Colombia Club Part II

[kelvin_omar25 0]

Does anyone know if I can include my wife in my 2008 tax returns even though she lives in Colombia? How would this work if so? Can I file as married filing jointly?

PLEASE HELP...

THANK YOU!!!

[HAL 9000 96]

Does anyone know if I can include my wife in my 2008 tax returns even though she lives in Colombia? How would this work if so? Can I file as married filing jointly?

PLEASE HELP...

THANK YOU!!!

As long as she has a SSN or an ITIN then its not technically illegal. I've known of people that have done so, but I would advise against doing so due to that very fact. She is not residing with you so technically you are not joint.

[Mononoke28 135]

I am a first time poster and I have a couple of questions about the K1 process in Bogota. My fiancee and I received NOA2 from Vermont and our petition left NVC on 1-30. It should be at the embassy today or tomorrow, but was not there yet this morning when I called DOS. I see in the Embassy Info section for Bogota I or my Colombiana need to fax the following to the embassy when we are sure of receipt:

1. Cover letter

2. DS-2100 (page 4 of packet 3 instructions)

3. DS-230 Part 1 (pages 1 & 2 only)

4. Copy of fiancée's passport (biographical data page)

However in the Colombia Clup Topic Peter Miami says we should fax and send by courier "a copy of your fiancées passport, OF-169, DS-2001 and DS-230 part 1", and further into the topic, AngelyLuzmy writes "I called the embassy and they told me that I had to send the DS-156". Further, the K visa instruction package from the US embassy Bogota website says I sould mail OR fax OR email one copy each of the Forms DS-2100 and DS-230 Part I.

My first question is what documents do I really need to fax and do these need to be couriered as well?

Secondly, on the DS-230 part I there is a section for information on the beneficiary's (applicant's) spouse. Since we are K1 filers and not yet married, should she include my info here or "not applicable"?

Finally, I recently changed jobs (last week). I have my tax and bank information, am well above the required income level, and my new job pays significantly more. If I need it, I also have an excellent co-sponsor. I do not have a notarized statement from my old job stating income and employment, but I can procure one from the new job. In your opinion, does the job change necessitate the use of a co-sponsor?

I have found this site very useful over the past months and want to include my thanks to all of the posters and best wishes to everyone.

Hello kellygon and welcome to the club!

Remember that Peter Miami went through the process a while back so some of his info may be outdated. Your fiancé sill need to fax and mail the embassy the DS-2001 (which replaced the OF-169), DS-230 part 1 and a photocopy of her passport's bio page. The reason we recommend mailing it by courier after the fax is because many times the embassy said they never received the fax so mailing will make sure they do. The reason why it's recommended to fax it as well is because if they do receive it, you'll get an interview quicker.

If you need guidance on how fill form DS-230, you can find a sample form here. But you should type NONE in the spouse question.

If you have a new job that pays you more, then by all means try to get a letter of employment from them so your fiancée can show them how much you will be making a year, no need for a co-sponsor. Also try to get copies of the most recent pay stubs and last but not least, copies of your tax info.

Diana

[Mononoke28 135]

Hello All,

Are these steps of sending these documents by fax necesary for the CR-1 visa as well?

THANKS!!!

No, CR1 petitioners go through all of this at the NVC. Once the case reaches the embassy everything was already received and approved.

Diana

[Daniel Brillit 0]

Brillit received the passports and paperwork today.

However she says that her daughter's passport is valid for only 6 months. We were hoping that it would be for a year. She will finish secondary school in Nov and we wanted her to finish down there instead of going to school here for 2 more years. I thought I had read that K2 are good for 12 months.

Anyone have any information on this??

thanks,

Daniel

[Mononoke28 135]

Daniel,

No, once visas are approved they only get 6 months to use them so she has until August to leave Colombia. I think you're confusing the 12 month rule which applies for K2 file to join visas. In this case your fiancé would've been approved for her visa ONLY and let the embassy know that her daughter was going to schedule her own appointment for her K2 follow to join visa. She would've had 12 months to do so.

So your fiancé's daughter needs to leave Colombia before August or she'll lose her visa. But I think I wrote a post a while back regarding your fiancé's situtation and I said that I think it was a great idea that her daughter finishes her high school here in the US not only because she will learn English faster and for free, but a high school diploma from the US will get her accepted quicker and without hassle to most colleges. So that's the silver lining in my opinion.

Diana

[kellygon 0]

Thanks Diana for clearing that up. I appreciate your response and help.

[kelvin_omar25 0]

Hello All,

Are these steps of sending these documents by fax necesary for the CR-1 visa as well?

THANKS!!!

No, CR1 petitioners go through all of this at the NVC. Once the case reaches the embassy everything was already received and approved.

Diana

Thank Diana I really appreciate your response like always...

Kelvin

[kelvin_omar25 0]

Does anyone know if I can include my wife in my 2008 tax returns even though she lives in Colombia? How would this work if so? Can I file as married filing jointly?

PLEASE HELP...

THANK YOU!!!

As long as she has a SSN or an ITIN then its not technically illegal. I've known of people that have done so, but I would advise against doing so due to that very fact. She is not residing with you so technically you are not joint.

Thanks HAL 9000... I called the IRS today and they told me that it is completely legal to file my taxes jointly with my wife... There is a form you have to fill out... W-7... I am still researching to see how the whole process works... it is VERY beneficial to have her in my taxes...

[gigisan 0]

Does anyone know if I can include my wife in my 2008 tax returns even though she lives in Colombia? How would this work if so? Can I file as married filing jointly?

PLEASE HELP...

THANK YOU!!!

As long as she has a SSN or an ITIN then its not technically illegal. I've known of people that have done so, but I would advise against doing so due to that very fact. She is not residing with you so technically you are not joint.

Hal9000: I have a neighbor that is very annoying can you help me?

[HAL 9000 96]

Does anyone know if I can include my wife in my 2008 tax returns even though she lives in Colombia? How would this work if so? Can I file as married filing jointly?

PLEASE HELP...

THANK YOU!!!

As long as she has a SSN or an ITIN then its not technically illegal. I've known of people that have done so, but I would advise against doing so due to that very fact. She is not residing with you so technically you are not joint.

Hal9000: I have a neighbor that is very annoying can you help me?

Is this neighbor from Ponce?

[DeathNova 0]

We were approved today, questions were as follows (paraphrased since I was not there):

- When and we meet

- Where did we meet

- How many times have I visited her in Colombia

- On what dates

- Who is the father of her child

- Where does he stay and who takes care of him

- Why did I not come to the appointment

She told them i'm military and they read my employment letter and looked some stuff up on the computer, presumably verifying my military service and then approved the visa.

[HAL 9000 96]

Felicidades Deathnova... good for you guys! When will she join you?

[DeathNova 0]

Felicidades Deathnova... good for you guys! When will she join you?

Still deciding, probably in April.

[Mononoke28 135]

Congratulations to you both!!

Diana