Lawyer advised to file Single, even though Married

[Malik2008 0]

I just spoke to my attorney about the filing status I should for my 2008. He told me to file as single since my wife is in Pakistan, and in order to file married I would need her SS#. So, I guess it's ok to file as single for those people whose husband/wife is abroad. Can anyone share their opinion? Thanks.

[pushbrk 12,881]

I just spoke to my attorney about the filing status I should for my 2008. He told me to file as single since my wife is in Pakistan, and in order to file married I would need her SS#. So, I guess it's ok to file as single for those people whose husband/wife is abroad. Can anyone share their opinion? Thanks.

Smart attorney. That's the easy option I used. Then, we filed an amended return after she had a tax ID number.

[Malik2008 0]

I just spoke to my attorney about the filing status I should for my 2008. He told me to file as single since my wife is in Pakistan, and in order to file married I would need her SS#. So, I guess it's ok to file as single for those people whose husband/wife is abroad. Can anyone share their opinion? Thanks.

Smart attorney. That's the easy option I used. Then, we filed an amended return after she had a tax ID number.

Thanks, but wouldn't it be a problem at the NVC or the embassy, when they see that I am married but I filed as single? I just want to be sure before I go ahead and file my taxes.

[childress_london 3]

H&R Block told me to file single too. They never said anything about a tax ID number and filing married with it. I only found out about this process on VJ. Now I'm planning on filing an amended return just to be safe, but what if I didn't know about this tax ID number? Would I get in trouble for having filed single?

[pushbrk 12,881]

I just spoke to my attorney about the filing status I should for my 2008. He told me to file as single since my wife is in Pakistan, and in order to file married I would need her SS#. So, I guess it's ok to file as single for those people whose husband/wife is abroad. Can anyone share their opinion? Thanks.

Smart attorney. That's the easy option I used. Then, we filed an amended return after she had a tax ID number.

Thanks, but wouldn't it be a problem at the NVC or the embassy, when they see that I am married but I filed as single? I just want to be sure before I go ahead and file my taxes.

No problem that, if asked about can't be solved with by answering, "My husband's attorney told him to file as single since his wife is in Pakistan, and in order to file married He would need my SS#."

[Malik2008 0]

I just spoke to my attorney about the filing status I should for my 2008. He told me to file as single since my wife is in Pakistan, and in order to file married I would need her SS#. So, I guess it's ok to file as single for those people whose husband/wife is abroad. Can anyone share their opinion? Thanks.

Smart attorney. That's the easy option I used. Then, we filed an amended return after she had a tax ID number.

Thanks, but wouldn't it be a problem at the NVC or the embassy, when they see that I am married but I filed as single? I just want to be sure before I go ahead and file my taxes.

No problem that, if asked about can't be solved with by answering, "My husband's attorney told him to file as single since his wife is in Pakistan, and in order to file married He would need my SS#."

Thank You, I appreciate your help.

[payxibka 10,045]

I just spoke to my attorney about the filing status I should for my 2008. He told me to file as single since my wife is in Pakistan, and in order to file married I would need her SS#. So, I guess it's ok to file as single for those people whose husband/wife is abroad. Can anyone share their opinion? Thanks.

Smart attorney. That's the easy option I used. Then, we filed an amended return after she had a tax ID number.

Thanks, but wouldn't it be a problem at the NVC or the embassy, when they see that I am married but I filed as single? I just want to be sure before I go ahead and file my taxes.

No problem that, if asked about can't be solved with by answering, "My husband's attorney told him to file as single since his wife is in Pakistan, and in order to file married He would need my SS#."

Thank You, I appreciate your help.

if you took the time to get an ITIN you could file jointly... No SSN required

[Donna A 4]

thats what h and r block told me to do years ago to. then the next year when he got here i went to h and r block plus and they made a big deal about it and said they couldnt believe they told me to do it that way...she had to fix it immediatly so he wouldnt get deported....i think she over reacted but i did get more money back after she ammended it.

[SerenityHope 0]

I just spoke to my attorney about the filing status I should for my 2008. He told me to file as single since my wife is in Pakistan, and in order to file married I would need her SS#. So, I guess it's ok to file as single for those people whose husband/wife is abroad. Can anyone share their opinion? Thanks.

Smart attorney. That's the easy option I used. Then, we filed an amended return after she had a tax ID number.

Thanks, but wouldn't it be a problem at the NVC or the embassy, when they see that I am married but I filed as single? I just want to be sure before I go ahead and file my taxes.

No problem that, if asked about can't be solved with by answering, "My husband's attorney told him to file as single since his wife is in Pakistan, and in order to file married He would need my SS#."

Here is what I did. I filed married and when I sent in my taxes, I also filled an application for a ITIN (tax ID number). You will need a notarized copy of your spouse's passport bio page to do this. It was simple and easy. I actually went to HR Block and they took care of every thing for me. I just had to get the notarized copy of the passport bio page. I did have to send the ITIN app and a POA form to my husband to sign and he sent that back to me and then I was able to sign our joint return for the both of us. It took one afternoon not including the couple weeks of mail time to get documents signed by my husband and returned to me. Cost at HR Block was 219 dollars at a Premium office that deals with special situations. I filed joint as further evidence of a financially-obligated marital relationship which can only help us during the interview process. I don't claim to be an expert but I am an Master's Public Administration and my BA is in Political Science. I more or less know how bureaucracy works and its always been rather safe than sorry with me. It doesn't matter how many copies of text messages, lovey-dovey emails and phone bills you submit of evidence of a true relationship. They want to see that you're willing to spend money on your spouse, put him/her beneficiary on bank accounts, have joint checking/credit accounts, as insurance beneficiary etc. They want a paper trail. Invest the 200 dollars and afternoon. It can only help you.

[th3mo 6]

its not a problem at all we called irs for that reason and they told us we can file form call W7 which is a tax form for married persons ( USC) for a foreigner but it dosent make any sens for the immigration or anything you can find all info about it on them website form-W7

hope it helps

[childress_london 3]

thats what h and r block told me to do years ago to. then the next year when he got here i went to h and r block plus and they made a big deal about it and said they couldnt believe they told me to do it that way...she had to fix it immediatly so he wouldnt get deported....i think she over reacted but i did get more money back after she ammended it.

Deported? Why would he get deported because you didn't put him on your income tax when he didn't owe anything to the US government? My husband has never set foot in the U.S., much less ever owed anything to the U.S. government.

[Donna A 4]

thats what h and r block told me to do years ago to. then the next year when he got here i went to h and r block plus and they made a big deal about it and said they couldnt believe they told me to do it that way...she had to fix it immediatly so he wouldnt get deported....i think she over reacted but i did get more money back after she ammended it.

Deported? Why would he get deported because you didn't put him on your income tax when he didn't owe anything to the US government? My husband has never set foot in the U.S., much less ever owed anything to the U.S. government.

like i said...i think she over reacted.

[pushbrk 12,881]

I just spoke to my attorney about the filing status I should for my 2008. He told me to file as single since my wife is in Pakistan, and in order to file married I would need her SS#. So, I guess it's ok to file as single for those people whose husband/wife is abroad. Can anyone share their opinion? Thanks.

Smart attorney. That's the easy option I used. Then, we filed an amended return after she had a tax ID number.

Thanks, but wouldn't it be a problem at the NVC or the embassy, when they see that I am married but I filed as single? I just want to be sure before I go ahead and file my taxes.

No problem that, if asked about can't be solved with by answering, "My husband's attorney told him to file as single since his wife is in Pakistan, and in order to file married He would need my SS#."

Here is what I did. I filed married and when I sent in my taxes, I also filled an application for a ITIN (tax ID number). You will need a notarized copy of your spouse's passport bio page to do this. It was simple and easy. I actually went to HR Block and they took care of every thing for me. I just had to get the notarized copy of the passport bio page. I did have to send the ITIN app and a POA form to my husband to sign and he sent that back to me and then I was able to sign our joint return for the both of us. It took one afternoon not including the couple weeks of mail time to get documents signed by my husband and returned to me. Cost at HR Block was 219 dollars at a Premium office that deals with special situations. I filed joint as further evidence of a financially-obligated marital relationship which can only help us during the interview process. I don't claim to be an expert but I am an Master's Public Administration and my BA is in Political Science. I more or less know how bureaucracy works and its always been rather safe than sorry with me. It doesn't matter how many copies of text messages, lovey-dovey emails and phone bills you submit of evidence of a true relationship. They want to see that you're willing to spend money on your spouse, put him/her beneficiary on bank accounts, have joint checking/credit accounts, as insurance beneficiary etc. They want a paper trail. Invest the 200 dollars and afternoon. It can only help you.

Getting an ITIN requires a US Notary certifying a copy of the immigrant's passport. That means sending a passort from Pakistan. Pretty cumbersome for most people and highly risky.

[SerenityHope 0]

Getting an ITIN requires a US Notary certifying a copy of the immigrant's passport. That means sending a passort from Pakistan. Pretty cumbersome for most people and highly risky.

I had my husband send a scan of his passport via email. I then had it notarized in the US. I had filed POA and so I wrote some statement on the document saying that "I, so and so, spouse of so and so, appeared before this public notary attesting that this is a real and true copy of so and so's passport issued by the Republic of Ghana, West Africa." I then signed my name and the notary did her thing. Everything seemed well and good. I really don't think that it will be a problem. The IRS have bigger fish to fry.

[pushbrk 12,881]

I had my husband send a scan of his passport via email. I then had it notarized in the US. I had filed POA and so I wrote some statement on the document saying that "I, so and so, spouse of so and so, appeared before this public notary attesting that this is a real and true copy of so and so's passport issued by the Republic of Ghana, West Africa." I then signed my name and the notary did her thing. Everything seemed well and good. I really don't think that it will be a problem. The IRS have bigger fish to fry.

The Notary is required to actually see the original and attest that the copy is a true copy. Hey, if it works fine but it's not according to Hoyle.