HarryWL

I do

@Mike E Are these the forms I need to fill-out and mail to IRS? The 1040 kinda throws me off because I feel like a lot of it doesn't really apply. Especially on page 2, am I suppose to leave most of it blank and focus more on the 2555 that asks more about foreign income? https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-prior/f2555--2018.pdf https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-prior/f1040--2018.pdf

So if I'm changing the first answer to yes, would the 2nd and 3rd questions both stay as no? Essentially the 2nd question is asking if I considered myself to be a non-resident as of December 18th 2018? Which I only considered myself a resident of Canada from January 1st through December 17th for tax purposes and residency. Should I file my 2018 tax return prior to submitting to amend the answer on the N-400?

Would I have to pay the fee again? Also if I did both an amendment and filed the 2018 return, do you see this being an issue with the continuous residence requirement? Thank you for your help, I really appreciate it.

Sorry I was working all day so I didn't have a chance to respond. To the first comment, I did the calculations based off IRS exchange rates for past years, and my income would have only been 19.4k USD and I paid $2,200 in taxes. Compared to if I had earned that amount in the US, I feel like I got taxed at a higher rate in comparison, so a foreign income tax would wipe any potential amount owed? So I answered no to the 3 questions on the basis that I was under the impression I wasn't required to file a tax return for 2018 because my residence was less than 31 days, and I was only considered a permanent resident for 13 days. The Canadian government recognized me as a resident for 352 calendar for tax purposes. My Canadian taxes were also messy, having to file 3 times due to them losing them twice and Canada didn't actually issue a notice of assessment till September 2022. (Which I paid the balance, but I'm currently disputing late fees because of their mistakes). I had no employment for those 13 days, and my social security card showed restricted authorization from a previous visa and wasn't fixed till January (after the holidays and into a new tax year). On my part, I can see now how that could assume ignorance rather than willful avoidance. There's a likelihood I'll have my 2023 return before my interview which I could use as my 5th year, but that doesn't resolve the issue of the 2018 return, or how I answered the N-400 questions.

I'm almost 99.9% positive now he filed married filing separate, because he didn't have any of my T4 (W2 equivalent) documents from Canada, if that was a requirement for him to include in a potential joint filing. I had to push him to file a joint tax return for one of the subsequent years.

I already submitted my N-400 yesterday, I probably shouldn't have jumped the gun so fast. I guess best case it could take longer to process and I'll be able to file my taxes hopefully around mid February after I get my 1099. (I should have my singular W2 by this point too). Knowing my luck though, despite my ROC already pending for 3 years, this process will go a lot quicker. I did already have a look at freetaxusa.com but there wasn't really any questions directly relating to foreign income, would it be on a separate document? Seems a bit like a catch 22 with regards to filing the 2018 return with the foreign income exclusion and establishing the technical residence marker. I looked at my Canadian return and I made less than $20k USD for that year, but if I don't use the foreign income exclusion, I could still end up having to give them around $1,000. (Which seems pretty ridiculous to me). Either way it would be a lose-lose. Best option seems to be filing the 2018 return with the foreign income exclusion, and hoping that the process takes closer to 7-8 months rather than 3-4 months so that I'll be able to have the 5th tax return in hand. What do you think?

I feel the hard part now is figuring out how to actually go about getting past the bureaucratic hurdles. Even my Canadian tax return for 2018 wasn't finished till this year, they lost in 3 times because they forced me to mail it and wouldn't accept it electronically, then when they finally received it, it took them another 10 months to process. Some of the websites don't process 2018 forms anymore, so I might have to figure out how file a paper copy and then go about the whole double taxation treaty stuff. Only in America would they make it this difficult.

Would filing it now cause any issues when it comes to my interview?

So I've kinda dug myself into a rabbit hole on the IRS tax rules and I'm looking to find some clear clarification. My permanent residence started on December 18th 2018, I had a restricted authorization SSN card from previously working in the US in 2015-2016 and had that removed in January 2019. So I never filed a tax return as I didn't have any income for those 13 days. My ex husband, I assumed, would have filed me as a dependent, but I don't believe that to be the case anymore. (I think he claimed his father instead). I was a resident of Canada for 11 and a half months of the year, and filed my tax return in Canada. On the IRS website it talks about "establishing a closer connection" (for different country when it comes to filing taxes) and "indications of intent to change status". It says "if you filed Form I-130 this indicates your intent to become a lawful permanent resident of the United States and that you are not eligible for the closer connection exception". Long story short, I have my tax transcripts for 2019-2022 (4 Years) and I don't have one for 2018, I already applied for my citizenship and I said I didn't fail to file a tax return, because to my understand I didn't know I needed to. (Honestly I still don't know). Can someone please advise, and has anyone been in a similar situation where their PR was approved at the very end of the tax year? Thank you

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't quite understand the whole expediting request on the basis of the beneficiary providing financial support? Will the I-864 requirements still be met as the petitioner? Honestly I wouldn't advise going down this route. I requested to expedite my process and was approved on the basis of my ex husband having MS, and needing physical support (which my presence as the beneficiary would be able to offer). If you go from a financial angle, they could wonder if you could potential pose a financial burden as you can't financially support the beneficiary on your own merits, and the situation being flipped. This is only my opinion, but I would instead strongly argue your case that you need your spouse to assist you with getting to and from doctors visit after your surgery, and general help around the house, as maybe you don't have immediate family around you that can assist. I feel expediting on the basis of financial hardship is a dime a dozen, and more open to critique from the officer that would be reviewing your request.

That's very quick, for it to happen within 3 months from applying. Here in Florida I'm 2 weeks away from hitting the 3 year mark since I filed my ROC 😏

It's a divorce waiver too, so by time I finally get my interview, it'll be around 3 and half years since my divorce was finalized. Should make for an interesting line of questing.

Just hit 35 month mark waiting for ROC. I can apply for my citizenship in 33 days, let's see if it actually speeds up the process.

Like others have said, AR-11 form online. It's a super simple process and won't take no longer than a couple minutes.

I got divorced so I'll be applying under the 5 years eligibility

Filed removal of conditions in September 2020, and still waiting. Can apply for citizenship in 70 days, so we'll see if it has any effect.

I filed in September 2020 and my divorce was finalized in October 2020 (Had decree in hand same month). They didn't actually ask for my decree till mid 2021, so honestly I suggest filing with a waiver and just mailing them the decree once you get an RFE. (From my own personal experience). Looking back at my original paperwork I submitted, on page 1 I said married under marital status (which was true at the time). and then under marital status part 13, I put N/A because the divorce was still being processed. Apart from that, I just filed for a divorce waiver on the subsequent pages.

I also received the 48 month extension letter, so that supercedes the temporary I-551 stamp that I had. So it all worked out in the end.

I filed originally as a divorce waiver and sent the decree when they asked for it. (I didn't have it at time of filing).

Also received my 48 month extension letter today. 29 months after filing for my removal of conditions. Can't wait for my interview so we can talk about my divorce that happened 2 and a half years ago at this point. Such a joke.

48 month extension is not just an embarrassment, but a colossal failure. It's time to get rid of the 2 year ROC process and stop wasting resources.

Floridian here. Cheaper living, you're joking right? In terms of if it'll have any effect, if you need to do an interview, expect long delays in most of the Florida offices. I live in Central FL and I've been waiting 28 months.

Needless to say, it's time to abolish the ROC process.

I'm not a fan of having to wait 2-3 years for them to schedule an interview either, a process that use to take 2-3 MONTHS. The fact they expect everyone to put their life on hold is disgusting. The whole process is broken and the director of USCIS should be fired.