Stiliyan

Thank you, dear! Super helpful. Too bad we don't have most of that. To be honest, I didn't even know that we can provide our own affidavits, but I'll probably get that done as well. This is great help, thanks a million!

That's what I'm trying to do, really. I thought I had it narrowed down to just the proof of marriage and we're ready to file. Turned out I have more things to take care of haha. It's fine tho, we gotta do what we gotta do. As for the embassy, absolutely. That's my happy thought, that as soon as we get everything done on US side, it should move faster with the embassy as I suppose they don't deal with thousands of these applications a month haha. Thank you for your help! I'll keep you posted. Edit: I'll check on that. I haven't been self employed for long. A little over half a year. But either way, I'll do the math beforehand to make sure it's all good. Thanks for bringing this to my attention, as I completely overlooked it. haha

Very interesting. I'll definitely look into that. I hope I'll find a way to recover just facetime call logs for more than the last 30 days to show constant contact, as we speak on the phone at least once a day, almost every day. Thanks a lot!

Yeah, got it. I was thinking of the call log as well but we communicate over facetime and only keeps track over the last 30 days. I'll check to see if there's any way for me to extract data from further back. Thanks!

Gotcha. Now the chat logs that we have are all in Bulgarian. I can take millions of screenshots, dating back way before we even got married, but do I need to translate them? I guess I'll screenshot that we've texted every day for a month or two and add all that in a pdf so it's scrollable. I will also restructure all my photo proof as well to be chronologically arranged so it's easy to see and follow.

Yes, I double checked her card. I've attached a photo of the top portion of it below. I was pretty sure, that once she has a SSN attached to her name, it sticks forever, but that's what I meant by temporary SSN. Wrong wording haha. I got my GC through the lottery 7 years ago and naturalized last year in September. I have lived full-time in the US ever since I entered in 2016. I've only visited Bulgaria for a few weeks at a time. Здрасти! (Hello! in Bulgarian) To answer your questions, I'm filing online right now on the USCIS website and have selected to have the case be dealt with by the embassy, as it works better for my wife's job as it stands. I know it's lengthy, but I guess I'm going to be visiting her more often, and that means more vacay. (Yay!) On the tax question - I doubt it's a big deal. My only worry is how long will it take for the amendment to take place. That's why I'm going to get that done asap, as I don't want to have that be an issue once our case starts moving. The way I look at it is that there's a difference between not knowing and lying. I payed Uncle Sam more than what I would have had I filed as Married instead of single. I don't feel like it's a good idea to add her to my bank accounts. I assume POA is proof of address and she doesn't have anything like that. I'm definitely adding her to my taxes, but good of an idea is it for me to try and add her to my bank accounts, as she has not/does not reside in the US and has no proof of address? I have exactly 3 years of taxes to amend, so lucky me I guess. Haha Lastly, to finish this long post, do I need anything from her to file as MFJ since it's more beneficial to the situation? I mean any work or income related paperwork? Or do I just file 1040X for the last 3 years and just adjust the status from Single to MFJ? Thanks, everyone! Beer is on me if I ever meet you guys!

Hello! Thanks for answering! Honestly, it's a little bit of relief to hear that other people have had fewer evidences as well. What did you end up providing as evidence? Photos and friend affidavits? Thanks!

Hi there! Thanks for your answer! We found her SSN card yesterday. Now I just have to amend my taxes and I'll be good. Is there anything I need to know about filing jointly? Any additional information or advice?

Thanks for your answer! I do however want to ask: what if I just file as Married filing separately? Then this will not be needed. Following logic, I'm filing for myself, paying more than if we filed jointly. She does not live here, does not receive any pay from the US or a company within. I'm just trying to understand, so forgive me if my question is stupid.

I dug into the W7 situation, and it doesn't seem to be needed as my wife does not earn any income in the states and because I"ll amend my taxes as "Married filing separately". Am I right in my understanding? https://www.itin-w7-application.com/faqs/how-do-i-know-if-my-spouse-needs-an-itin I know it's not the IRS website but it's so overcomplicated there.

Woow, thanks everyone for your answers! I'm on it as it seems I have a lot to take care of. Do I necessarily need to file the W7 tho? Seems weird. First time I hear of that. My wife might have an ITIN, but I'm in the process of trying to find it using the temporary SSN card she was given over 10 years ago. She hasn't resided nor she's worked in the US. By that logic everyone that has relatives in the US should pay taxes, regardless of anything. All this IRS BS is getting on my nerves already. It's absolute ####### that the same government that shakes you like a piggybank to pull your last penny, is the same one that after that makes you wait for years in limbo and be able to move on with your life. /Rant over. Thank you for your insights, though! Thanks again! I'll make some screenshots and add them to the collection of pictures and screenshots. *facepalm*

Ok, so. I added her as a beneficiary in my Robinhood account. I don't have a lot of money in it but I guess it still counts? I've contacted my CPA and waiting to hear back from her and get that squared out. I assume I need to file form 1040x for every year since we're married, and it would be easier if we sit and get it done together. haha I am kinda familiar with the process I guess. I thought I had all my stuff on my side ready, but I'll get the ones I messed up fixed and take it from there. Do I just upload a screenshot from the email that I received from Robinhood in regards to my wife being added as a beneficiary? Thanks a TON for your help, by the way! EDIT: I was just reminded by my wife that she has a SSN from 10+ years ago when she visited the US on a work and travel program from college. So I guess she has a ITIN since she paid taxes on the money she made back then. But I have no idea how to find the actual number. Google to the rescue.

Wow, I guess I gotta fix all that. how do I go about it tho? What do I need to do to fix that? My wife only has a tourist visa. I have no idea if she has an ITIN. I'm self employed and my wife works for a Bulgarian company that I suppose doesn't care if she's married. I'm 99% sure it is not mentioned in any official work-related document. I, myself, am currently self employed. How do I list her as a beneficiary for any investments? I'll try and find information. But either way, my investments are in US based platforms. How is that going to work, since she only has a tourist visa? Sorry for all these questions, but I thought I had everything pretty much ready... I couldn't have been more wrong it seems.

Hi! I do have tickets to show from over the years. I have filed my taxes as single. Didn't know better. I hope that doesn't have a negative impact on our case, once filed. We don't have any life insurance as of right now either. Just like a lot of other people, we've been stuck in limbo until now, and seem like it will continue for a while more.

Hello everyone! I just found this forum and I'm very thankful for that! I'm Bulgarian born and last September I got my US citizenship. My wife and I have been married for about 3 years now and have dated for about 6. Throughout this time, she lived in Bulgaria, and I lived in the US. She's visited me a bunch of times for a couple of months at a time on a tourist visa, and I have traveled home to spend some time together as well. I have the i130 all filled out and ready with all the paperwork needed. However, I have the feeling we're a little shy on proof of marriage, as we haven't really lived together, aside from our visits to each other. We do not own anything in both of our names and our finances are not combined, as she uses Bulgarian banks and I - American. We don't have children either. So that pretty much leaves us with pictures from over the years, maybe screenshots of posts on social media in the past and third-party affidavits. I'd really love to hear some advice from people that have recently gone through this process and any help is greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance! Best, Stiliyan Edit: I forgot to mention that I'm filing for the case to be resolved in the embassy in Bulgaria. I have also selected that we haven't lived together, as from what I found, living together per USCIS is 6 months+ .