Matt1968

OMG Matt.....thats crazy!! Less than 30 days notice of an appt like that should be illegal. How do they expect u to possibly be completely ready? Wish you the best!! I hope mine isnt in April!

Hello,

I have no idea how they came up with that. I would think they would give you more time to prepare for the biggest day of your life. The operator told me they try to give at least a month for this, but I guess they slipped up this time.

Matt

Best of luck to ya .. keep us posted man .. God knows whats best.. It will all work out fine in the end man.. try no to stress too much

Sup,

Thanks, Me and my wife talked about it, and we're going to stay with this date. I'm really concerned with her having to do all this runniing around now with no heads up and a pregnancy. Despite all that she's calm and ready to do this. I'll definately keep everyone informed.

Matt

How come he has to be at the interview?

Like Stephanie said, It's a requirement for D.R. interview or it will be denied.

Matt

I completely agree with you Matt. I was eager for my NOA2 and i864 etc etc but after hearing this I might take my time. It is hard on the pockets and also not easy to get off of work. They will take this into consideration and most likely reschedule your interview being that you have to work in order to support them. Best of luck to you.. I am still waiting on a response regarding the transportation option for the medical that I told you about.

Sup Neo,

My wife's friend knows a agency that drives to the capital for this purpose so it's cool, thanks anyway. Had I known they would've done this so fast i would've waited to send everything in. I had called the NVC up last week to inquire about my appointment date, and the women told me they try to give at least a month so people can prepare. Hell, that would've been to close but at least it was more time, but 3 weeks??? We'll see what happens after i call tomorrow. If i can get a May interview, then fine, if not then I'll have to go down on the 29th, because april 2 is on a friggin monday!!! and i wanted to go 2 days before interview(not counting weekends). I'll fly down on the 29th(thur) and come back on weds.

Matt

Matt you are totally right about feeling this way. A lot of people have jobs that they can just say I need next week off but people like me and you don't. Not to mention all the expenses. I hope you will be able to reschedule it, but if not I wish you all the best. This is def #######!

Hey Steph,

I have a headache I'm so pissed right now. I just got off the phone with my wife, and telling her what she needs to do. She's a month pregnant and she's feeling sick and I'm just shaking my head. I'm going to just bite the bullet and make my reservations now, only road block could be my job, two weeks notice is not going to sit well. At least with more time we could plan things out and take our time, but now we have to rush to get medical, and the police certificate, and such. I know some people are reading this and probably thinking, "At least you got an appointment, shut the hell up!" I know, I know, but this throws my whole schedule off. I'm going to call tomorrow and see what they say at the embassy, but i think i'm going to have to just go.

Matt

Why cant you make it? I would not be complaining. All u have to do is the medical.

I have to purchase plane tickets(more expensive now that's it's so close), make the hotel reservations. My wife needs to do her medical and my step-daughter, then travel back in 2 days to get the TB results. I have to put in for vacation i need to take in 2 weeks with no notice to my job and they won't like that it's such short notice and might deny me. I know I sound ungrateful since people are waiting forever just to get their NOA2 and such, but 3 weeks notice for interview is #######!

Matt

Hello,

Today is March 12, and I just got my interview email and date for santo domingo and it's April 2!!! That's less than 30 days, how the hell they pull some S**t like that?!? I can't make that.

Hello,

Quick question concerning the medical. I need to send my wife her passport for the medical. I plan on using DHL, since I've used them in the past. Anyone else have problems sending passport internationally using a courier?

Matt

I used Turbotax online (some paid version, don't remember which one) and it let me leave my wife's SSN field blank. It'll ask you multiple times to correct the blank field but will allow you to print it without issue. I then printed it out and mailed it along with a notarized copy of my wife's passport to the ITIN department in Austin. They'll fill in the SSN field with her ITIN and file it with the IRS (hopefully this week).

I also printed out my state return at the same time and left the SSN field blank. When I received her ITIN last week I filled in the SSN field and sent that off. Pretty easy.

That's good to know. I sent mine off the beginning of February and i still haven't received anything. Maybe this week.

Matt

if you have the original documents - make a trip to your local tax office and ask them to verify and copy the originals as part of the w-7 filing. They are more than happy to do that...THAT problem solved.

That sounds like a great option, to bad nobody mentioned it when I did mine over a month ago..lol

1. Some get lucky

2. Some get expedited

3. Some live together in foreign country for over 6 months

4. Some get sent to VSC. Doesn't guarantee fast approval, but better there than CSC.

Matt

Well, the notary I went to first told me that it's actually state laws that make this difficult, not the IRS. State law dictates what powers notaries have in that state, and many states (including Illinois, which is where I am) only allow notaries to swear that they witnessed a signature. It makes sense if you think about it: notaries aren't trained to recognize a fake passport or birth certificate from every country on the planet, so they can't swear that a foreign document is real (not that the tax preparers are trained to do this either, but I guess the state allows them to take on the risk of being wrong). The IRS needs someone who can swear to the fact that the passport is real, but many state notaries simply aren't allowed to do that.

I don't know who else to go to other than a big tax preparer because that's what I did, and I didn't investigate any other options. I'm sure other tax preparation services can do the same thing, and I bet you could ask them to just accept the passport as real and then do your taxes yourself. In fact, if I had to do this all over again, that is what I would do because I had such a hard time getting the preparer to actually do my taxes correctly!

I brought back my wife's passport back to the states with me to show with the copy to have it notarized. When i told them what i wanted they looked at me like I had two heads, and at first didn't want to do it. After some back and forth, they finally did it. I guess it matters where you go to get it done.

Matt

I have a related Question:

If someone got married beginning of 2012, and filing returns for 2011 (when they were not married), would they still file 2011 return as married (while the spouse is not in the US and doesnt have SSN)? If they should get ITIN number and file as married, then should they select "married filing separately" or "jointly"? but spouse not as dependent as they weren't married in 2011?

Thanks in advance

If you were single on Dec 31, 2011, then you would file single.

Matt

I confess... you got me there. I have earned my income for many years through employment in my family's business, so my dad has always taken my tax forms to our family accountant at the same time that he gets his own taxes done. So I have only had to sign the paperwork thus far, as the accountant always did the rest. Now that I'm married and trying to get my husband's visa paperwork, I'm taking an active role in learning about what I need to do to file these taxes so that the visa application doesn't get screwed up. I admit I don't know much (haven't ever tried Turbotax), so this is all new info to me. But it's good to finally learn what I should be knowing.

What many have done here(myself included) is use Turbo tax to test how much you would receive. The thing with Turbo tax is that you can just plug in the numbers yourself and see what the outcome would be. When I used it, I tested it on MFJ, MFS, and single as well just to see the numbers. You can do this just to get an idea what it would be each way, and depending which way is more money then you can make your choice and file. It really is pretty simple if you wanted to try filing on your own. I used h/r block or other people for years, but i wanted to try it on my own. Just like you it was different this year because i got married and my spouse is overseas. Good luck.

Matt

I've read the tax discussions on this site, and have made up my mind to file my taxes as 'Married'.

Does anyone know what the process is to obtain an ITIN for my wife? She has never been to the US before and does not have an SSN.

How long does it take to obtain an ITIN?

Have others successfully done this before while their spouse is abroad?

Hello,

Look at the thread "spouse's income abroad" The question is answered there. As far as time, Since you're filing by mail, it will take a while. It takes 6 to 8 weeks alone just to get the ITIN number, then another couple weeks to process the return, so be prepared for a wait if filing MFJ. Yes, others have done this sucessfully, I sent mine in feb 8, so i'll let you know if mine is successful in a few weeks.

Matt

agreed - buying turbotax is what i have done as long as its been around. In the past though it was easy to just use the online and then pay and then e-file, but i have a feeling that the online version probably wont have all the forms - not sure why - you'd think they would have everything...but i think i read either here on VJ or on the turbotax website that they dont have some like the 2555...

Thanks for the info though.

Another reason why i would have liked to have done the online - is that you can archive your returns for furture retrieval. Very useful.

On a side note - i received my transcripts from the IRS this week for the past 3 years - funny i guess i was expecting more! Its literally one page per year!

The store bought turbo tax deluxe fills the form 2555 for you automatically. It did it for me, that's how I know. I dont' know about the free version, but the deluxe has it. You have to kind of navigate your way to it when doing your exemptions but it's there. The form 2555ez is what's not there.

Matt

hey i want to know , if i can send Photocopy of all the above civil documents as it says in part K ...?

AOS Packet

a. Bar-coded cover sheet

b. Completed and signed form I-864 by the petitioner

c. IRS tax transcripts for the last three years

(Call IRS at 800-908-9946 to order them for free)

d. Petitioner's employment letter

e. Petitioner's pay stubs for the current year

IV Packet

a. Bar-coded cover sheet

b. 2 Passport-sized photographs of the beneficiary

c. Completed and signed form DS-230 Part 1 by the beneficiary

d. Completed and 'unsigned' form DS-230 Part 2 by the beneficiary

e. Photocopy of the biographic data page of the beneficiary's passport

f. Original/Certified birth certificate of the beneficiary

g. Original/Certified marriage certificate of the beneficiary and the petitioner

h. Original police certificate(s) of the beneficiary

i. Original/Certified divorce decree of the beneficiary's prior marriage(s), if applicable

j. Original military certificate of the beneficiary, if applicable

k. 1 set Photocopy of all the above civil documents

Yes, but also keep a copy of everything for your records as well to bring to the interview.

Matt

"I just finished talking with my husband. At first he was resistant to the idea of filing jointly, as for him to get the Apostille from Delhi requires a full-day's journey (and leave from his work). However, once he realized the cost savings for me by filing jointly, he agreed to do it (of course, this was after much teasing me about what he would get in return, as he realized he had the upper hand since I am the one who needed the favor). He was saying that he would wait for me to email him the documents from my family's accountant, but I told him that there is no need to wait as he only has to get the Apostille for his passport (which he already has with him). So he'll be going in the next few days, as he said there is some kind of Minister of Affairs office in Delhi where he thinks Apostille is available. But I just wanted to confirm with you all that only the passport has to be Apostilled, as he told me that it is difficult enough for him to take a day off already and would be an extreme hardship for him to take a 2nd day off and go back there in case some other documents needed to be Apostilled as well.

Can anyone confirm that only the notarized copy of the passport needs Apostille? I hope there aren't any other documents that would require him to have to travel to another city to obtain again (as he lives in a small city). From the list that Matt sent it doesn't appear he needs to get anything further... unless it some kind of government income documentation that I was asking about earlier. I just wanted to check so that he doesn't have to take off work a 2nd time to get this done. Thanks!"

Hello,

This is from the website concerning what's needed for proof of ID:

What documents are acceptable as proof of Identity and Foreign Status?

The IRS has revised the list of documents acceptable as proof of identity and foreign status. An original and valid passport is the only document acceptable as proof of identity and foreign status.

Remember: If you submit an original valid passport (or a notarized or certified copy of a valid passport), you do not need to submit any other documents from the list below

If you do not provide your passport, you must submit a combination of (at least 2 or more) current and valid documents from the list below. These documents (or their combination) should verify

Your identity, i.e., contain your name & photograph

Support your claim of foreign status

National identification card (must show photo, name, current address, date of birth and expiration date)

U.S. driver's license

Civil birth certificate

Foreign driver's license

US state identification card

Foreign voter's registration card

US military identification card

Foreign military identification card

Visa

US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) photo identification

Medical records (dependents only)

School records (dependents and/or students only)

You can submit copies of original documents. Copies will not be returned. These copies must either by:

certified by the issuing agency or official custodian of the original record OR

notarized by a US notary public

If you submit your original documents they will be returned. You need not provide a return envelope for this purpose. If your originals are not returned within 60 days call the IRS at the telephone assistance number. Keep a copy of your application for your records. To be on the safe side, mail your application by insured mail so that you receive a receipt. Avoid using originals if the copies can work.

So, a notarized copy of your passport is all that is needed. But if you do not have it, then other forms of ID is needed.

Matt

The bold is what I added to the post.

Matt

"I just finished talking with my husband. At first he was resistant to the idea of filing jointly, as for him to get the Apostille from Delhi requires a full-day's journey (and leave from his work). However, once he realized the cost savings for me by filing jointly, he agreed to do it (of course, this was after much teasing me about what he would get in return, as he realized he had the upper hand since I am the one who needed the favor). He was saying that he would wait for me to email him the documents from my family's accountant, but I told him that there is no need to wait as he only has to get the Apostille for his passport (which he already has with him). So he'll be going in the next few days, as he said there is some kind of Minister of Affairs office in Delhi where he thinks Apostille is available. But I just wanted to confirm with you all that only the passport has to be Apostilled, as he told me that it is difficult enough for him to take a day off already and would be an extreme hardship for him to take a 2nd day off and go back there in case some other documents needed to be Apostilled as well.

Can anyone confirm that only the notarized copy of the passport needs Apostille? I hope there aren't any other documents that would require him to have to travel to another city to obtain again (as he lives in a small city). From the list that Matt sent it doesn't appear he needs to get anything further... unless it some kind of government income documentation that I was asking about earlier. I just wanted to check so that he doesn't have to take off work a 2nd time to get this done. Thanks!"

Hello,

This is from the website concerning what's needed for proof of ID:

What documents are acceptable as proof of Identity and Foreign Status?

The IRS has revised the list of documents acceptable as proof of identity and foreign status. An original and valid passport is the only document acceptable as proof of identity and foreign status.

Remember: If you submit an original valid passport (or a notarized or certified copy of a valid passport), you do not need to submit any other documents from the list below

If you do not provide your passport, you must submit a combination of (at least 2 or more) current and valid documents from the list below. These documents (or their combination) should verify

Your identity, i.e., contain your name & photograph

Support your claim of foreign status

National identification card (must show photo, name, current address, date of birth and expiration date)

U.S. driver's license

Civil birth certificate

Foreign driver's license

US state identification card

Foreign voter's registration card

US military identification card

Foreign military identification card

Visa

US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) photo identification

Medical records (dependents only)

School records (dependents and/or students only)

So, a notarized copy of your passport is all that is needed. But if you do not have it, then other forms of ID is needed.

Matt

You cannot e-file this way you can only send it in snail mail. For MFS I've seen people say you don't need an W-7 form, but I didn't pay to much attention to MFS, because once I saw how much I would get back when MFJ, I completely shut MFS out of my mind.

Hi, I have been reading the news here to learn about life in US, once I intend to move and live there with my fiance when we get married and have me a green-card.

I got interested in knowing more about this MFJ information of "getting a higher tax refund".

We intend to get married in December this year, so he could do the MFJ option for 2012 and he would get me in his tax return (which would be good for our CR1) and also have a better tax refund...

I have a Federal life time pension and that is much less than 90K. How could I tell this to my fiance that he could do it for 2012?

Thanks in advance

I'm sorry, are you asking how can you convince him? Once you're married, you have to file married, either seperatly or jointly. Others have said they filed single and chosen to amend it later, but I don't believe in taking chances. Even if you are married for one day you can file married which would cover the entire year. The exemption with filing jointly is usually pretty substantial. I'm getting back double what i would have gotten if I filed single or seperatly. Wait til you're married and grab a turbo tax or go to a tax professional who knows how to file taxes the right way. Many people on here come back saying a tax expert told them they had to file single since their spouse wasn't here. Lie. Good luck.

Matt

for those doing their own taxes- are you using something like turbotax?

if so - online or download version?

iv been putting this off - did a trial run with h&r bloc online and it didnt have all the tax forms apparently - i know im going to have to print the docs and attach to the w-7 and then i was by my local tax office i could just give it all to them and they would send it off... but im wondering what people are using - online or not?

Hello,

I was at work, so I couldn't answer. I used turbo tax. I purchased it in the store. I figure If i'm going to do my own taxes i want to make sure I have the best. I never used the free version, but I don't mind paying 54.00 for the store bought version. All I can say is, I wish I found Turbo Tax sooner, it was a breeze. You can do your taxes MFJ, MFS or single and see which one is the best. Only thing that sucks is you have to print it out and mail it in if filing MFJ. But I feel it's worth it.

Matt

once the W-7 has been processed - i was told that the ITIN will be mailed to the US address if you provide it on that form - thats information i got straight from the local tax office when i met with them.

That's correct.

I forgot to add, if you're getting close to the deadline you can always file for an extension. I'll be doing that for my state taxes while i wait for my wife's ITIN number.

Matt

Oh...

I forgot to ask... I noticed that the W-7 form is for the ITIN. Is it necessary to apply now for that at the same time as me filing taxes? From what I understood from the other tax thread, the ITIN might take 6-10 weeks (or something like that), which would put me way over the April 15 tax deadline. I don't know if this matters or not if the taxes are being filed at the same time as the ITIN application. Conversely, I've read that some other people are just writing 'NRA' (Non-resident Alien) in the as the foreign spouse's identification number. So I don't know if that is an option if we are too late to apply for ITIN for this year.

Hello,

If you are filing MFJ, you will need:

1: W-7 form(this is for you spouse to receive an Taxpayer Identification number for tax purposes, only use if your spouse doesn't already have a SS#)

2: Your 1040 tax return

3: Form 2555(ez)-Foreign earned Income exclusion Form

4: Notarized copy of your spouse's passport

5: Declaration letter from you spouse tell the IRS he/she was a non-resident the last day of 2011 and that you and him/her both elect for him/her to be treated as a resident alien for the entire year for tax purposes.

You would send all this in together to:

Internal Revenue Service

ITIN Operations

P.O. Box 149342

Austin, TX 78714-9342

You cannot e-file this way you can only send it in snail mail. For MFS I've seen people say you don't need an W-7 form, but I didn't pay to much attention to MFS, because once I saw how much I would get back when MFJ, I completely shut MFS out of my mind.

Matt

Ditto to the above: if you want to file jointly, you will have to report your spouse's income (because you have to elect to have him be treated as a resident for tax purposes), but you should be able to exclude all foreign income below a certain level (it's over $90,000). I had a professional do all of that, so unfortunately, I don't know which forms you need other than the W-7.

EDIT: Hmm...I know the documents for being a resident for tax purposes (or was it the W-7? I don't remember) ask for a "date of entry" for the US, so I don't know if him never having been here is going to be a problem.

yeah, it is the W-7. I had an acceptance agent review my form, and he told me to just write Never in that spot and it wouldn't be a problem.

Matt

Hello

I am currently dating a southern sweetheart from south Carolina and plan on asking her to marry me when I visit in April.

So it seems we are about to start our journey to a future together in the states.

Can anyone give any advice on the process.

We have talked a lot about marriage and plan on getting married in the UK so it looks like the CR 1 visa is the best option but please tell me if there is a faster option.

Any advice on the application process would be welcome.

Hello,

I would tell you to not stress yourself during the process. The forms are pretty straightforward for the most part, but there are questions that seem confusing. Thankfully, just about everything that's caused problems in the past is availible here with solutions. I stress somewhat when I was doing this and now looking back on it, most of what i was stressing wasn't nothing really. I followed directions, and if i didn't understand something I looked for it here and sure enough, someone else had the same problem I did and the answer was right there. Truthfully, using that search function you can find the answer to about 99% of the problems you might encounter. God speed.

Matt