Actions needed before returning to US permanently. Help is much appreciated!!

[neatos 0]

Hi to all members,

 

I have been watching the forum for quite a long time and below I have some questions, if you can help me with them, it would really be appreciated!

 

I am a DV2018 winner and next September/October 2018 I will travel to the US to activate my visa and become a US Lawful Permanent Resident(LPR). I will then return back to my country(keep working) and then return back to the US permanently in Spring 2019. Because I want to be honest with the US government and I don't want lose my green card visa, I want toclear the following things so your help will be greatly appreciated.

 

1) for tax reporting purposes: do I need a W-2 form from my overseas employer or a local form from my overseas employer is okay?

Also does my overseas employer needs to pay tax to the US every month or you only need to report tax yourself at the beginning of 2019 for the 2018 year? I am asking because I am working on a contract and if my employer finds that I will move to the US in the future(telling him that I will need a form for reporting tax to the US), then he may not renew my contract. I want to notice him that I will move to the US, next year before moving permanently to the US.

2) what other forms apart from the w-2 form will be required when I will report the tax and I should only report the tax only at the beginning of 2019 for the 2018 year, right(I mean not every quarter or month)?

3) Are there any people that can report tax on your behalf and pay them? Is turbotax one of them? because I find the whole tax reporting process little bit difficult.

4) In September/October I will travel to the US for around 3-5 days(due to heavy workload with my job) to activate my visa. During this time apart from having the I-551 activated in the airport, are there any other places, I should visit? I mean Social Insurance Office & open a US bank account? Is a US bank account needed for tax reporting purposes or other purposes(or I can open a US bank account when I will return to the US permanently)?

5) When I will return back to the US to live permanently after 7 months, can I use a different address than the one the green card was mailed(the address used in DS-260 form) or changing the address can only be done when traveling to the US to activate the Visa?

6) The green card and social security card will be mailed to the address of my friend I mentioned on the DS260 form. Is it okay for my friend to receive them and forward them to me in my country or it is needed for me to be present in person when the postman will deliver my GC and Social security card to the USA address of my friend?

 

Please help me with these. I got worried and I don't want to lose my Green card. You advice will be greatly appreciated.

 

Bet regards,

J.

[Jojo92122 1,924]

1. W-2s are only issued by US employers.  You would need to file tax returns in your country and then file US tax returns declaring your foreign income.

 

2.  Lots of other forms.  Too many to list here.

 

3.  Accountants.  Turbotax can not handle complex situations such as foreign taxes.  

 

4.  Completely up to you.

 

5.  Yes.

 

6.  Yes.

 

You are creating a HUGE headache for yourself concerning income tax and abandonment of your green card.  Better to just move and be done.  You are creating potential abandonment of green card issues when you can completely avoid it.  If you claim to be a resident of your country with a US green card, then you can be deemed to have abandoned your green card.

 

 

[SusieQQQ 11,586]

Overthinking. Firstly I have to assume you are traveling before your visa expires. When in spring are you thinking of returning? For various reasons including naturalization down the road, try keep your absence to less than 6 months.

 

in summary:

 

You'll file your US tax return in April. Hire a consultant at least for the first year, someone familiar with filing as part non resident and part resident in the same year. You’ll submit whatever your proof of income is from your home country for the time you have been a LPR. Given the time you are an LPR in 2018 you most likely won’t have to pay any tax in the US for that year.

 

In response to specific questions other than Jojo answered already -

4. Some banks require proof of residence so if you want to open an account choose somewhere like Bank of America that only require a passport. Your SSN should arrive automatically.  

5. Strange question... of course you are allowed to move around the US..., just be sure to fill in change of address with uscis (online AR11) within 10 days of moving to a new address

6. Your friend can forward but suggest he or she does so using a courier service, not regular mail.

 

 

 

 

[neatos 0]

Hello there, I am back and believe me I am very happy to see that you have provided me with helpful responses. It means a lot.

I wish I could just move to the US and not have to be involved in all this trouble with filing us tax for overseas income. Unfortunately there are some issues in my country that I want to first figure out before moving permanently to the US. I just try to be as prepared as possible. 

I will be travelling to the US to activate the visa at the beginning of October 2018, the expiration of the visa is around 20th of October. I have below some last questions to be sure that everything is okay. Again your help is massive and I appreciate your answers a lot.

 

1) if in the worst scenario, I move permanently to the US 10-11 months after visa activation, will be okay?

I read britsimonsays website and he mentions that you can move permanently to the US as long as it is within the 12 months timeframe. Also he mentions that for 6-12 months, you may be questioned at the airport but most probably it will be okay.

2) filing tax to the US for my overseas income(in my country)for the year 2018, the tax has to be reported only for the part of the 2018 year I was LPR, right?

Also for the 2019 year, when I should report the US tax of my overseas income?

3) Being an LPR, are there any other obligations towards the US that I have to meet(apart from reporting tax to the US)? like paying for social insurance, state tax, etc or these are not required.

4) when I will travel to the US to activate the visa, when my visa be endorsed to be valid for 12 months? Will this be done in the port of entry of the airport or I should visit any government office while being in the US?

5) I am based in Europe. I tried to call an accountant in my country that was in a list that the IRS published in its website(to help me report the us tax) but when I called it says:. "the tel.number does not exist". Do you know where I can find accountants to help me with US tax reporting? I am not sure if I should look for accountants outside my country. It is just more easier to have help from Accountant in your country.

 

Sorry for the long questions, I just try to make sure that everything is okay. Thanks sonce again for ypur help.

 

Warm regards,

J.

 

 

[neatos 0]

* setjing that I forgot. Thank you!!

6) also do I need any particular form from my employer for reporting tax to the US(a certificate created by my employer specifically for us tax purposes) or a common form mentioning my income in my country for the 2018 year is okay? 

I just don't want to inform my employer that I will move to the US permanently next year, as my contract will not be renewed.

[SusieQQQ 11,586]

1 hour ago, neatos said:

Hello there, I am back and believe me I am very happy to see that you have provided me with helpful responses. It means a lot.

I wish I could just move to the US and not have to be involved in all this trouble with filing us tax for overseas income. Unfortunately there are some issues in my country that I want to first figure out before moving permanently to the US. I just try to be as prepared as possible. 

I will be travelling to the US to activate the visa at the beginning of October 2018, the expiration of the visa is around 20th of October. I have below some last questions to be sure that everything is okay. Again your help is massive and I appreciate your answers a lot.

 

1) if in the worst scenario, I move permanently to the US 10-11 months after visa activation, will be okay?

I read britsimonsays website and he mentions that you can move permanently to the US as long as it is within the 12 months timeframe. Also he mentions that for 6-12 months, you may be questioned at the airport but most probably it will be okay.

2) filing tax to the US for my overseas income(in my country)for the year 2018, the tax has to be reported only for the part of the 2018 year I was LPR, right?

Also for the 2019 year, when I should report the US tax of my overseas income?

3) Being an LPR, are there any other obligations towards the US that I have to meet(apart from reporting tax to the US)? like paying for social insurance, state tax, etc or these are not required.

4) when I will travel to the US to activate the visa, when my visa be endorsed to be valid for 12 months? Will this be done in the port of entry of the airport or I should visit any government office while being in the US?

5) I am based in Europe. I tried to call an accountant in my country that was in a list that the IRS published in its website(to help me report the us tax) but when I called it says:. "the tel.number does not exist". Do you know where I can find accountants to help me with US tax reporting? I am not sure if I should look for accountants outside my country. It is just more easier to have help from Accountant in your country.

 

Sorry for the long questions, I just try to make sure that everything is okay. Thanks sonce again for ypur help.

 

Warm regards,

J.

 

 

1. Yes it should be ok, bear in mind in that case your 5 year clock to naturalization only starts at your later entry 

2. Yes but you need to file a dual return,like I said before, get a knowledgeable tax consultant to fill in your form 

3. Not unless residing and earning there

4. This happens at entry when it’s stamped - the entry stamp becomes the endorsement. Note that this validity is  therefore 12 months from date of entry

5. I seriously doubt any accountant in your country is going to know enough about US tax filings 

6. Already answered before. No.

 

i can fully sympathize with complicated wrapping up and taking time to move, but honestly unless you’re in some extremely complex personal situation or are earning way more in dollars than you could in the US, it is very much in your interest to move to the US, establish residence and get yourself in the jobs market ASAP. Jobs market is strong right now, you should try take advantage of that. 

 

 

 

 

[neatos 0]

18 hours ago, SusieQQQ said:

1. Yes it should be ok, bear in mind in that case your 5 year clock to naturalization only starts at your later entry 

2. Yes but you need to file a dual return,like I said before, get a knowledgeable tax consultant to fill in your form 

3. Not unless residing and earning there

4. This happens at entry when it’s stamped - the entry stamp becomes the endorsement. Note that this validity is  therefore 12 months from date of entry

5. I seriously doubt any accountant in your country is going to know enough about US tax filings 

6. Already answered before. No.

 

i can fully sympathize with complicated wrapping up and taking time to move, but honestly unless you’re in some extremely complex personal situation or are earning way more in dollars than you could in the US, it is very much in your interest to move to the US, establish residence and get yourself in the jobs market ASAP. Jobs market is strong right now, you should try take advantage of that. 

 

 

 

 

Thank you Suzie!! Great and clear information! While surfing the forum before becoming a member I noticed that you are one of the members contributing the most and having your answers to my questions is important to clear my worries. You information is really helpful.

 

It is nice to know that the job market is strong in the US, this gives me hopes and I will try to move permanently as soon as possible, but unfortunately this won't be before May 2019. By the way, I contacted PWC Accountants Cyprus, and they told me to send them an email with my situation so that they research my request - they told me that they have not experience reporting US tax for individuals(only for companies) but they told me that they will be in cooperation with the tax accountants of PWC America to help them report my US tax. Also I don't know, if I should contact US tax accountants/consultants, based in the US. Do you know of any tax accountants/consultants in the US that can help me?  

The good thing is that tax reporting for 2019 year will be reported while being in the US.

 

Best,

J.

 

 

[neatos 0]

On 8/20/2018 at 1:27 AM, SusieQQQ said:

1. Yes it should be ok, bear in mind in that case your 5 year clock to naturalization only starts at your later entry 

2. Yes but you need to file a dual return,like I said before, get a knowledgeable tax consultant to fill in your form 

3. Not unless residing and earning there

4. This happens at entry when it’s stamped - the entry stamp becomes the endorsement. Note that this validity is  therefore 12 months from date of entry

5. I seriously doubt any accountant in your country is going to know enough about US tax filings 

6. Already answered before. No.

 

i can fully sympathize with complicated wrapping up and taking time to move, but honestly unless you’re in some extremely complex personal situation or are earning way more in dollars than you could in the US, it is very much in your interest to move to the US, establish residence and get yourself in the jobs market ASAP. Jobs market is strong right now, you should try take advantage of that. 

 

 

 

 

 

Hello Susie! 

 

I hope you are well. I had a conversation with a tax accountant and she assured me to have a call this week to see how we can work this out. In case it won't work, I will do my best to have the tax reported as best.

 

If you have time, please help me with my following question:

When I will travel to the USA to activate my visa, should I travel to the state(Texas) which is the one I mentioned in the DS260 form as the address for the GC to be mailed, or can I also travel to other USA state(like New York) to activate my visa?

 

Apologies for the questions. Thank you for your help.

[Sm1smom 253]

49 minutes ago, neatos said:

 

Hello Susie! 

 

I hope you are well. I had a conversation with a tax accountant and she assured me to have a call this week to see how we can work this out. In case it won't work, I will do my best to have the tax reported as best.

 

If you have time, please help me with my following question:

When I will travel to the USA to activate my visa, should I travel to the state(Texas) which is the one I mentioned in the DS260 form as the address for the GC to be mailed, or can I also travel to other USA state(like New York) to activate my visa?

 

Apologies for the questions. Thank you for your help.

 

You can enter the US from any State regardless of what was stated on your DS260 form. 

[neatos 0]

1 hour ago, Sm1smom said:

 

You can enter the US from any State regardless of what was stated on your DS260 form. 

 

Thanks!! "By entering the US from any state" you mean, that my visa will be activated even if I travel to New York than Texas(DS260 form)? 

 

Just to make sure everything is okay!

 

Best regards.

[Sm1smom 253]

2 hours ago, neatos said:

 

Thanks!! "By entering the US from any state" you mean, that my visa will be activated even if I travel to New York than Texas(DS260 form)? 

 

Just to make sure everything is okay!

 

Best regards.

 

Again, you can use the NIV on your passport to enter the US from any State, your LPR status gets activated immediately upon admission into the US - stop overthinking this. 

[neatos 0]

16 hours ago, Sm1smom said:

 

Again, you can use the NIV on your passport to enter the US from any State, your LPR status gets activated immediately upon admission into the US - stop overthinking this. 

Thanks for explaining!!