Ted S

Thanks for the responses!

My wife arrived Nov 10th, 2024. We got married Nov 20th. I want to file MFJ and do the First Year Choice- statement. My question is: Do I have to wait to file until the 183-day presence test is valid in 2025? The IRS website example is for both NON-RESIDENT ALIENS at begin of year, and one becoming a RESIDENT ALIEN by end of year. But I am a US Citizen, so I don't know if that rule applies the same? If that is the case I have 1/3 for 2024 (16 days to be safe, not 17) and I would have to wait out the remaining (sometime mid-June and file an extension). Look forward to any response. Best Regards, Ted

To avoid these problems when I was filing K-1, and for interviews etc- I made sure I had given my fiancee 2 certified copies notarized by my local court clerk (in case one was kept or lost, etc) . Since the wording CAN be misinterpreted or the embassy can take it to mean something else, but knowing what can happen if you don't have the right papers, I took extra steps. It's a few dollars well spent. Just like when we got married after her arrival- I got 3 extra notarized copies of the marriage license right then. Because who knows what gov't agency is going to want what for immigration or others in the future? Especially since it seems like these rules could change at any minute... with current events in relation to immigration being what they are.