tax advice -does it affect immigration process

[brnidokiegurl 0]

I filed married filing jointly to reduce my tax braket by 10%. It made a big difference for me. I attached W-7 form along with her certified copy of passport page in my tax filing. As for stimulus check of $1200, I'll claim it later when my wife gets her. For Affidavit of Support, I'll include this year's 1040 and W-2, as well as the past two years' tax transcripts, and I see no reason it would delay my case.

Stimulus Payment Schedule:

Find when your payment is due by using the last 2 numbers of your social security number.

If you filed your taxes using direct deposit:

00-20 May 02

21-75 May 09

76-99 May 16

If you filed your taxes through the mail:

00-09 May 16

10-18 May 23

26-38 June 06

39-51 June 13

52-63 June 20

64-75 June 27

76-87 July 04

88-99 July 11

you wont get the stimilus payment at all will you?

[Delicia 1]

Just a side note that filing 'head of household' is a viable alternative to filing as married, if you qualify. It is the status I used to file my 2007 return as I have a dependent child from a previous marriage and my spouse and I have lived apart during the last half of 2007.

But still filling jointly gets you a greater return than head of household.

Actually, that is not always true. I netted a greater return filing head of household because I qualifed for EIC that way. I wouldn't have qualifed filing as married filing seperately or filing jointly. Also, I am eligible for the stimulus refund this way. One should always complete returns under all that statuses available to see which way is most beneficial.

[Tyrobe 1]

I filed married filing jointly to reduce my tax braket by 10%. It made a big difference for me. I attached W-7 form along with her certified copy of passport page in my tax filing. As for stimulus check of $1200, I'll claim it later when my wife gets her. For Affidavit of Support, I'll include this year's 1040 and W-2, as well as the past two years' tax transcripts, and I see no reason it would delay my case.

Stimulus Payment Schedule:

Find when your payment is due by using the last 2 numbers of your social security number.

If you filed your taxes using direct deposit:

00-20 May 02

21-75 May 09

76-99 May 16

If you filed your taxes through the mail:

00-09 May 16

10-18 May 23

26-38 June 06

39-51 June 13

52-63 June 20

64-75 June 27

76-87 July 04

88-99 July 11

you wont get the stimilus payment at all will you?

My wife will arrive in US later this year. Once she receives her SS#, I can file an adjustment to claim the check. Most likely, I'll wait until next year's tax filing period to claim.

I've considered other options, but filing married jointly netted me the biggest refund by far since I overpaid tax as a single the entire 2007 year.

Edited April 4, 2008 by Tyrobe

[Arlington 5]

Found an article about tax rebate and foreign spouses:

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Rebate excludes many taxpayers with foreign spouses

By JULIANA BARBASSA

The Associated Press

Sunday, May 11, 2008

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/conte...8051101200.html

[LotofPatience 65]

I sopke to one CPA yesterday..He told me its better to file married filing seperately for 2007 since ...my wife is in india and on immigration process to get approved .That way it won't affect her immigration process.He also told me that she ahs to be here at least 1 month here in usa to file jointly with ITIN....

The only advantage i have filing jointly ...a stimulas package $ 600.

Whats my best option now? any thoughtS??My goal it should not affect her immigration process since i am legally married in november 2007.

Sgr, my marriage was also in Nov 2007. I did married filing jointly with her ITIN. Filed in March 2008 and had 2007 year IRS tax transcript. So far my process has not affected.

Even I had contacted my CPA and as per him, if you are ready to declare world-wide income of both spouses, you can file joint return even if your spouse is not physically present in the U.S.

I think we should forget our spouse's $600 this year ITIN return is not eligible to receive tax rebate in 2008. We need to collect it next year