chestnutt
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Posts posted by chestnutt
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10 hours ago, NikLR said:
You said your husband is practical so the best way to approach moving closer to a larger city would be to suggest housing you can afford, in good school district. Some people have a hard time hearing problems when you don't have a solution in mind.
I agree that you could be suffering from some PPD. It would help to have someone to talk to about your frustrations who may be able to help you verbalize to your hubs.
I totally understand how you feel too that you gave up everything and he isn't giving an inch. But realistically that likely isnt the case so step back and see what he does do just so you arent angry about it as much. Not because you need to praise him or whatever, just so you remember what you have not just what you lost.
Ive had to do it a lot. It does help.
That's a good idea, I will try and gauge a feel for the cost of moving before I jump right in and just blurt out what I'm imagining in my head. I will try and step back as you suggested, I feel like that will be very helpful.
10 hours ago, Lil bear said:It would be worthwhile thinking about going to see a counsellor together to help you hear each other and to assist with each of you being supported as you share the challenges.
I do understand though .. I was back in Melbourne this month and soaked up as much as I could of the CBD, laneways and shopping strips, ride train, tram and bus everywhere, had breakfast out often and probably overdosed on good flat whites. It’s a hard transition from a country that is so open to all things from everywhere in the world.. and rural US can be feel really suffocating. I feel for you.
Yes I feel like counseling could help, even just to get a neutral 3rd party point of view.
10 hours ago, Lil bear said:I have found ways to get most of the ingredients I need here.. golden syrup, milo, vegemite to name a few... PM me if you want info !!!
Okay where would I find golden syrup haha, I've not been able to find it anywhere!
3 hours ago, TBoneTX said:Perspective: Other VJ members (and people in the general population) would probably knock you out of the way and run over you to get what you have.
Perhaps. If we were to move to a large city on what we earn we would be in a very different financial situation. I suppose there is a price to be paid for having so many opportunities for new experiences right at your fingertips.
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1 hour ago, Mike E said:
You could been in the same situation with an Australian husband who lived in a
rural run down area. With bad weather.
So so this isn’t an America vs Australia thing. This is you vs your marriage decision thing.
You are miserable. And it is in your power to fix it, whether you continue your marriage with your husband or not. It can be fixed without moving ten thousand miles.
That is true, good to get a different perspective.
1 hour ago, Nereyda said:Sorry you're going through this. Did you get a chance to visit his town before you moved to the States? Did you know anything about his town and what to expect?
I sent my husband videos about where I lived etc. So he had a pretty good idea of what to expect before he moved here.
Nonetheless, I hope your husband compromises with you, as he's supposed to. He's married now. You're his main family.
I did visit for 2x2 week periods about a year apart. I guess my only defense to that really is that I was young dumb and in love and focusing more on being with him than what our life would be like 5 years down the road. Maybe I never admitted to myself that this was where I am going to spend the rest of my life and some part of me was hoping we would move onto to a better place. Now I'm dealing with the reality of it.
1 hour ago, bigjailerman said:It is understandable, but do you really regret moving here to the US or it is just the present location as you pointed out. Just curious where do you live in Pa.. We live here as well and my wife loves it here, we are not too far from Philadelphia. We moved to NY (despite I lived there my whole life it is very expensive more now than ever) when she arrived with our children from Colombia. There are so many places throughout this beautiful country that have wonderful and dreadful places to settle down. Nothing is permanent so don't give up. Try to understand your husbands "practical" point of view and, most people, together can work out any difficulties if everyone puts their cards on the table honestly. I know that in some areas of Pa can be very economical to live but some of these areas have become worn down and unappealing recently. If I were you I would stress to your husband how much it weighs on you and how much you guys could work out a long term plan. Sometimes people get locked in to a good paying job despite the surroundings, is that the issue with your spouse? I wouldn't doubt that his priority is to care for his family. It seems that you have outlined quite a few positive reasons to stay and they are all pretty formidable to overcome from his perspective at least. Great child, great family attachments, you have a great husband. Its a pretty good trade-off for many people. Often after a relatively new child is born, mothers do feel trapped in their circumstances.
Does your husband understand how you feel and why?
I suspect if I lived in a place I liked I would not feel like this. I live right up in the north east corner, close to the NY border. The only good thing about living here as you say it is very economical. We both have jobs that don't pay a crazy amount but for where we live it is quite good money and a dollar goes quite far. I guess I need to ask him about the understanding part and try to communicate more clearly.
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23 minutes ago, moreadore said:
Aside from everybody mentioning talking to your husband, you did have a baby 10 months ago and said you've been feeling this way for a few months. You might want to see a professional about possible PPD. It's normal to feel the homesickness especially with such a big family change but if you can't shake it please also consider professional help.
This has been in the back of my mind, I guess I've maybe been putting off making the phone call a little bit. I will do it today.
14 minutes ago, Paul & Mallory said:I definitely do not think you are alone in feeling this way, by either folks who feel this way daily, or just on occasion.
I'm the USC, so I cannot entirely relate to you. But I can relate, as far as knowing my husband probably feels the same, with some things. I feel so guilty sometimes at the thought of the life he gave up in Sweden to come here. And sometimes I see it on his face, even if he is a good sport and one of the most positive, adaptive people I know. He misses his family, obviously. His 3-year-old nephew the most. He misses being in a big city (Gothenburg, Sweden) and the easy access to public transportation. He actually didn't update his driver's license once we knew he'd be moving here, since it's so expensive to and not worth it, and lived quite easily without one for nearly a year before leaving. That's not a reality where we live now. He doesn't have his driver's license yet, and we have just the one car for now anyway, and that's probably been the biggest adjustment. We have things like Uber and Lyft, but it's still not the same as hopping a tram to get around or just being able to walk somewhere.
There's so many smaller things he's adjusting to, that I never thought about twice about, before now. I realize how much I take for granted, being the one who didn't have to relocate. And if I knew my husband felt this way, this much, or had said these things online or to another person, I'd be heartbroken. I'd be more than willing to compromise and find a happy median. I wouldn't just be willing - I'd be adamant to. As much as he sacrificed for us, the least I could do is listen and compromise.
Communication is the greatest factor in these situations. Not saying you have not already, but I definitely encourage widening that line of communication with your husband, on this topic particularly. I think someone else said the same, or similar - it's important for him to understand that you may have moved here 5 years ago, and perhaps he feels you should consider this home now... but maybe it's just now hitting you. Maybe it has been hitting you, slowly over time, and you have just finally hit a wall. I can understand having a child intensifying those feelings. We haven't had kids yet, and my husband has already remarked on the things our future kid/kids may not experience that he did growing up. And I'm sure it'd be the other way around, for me, if we'd wound up in Sweden instead of the US. It's that enormously bittersweet part of international relationships - you can't both stay where you've been all along, someone has to give it up. And that's so hard.
My feelings coming up like this have surprised me a little. I've always been pretty proud of how I managed to leave my whole life behind and jump into this one, but I think you're right about it being a slow build over time and hitting a wall. And on his part I understand that it will be difficult to comprehend. I clearly need to communicate with him better, I just wish I could do it without the damn waterworks starting and have a level-headed, logical conversation 😐
- LukeU and bigjailerman
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2 hours ago, SeabreezeUF said:
We live in a neighboring state to you so I definitely know what you mean with regards to environment and weather- my husband actually develops SADS here and eventually got treatment for that, which helped a lot. However, it became obvious to me that things weren't working where we lived so while the last thing I wanted to do was go back to sharing walls and not having space...we packed up and moved into the 'city' near us. (<1 million people..so not really a city haha) The change it brought in my husband was almost instant- sure, there aren't 100 restaurants nearby, but there are ones we can walk to. Just having the option of easy access to a wider variety of activities, like you're suggesting you'd like, made a world of difference. I could feel resentment starting to creep into our marriage before we relocated to our current home and now it's completely gone. You're definitely correct when saying that moving to the 30 minute drive down the road in another town can make a world of difference!
Having said that...it's very brave to post what you did here . Do you think you could print it and show your husband? Your post is so well spoken and even keeled- I know you're emotional but nothing about the post comes off that way. It really just broke my heart and I would imagine it could open the eyes of your husband. I know you said his practicality kills the topic when you bring it up but as someone who is always told I kill things with logic... he seems blind to the severity of the problem. You've given a lot to the relationship and he should be willing to move a few miles down the road for the sake of your well being.
The ONLY thing I can see being a practical argument is the school district; they're so funny up here that you may currently be in an amazing one and be suggesting to move to a subpar one. However, that isn't even an issue for you guys for years and those few years could be what you need to get back into a healthy state of being.
Ugh I think I may be suffering from that a touch, I do think I should maybe try to seek some help.
That's exactly what I want, options! Hearing you say how much of a difference it made to your husband is quite encouraging, thank you.
Thank you for saying this was a brave thing to do, I've been thinking about reaching out for a while.
His big issue with moving school districts is that our daughter won't be going to school with her cousin (my husbands sisters daughter, who is 3 weeks older than her). In my mind I guess it's not that big of an issue, we would mostly likely still see them on a weekly basis which seems to me more than enough contact to establish a good relationship.
1 hour ago, fip & jim said:Maybe it would help if you could write it down, like you have here, for him to read. I find it easier to write sometimes, especially if it's an emotional topic for me.
In the short term, make sure you get your own needs met however small and insignificant it may seem. As a mother I'm terrible at doing this. I started this year journaling and have multiple trackers to make sure I do things for me, and I still fail at times. Make time for yourself to do something to replenish yourself.
I'm in the Mid West and I never want to feel the way I've felt this winter again. My husband has suggested getting a light box for me because the change in lifestyle has been so bad for my health and well being.
When demands are constantly made on me I get to feeling even more resentment. If you're an accommodating type of person it can be difficult to even speak up, and if you feel you're not being taken seriously or understood when you do then it's discouraging and frustrating. Find a way for your husband to hear what you have to say. It's important and your feelings matter.
Also, give yourself a pat on the back for what you have been doing since emigrating. It's a massive achievement. You need a break from feeling emotionally roadblocked. I hope you find a way forward.
I'm sorry you've been having a tough time this winter, it is such an awful feeling. The summers are great but the inevitability of the next winter always leaves a little darkness hovering there.
It is hard not to feel guilty when taking a little time for myself, I have to keep reminding myself that my whole identity is not made up being a mother and that it is okay for me to want to do things other than hang out with her.
1 hour ago, dentsflogged said:I am actually in almost the same boat (with the exception of the child) - I lived in Melbourne for years and LOVED it. Now we live in a town of less than 8,000 people in Wisconsin. There are some nice homes, but many of them are run down, no one seems to take any pride in upkeep and maintenance (if I want to walk anywhere I have to do it on the road because despite there not even being that much snow, very few people bother scooping and salting the sidewalk in front of their houses). It's MARCH and the majority of homes around us have still got their christmas light up because apparently the effort of taking them down is far too high.
I love my husband. I really like his family. But I miss Australia, I miss the variety and quality of food (Wisconsin has many nice things, but good quality foods from various cultures is not one of them), and I miss being able to go outside without wearing 5 layers in order to not die.
Oh, and I miss Medicare. SO MUCH. I'm sick to death of working out if I have just enough of my medications until a friend or family member comes to the US next to get through, or working out if I can get a years' worth of birth control and asthma medication next time I go home to visit - a years' worth of each costs less than a single MONTH here in the US.
So I totally get it. I'm hoping that when winter FINALLY dies and I can get out more and hopefully make some new friends around town that I'll feel less like I made a huge mistake by moving here. It's just such a crappy situation - my husband has made it clear that living here is the one thing he WON'T compromise on (he's willing to compromise on everything else - our home & how it's decorated, having a cat - he hates cats - letting me chose the puppy we get AND give it a punny name, where and how we spend vacations, what we eat and basically everything else - just not where we live) so I either have to put up & shut up or divorce him and move home - which isn't an option for me. I miss my friends and family.dentsflogged it sounds like our husbands would get along quite well 🙄 Everything you're saying about your town is basically what I deal with too, it's quite discouraging to go on a nice walk and just stroll by people's yards that have baby gear strewed around that you know hasn't been used in at least 5 years. We usually road walk too, not only because of the snow but in our town in some places the sidewalk just simply isn't there or is far too rough to push a stroller along.
I second missing the variety and quality of food, the culture, the activity, the vibe, the different landscapes, Australia really is a wonderful country (Brisbane girl here).
Missing family and friends -- so so much.
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11 hours ago, JC&BS said:
What about a vacation back home for a little while?
We are going back for 2 weeks in May, I am so looking forward to it and it will be so wonderful but I know coming back here is unfortunately going to be pretty hard.
8 hours ago, carmel34 said:OP, do you have your US citizenship yet? If not, apply and get it, and then in your long heart-to-heart talks with your husband, bring up the future, and float the idea of moving to Australia to live for a few years, after you get your US citizenship. If he really loves you and wants you to be happy, he should be willing to compromise. That is what makes a marriage strong--give and take. Sacrifice on both sides. And if he's not willing to compromise that much, enough to move to Australia for a few years, it may put things into perspective for him and he might at least be willing to move closer to your job, to a larger city in the US where you would be happier, and it isn't asking too much really.
Nope I don't have it yet. I know it is basically completely out of the question for us to move to Australia (his job is a big reason, he actually isn't even allowed to live out of the state). I am pretty sure that I do not want to become a US citizen, I am quite happy filing my paperwork every 10 years.
7 hours ago, millefleur said:I can totally relate to this...I'm the USC and my husband is from a big, world class city (pop. 6+ million)...now we live in a city that has about pop. 2 million and my husband is extremely frustrated with not having the same options he had in a large city: lack of reliable public transit, the fact that driving was always a choice and not a obligation, lack of cultural events and places...not to mention leaving behind his wonderful family. I actually used to live abroad with him in his home city and we both loved it here but had to leave for opportunity reasons due to my husband's circumstances (Russia has issues right now, heh.) Thankfully, we are considering moving on from here to a bigger city once we finish up our own business in this town, but we're still stuck here for 1+ more year...then we're looking into more international big cities here in the US.
It sounds like the main reason your husband wants to stay is to be near his family. That is understandable but on the other hand, you are his family too and your happiness matters. Plus, you left your family and home country behind...that's a big sacrifice. I hope your husband can see if from your perspective and you can both work through it. Everyone else has given great advice so far...you're definitely not alone in feeling homesick or culture shock, it's extremely common with international couples...especially if it is a move from a big international city to a mid-sized or small American town. Hugs!
I guess my situation is a little extreme haha, I went from a city of 2.5 million in Australia to the current town I'm in with 3000 people...
6 hours ago, Izor said:I moved from Stockholm to a tiny town in Northern California, and i struggled a lot in the beginning. BUT i have embraced it and i am loving it more now, in fact i could never live in a city again haha. Biggest help was honestly the climate, Northern California has the beaches, mountains, cities and sun. Sure i drive 50 minutes one way to work but i like the drive, it is all country highways. It really sounds like you need to come to the west coast, it is not as expensive as people say, especially in the outskirts. Take him on a vacation to CA and drive around, maybe he will change his mind when he sees how much beauty is out there
Oh yes, I can't help but wish that he was from the west coast (much easier flight path to go back to Australia to visit also!)
17 minutes ago, Sarah&Facundo said:I am the USC but I will weigh in also. My husband is miserable and hates the US. We went home for a month for Christmas to give him a break and since we have come back, it has just gotten worse. We had our AOS interview a few weeks ago and when the officer asked "Did you only marry your wife for a green card?" as a part of those list of questions they ask, he later told me it took everything in him not to see "HELL no!." He really is only here because of me. It's so hard watching your spouse make so many sacrifices and be so miserable. We came to an agreement. He is in college now and I said lets wait out until he finishes school. He should also wait until he gets citizenship so we can come back and forth as we please without worrying about refiling again. Maybe he could even work remotely as an American with a US passport while living in his country.
From the other side of things as the USC, it is so hard too. I feel vey guilty and very worried that he will someday resent me (although he promises me he does not at all and he made this choice). Perhaps your husband is avoiding confronting this because he does not want to face the guilt? Or maybe he does not truly understand the length at which this is bothering you and you need to be brutally honest? As someone mentioned in a post above, life is WAY too short to be so miserable. Five years is quite a while, so he really needs to hear you out on this. I wish you the best of luck!
Yes we are going back to Australia for a visit for 2 weeks in May, I fear this will make it worse for a little while after I get back.
7 minutes ago, LizM said:I think it's of the essence here that you communicate ALL of your thoughts to him. If you have already made the compromise in your head when you approach him - "maybe not move back to Australia, or a large US city, but at least move closer to my job - that's what I'll tell him" - then that's not going to sound much like a compromise to him because he doesn't know the sacrifice you've already made silently.
Trust me, I and a lot of others here know the ups and downs of moving countries for your loved one. Just because the down comes five years in doesn't mean it shouldn't be taken seriously. In his head you gave up your old life five years ago. In your head maybe it hasn't really felt like a sacrifice until now. So make sure he understands what has changed for you. Talk about Australia. I can imagine you're contemplating the upbringing you had that your daughter will never have. Talk about that and the fact that you've been away from your family and friends for five years now. Tell him how and why you're no longer comfortable where you are. What would your dream life look like? Tell him. This is NOT complaining. This is you communicating what you want, and just because you're the one that wants change doesn't mean you're the bad guy.
I wish you good luck and I'm grateful that you chose to write about this. I'm still adjusting status and I'm doing well, but I have always had this hunch that if/when kids come into the picture, that things might change.
You have hit on so many points here it's like you're inside my head! Good point about explaining my thought process to him, I'd never thought about it like that.
Yes the upbringing that my daughter will experience living here is always on my mind. I don't believe it is a good place to raise a child, and I constantly feel guilty that she is already bored and not being exposed to enough new things and new experiences simply because they aren't available.
I fear that he does hear most of it as complaining, he starts out sympathetic when I try to talk to him and then seems to tire of the conversation and I would imagine he thinks I am just complaining.
I can tell you from my experience that yes, have kids did change things for me. That may not necessarily be the case for you though, and I hope it's not xx
To everyone that commented thank you so much, this has been very helpful and it's good to know I am not alone in this weird type of life we have all chosen.
XX
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48 minutes ago, TenderHearted said:
You need to have a heart to heart with him on this. Don't let anything undermine your marriage, and resentment can be the start of really bad things if you don't get it in check. Tell him how you feel, in a kind respectful manner. That will go a very long way.
I can only imagine you are a little homesick, so keeping your mind occupied with things to do will help, and so I could see your reasoning about moving to a bigger town, where there are things to do. Be willing to bend a little, not that you haven't, I'm sure you have, since you immigrated here to be with him. Surely he will consider seriously what you have to say, especially since you have to drive such a long distance to your job. I would kindly make mention of that as well. This is a hard process to go through, and I can't imagine that he doesn't highly value you, enough to do things to help you be a little safer, like doing something to help cut down on that drive!
Yes I am very concious that my thinking this way and not saying anything could be very corrosive to our marriage, I guess I need to find better ways to communicate with him. Yes I would hope he valued me highly enough to at least give a little haha.
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11 minutes ago, Springleaf said:
I know a few people where one half of the couple likes their country better than USA, but for whatever reasons, the couple are staying here. Two couples are doing fine but third is on verge of separation.
Location definitely makes a difference. I spent first 8 years in US in NY and CALI and didnt feel homesick at all . But now being in georgia is just disheartening . Since we have a limited stay here and then we plan to go back to california, so i am able to feel more positive.
Communication goes a long way. If you are finding it difficult to communicate how you feel. You can look into couples counseling. It is not just for people at verge of divorce. It can enable you to be heard and validated.
Are their any australian expat groups that you can join virtually or IRL ? That might help you feel a bit better perhaps.
I am sorry that you are having a tough time. Being a parent in itself is hard and on top of that being an immigrant definitely is not easy. Keep on trying to be heard.
Much love
Thanks for your understanding xx I actually brought up couples counseling to him today but he just said I don't think we need it we never fight, so he might just have a limited understanding of what it could be used for. Good idea on the expat group I will look into that!
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Hi all,
This is a little wordy, guess I'm just looking to vent a little to people that will understand what I am going through, because no one else really understands as hard as they may try.
I've been living in the US for almost 5 years. I love my husband, he is a great person, we have a 10 month old daughter together who is just perfect. The past few months I have really started to question my choice in moving here. Leaving my family and friends and whole entire life weighs heavily on my mind now more than it ever has.
His family is fantastic, his sister and mother and I are close, I have a job that I like (well, as much as you can like something you have to go and do everyday!).
A big issue for me is that I 100% do not like where we live. I came from a big city in Australia that I just loved. Here we are living in a small town, that is run down, very few people that live here take pride in their houses so most places look like dumps, the people are questionable, there is not much to do, the weather is absolutely awful from November to April which drags me down a lot.
Lately I have tried to talk to him about this, he is just so practical that it gets in the way. I drive 40 mins one way to work each day, I tried to ask him about possibly moving closer to my work which is much closer to a larger town with so much more to do. He doesn't even want to move out of this school district (his family is so close to here so I understand, but really I think it would be okay to live within 30 mins of them!).
I guess after having the baby it has started to just make me feel like I am completely trapped in a place I do not like, with basically no options. I also feel like I compromised my whole entire life to move here for him, and he has had to compromise absolutely nothing, and does not seem willing to compromise on anything in the future.
I am trying to come to terms with the fact that I regret moving here.
Anyone else on here in the same boat?
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Hi All,
Hopefully this will be an easy one. I have my daughters Australian citizenship by descent certificate and am in the process of filling out the online form to apply for her Aussie passport. It asks for the documents certificate number, but I don't know whether to put the number that follows the "No. CBD" at the top of the paper or the "Client ID" number down towards the bottom of the page.
Thank you very much!!
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3 hours ago, debbiedoo said:
Your marriage certificate should cover the name change
I figured this might be the case, guess I will give it a go with that
Thanks for the reply!
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Hi all,
Not sure if this is the right forum for this question, apologies if it's not. My (I'm the Australian citizen) daughter was born in the US and is 6 months old now. I am wanting to apply for her Australian citizenship by descent, and am looking at the requirements now.
I changed my name to my married name in the US (as far as I know, this had no effect on my name in Australia). My question is, if I apply for her citizenship with my married name on her birth certificate, but my name in Australia is still my maiden name, will this cause issues? Any advice would be much appreciated.
Thank you!
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Hi all! Received my approval letter in the mail today! Vermont service center, NOA date 2/27/17, biometrics 3/31/17, date of decision 2/12/18. My case status on the website still hasn't been updated yet.
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4 hours ago, Gitana said:
enter amount on the line 8a and attach Schedule B. If your account is over 10K then you also have to file FBAR
Thanks for the reply. Can I then file form 1116, Foreign Tax Credit, or am I stuck paying tax on the interest in Australia and then again here?
Thanks
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Hello!
I have my green card and moved to the US in 2014 from Australia. The only money I am currently making in Australia is ~$1500 AUD yearly in interest on my savings account at my Australian bank. Does this need to be reported on my US tax return, and if it does do I just add it into line 7 on form 1040? I do pay tax on it in Australia but the Australian tax year is July to June so I've only paid tax on it in Australia for the first half of 2016.
Any help would be appreciated!
Thanks
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36 minutes ago, F1H1I130 said:
Why don't you just use your marriage certificate?
I tried to change it with the SSA a couple of years ago and they said my name with USCIS is my maiden name so I couldn't change to my married name. Wondering if now that I have the letter of receipt for I-751 in my married name if that's good enough for SSA.
12 minutes ago, bolin786 said:Take you new LPR card and marriage certificate to both, Social Security Administration and local MVD for your drivers license.
I only just applied for the 10 year green card so I'm sure I won't have that for a year or so...is the receipt letter saying my permanent residence status has been extended for a year good enough to change with the SSA?
Thank you
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Hello!
I received my receipt for filing my I-751. My 2 year green card is in my maiden name, however I filed I-751 with my married name and the receipt came with my married name on it. Is this enough proof to go to a SS office to get my name changed on my SS card? Then I need to go and renew my license as it expires when my 2 year green card does.
Thanks for the help!
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I'm 40 years away from accessing it too, it seems way too excessive and not applicable to the kind of control we have over the money (none!). I report it on my FBAR which isn't a big deal, but I think it would be a more-discussed issue if form 3520 was something every Aussie living and working in the US had to deal with. It seems to be a very grey area with the IRS...
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Hey Chestnutt,
Did you ever end up resolving this?
In a similar boat here myself, and not sure which way to turn. This 3520 form is a nightmare.
Thanks,
Alex.
Hi Alex,
Yeah the 3520 and 3520A look like forms only an experienced and specialised tax accountant/attorney could deal with!
I'm still not sure about this, I would think every single Australian working in the USA would have run into the same issue, and I really haven't been able to find out much about it...
If you find anything out let me know, sorry I couldn't be of more help...
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I don't know anything about Australia but if it it a retirement or pension type fund maybe this will help.
If you are receiving money from the fund, it would be reportable on a US tax return just like taxable income from Social Security retirement, pensions, or distributions from IRAs. The taxable portion would be dependent on reading details about taxation of pensions.
If you have an account overseas that is held in your name waiting for you to reach a certain age, then It is reportable on Form 8938 aka FATCA if it meets certain dollar amounts. For a joint return it would have to exceed $100,000 to be reported on the US tax return. If you have other pensions as well, it would be the total held. So one $90k and two $10k accounts exceed the threshold in their total and all are reported.on Form 8938 which is part of the return. It doesn't sound like it is a "trust" by IRS definition which is the road you were going down. We do FBAR and FATCA each year and if that sounds like your situation I can help you with how my FATCA is filled out. Some of the questions are weird. Post your questions.
The FBAR is not part of the tax return and filed directly to the US Treasury, not the IRS. If the aggregate amount for all accounts exceeds $10,000, you report. Those pensions would fall under FBAR as well and maybe some savings or checking accounts. It is pretty straightforward, Name of institution, address, account number, highest balance during 2015. Done electronically online now. Due June 30.
Not sure if that helps or not. I thought it may be what you were seeking.
First of all, thank you so much for replying!
I do not meet the thresholds for FATCA reporting thankfully. Australian superannuation accounts seem like a tricky area, the website below says that the definition for employee benefits trust vs. foreign grantor trust for super accounts is a little blurred, I'm hoping mine is counted as an employee benefits trust. Just wondering if any other Aussies have run in to this issue, I actually don't know any other ones that live over here haha
http://www.greenbacktaxservices.com/blog/australia-superannuation-us-taxation/
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Hello All,
I began working in the US in January 2015, and just filed a joint tax return with my husband (we are both living in the US, I am a conditional permanent resident).
I am from Australia, and every time I go to research my tax obligations I seem to run into some other complicated form I need to fill out. I understand I need to file the FBAR form declaring my bank acccounts, that is pretty straight forward, but I am running into lots of problems trying to figure out where my Australian Superannuation (retirement) accounts fit in.
It looks like I need to fill out form 3520, which seems like an extremely complicated form. Does anyone out there have any experience with US tax obligations while having superannuation retirement accounts in Australia? I am hesitant to try to find a tax professional that would be very knowledgeable about this, it seems like a very specific issue (expensive!)
I would greatly appreciate any help, it's driving me crazy!
Thank you
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Hey everyone,
Apologies if this question is in the wrong thread, I wasn't quite sure where to ask it. I came to the USA on the K1 visa and married my husband, and now have my 2 year green card. I am going to be changing to my married name in the next week or two, and wanted to know if it is necessary for me to change to my married name back in Australia as well? Can I travel with my passport in my maiden name? Will it cause issues with banking in Australia? Has any one had any issues with this, or do I need to go through the process to get it changed back in Australia as well?
Thank you so much for any guidance
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Congrats!! How long did it take to get good news after you send a new medical? Thnx
I sent my medical packet out on May 12, and my card was ordered to be produced on May 22
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Hey everyone, my card was finally ordered today! I filed April 1st, 2014, got an RFE for an expired medical, did that all over again and finally approved!
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Check the RFE closely, they may only be requesting the vaccination worksheet of form I-693 and not a whole new medical. The RFE we received stated in the "Other" section that we are only required to submit pages 1 and 5 of the I-693 form which is exactly what we did. We found a Civil Surgeon that charged $30 to transcribe my husband's vaccination sheet from his medical that was done overseas and the blood test that he took here to prove that he had received the chicken pox (Varciella) vaccine since it was missing from his original vaccination record.
Good luck!
Hi, thanks for the response!
All the I-72 I received says is
Other: Your medical exam has expired. Please submit a completed Form I-693 in a sealed envelope.
This to me sounds like a whole new medical unfortunately....I have googled many search terms and found nothing related to this. Anyone out there have any experience with this or know of any documentation about it?
Thanks!
Been here for 5 years and I don't know if I made the right choice.
in Moving to the US and Your New Life In America
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Oh yes, thank you I will order some. Oh man, crunchies are one of the best things on this planet. It is just nuts how much sugar is hidden in stuff nowadays. Something I've had trouble finding is desiccated coconut, can find the shaved stuff everywhere but it's so chunky!
I'm so sorry you feel that way. That is an awful drive for him, I second that on the long drive during winter being hell! I imagine that must be so frustrating you both having the same goal of moving close to Boston but just simply not being able to. Hopefully if you keep a lookout and maybe settle for a "work in progress" type house something may come up for you. Yes I miss having a social life too, it can be very isolating. Sounds like there is some hope for you in the future, hopefully it works out sooner rather than later.