elizabethm91

Thank you Me too

Hi there,

Ah it was a nightmare! So had to pay a tax accountant experienced in expat US taxes to file 2016, 2017 and 2018 taxes as well as 2013 - 2019 FBAR forms. 

I had to submit my Australian tax returns and any other documents the accountant needed, some payslips etc.

I also had to submit info on all my bank accounts from 2013 - 2019 including superannuation (retirement fund) amounts. For the bank accounts I had to get the highest number during that calendar year in each of the accounts as well as the amounts at Dec 31. 

My husband recently had his green card visa interview and I noticed they took the 2019 tax return paperwork as well as evidence of cash assets from my Aus bank accounts. My job offer salary was also much higher than the income threshold so I think a combination of those helped. THey didn't even ask any questions about it all. I was pretty stressed about the tax stuff but no questions. When I had my interview to petition for I-130, I asked the officer if I could submit my tax return instead of the tax transcripts since I"ve heard it can take min 6 weeks to get and he said submit the actual tax return so that's what I did.

If you have any questions just ask! Was painful but am nearly on the other side of it! We move to the US in a few weeks so fingers crossed all goes well.

Also all the paperwork submitted for my husban'ds green card visa interview is in a brown sealed envelope that we need to give the immigration officer when we enter the country.

Hi Jess and Haruha,

Thanks so much for uploading this! It is so helpful. I have been approved to sponsor my NZ husband and we live in Sydney so is so great to get the timelines as my job in the US starts mid-March and I was freaking out about the timelines.

Can I ask with the immigrant interview - was that when your wife presented the D-260 form and I-864? Any other forms?

Also, had you been filing US tax returns? I have never lived in the US since I was 8 years old and was unaware of the tax return necessity so I will shortly be doing that before my I-130 interview.

Thank you! And congratulations!!

Ok thanks for your help. I have a free call from H&R block in the US about tax so may see if they can help with filling out the paper return but have read some not so good reviews!! 

I have a social security number

Hi Mark,

Did you end up submitting your tax returns through Turbo Tax?

If so, how long did it take to be processed?

I need to file my US taxes ASAP too in order to submit the I-864 so was just wondering on timing. Was Turbo Tax worth it do you think?

Thanks!

Thanks for your reply. I have 3 times the salary in savings so I believe I won't need a joint sponsor?

Thanks so much for the tips. My main concern though is filing my US taxes ASAP so that I can have proof on my I-864 that I have filed taxes. Would you recommend any companies/accountants that are speedy?

Or do you think the consulate would be ok if I had some sort of proof that I had filed but they haven't been received or processed yet?

Hi all,

I am a dual US/Australian citizen who has been living in Australia for 20 years (since I was 8 years old) and never filed taxes nor worked in the US.

I have filed the i-130 under exceptional circumstances to petition my spouse here in Sydney so that we can move over together to the US. I have a job offer that starts in 3 months time. 

Since reading about next steps and reading lots of things on this forum, I believe I now need to file my tax return in order to fill out the I-864 form correctly. 

Does anyone know the quickest way to file my taxes for the past 3 years? I will also have to file the FBAR forms for the past 6 years I believe since I wasn't aware I also had to do that. 

My interview to file the I-130 in person is on the 5th February so am hoping I can somehow get proof I've submitted the tax returns ASAP.

Any recommendations very welcome!

Thank you!