catie-b

^{When did you receive your EAD, AP and SSN? Sometimes it can take a few weeks for all data bases to sync together and for you to be recognized. After I received my EAD/AP and SSN we could not file our taxes for around a week after as my SSN and my name was not recognized.}

I received my EAD over a month ago and SS card about 2 weeks ago. It seems like it should be done by now.

Am I being given the run around by the DMV?

I have my EAD/AP card and my social security card in my married name, but the dmv yesterday still "can't" issue me a drivers permit because there is no updated info on SAVE, and no notes on their system. I went to the USCIS office on Monday and he typed something into his computer and told me to wait 72 hours before trying the DMV again as that will give enough time for SAVE to be updated. But still no update on friday!

After doing some research it seems like if I have my SSN and EAD both in my married name then SAVE should already be up to date? Should I try a different DMV? I'm going crazy! We live out in the country and there are no buses so it's really important to get my drivers license! Is there any way to find out if my info is up to date before someone takes me all the way to the DMV again for the umpteenth time? Thank you!

The sealed envelope is inside the packaging, It'll say "Official business" or something on it. Just be careful not to tear it when you open the grey packet. Congrats on getting your visa!

It is a lot different. Your employer holds out money for taxes from your paycheck (as well as Social Security and Medicare for your government retirement). What the employer holds out is an estimate. You file a tax return every year to figure out your actual tax. If the tax is actually less than what was paid in, you get a refund. If the actual tax is more than you paid in, you owe and send the IRS what is still due.

Your tax form is the 1040 for calculating actual taxes. If your income is pretty simple, then sometimes shorter versions like 1040A or 1040EZ might be used.

If you have a job, your employer sends out a Form W2 in January to you and the IRS saying what you earned for the tax year Jan 1-Dec 31, as well as how much was held out for taxes, Social security, and Medicare. You need that form in order to fill out the tax return(1040). Some people are just contract employees and the company that hires them doesn't normally hold out anything. They send a Form 1099-Misc to the worker and IRS saying how much they paid the worker for the tax year. So that's why these USCIS things say W2 and 1099 because not everybody gets a W2. Some wages may be reported on a 1099 instead. There are many versions of 1099, but the point is income can be reported on either form W2 or 1099 depending on your situation.

So as I said before, a W2 shows your reported income, but it isn't a tax return. USCIS requires a tax return.

So why tax return plus W2? Anybody could download a tax form 1040, fill it in saying they made $100,000, and send that to USCIS. So USCIS wants that official W2 report of wages with it to make sure you didn't send them a fake tax form where you filled in more than you really make.

A transcript is generated by the IRS based on exactly what you filed with them. They have already seen that the income you put on the 1040 matches what the employer (or others) have paid you. A transcript is from IRS records so is basically verified as correct. That's why it can stand alone with nothing else to go with it.

Sending a photocopy of your tax return/W2 AND a transcript is redundant.

Woa, thanks for such a detailed reply! (I'm pretty sure that explanation is a lot clearer than the one I'd get if I asked my husband, lol). Anyway, our RFE response got mailed out today. Thankfully the tax return was the only thing we were missing.

Cheers again,

Catie

2013 taxes are not needed until April 15. It is easier to just get the tax return transcripts, because all the information required is included. You can now download and print your IRS tax return transcripts online, so no more waiting.

If you include your tax return transcript, you do not need to include other tax forms.

Thank you

A complete tax return for USCIS means:

1) all forms and schedules that make up the tax return. That could be Form 1040/1040A/1040EZ and maybe Schedule A, B, C, D, SE etc etc. It depends on how you make money, if self-employed, if investments. Different strokes for different folks.

2) a form from (usually) the employer stating your wages. If an employee it's a W2. If an independent contractor, it's 1099-MISC. If retired (pension), it's 1099-R. If retired (social security), it's SSA-1099.

A W2 by itself isn't a complete tax return.

. . . . . . . . .

A tax transcript is also acceptable (better) instead of a complete tax return. They are downloadable since last month. No waiting for mail anymore. It is complete by itself. No 1040, Schedules, W2, or 1099.

. . . . . . . . .

2013 taxes are not due until April 15. Before then, a 2012 complete tax return OR 2012 tax return transcript from the IRS can be your "most recent" tax return. They do not force you to complete 2013 early. If you have done 2013 already, then of course use it. If 2013 is going to show more money, then that should motivate you to hurry up and get the taxes filed.

If you followed this, you each can probably figure out what you were missing.

Catie--no tax forms for 2012. W2 alone doesn't do it.

CaliCan--just the opposite, tax forms but no W2 (or 1099 if independent contractor.

Both of you should download your transcripts

Here's the link http://www.irs.gov/Individuals/Get-Transcript

Choose tax return transcript from the choices.

Thanks so much, Nich-Nick. We now have his tax return as well as the transcript, so will probably just send both. I don't know what 1040, 1099s etc. are... Before I get my work permit I'm going to get hubs to sit down with me and explain exactly how tax stuff works here... it seems so different from the UK. I knew where I was with PAYE!

Sorry - it's just that's the first time I've ever heard anything remotely complimentary about Tescos own brand 'food." And it amused/bemused me. That's all. :-)

But hey, if you like it..........

I had a lot of their soups and breads and actually their curries were pretty damn good too. Ah well I'm not a very picky eater!

I really miss a lot of Tesco own brand stuff

What? A lot of their food was nicer (in my opinion) than branded stuff, and far better than supermarket brands over here...

I really miss a lot of Tesco own brand stuff

What? A lot of their food was nicer (in my opinion) than branded stuff, and far better than supermarket brands over here...

Hey Greggs cupcakes weren't toooooo bad... their sausage rolls were disgusting though - they never had any sausage in them :/

I really miss a lot of Tesco own brand stuff - their bread was delicious.. I actually don't mind the bread here as long as I don't read the ingredients first.

Thankfully there's a place in Longmont called Mike O'shays that does THE BEST fish and chips I've ever had... although no one here seems to know what mushy peas are?!

Honestly there is far too much stuff to list that I miss from home.... I'll definitely have to try ordering a few things from Amazon or somewhere It definitely makes sense to save it for a once-in-a-while treat though. Thanks, lost_at_sea. One thing that really bugs me though is that America still uses partially hydrogenated oils and other stuff which the UK doesn't any more. I did hear they were planning to phase them out though.

My new favourite thread. It's been almost 6 months and I miss home terribly, the little things I took for granted. I'm having a hard time finding anywhere that sells British stuff here in Colorado, although recently I learned about "Willy's Emporium" in Colorado Springs and have yet to persuade hubs to drive me down there (about 2.5 hours away and still waiting for EAD or I'd drive there myself!).

I miss Corrie and British TV in general, and really want to try out Hola! But living out in the country with my hubs and his parents for now while we save for a down payment, so SUPER SLOW internet and a 4gb download limit shared by everyone I definitely miss my unlimited 15 quid a month mobile! And laptop keyboards with a pound symbol, ha.

I moved to the US recently with a K1 visa, and married in October, but we are planning to have our "wedding" in May this year. My family obviously can't wait to come out, but my cousin isn't eligible to travel under the VWP due to past convictions from 10+ years ago. He needs to apply for a B2 visa, but after they did some research, they are worried it's going to take 6 months at least due to obtaining court records and such. Is this true? Does anyone have any recent experience of obtaining a B2 visa in the UK? Thank you,

Catie.

We have considered passing by the airport on my 90th day here and sticking out tongues out at the airport!

Lol!

Thanks guys for reply but I am still waiting for my Packet 3

It can take 2+ weeks before they mail out packet 3. It's not something you really need to worry about though... As mentioned above you can be preparing for the interview right now, by gathering your police and birth certificates, DS- forms, etc. This is all packet 3 tells you to do.

Here's your document checklist: http://london.usembassy.gov/application_documents.html

And the forms you need to fill in: http://london.usembassy.gov/kprocessing.html

Congrats!

Visa in hand as of about half an hour ago. <3

I really hope everyone still waiting hears some good news very soon!

I just wanted to ask about something else which is niggling me a little bit. (We are both stressing a bit atm due to some of my fiance's family circumstances and it's making me worry about most things atm even if I don't need to).

People have said before about people going into AP because of connections to MENA countries. Now, I had a vacation in Egypt (Sharm-El-Sheikh) at the end of 2011 for about 9 days and there and the USA are the only places I've ever been abroad. In my passport, it has an Egyptian tourist visa in there because the dude at the airport told me and my ex if we ever wanted to tour to Cairo or anything, if we left Sharm without a tourist visa, we'd be in trouble. We just paid them £30 and that was that.

I'm not Muslim, I was not born in any MENA countries. I was born in the UK, so were my parents, grandparents, etc. Could this cause any problems?

Hi, I had the same thought as you as I visited Sharm and Cairo back in 2005, but my visa was issued with no AP so don't worry!

Proper Cadbury's

Yay!! Better get packing now! It's really happening!! ???

For sure! Then the only thing left to do is wait

Best of luck to you for the future!

JUST GOT MY PHONE CALL!!!! My visa will be delivered between 8am and 6pm on Monday. Wheeeee!! ?????

Hope you guys got the call too

YEP! Got the call earlier this afternoon! Woohoo!!!

Me too! But I still don't trust the courier service, lol. Not resting til that visa is in my hand.

Ha, this is true. I still feel like a weight has been lifted though lol. We shall see on Monday though!

Ohh wow! I just got a phone call and they are going to deliver it to my house on Monday! It's going to cost £8.80 (or .90, I forgot lol). I asked if it was possible to pick it up from the depot and she said no, they only deliver to peoples addresses still...

YAY!! Good luck to you guys, hopefully you'll be getting the call today!!!

Oh god I hope it's not too much longer I'm about ready to go back down to London and pick it up myself! (Hmm.... is that even actually possible?? Lol) This is so frustrating!

8th August here. Still waiting!

oh your taking your wedding dress on the flight too, I was planning on doing that but don't know how to go about it :/ Like you I don't want it to leave my sight!!!

ceac website STILL saying 'ready' for me today haven't started packing coz it feels like it's never gonna happen!

I am michigan bound, bought a little house out there should be closing on that tomorrow so he will be moving into there over the weekend.

I think by friday we are all going to be a little crazy with worry if no one has heard anything! everytime my phone rings and i learn it isn't the delivery people i'm trying to get them off the line! Although with mine still stating 'ready' I have given up hoping for them to call now, till it says issued I guess the embassy still haven't sorted them yet

I searched eBay high and low for a wedding dress travel box the biggest I could find, but still within hand-luggage limits for US Airways. So it'll fit nicely in the overhead compartment. My dress JUST fit in, with barely any room to spare lol. The lovely ladies at the shop I bought the dress from packed it for me, as there was no way I'd have been able to do it myself without fear of ruining it somehow. Shoes and underskirt etc. will go in my suitcase, wrapped up of course.

I really, really hope you get your visa issued and delivered soon. What is that saying about a 'watched pot...' try to keep yourself busy and always think positive! Get some packing done!

Yeah I got married in the US two years ago and got my dress sent to my mother in law's house a few weeks before by DHL but brought it home in a dress bag thingy.

We're gonna live in Suffolk, Virginia - Bobby moved into our apartment (which I picked during a visit in march) a couple of weeks ago. Cannot wait to get there!

Oh so you've paid the courier already then? I didn't know you could do that so I'm waiting for a call from them to pay and confirm delivery. They will prob ring you to confirm though I would think.

How much did you pay??

Ohh I bet you can't, I'm really itching to get out there as we're planning on moving out of Bob's apartment at the start of October and I want to start looking for places with him! He is already looking but I want us to be able to view it together and decide together...

I didn't pay for the courier, I arranged delivery to a depot online (which is free) when I paid the MRV fee. This is why I'm a little worried. I wish it was the same as it used to be, it sounded a lot more straightforward to just pay for home delivery at the embassy! I gave the receipt I printed out (which showed fee payment and courier depot location) to the lady at the first window and asked her if it was OK, and she said it was fine and confirmed my phone number. Then the interviewer confirmed it. In all the excitement of getting approved I forgot to ask him exactly what would happen, but I'm guessing - and hoping - it'll be a phone call from the courier like everyone else. I suppose we just have to be patient