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I have not received the stimulus package via direct deposit I submitted via the non-filer's form, for my wife.

The IRS seems to be still be inaccessible by phone.... 

So I'm in holding pattern currently. will update accordingly. 

UPDATE:
Successfully visited the local office today with a scheduled appointment. She went in alone, escorted by a guard. The whole process took about 30 mins. Everything went smoothly and she will receive the SSN and card in the mail in 2 weeks. 

On 4/30/2020 at 11:54 AM, ProbeGT said:

I called my local SS office.  I got a call back as well.  They said they needed a valid reason, is getting a stimulus check "valid" in their eyes?  

 

Also, do you have a link that talks about stimulus packages for LPRs who didn't file in 2019?

For us, the stimulus check and application for unemployment insurance was "valid". 

But as I mentioned before, the other (very close) local office shut me down saying it wasn't a valid reason. So I would stress to anyone requesting a "dire need" appointment, call multiple local offices in your state. It took a lot of perseverance but I hope you will get there

I think this is the link to the IRS non-filers page: 

https://www.irs.gov/coronavirus/non-filers-enter-payment-info-here

*** I would also stress having both your state's .gov website open to the page which lists eligibility for any benefits (they might challenge you or be unaware of the updated laws), and the IRS.gov site which lists eligibility for the stimulus package. The first office I called had outdated info regarding LPR's eligibility. That way, you can read from the websites to whom your speaking on the phone, reassuring  that the office visit wouldn't be a waste of time, but indeed necessary and valid. 

25 minutes ago, Anthony446 said:

any tips on how to get them to push it through? I called but they said just wait a little longer or come into the office when it reopens

I guess it depends on why you're requesting the SSN now... for me it's for her to apply for the Stimulus Package which has been updated as of 4/26 to include alien permanent residents who didn't need to file taxes 2019, but must have a SSN. (My spouse hasn't earned any US income and was out of the country, only receiving her green card in January and hasn't worked in the US since.The spouse would have to apply for the package through the "Non-filers" portal, different from the general "get my payment" one. From the IRS site:

Quote

U.S. citizens, permanent residents or qualifying resident alienswho:

• Have a valid Social Security number,
• Could not be claimed as a dependent of another taxpayer, and
• Had adjusted gross income under certain limits.

So I would stress the need for an SSN for the stimulus package. Of course, I don't know your tax situation/ filling separately or jointly. 

I'll update again tomorrow following the phone call. 

*** I see that Anthony446 is (from/living in) Canada? Didn't realise that until after posting. 

13 hours ago, BLM said:

Where did you find the local offices phone numbers as opposed to the national number?

I'm asking since I've tried looking up 3 different offices near me and they all have the same number, which is the national one. TIA

I thought the numbers were the same as the national one too, because they were 1800 numbers, not local area code numbers... Have you tried calling them? If you haven't tried calling them, I'd try and there shouldn't be any wait... it should say "thank you for calling "your city name's" social security office", then there's a menu and little to no wait time. 

Hope you can connect. 

I was able to locate my local office numbers before  I called the national office by just searching "social security office" and my zip code... so I guess I was lucky in that respect... they were 1800-looking numbers, not the local area code numbers, but when I called each one it connected me to the local office. 

I do understand that some offices aren't listed... so in that case, the national number would definitely be able to provide the numbers to you if they aren't listed online... you might have to suffer the wait times. I found that calling in late afternoon resulted in shorter (1hour) wait times than the morning. 

*Update: I received a call back and voice message from one of my local offices today, but didn't realise until the office was closed. They sounded hopeful that we could schedule an emergency visit but needed to ask a few more questions, they also left their extension so communication will remain congruent.. Will update when I connect with them tomorrow. FINGERS CROSSED. 

*EDIT: 

Quote

I recommend NOT calling the main IRS national number

I meant: I recommend NOT calling the main Social Security national number

Hello all,

In a similar situation. Wife arrived from in US in early January and has her green card already, but didn't apply for SSN during visa app :( 

Things I've learned: 

If you're trying to get a NEW Social security card, or new SSN number, I recommend NOT calling the main IRS national number. I called every day this week, waiting times ranged from 1-2.5 hours, but someone always picked up. Every time the different agents told me that the only thing they could do was provide me the local Social Security office number. One agent did mention the mailing option (listed in a post above), but they didn't recommend it, given how it's basically all your original ID info. 

I then called the various local Social Security office with almost no waiting time, but the three offices told me there was nothing to do but wait until they open up. 

So I'd start with calling your local SS offices, keep calling and reaching different people, because they all say different things.  They usually will "have to check with a manager" and ask for a callback number, and they respond within the hour. I'm still calling local offices every day with hope, and will update if anything comes out of it :) 

Hi Maggy_0035,

I also used a co-sponsor, and submitted the co-sponsor's 864 along with mine, so I believe that submitting two 864s (your's and the co-sponsor's) was 'the way to show' you haven't made enough to sponsor your husband. I didn't face any troubles with this. [I was originally confused about whether to submit an I-864A for my sponsor, or two standard I-864s for both me and my co-sponsor. Villanelle was kind to clarify that you should submit two 864s, and only an 864A if USCIS asks or you believe the spouse of the sponsor wishes to submit.

I'm not clear about joint tax filing in this case, as we had filed separately. I would ask other VJ members about joint-filing situations. Regardless of how much you or your spouse earned, as long as your co-sponsor's income satisfies the income requirements (also considering their number of dependents etc.) I would speculate that you shouldn't have problems. 

Thanks Villanelle! 

I've got all the tax information. 

For my I-864, part 6 and 7 are a bit confusing. I received my transcripts for the last 3 years from the IRS, but there is nothing listed on the transcript "adjusted gross income". 

I understand for 7.1 "My current individual annual income" enter 0

For 6.20 "my current annual household income" do I enter 0 (zero)? 

6.23 have you filed tax returns for the past three years (yes)

6.24a b 😄Most recent total income, 2nd most recent, 3rd most recent (Do I enter the foreign earned income listed on my tax transcript? It's listed as "additional income" on the transcript and it's not zero, it's the amount I earned abroad. Or is it zero for all three years?) 

I wil be submitting my most recent tax transcript for the most recent year, and I'm concerned that the foreign income number won't be reported anywhere on the i864. 

Thank you so much for your help! 

Hi Villanelle,

Thank you for all the help in filling out these I864s, I think I've got it. 

2 final questions: 

1. my sibling is technically "self employed", so I've read that submitting 2-3 years of IRS tax transcripts rather than Tax Returns is advisable. I've also read in a separate post where you mentioned that including a letter is helpful to detail the nature of work, length etc. What do you advise given my case (both sibling and spouse are working, filing jointly, but sibling makes vast majority of household income, I'm not planning on having sibling's spouse file a separate i864A given the reported income amount). 

2. Do we know of any way to access an I130 submitted and approved application form? This would have been several months ago, and I want to make sure that the dates align with the application for interview and DS260 forms my wife will submit. Has anyone been able to access the submitted I130 forms for reference? (I'm having trouble tracking down the copies I made before submission). 

Thank you for your wisdom! 

Thank you for the info! 

I'm looking at the form and I think I should clarify my situation

- I am married to my wife ( Japanese national, principal immigrant ). We have no children or dependents. 

- My sibling is married with 2 children (under 21, all the same household). Both are working, my sibling earns majority, though I don't know if they file together or separately yet. Is my sibling's spouse required to submit tax info if my sibling alone earns enough to cover the poverty limit? 

Household size: 

• For the joint sponsor (my sibling's) I854, does it matter if they file taxes jointly, does this change the household number (part 5.8)? Or would the number be 5 = (immigrant 1, sponsor 1, married 1, children 2)?  
• For my I864, you're saying enter 1 for 5.1, 1 for 5.1= total 2 for 5.8? (don't enter 1 for 5.3 "if you're currently married" section). 

Part 1/2:

• Sibling's I864: check 1.d. "I am the only joint sponsor." ?
• My I864: check 1.a. "I am the petitioner" 
• 2 (this is her current Japanese address, I'm assuming?)
• 2.a. "In care of" (what name should go here?) 2.e, f. "state, zip code" (N/A?) 2.g. "province" ( N/A?) 
• 2.3 (if there is no A-number, do I fill in 0's or leave blank?)

Part 3: 

• My sibling and I both check "yes" on 3.1 "I am sponsoring the principal immigrant" boxes on our I864s? 
• 4a-28 can be left blank? or needs "N/A" written on every line? (only one immigrant needs sponsoring)
• 3.29 would be "1" immigrant supporting?

Part 6:

• My I864: Even though I earned an income in Japan in 2018, filed a US tax return for that year, do I still enter "0" for all numbers? 
• 6.6: "unemployed since", (does this need to be filled in if I am a graduate student?) 

Thank you for your wisdom! 

Thank you Villanelle!

I've talked to IRS and they have processed my late returns, which they will forward to me to submit with my I-864.

So you're saying that I should submit two I-864s, one for my sibling (joint sponsor) plus one for myself (Petitioning sponsor, as I'm a USC)... instead of a 1864a? 

In this case, on the I-864, does my sibling fill out 1.d "I am the only joint sponsor" ? 

In terms of showing assets for myself (main sponsor), or my wife (intending immigrant), what is acceptable to include? She has been working and paying taxes in Japan (though it won't continue once she arrives in US). I had been working and paying taxes in Japan (not continuing), but have savings in JP and US bank accounts. Is this necessary to included in my I-864 if my sibling's income is plus 125% poverty? 

Thank you for the prompt reply! 
Any additional wisdom is greatly appreciated! 

Hello all,

I've tried to find my question already answered on VJ but couldn't. 

I filed and was granted an approval for the I-130 petition filed DCF in Tokyo. I did not submit the I-864 or I-864a at time of I-130 submission.

I'm settled back in the US and ready for my wife to attend the interview and submit I-864, DS260 and other documents. 

Now I am a full time graduate student not yet working. 

I had been working in Japan for the last three years (only income from Japan) and not filing US taxes. I filed the backlogged three years via paper mail to the IRS in Texas (including filing FBARS online), reporting my foreign earned income. However, I haven't received any official 'tax return' response from the IRS. 

The USCIS website says: 

Quote

you must file all late returns with the IRS and attach an IRS transcript or copy of your late return and submit it with Form I-864.

What are they expecting in terms of IRS transcript of your late returns? Does anyone know who to contact at the IRS to receive such forms?

Question 2: 

- I'm assuming my wife will be submitting the I-864a (joint sponsor portion) and my I-864 at the time of her consulate interview. Should I be sending my sponsor's I-864a tax forms directly to her to bring to the consulate? Also, do these (my joint sponsor's tax returns) have to be originals?

- Under the I-864a instructions it states that one of the qualifying household member criteria is: 

Quote

The spouse, parent, child, adult son or daughter, or sibling relative of the sponsor, if that relative has the same

principal residence as the sponsor; or

Would I need to be residing with my sibling for them to qualify as a joint sponsor? My sibling hasn't and doesn't plan on listing my wife as a dependent, one of the other criteria. 

Thank you everyone in advance!