shrb

3 minutes ago, MariaR323 said:

Your welcome, glad to help

 

You won't need Form 2555 at all if you won't be trying to qualify for the exclusion. You'll just report the total foreign income. (Use the currency exchange rate in effect at the time the income was earned to convert to U.S. dollars.) I don't have all the specifics memorized and don't have the requirements in front of me to verify the differences, but you can never go wrong with the regular 1040. The 1040EZ and 1040A have specific requirements and although your spouse has always used the 1040EZ, it can change depending on the situation or what needs to be reported.

 

You'll be able to e-File next year for tax year 2017

That's great!

Thank you for everything!

15 minutes ago, MariaR323 said:

Hi there, here's my recommendation...

 

1) You are required to report worldwide income. So, yes, you should include all foreign income. Foreign earned income can go on Form 2555 and you can probably qualify for the foreign earned income exclusion. Tip: if it's not a big chunk of money you might want to consider bypassing the exclusion altogether and just report as is since it does entail a little bit more work on your end to get the exclusion. If it's not a lot of money chances are it won't hurt your bottom line much on the tax return.

 

2) You're most likely going to file the 1040A or the regular 1040 - remember, it's not just based on your situation but rather your JOINT (financial) situation. Since you're not providing any details on your spouse we have no idea what your spouse has to report. For sure though, you're not going to use the 1040EZ.

 

3) Yes you need to attach a statement electing to be treated as a resident for tax purposes. Even though you became a resident, you would be considered a dual-status resident: nonresident for Jan-Mar and from the day after you entered the U.S. through 12/31/16 you are a resident. That's why you need the election statement.

 

4) Yes, you cannot file electronically. Send the return via U.S. mail with tracking.

 

MFJ is the most favorable filing status and from the sounds of it you'd really benefit from it because you only had foreign income Jan-March. So you'll have the full exemption for the year using the MFJ tax brackets on essentially a one-person income.

 

Hope this helps.

 

Maria

 

Thank you so much for your answers, Maria!!!

This sure has cleared things up a bit. Just as a follow up for your input...

 

1) Yes. It is very little money compared to a US income. Filing as is means just doing form 2555 and ignoring the exclusion?

2) I mentioned the EZ form because that's the one my husband always uses for his taxes. It's a single income from a permanent job. No other assets. 1040 or 1040A it is, then?

4) Will we be able to file electronically starting next year?

 

Thaks so much again!

 

Hi all!

First of all I wanted to apologize for creating this topic since I know that the answer is probably scattered around somewhere in the forum. I sincerely couldn't find an answer that would approach my situation exactly.

We have just received W2s for 2016 and I will be taking care of taxes for the first time this year.

 

A little of my story... I moved to the US from Uruguay on March 2016. We got married in April and filed for AOS on the same month. I have been a permanent resident since late November of 2016.

 

Now these are my doubts...

 

1) For the months of January and February of 2016, I had some income from my job back in Uruguay. Is it necessary for me to include that in our taxes? What are the benefits/rules about this? If it is a must, how do I do this? I have been unemployed ever since.

 

2) We are going to file MFJ. Will a 1040EZ be enough, or due to my situation we should file using other, more detailed, form?

 

3) I read that since I was not a resident during the whole year, we could write a letter to include with our forms so the IRS can treat me as one for the whole year. My confusion with this is that since I am a resident now, I don't know if they need that same letter or something different.

 

4) Given the potential need to include my 2016 income from Uruguay and the letter regarding residency, I also read that this time we will have to file manually, is that so?

 

Many thanks in advance for the help you can provide.

-s

Just got GC in the mail! So happy this part is finally over. Now we can lay back for 1yr 9 months.

Hoping all my fellow April filers are doing great! Again thanks everybody for the support!

This morning my status updated to "New card is being produced" after interview on Monday!

My AOS is finally approved! I am so happy and relieved that the wait is over!

Gratz to everyone and thanks for the mutual support!

Just got back from interview in San Francisco.

Officer was extremely nice but she said she didn't have enough time to review our case and make a decision on the spot.

We got the "Case is being held for review..." paper slip. Waiting for an update now. Hoping all goes well.

Congratulations to everyone else on your progress!!!

Got an awesome surprise in the mail today... It wasn't a green card but it was my interview date for December 1st

Congratulations, Moslund! I'm so happy for you! It doesn't feel like that anymore but I have to admit that at the beginning of this journey both of our cases seemed the most delayed on this thread!

Hope your interview goes great! Preparing for the 21st here.

Good luck to you and all the remaining people waiting from April, we're almost there!!!

Oooh nice! They just updated their magic website with processing dates as of August 31st and NYC seems to be a month behind SF so hoping for a Christmas interview here:) Although SF office states processing end of December cases at the end of August, so it seems like the reality is a little different from what they post on the website:)

Yeah. I like to think that the date that that site suggests is the date of the OLDEST case that they're handling as of X date; meaning that they're always a tad more up to date than what they officially state. I'm sure your interview date is happening soon! Best of lucks!

Got up with a notification that my interview was finally scheduled for 11/21, in San Francisco. Seems we're back on track!!! Seeing the light at the end of the tunnel

Hi guys, I am a March filer but wanted to check in with you to see if there is anyone here with San Francisco office?

I still havent received a decision or interview date for my greencard...I was wondering if anyone else is still waiting too

Thanks

Hi, I'm from San Francisco too an April filer. I haven't received any schedule yet for interview. My case says "Ready to be scheduled for interview" since May 30.

One more here from SF. Case ready for interview since June.

Waiting time seems to be around 8 to 9 months. December 2015 filers are just getting their interviews scheduled. We will be due last days of december, or early next year

Just got my card on the mail!!! So excited and happy!!!

Now to the eternal wait re: San Francisco interview...

I haven't been able to do so either. I haven't tried with my husband yet, but I have a theory as to why it happens.

I got my SS card right after I got married and when I went to their website to set up the online account, I got validation errors, saying that they couldn't confirm my identity. I called and they told me that they use information on your credit record to validate your identity (I find it kinda outrageous that credit reports get used for such things) so because I don't have credit yet, I'm not on the records.

I imagine something similar happens with USPS. All the questions seemed to be about someone else, so it's probably something related to us not having credit or something to compare the answers. I imagine the questions I got asked were with info from previous tenants of my apt.

I called too the first time I tried, and after waiting eternally to be transferred to someone from IT support, they told me that they use a third-party service for this verification and that they can't control the questions or the answers nor override the verification process if we just can't make it work after several attempts, so we're basically out of luck.

I don't think credit had much to do with it to be honest (well... At least not for USPS) The first time I tried this, since months ago, I didn't have any personal credit whatsoever. If I try again today, that I do have my own credit, I still have the same issue.

I remember that when we set up husband's user, his questions were the same as mine (like you said, many of them seem to be based on prior tenants that lived here before) but one. The last question was regarding an old personal phone that he had years ago. I think it's more about the addresses that you've lived according to USPS in the past, than credit. We're fine on the credit standpoint, but I'm afraid we're nobodies for USPS.

My $0.02.

When i try to sign up for the dashboard, i always fail at the validation questions...! None of the answers given apply to me! And then you get locked for 72hours.. Anyone else with this problem?

Here!!!

I could never set up MY profile. Seems that USPS is not recognizing us as residents or whatever... My workaround was using hubby's.

Did you receive a tracking number? Or are you just using that "My USPS dashboard" that was recommended earlier in this thread?

I didn't get a tracking number and no packages are coming up in my USPS account.

I got my NOA for EAD today, as well. But my actual EAD doesn't show up in my USPS tracker:(

My status changed on Friday to say that they mailed it, I was really excited and checked USPS all the time ever since.

The "package" appeared today, 3 days later, so they don't exactly ship it when the status changes... It just means they have it ready to be shipped.

After some hours my status changed again saying that USPS had picked up my card (thanks for letting me know, lol) and it says the tracking number... I observed though, that that doesn't apply to everyone, and I think it depens on how officers deal with your case.

USPS tool is pretty accurate so you'll see it there soon, fingers crossed!

Good luck!!!

Just got fancy-papered NOAs for EAD and AP.

My card shows in Tennessee as per USPS, with an expected date for this Wednesday... Can't wait!

Congratulations to everybody on your approvals... So happy!

USCIS just updated! My (EAD/AP) card was mailed to me!

Thinking it'll be here next Monday. No tracking number

Hope you all have a great weekend!

Quick update. AP case is now working online and case was approved EAD also updated to case approved. Now to wait for the card

Hoping you're all having a great day

Good afternoon everybody!!!!!!!!!

After a very disappointing call with Tier 2 yesterday, in which they told me to call again in two weeks because another SR could not be put in until 30 days after the first one... I just checked my online status and it's finally working! My new card is being produced!!! Finally! About darn time!

AP case is still not working but I'm guessing it will, eventually.

So VERY happy!

Follow up @shrb when you go to ssa office to get the print out did you have to get a waiting number again..

Not really. When I phoned on the next day he suggested me to take one number just to make sure I was going to be called, but he basically told me to go over and look for him. When he saw me he asked me to go over his window.

Easy

Hello, Quick question please needed!!! I just got hired on a job and now the paper works begin I have my EAD but I didnt have ssn yet rather I did not apply yet. I will go on Monday to apply for SSN. IS there a way where I can get a SSNumber even without the card. I read somewhere that you can print the SSN number?? If anyone knows about this please tell me how. I really need t get this ASAP. Thank you for all the help once again group

When I went to the SSA to get my SS card, I asked them if there was any way that I could get the number before the actual card (I needed to open a bank account and BofA wouldn't take me without a SSN) They gave me their phone number and asked me to call the day after to see if a number was assigned to me, they told me, though, that they were not going to be able to give me my number over the phone so if I wanted it I had to go to the SSA again.

The next day I called and they had my number on record. I went to the office and they gave it to me. The card arrived 5 days later by mail.

Just ask I wasn't asked any questions on why I needed my number before the card.

Hi all!

Day 90 here (or day 85 since they received my case)... Just got off the phone with Tier 2 again, since I put a SR for EAD/AP but heard nothing...

According to the representative, my case has been assigned to an officer for final review on 7/13, so he said hopefully it won't be much longer till I hear something from it. Apparently the SR moved things along a bit... But I guess we'll never know if it's really useful or if it's just a matter that we're calling just around the timeframe they start working on our cases...

The time to wait for an interview here in San Francisco is going to be eternal... So I'm really hoping the EAD/AP card will ease my mind a bit.

Glad to hear we're all kind of making progress!

Hi shrb,

I see on your signature that you had eNotification on 04/28 and on your timeline NOA 1 date is 04/27. Since the 75 days time frame limit is from the NOA1 date, was that a problem to put in a SR? Didn't they mention that to you on the phone? How did it go?

I had a representative on the phone a couple of weeks ago and they told me to call back on 07/11 to put in a SR. Just wondering if i can try to call in early to get it moving (my NOA1 date is 04/26).

Thanks

Hi,

I think they are basing on the Received Date on your I-797.. I had put on SR last July 5, 2016 since my received date is April 20, 2016.

Indeed what aANDg points out. I based my request from the date they received my petition which was on April 25th. Actually my 75-day mark is going to happen this Saturday, so I decided to give it a try today... I guess it all comes down to the rep. you get. Hope you're lucky on your next call!!!

It's good to see fellow San Francisco filers here to share our experiences.

Yes it is!!!

Good luck to all!

Hey all!

Just hung up with Tier 2 rep... Put in a Service Request for my EAD and AP.

We'll see what happens...

Patience...

Good morning people!!!

After 64 days, my AOS receipt number is working online! And my case is ready to be scheduled for an interview! I am SO happy!

Now to wait for the schedule notice, which will take a while... But definitely moving forward. So relieved. After what happened with my Biometrics I thought my case was going to be stuck in there forever.

Good luck to you all!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

BTW: EAD and AP receipt numbers are still not working.

Afternoon everybody!

Biometrics Walk-In completed at ASC San Francisco... Now to bigger and (better?) waits.