Italian_in_NYC

Just claim Japanese taxes paid (or accrued) as foreign tax credit. That should cover your US tax liability on foreign-source income.

As for the State return (if you have to file), file a part-year resident, so you could exclude your foreign-source income (no FTC at the State level).

For the I-130 all your coworker needs is a copy of her US passport (or certificate of naturalization) to prove her US citizenship and a copy of her birth certificate with her mother's name on it.

Plus a check for the I-130 fee, obviously.

19 hours ago, Italian_in_NYC said:

My mom had her interview at the US Consulate in Naples (Medical was yesterday in Naples at the only approved clinic).

Usual two-step process: First an Italian employee checked the documents. He asked for her marriage certificate, but she is a widower so no need for that (I even checked with the Consulate a few weeks ago and they said my dad's death certificate was enough), then fingerprints taken.

Second step (after a wait) is the actual interview with the CO (a nice and young American lady, my mom's words). After she was sworn in, interview was conducted in Italian (although my mom's English is good enough to get by). Four question asked:

1. who is Italian_in_NYC? My son

2. Is he married? Yes

3. Do they have kids? Yes, two.

4. What does he do? CPA

 

Ok, your visa is approved and you should receive it within a week.

CEAC status immediately changed to Administrative Processing, which I think it's normal before the visa is issued.

CEAC status changed to issued today, on my mom's birthday, which is a nice coincidence.

When you realize that winning the college-educated people vote is overrated...

Marries three models, has affair with pornstar.

That is my president.

Deport that Chihuahua that crossed illegally and that German shepherd who overstayed its ESTA.

My mom had her interview at the US Consulate in Naples (Medical was yesterday in Naples at the only approved clinic).

Usual two-step process: First an Italian employee checked the documents. He asked for her marriage certificate, but she is a widower so no need for that (I even checked with the Consulate a few weeks ago and they said my dad's death certificate was enough), then fingerprints taken.

Second step (after a wait) is the actual interview with the CO (a nice and young American lady, my mom's words). After she was sworn in, interview was conducted in Italian (although my mom's English is good enough to get by). Four question asked:

1. who is Italian_in_NYC? My son

2. Is he married? Yes

3. Do they have kids? Yes, two.

4. What does he do? CPA

Ok, your visa is approved and you should receive it within a week.

CEAC status immediately changed to Administrative Processing, which I think it's normal before the visa is issued.

14 minutes ago, car0593 said:

yea, I don't think any thing is going to pass anytime soon to end the "chain migration". I personally have applied for my parents. There priority date is September of 2016! we have my fathers interview coming up this Monday... as for my mother, her I 130 got approved weeks ago but nothing else has been heard. They are adjusting here in the US

Don't underestimate them. They said the same thing about tax reform (which is a way more complex issue) and it happened in 43 days (Nov 2 House bill, Dec 15 conference bill).

Why don't you get an AP so you buy yourself some time? What if the Canada job doesn't work out and you want to come back to the US to work? I'd take you another year or so to get another immigrant visa.

You'd still have to file in the US till you have a green card (although foreign tax paid in Canada will likely cover any additional US tax liability).

1 minute ago, MariaR323 said:

So as long as you meet the substantial presence test of 183 days then you can file using the MFJ status and be treated as a resident [for tax purposes], without the election statement.

 

In this example with the OP, she could have entered as late as say June 30th, 2017 (185 days) and still file MFJ with her husband without the election statement?

 

Thanks, I always had that little speck of doubt in my head about this and always did err on the side of caution as a "just in case".

 

Maria

It's actually the sum of 100% of current year US days + 1/3 of prior year US days + 1/6 of second prior year US days. If you're 183 or over, you are generally considered a US Person.

If your total is 183 or over but your current year US days are under 183, you may be able to claim closer connection (form 8840) to another country and be taxed only on US-sourced income (however, you still have to file most information returns, if they apply).

Under some visas (F, J among others), you can exclude US days under the physical presence test (basically, you're a NR even if you spend the whole year in the US on a student or trainee visa).

2 minutes ago, A Darwish said:

 

you think this will effect Canada visa

I have no idea, but it's possible since US and Canada share immigration-related info.

If you were driving to the border I'd tell you to try to drive up and find out, but I'd be more cautious if you're flying from Turkey.

I travel often and internationally 10-12 times a year and it's a hit or miss. Sometimes no questions asked, sometimes they want to know where you've been and why (I'm a USC) and how much stuff you bought abroad (I guess for customs purposes and whether to refer you or not for secondary at customs).

The oddest was when the immigration agent asked me to show him my Italian passport (I'm a dual citizen and I mostly use my Italian passport to enter other countries). I did and chances were that it was a brand new one (just renewed) and with no stamps (EU passports don't get stamped while entering/leaving the EU) so he had no comment (the old one would have had countless stamps and visas, so I'm glad I skipped the possible questioning).

I had problems in Italy twice when I brought my newborn son, as the border police told me the infant had to enter with an Italian passport. I had to tell them I would have gladly complied with if only the Italian Consulate didn't take 9-10 months to process his papers and grant him a passport (same happened with my daughter 3 years ago).

If you had US-source income, you may have to file a 1040NR.

If not, you do not have to file.

2 hours ago, MariaR323 said:

Her timeline indicates entry into the US on Jan 12th, so not technically a full calendar year for 2017.

 

Can she still claim to be a resident for full year 2017 with an entry date into the US after the 1st of the year without the election statement?

Of course. She is a US Person for tax purposes as she meets the physical presence test. No need to elect.

If you file dual status, which wouldn't make any sense unless she had very substantial income Jan1-Jan11, you can't do MFJ.

You were in the US for legitimate business reasons, that's what the B1 visa is for.

Meeting with clients or prospects is not considered work, you are just looking to establish/improve commercial relationships (it happens all the time, all my clients come in from Europe and meet their clients here, attend meetings, sign contracts, etc).

So I don't think the hold up is due to your activities on your last visit. My guess is that it's due to either something that came up in your file or the cold relationship between Turkey and the US (although you're Egyptian, you got your visa in Turkey).

1 minute ago, AshMarty said:

Haha.. Latin was one of the most popular classes in my high school growing up because it applied to so many common languages today. Hahaha... all the smart, accelerated kids would take it. 

 

 

But yes now I see your point

In Italy it is mandatory for some high schools (classical high school also has mandatory ancient Greek).

2 minutes ago, AshMarty said:

I am not sure if taking a Latin class can be compared to a Physical Therapy having to take a figure drawing class. Haha. 

 

I actually regret not taking more languages.... which actually was NOT required for my undergrad degree (but yes drawing was). Now how I wish it was required so I could talk to my Spanish speaking patients without an interpreter being required!

Latin is a dead language, that was the complain back then in HS. Why are we studying a language nobody speaks anymore?

Well, for Italians it has obvious historical background, but besides that, it really puts your mind into a language-absorbing mode. And not just for latin languages.

I studied Latin in high school in Italy (it was and still is mandatory for technical HS) and it has dramatically helped me with languages, even non-latin languages. It was so easy to learn Russian for me because I studied Latin.

So some subjects are annoying during schools but they help afterwards in real life.

5 minutes ago, cyberfx1024 said:

That is very true indeed. But my thing is how a lot of colleges both private and public are pushing people to sign up for XXXX amount of loans just to fill their coffers. All the while the student is left with a huge debt that he/she may not be able to pay off for a long time if at all.

Take away federally subsidized student loans (basically available to anyone) and you will see schools decreasing tuition fees and ridiculous academic programs disappear.

Right now the market is drugged because of the unlimited amounts of student loans available. and dumb kids (and parents) fall for it. And then they end up with a liberal art degree, $200k of student loan debt and no job. And they complain and ask for forgiveness.

No need to elect to be taxed as a resident. You were a resident in 2017 since you came to the US in January.

No problem to e-file (I assume you have a SSN), there will be a loss schedule C for $200 (you declare $100 of gross income and $300 in expenses)

7 hours ago, Heyee said:

Can someone enlighten me more about filing ITR under the status of married filing jointly? My husband and I got married on January 15,2018 , Just want to ask if he can file married filing jointly? Or If anybody have experience to file that even though they're got married on January ? Thank u in advance  I just want to hear some experience and advised😊

You can do it starting tax year 2018.

As of 12/31/17 you were single, so file as single (which may be advantageous if both of you have substantial income).

12 hours ago, Avia said:

Yes my filing status will be single. No kids no spouse. 

I did not know government will give some of money back even if I have no kids.So when I file my tax the government will give me 696.40 back? Is this true ? 

I don’t understand federal tax liability is zero

 

i am not citizen yet but I have 10 year green card 

If your total income is below the standard deduction and the personal exemption, then you owe no tax and you can get what they withheld back.

Unless someone claims you as a dependent.

19 minutes ago, Brother Hesekiel said:

I lived in 6 European countries (Sweden, Denmark, Germany, France, Switzerland, and Italy) and have visited a total of 37 (or 38?) countries so far. Adding it all up, the United States is the best country on Earth. One of the few areas where we are near the bottom of all industrial nations is health care. It's just the way it is, and it's the way it is because we have a very powerful health care lobby that controls US politics to a large extent.

Maybe (universal) access to healthcare.

Quality of healthcare is top-notch.

16 minutes ago, bcking said:

Your case was an outlier then. For C-section the average cost in NYC is about 15,000 dollars last I checked (about 2 years ago). That is all inclusive of individual services.

 

I can provide a reference later when I'm on a computer.

Just checked the claims for my son (can't check my daughter as I can only go back 24 months) and total billed was $31,974.76. Paid was slightly lower (about $29k). Our out-of-pocket was $442.

And she only stayed in the hospital one night after delivery (although she was admitted the night before, so it might still count as two nights).

Just now, bcking said:

Are you sure that is what your insurance paid, or was it what the hospital charged?

 

Average cost of a routine vaginal delivery in NYC is about 12 grand last time I checked. I used to be a Pediatrician in Manhattan.

That's what cigna paid.

I remember the breakdown: hospital for two-night stay, obgyn, pediatrician, anesthesiologist, and others... The obgyn alone was $7k. The anesthesiologist was almost $3k. The hospital bill was the higher.