Kit1

Hi folks, 

Grappling with filing US taxes for the first time, any thoughts appreciated. I'm a UK citizen, married an American in the US in Nov 2020, green card issued Nov 2021, started my first US job in Jan 2022.

As I understand it, my income to date in 2022 is not what is being taxed in this filing, however, as I have savings over $10,000 still in UK bank accounts, I do need to file the FBAR and Form 8938, and, I think I probably should have filed them in 2020 and 2021, too?

Other than UK interest on UK savings easily below $500/yr, I haven't any income while I've lived in the US, until this January. My husband therefore thinks we should file jointly, as my negative income + UK interest will be better balanced out by his income - sounds pretty reasonable, I think?

Additionally, I've been reading that UK govt Premium Bonds (acquired many years ago) are possibly considered as "gambling" by the IRS - anyone know anything about that? 

Thanks

33 minutes ago, Kit1 said:

Hi folks, 

 

Just got my green card interview scheduled for the first week of November (had biometrics done the first week of August).

 

Re: concerns about the medical exam expiring, I was wondering about this too - especially as there's not been any official mention of it being a problem (yet).

 

Also, I saw this below on an immigration lawyer's website, so fingers crossed there might be some wiggle room. Good luck all:

• USCIS Temporarily Extends Validity of Medical Exams: On August 12, 2021, USCIS announced that the validity period for Form I-693, Report of Medical Examination and Vaccination Record, will be extended from two years to four years due to COVID-related delays in processing applications for adjustment of status. Medical reports still must be submitted to USCIS within 60 days of being signed by the civil surgeon.

Found a link - https://www.visalawyerblog.com/uscis-announces-temporary-extension-of-form-i-693-medical-examination-validity-from-2-to-4-years/

Hi folks, 

Just got my green card interview scheduled for the first week of November (had biometrics done the first week of August).

Re: concerns about the medical exam expiring, I was wondering about this too - especially as there's not been any official mention of it being a problem (yet).

Also, I saw this below on an immigration lawyer's website, so fingers crossed there might be some wiggle room. Good luck all:

• USCIS Temporarily Extends Validity of Medical Exams: On August 12, 2021, USCIS announced that the validity period for Form I-693, Report of Medical Examination and Vaccination Record, will be extended from two years to four years due to COVID-related delays in processing applications for adjustment of status. Medical reports still must be submitted to USCIS within 60 days of being signed by the civil surgeon.

Hi all, just to say I received my biometrics appointment letter this week, for two weeks' time (first week of August). Things are moving forward!

Thank you both so much! Very reassuring :)

Hi folks, 

I'm temporarily, unavoidably, going to be out of my home/filing state for a few months, and it's possible my biometrics appointment might arrive during that time. My US spouse will still be at home so will be opening mail. 

My question is, do I need to notify USCIS about this address change, even though it's temporary? The rate things are moving it seems like that wouldn't make much sense. Also, does anyone have any experience of rescheduling biometric appointment dates or locations? I see the process on the USCIS website involves mailing a copy, with no guarantee of approval, so I'm curious if anyone's had any success.

I also see from some much older posts (2016 or something) that previously people suggested going to the nearest field office as soon as you get your appointment notice, but I expect that's not possible now ("just walk in!" they say). I imagine a lot of people will say it's all-around just less hassle it to fly back for an appointment, but wanted to check!

Thanks all.

Hi all,

Got my NOA1s on the 24th Jan 2021, just joining in to say no word yet on the biometrics. Had assumed it would be at least 2 months (so pretty much now-ish), but as others have said, am settling in for a long wait.... We really wish we'd not gone the K1 route, though it certainly made the most sense at the time!

On 3/11/2021 at 12:38 PM, EmilyTH said:

 

By now I'd love to up open a bank account, start working on my credit, get my drivers license and pay taxes together with my husband.

 

 

Hi! I know this wasn't your question, but just to say in case it helps, you can likely get a credit card via American Express https://www.americanexpress.com/us/credit-cards/features-benefits/us-newcomers/?dsparms=dc_pcrid_469426881791_kword_%2Binternational %2Bstudent %2Bcredit %2Bcard_match_b&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIyOOZ15HP7wIVviCtBh2XcwJaEAAYAyAAEgLiRPD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds, and it was very, very easy to open a bank account with Bank of America as a non-US citizen/resident, way back before I even met my spouse (I didn't want to pay ATM fees while visiting as a tourist).

Ha, ok thanks, I had seen other posts where people said the initial doc. was fine, so it's good to have that confirmed as incorrect.

Wow, that was quick, thank you so much!

Hi folks, 

Got married last week on the K1 in California, we decided to give the official marriage cert. the chance to arrive before filing for AOS, and had been leaving filling out the forms until after the election in case they got updated and we had to do them all again or something. 

I'm now a bit confused that, if I read it right, the I-485 currently available for download at https://www.uscis.gov/i-485 is still the 10/15/19 version, which expires on 10/31/2020, so that form is invalid?

Although the drop down menu says '10/15/19. We will publish a new edition of this form soon. In the meantime, you may continue using the 10/15/19 edition despite the expiration date,' I'm wary of using it, especially having seen on here that some people got RFE for out of date forms...

In short, am I somehow not finding the right forms on the official website (someone mentioned a 08/25/20 version, though that might have been in reference to another form?), and if not, is it ok to use this 'expired' I-485 at the moment?

Thank you.