MattND3

Yeah, it says to bring each of our birth certificates but doesn’t specify “original” or not.  We were definitely going to bring the copies, just wasn’t sure if the Original was needed.  I don’t even have my original, had to get a certified copy from the state of Virginia.  

Hello.  Me and my wife have an interview scheduled in less than a month in Norfolk for her adjustment of status interview (K-1 process, she’s a Canadian citizen).  When we filed all the paperwork during this process, we filed a copy of her birth certificate.  Will she need her original for the interview?  We don’t have that here so will need to expedite getting that ASAP if so.  Thanks in advance.

Matt

Wuozopo, your situation sounds very similar to ours.  My wife worked nearly the entire 2018 year in Canada and she was granted her K-1 mid December so we got married in December and she moved to the US then.  She already had a SSN from years back working in the US so have that taken care of as well.  What's the easiest way to prepare your taxes since we can't efile?  I've been a Turbo Tax W-2 and mortgage statement for years so this is another ballgame for me. Thanks

geowrian... back again.  We finally got her Canadian equivalent of W-2 for her work so we are finally ready to get going.  Should she file her Canadian tax return first then  do the US?  Or does it matter?  And is one tax program preferred over others?  When I was playing around with Turbo Tax, I wasn't sure where I'd enter her income.  

16 hours ago, geowrian said:

You can file MFS or MFJ (or HOH with a qualifying non-spouse dependent).

Single is not a valid option for anybody married as of the last day of the tax year.

 

MFS is simpler but likely provides a higher tax liability. In this case she wouldn't even need to file as her re portable income is below the threshold necessary to file. You would file MFS and list her SSN or ITIN as needed, or NRA if she doesn't have one.

 

MFJ generally provides a lower tax liability. This requires that she has an SSN or ITIN.

In this case she she must be considered a resident alien for the entire tax year. As a spouse of a USC, she can provide a letter to be treated as such (although this letter means not being able to eFile).

Anybody considered a  resident alien must report their worldwide income.

The FEIE can typically exclude most to all of that income from being taxed.

Thanks for the responses everyone.  geowrian, so just to be clear:

-For tax liability and best refund possible, MFJ is the way to go correct? (Why wouldn't people want to do this all the time?)

-We file MFJ and include a written statement (NRA election letter)

-We include all her foreign income.  What about things like retirement funds, stocks, the condo she owns, etc.?

-It has to be filed through the mail

-She would still file taxes in Canada

-Is the FEIE something that is applied for us or do we do anything in particular to trigger that?  

Thanks for all the help.  I'm used to just waiting for my W-2 and Mortgage documents and getting on Turbo Tax and doing it in 10 minutes hahah, little different waters to navigate now.  

Hello, sorry if this is a redundant question but here goes...   my wife recently moved to the states on a K-1 Visa on December 10th, 2018 and we were legally married the following day.  For the duration of 2018, she of course had no US income.  She worked in Canada up til her move to the US.  What is she OBLIGATED to do now that she's in the US?  Since she was here such a short amount of time, if she doesn't have to I'd think filing single would be easiest.  What is recommended in this specific scenario?  Thanks in advance

Matt