https://travel.state.gov/content/dam/visas/K1/CDJ_Ciudad-Juarez-2-22-2021.pdf

Link to comment
Share on other sites

If you want to pay less in taxes and have the best hope for a bigger refund, file as "Married - filing Jointly." To see the different in taxes and possible refund(s) do the "filing" process both ways - "Married - filing Jointly," and "Married - filing Separately" and see which method you get the best benefit. You can e-file. I have prepared and e-filed several tax returns for married couples this year like yourself and they have already gotten their tax refunds without including any "statement."

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Mexico
Timeline

The OP can choose whether or not to follow the instructions directly from the IRS for filing their taxes, which can be found in the link I provided, or in Pub 519 on page 9 > http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p519.pdf

Link to K-1 instructions for Ciudad Juarez, Mexico > https://travel.state.gov/content/dam/visas/K1/CDJ_Ciudad-Juarez-2-22-2021.pdf

Link to comment
Share on other sites

You can e-file. I have prepared and e-filed several tax returns for married couples this year like yourself and they have already gotten their tax refunds without including any "statement."

Then you didn't follow the IRS Instructions if one of the spouses was actually a non-resident alien.

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. In Box 1 of a W-2, where it says wages, tips, other comp. is this number before or after taxes are taken out?

I should've made more than enough to cover the income requirement; but with all my taxes taken out, it looks like I didn't. Gah! Had a really panicky moment last night over this. If I add the taxes back into the "wages, tips, and other comp." number, I have more than enough, but if that number is after taxes had already been taken out, that really stinks. Trying not to freak out. Going to try to add in some of my babysitting money and other odd jobs to see if that will make ends meet. Anyway, thank you all so much for your help.

Blessings

Megan and Tee

This second question sounds like you are worrying about income requirements for your I-864 sponsorship. The figure for that is your total income before taxes. When you finish your tax return, it will be the number on line 22 of Form 1040.

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

Thanks so much everyone. Just really frustrated now with the Health Insurance Marketplace. I called when he first arrived and they told me he wasn't eligible for health insurance until he received his Green Card. Now they are saying I need to apply for an exemption through the IRS, even though when I called earlier this week, they said they would work on it for me and call me back. Maybe they will still call me back though? One guy said he'd never heard of a K-1 visa. Then they told me I shouldn't even claim him on my taxes if he doesn't have a GC. Gah! So darn confused. All this just to prove he was exempt from having insurance for the three months he was here before the year ended. :( I sure hope we can figure this out.

All that we are and all that will be we dedicate to the One who brought us together

Timeline:

K-1 Journey:

Petition sent: 03/27/2014

Interview date!!! 10/06/2014

AOS:

Packet received at Chicago Lockbox: 2/2/2015

EAD approved! 2/26/2015

AP approved! 2/26/2015

Green card received!! 09/24/2015

ROC: 

I-751 sent off to CSC: 7/25/2017

NOA1: 7/27/2017

Filed Inquiry into Biometrics status: 9/18/2017

10 Year Green Card Approved!!! 10/22/2018

 

Next Stop, Citizenship! 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Filed: Timeline

Federal marketplace will accept NOA (797c receipt) for I-485 or NOA (797c receipt) for I-765 for qualification purposes if you do not apply for a tax credit ( manually say no tax credit sought or say married filing separately so you don't qualify for it).

You said husband arrived October 2014 on K-1. You said EAD last week in 2015. So with no green card in 2014, substantial presence test applies for 2014. Oct, Nov, Dec around 90 days + 2014(days) + (2013 days / 3) + (2012 days / 6) .. is it greater than 183 ? If not and no green card in 2014, then he is NON RESIDENT ALIEN in CY'2014. You could file Married Filing Separately. List spouse name in name section (USCIS will expect it there). For social of husband, write in NRA. (Note than this prevents electronic filing and NRA is normal procedure but not supported in efiling systems).

Alternatively, as was referred to above, you can elect to make him a resident for tax purposes. Be ready for what that entails as his worldwide 2014 income would then have to be disclosed on the return. For many, this is not worth it.

Remember that as far as exemptions go, all parties claimed as exemptions must have SSN.

Good luck.

Edited by asisflyer
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Federal marketplace will accept NOA (797c receipt) for I-485 or NOA (797c receipt) for I-765 for qualification purposes if you do not apply for a tax credit ( manually say no tax credit sought or say married filing separately so you don't qualify for it).

You said husband arrived October 2014 on K-1. You said EAD last week in 2015. So with no green card in 2014, substantial presence test applies for 2014. Oct, Nov, Dec around 90 days + 2014(days) + (2013 days / 3) + (2012 days / 6) .. is it greater than 183 ? If not and no green card in 2014, then he is NON RESIDENT ALIEN in CY'2014. You could file Married Filing Separately. List spouse name in name section (USCIS will expect it there). For social of husband, write in NRA. (Note than this prevents electronic filing and NRA is normal procedure but not supported in efiling systems).

Alternatively, as was referred to above, you can elect to make him a resident for tax purposes. Be ready for what that entails as his worldwide 2014 income would then have to be disclosed on the return. For many, this is not worth it.

Remember that as far as exemptions go, all parties claimed as exemptions must have SSN.

Good luck.

Thanks so much for this info! So, what you're saying is the Marketplace was mistaken, he's not actually exempt and we will probably have to pay a fee?

All that we are and all that will be we dedicate to the One who brought us together

Timeline:

K-1 Journey:

Petition sent: 03/27/2014

Interview date!!! 10/06/2014

AOS:

Packet received at Chicago Lockbox: 2/2/2015

EAD approved! 2/26/2015

AP approved! 2/26/2015

Green card received!! 09/24/2015

ROC: 

I-751 sent off to CSC: 7/25/2017

NOA1: 7/27/2017

Filed Inquiry into Biometrics status: 9/18/2017

10 Year Green Card Approved!!! 10/22/2018

 

Next Stop, Citizenship! 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Filed: K-1 Visa Country: Cameroon
Timeline

Thanks so much everyone. Just really frustrated now with the Health Insurance Marketplace. I called when he first arrived and they told me he wasn't eligible for health insurance until he received his Green Card. Now they are saying I need to apply for an exemption through the IRS, even though when I called earlier this week, they said they would work on it for me and call me back. Maybe they will still call me back though? One guy said he'd never heard of a K-1 visa. Then they told me I shouldn't even claim him on my taxes if he doesn't have a GC. Gah! So darn confused. All this just to prove he was exempt from having insurance for the three months he was here before the year ended. :( I sure hope we can figure this out.

I would go by the IRS regulations for claiming a spouse rather than what the people at the Health Insurance Marketplace say....

Others have posted about the two options of married filing jointly or married filing separately and provided the IRS site.

K-1


January 27, 2014 - Submitted I-129F


January 31, 2014 - NOA1


August 3, 2014- E service request submitted


August 15, 2014- E service request received back saying our case is in a processing hold due to "pending security checks"


September 3, 2014 - NOA2


September 5, 2014 - Case shipped to NVC


September 8, 2014 - NOA2 Hardcopy received


September 17, 2014- Case # assigned by NVC


September 19, 2014- Case shipped to Consulate from NVC


October 1, 2014 - Case status "Ready"


October 3, 2014 - Packet 3 received- K1 Instructions


October 15, 2014 - Packet 4 received- Appointment letter


November 4, 2014 - Interview- APPROVED!!!


November 13, 2014 - Visa in hand


November 25, 2014- POE in Washington, DC


December 18, 2014- Marriage at Courthouse



AOS


January 8, 2015- AOS NOA1


January 28, 2015- Biometrics appointment


March 4, 2015- EAD card in production


March 16, 2015- EAD card in hand


May 2015- Notice of Interview Waiver and case processing delay


September 10, 2015- RFE- lost packet given at POE! Have to redo the medical :/


October 28, 2015- Approval of AOS and card in production- online case status updated


November 2, 2015- Green card in hand!!

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...