CarolynRitesh

WOOO HOOOO!!! Sorry about the very late reply on this, I have not checked in to Visa Journey in a VERY long time... This is soooo exciting!!! You guys must be back in the US by now, how are things going?!?!?! YAY!!!

That was my understanding of it too, but lordy, the IRS can be quite a maze to sort through! If anyone else has any knowledge or experience with this, please share!

Hello!

Last year I submitted 3 years worth of back-taxes for the I-864 prep claiming the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion as I was wayyy below the limits for each year. Recently, a friend told me that even if you can exclude all your Foreign Earned Income for tax purposes, you are still liable to pay SS and Medicare taxes. I am hoping that someone out there can clarify this for me... HELP!

A little more background information:

Work was done in India, for an Indian employer. Taxes were paid to the Indian govt., including to a 'Provident Fund' which is like a retirement account through the govt. with deductions from self and matching from employer.

Does anyone have any information about this, or could anyone point me to the documents on the IRS website? I have tried searching, but nothing seems to quite fit this situation...

Thanks for your help!

Hello!

I am not sure about all the information that the previous poster mentioned as I did not read it super carefully - a storm is headed my way right now so I need to get off the computer soon.

A couple of things:

1) Things could change drastically in a couple of years as far as Immigration rules are concerned! Keep an eye out for those changes in requirements at all times - just a few years ago it was 30 days stay in India required, then 90 and now (while it seems a little flexible depending upon your personal circumstances, for me it was 6 months stay in India before I was qualified to apply for the I-130 for my hubby.)

2) Once you have filed the I-130 application in Delhi (that is the current requirement, no matter where your future spouse lives in India) you can leave India, re-establish residence and job in the US and use that information when filling out things like the I-864. Yes, the Consulate will be looking at your past 1040's, but what they really want to know is if you can support the spouse RIGHT NOW - meaning you either have assets galore (over $52,500 THIS YEAR) or a job that will pay you over the 125% of the poverty line for the current year, right now, with recent pay stubs... The I-864 form is complex and a pain in the butt, but it can be sorted out.

Good luck!

I agree with MargotDarko regarding the I-864 versus I-864A. Also, it is no longer required to get the I-864's notarized. Good Luck!

Good Luck!!! :) Sounds like you have everything together - now you just need to relax and enjoy your time in India with your sweetie! I will be thinking of you on Monday, please try and post as soon as possible after you have the intervew! When are you returning to the US afterwards? We head out on Monday, May 19th!! WOO HOO!!

My situation is pretty similar to ELW's. His parents know about me, but not that we are married. (His elder brother knows and is supportive.) My parents are not thrilled about the in-laws not knowing and think that it is wrong/bad not to involve them or tell them, but it doesn't bother me. (That might be because I have a little more in depth perspective on the culture here than they do, I don't know.)

Ritesh is doing things in his own time and way and to do as little damage as possible to the family and his relationship with them, and introduce me when the time is right. It will definitely be a difficult time for everyone when it is announced, and there is a good possibility that he will be disowned - for at least a few years. He has told me that over time they would probably accept that I am not Indian, but that our age difference is the killer factor. (I got my first whiff of that when some of the guys I work with told me some stories - a woman 6 months older is deemed toooo old!) It was a very painful internal struggle for Ritesh to go through - the family or me, how to keep the family and me, what risks are being taken, what are the possible outcomes... I know what he is risking to be with me, and I will do everything in my power to support him in processing our relationship.

I would love to have a loving relationship with his family, but I am not naieve enough to think that that will happen anytime soon! (I am not commenting on your situation Pattu Rani, just know how things are in R's family!).

Fortunately, I have been a member of USAA for about 17 years (no bank accounts, just insurance!) and that enabled me to set up an account on-line with them. They are pretty accustomed to working with people who are overseas since they do a lot of business with military members, so they did not seem fazed by the fact that I am in India right now.

My guess is that because I am a long term member and they already have my parents address on their files, have all my documentation from previous interactions, etc. that it is not a problem. Ritesh can't be added to the bank account until we are in the US and he has a SSN, but he was easily made a member of USAA.

USAA really has great customer service, great rates for auto insurance, home insurance, etc. - when I first joined, I think it was for officers or former officers in the military and their children/spouses. I think they may have broadened it to anyone in the military or related, but I am not sure. If you can, get on board!

Now that we have that account, we are wiring money into it from our accounts in India. Just did a test run today, if all goes well, we will start sending bigger chunks.

WE GOT IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WE GOT IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WE GOT IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

YEEEESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

Good great beutifully everlasting LOVE and LUCk to us all

WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO HOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!! That is SUCH wonderful news!!!!!! Sahana, you are next!! :)

we are not married yet but what works for us if he has done or said something that hurts me.......i just get silent

i answer if he ask me something but only what is required he understands right away something he did was wrong and we talk about it........if i do something to upset him he cooks nobody can eat what he cooks lol cuz its too hot and spicy thats how i know if i crossed the line lol at least when we are together..........last time that happened my mom said ok thats it find out what u did wrong im hungery and i cant eat that lol.......there are ways to show the other person ur unhappy about something with out a big fight most the time.........

I don't think either of those methods are useful when dealing with an issue that needs to be addressed. If he does something to hurt you, you need to tell him. You don't need to go into a whole fight about it, but honestly, he can't be made to guess what's eating you. Silent treatment is a bit passive aggressive. And as for making food you can't eat, well that just seems silly. There are ways to discuss things without blowing up.

I am currently writing some course materials on the difference between direct and indirect communication methods and their effect on intercultural relationships, and both posters gave good examples of the differences, how they would be perceived by someone from within and outside of your own culture. Being a pretty direct communicator, I always struggle with the indirect style - thanks for sharing that estadia!

Now, back to reading this very interesting thread!

Hi Bengalilover!

I agree with everyone else - go if you can. It seems to help on a number of levels: spouse is more at ease, shows your seriousness of intention in a different way, and I hate to say it, but with the USC present, I think the demeanor, etc. of consulate officials is different.

The security outside the Chennai Consulate tried to tell me too that only the applicant is allowed and I just pulled out the passport and said: "I am a USC, and I am going in" No questions after that!

Good luck, can't wait to see your success story posted!

Hi Everyone!

Thanks for all your responses, we think we have it all sorted out - all I can say is if you have access to USAA insurance and banking, TAKE ADVANTAGE OF IT!

Now I know I have been living in India a long time, not only did that video not make me cringe, all I could think of was: "Where is that - the traffic is soooo light?!" The one thing that I can say about traffic here is that I have not seen too much road rage (unless there is an accident, and then look out!) and because there is so much traffic, you never really go too fast, so generally accidents are not too major.

Michigan has a fairly new rule that only Permanent Residents can get a DL, not sure what H1B holders do to get to work, our state is not too public transport user-friendly!

If we end up in a place where Ritesh can get a motorcycle, I fear for his life as he is accustomed to the Indian 'flows like multiple rivers' kind of driving and will probably freak a lot of American drivers out! We watch Cops on a regular basis here so that he has an idea of what and what not to do when it comes to traffic and traffic stops. (No outrunning the police when you don't feel like paying the perfunctory bribes!)

Thanks Bengalilover! Ritesh has an account with them and asked about the NRI accounts - depending upon who he talks to at Citibank it is a different story as to what he can do - the usual run-around. Everything we do is so frustrating! We have a joint account there, and I have another account at Axis (formerly UTI) and they are no better.

Do you know what kind of forms we have to fill out for FEMA regulations/what documents are necessary to take money out? It looks like there is a higher cap on funds you can remove if you are emigrating than for other travel, but I am just not sure how many stacks of paperwork/red-tape we will have to go through in this process.

I don't think the original letter in its original form is required, but I could be wrong about that - email or call the Consulate to be totally certain!

Hello,

My husband and I are trying to figure out the best way to transfer/take our money from India to the US. We are not really comfortable with carrying cash or even traveler's checks, and unfortunately, the www.XE.com does not do transfers on rupees to dollars.

What experiences can anyone share with us about taking over $10,000 out of India to the US? Oh yes, another glitch, my bank account in the US is not active anymore, so I can't transfer money directly...

Thanks,

C

Hello,

My husband and I are trying to figure out the best way to transfer/take our money from India to the US. We are not really comfortable with carrying cash or even traveler's checks, and unfortunately, the www.XE.com does not do transfers on rupees to dollars.

What experiences can anyone share with us about taking over $10,000 out of India to the US? Oh yes, another glitch, my bank account in the US is not active anymore, so I can't transfer money directly...

I will post the same in the South Asia forum and hope someone has some ideas!

Thanks,

C

Hi june007,

I have already responded to some of your questions via PM, but I can tell you that you can go to the Chennai Consulate website and download the medical cover sheet from the packet 4 docs. Take that and several pictures to your appointment with Dr. Sanjan John and unless you have any medical problems, you should not worry about doing the medical more than a few days before the interview. We gave ourselves one extra day in between just in case there were any problems finding the doctor or he needed extra tests run. Please go to your local hospital and get your needed vaccinations/proof of your immunizations to save yourself as much time and money as possible while in Chennai.

As far as your interview letter from Chennai, since your process is a little different from ours, I don't know what to tell you. Ask your husband if the interview letter he received is yellow - that is the color of the interview letters to get into the consulate. Even if it is not, you can have him DHL you the letter so that you have a hard copy of something to take with you in case the mail is too slow here in India. RELAX!!

Good luck, you are almost there!

Hi jon,

That IS annoying! I would recommend that you contact the Embassy in Japan via email (paper trail!) and ask the same question. Let them know that you have already submitted the I-864 with the I-130 (and list all other docs that you included as well!)

When we had our interview in India, we did see that all the docs submitted with the I-130 at the USCIS office in Delhi were in their package, so it may not be necessary, but better to get it from the horse's mouth.

Good luck!!

C

Wow, all I can say is that I am sorry that it is soooo complicated and that requirements vary depending upon the place you are coming from, the way that you are processing your visa (DCF versus Stateside, etc.) This would be a GREAT thing to make some recommendations on for CHANGE in the system!

I have not had a chance to check in on your status all day, but I have been thinking about you! I am soooo glad to hear that all is well right now, and that your husband will (hopefully!!!) be by your side sooner! :) :)

All PCCs are valid for 12 months, not 6 months.

See: http://mumbai.usconsulate.gov/ivpolicecertificates.html

You don't need to get one from Regional Passport Office, as your passport has just been issued in mid April 2008. (within 6 months, and you don't need cert from RPO.)

You do need to get two PCC: one from Gandhinagar and one from Rajkot. I have read somewhere in this Forum that if you lived > 6 months in more than 2 places, you need to get at most 2 PCCs from the most recent 2 cities.

Also, when DS-230 needs to be filled, do include Rajkot as one of the places she lived.

If she lived in Hostel, she will need letter from Wardon of the Hostel to get the PCC from Rajkot. If she lived in private house / apartment, she will need rent receipt or letter from association chairman, if there is one, or two witness. I know, it sounds complicated, but trust me, these things delayed PCC for my nephew by 10 days.

Regards,

Sanjiv Patel

I definitely agree that any addresses she has lived in should be included on any forms for immigration - the I-130/G-325As, the DS 230, etc. - and they must be consistent with each other.

It is interesting that on Ritesh's Passport Clearance Cert., it states that it is valid for 6 months, while the Mumbai Consular site says it thinks any police cert. is valid for 1 year. Perhaps Gujarat/Mumbai Consulate is different in the way that it handles things for District and Regional Passport Offices from B-lore/Chennai Consulate, but when we asked about all the different locations where Ritesh had lived, and if we needed separate police clearance forms, we were told NO, only the Bangalore District Police Office and Regional Passport Office - even though his passport was issued in Delhi.

The best thing might be to get it straight from the Consulate, clearly spell out your situation, and send it in an email - just to be on the safe side!

Agra was a nightmare!! I'm glad I went to the Taj Mahal - but once is enough! The touts, traffic, etc. are horrible there! I have only heard of Navi Mumbai, never been there - you hear more about Chandigarh being the first planned city here, a big feather in the cap!

My first couple of trips to Delhi were not too pleasant, but when I went back with R in Feb. I loved it! I tend to get along best with the Delhi-ites that I work with too - I like their 'attitude' - I guess that is a good thing because he is a true blue Dilly man!

Kerala and Goa are the two places where I have actually found a more peaceful lifestyle compared to anywhere in India, Tamil Nadu is gorgeous but has always been really hot n muggy there too... I will miss the year-round perfect weather here in Bangalore. (Except for right now, when it is almost 1AM and icky sticky!)

Kavi is totally adorable! He looks like an old soul - those eyes hold a lot of wisdom!

I am not a big fan of Mumbai, but I guess I am just a small town girl - Bangalore being a 'small town' of 8 million and growing! (A friend of mine was talking about his 'village' which I was shocked to find had over 600,000 residents!

Although it would be great to get out of the city, with just a few days for sightseeing, you will have more than enough to do in Mumbai itself! Chowpatty Beach and a drive around the Queen's Necklace road at night is nice... The Dhobi Ghats (giant outdoor clothes washing area) are interesting and definitely on the tourist agenda... Maybe a boat trip to the Caves a bit offshore... The Taj hotel and nearby arch, museums, etc. If you have not been to India before, I would recommend taking it easy on the street food, once your system has adjusted to things, it is ok, but man, it sucks to be down with 'Delhi Belly' if you are only there a few days! (Of course, my Dad got SICCCCCCCCCCCK at a 5 star hotel in Varanasi, so there is no completely safe place when it comes to food!)

When are you coming? The season/weather does play a part in how much you are going to feel like getting out and about, when I was in Mumbai in early Dec., it was still hot n muggy. When you get a chance, head to Kerala - gorgeous!! There are a lot of great places here, and I am already starting to miss it - and Ritesh and I have not even left yet!

Have you contacted the senior consulate at the embassy? It seems absolutely absurd that a temp trip outside should disqualify you from DCF. When we filed we had been in and out all over the place. i really think someone is interpreting this incorrectly. would someone be disqualified for going on a weekend holiday to a different country? Seems like the same difference. Look closely at the FAM and i bet you can find something to invalidate the consular comment you received.

BEST OF LUCK!!!

We did acutally wait around an extra hour just to speak with him and he made it EXTREMELY clear that becuase I went to the states I could not file for another 6 months. He said "why didnt you file there, its like youre trying to take advantage of filing overseas because it is faster"..........uhhhh, YEAH, like its THAT much easier!!!!! I am so tired of all of the bureaucracy! Nothing is personal these days........everything is by the book, and I understand why, but it is just a bit depressing.

Yeah, I agree, that is really odd... I don't remember anyone even looking at my passport (except security to get in and maybe the bio page), definitely not looking at any of the stamps, etc. once they saw my resident permit, etc. from the Indian govt. Hmm... every Consulate/Embassy is different I guess...

You might want to further investigate the embassy website in Israel, send an email, make a phone call, etc. Where is the USCIS office in Israel? That is where we had to file our I-130, not sure how it works there. Keep digging, you might get a different answer if you try again!