LAND DOWNUNDER, Aussie Aussie Aussie Oi Oi Oi

[CareBear 18]

Hey Bex with regards to the US sized passport photos (if you need any more done) there is a camera/photo shop at the Southport Park Centro shopping centre - Sunshine photos? or something dumb like that. I phoned them last week and said I needed passport photos in US size and they said that it was no problem - that they have software that will alter the photo sizes to different country requirements

[VanessaTony 3,567]

Im confused about the I-864...Im the petitioner for my Aussie/Kiwi wife, Im a US citizen and Im currently working in Australia. Ive seen several different things about how many previous tax returns I would need, 1, 2, 3? Do I only need to have filed the past 3 returns but only show a copy of the last return I did?

Also, What exactly do they want a copy of? The 1040 that I filled out? Plus Im excluded from owing any taxes anyway because I earned less than 91 thousand dollars per year here in Australia. Can we just show the consulate a copy of the 1040 and the 2555ez. I just filed this years taxes because I just got my end of year wages statement so I wont be able to get a transcript before the interview.

Another confusing part...I have been working in Australia the past 4 years but when my wife and I move to the states we'll both be temporarily unemployed until we find work. So I'm not getting why they need proof of my previous income here in Australia the past 1, 2, or 3 years to satisfy proof of support for the I-864. I obviously will be quitting my job in Australia before we move to America, so how is my past Australian income any proof I can support my wife in America when we move there? This is why we went ahead and got a joint sponsor in America. But do we even need a joint sponsor? Will my previous income here in Oz actually satisfy proof of support for the I-864? So confusing.

Im assuming that most Americans that live in Australia and are petitioning for their Australian spouse will be quitting their Australian jobs and arriving in America unemployed so its confusing how previous Australian income could possibly qualify as proof of future support in America.

Also, On the I-864 where it mentions household, is that referring to our household here in Australia?

thanks for any help

Household is explained in the I-864 instructions. It includes anyone you claim in your taxes, whether you've done an I-864 before, any children you have under X age... it's explained in the instructions.

The I-864 requires you to have filed all previous taxes and write that information on the I-864 page that asks for it. You only need to supply a copy of the most recent however.

The tax returns must be a COMPLETE tax return including all w2s, 1099s and schedules. Otherwise an IRS tax transcript is best. You can request a tax transcript be faxed to you. If you have a friend or family member with access to a fax in the US, have it sent to them, and have them scan and email a copy to you. You should get it pretty quick that way. IRS transcripts are always the best option because then you don't risk not including something you should have.

As for co-sponsor or not... it is pretty odd that they require income info when you're moving to the US. Personally I wouldn't use a co-sponsor unless it's needed. You will get an RFE if it's needed and as you have someone lined up getting that done is pretty easy. This way you don't need to include someone unless ABSOLUTELY necessary.

Best of luck

[bextavaz 4]

Yea - they will have your PCC. I got the same on my checklist.

I took 2 x US sized passport photos. What a headache. Tip for you, the pics you provide on interview day is the pics that end up on your visa. Make 'em good ones ...

Okay - I had to send 2 of them with my NVC paperwork to the NVC...

So I need additional photos again?

[bextavaz 4]

Hey Bex with regards to the US sized passport photos (if you need any more done) there is a camera/photo shop at the Southport Park Centro shopping centre - Sunshine photos? or something dumb like that. I phoned them last week and said I needed passport photos in US size and they said that it was no problem - that they have software that will alter the photo sizes to different country requirements

Southport is aaages away from Surfers

There's a little shop next to Royal Copenhagen (mmmmmmmmmmm ICECREAM) called "epix" or something... I just got them done there... you could probably do them at home, but I don't have a the right wall colour/lighting so its easier just to pay someone

[CareBear 18]

Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh love that ice cream place Yeah the dogs not that good at taking photos hey which is why I'm getting them done at the photo shop I do our company banking down at Southport Park so next week when I'm down there will get them done - all in the name of working of course

[larymiriam 0]

Household is explained in the I-864 instructions. It includes anyone you claim in your taxes, whether you've done an I-864 before, any children you have under X age... it's explained in the instructions.

The I-864 requires you to have filed all previous taxes and write that information on the I-864 page that asks for it. You only need to supply a copy of the most recent however.

The tax returns must be a COMPLETE tax return including all w2s, 1099s and schedules. Otherwise an IRS tax transcript is best. You can request a tax transcript be faxed to you. If you have a friend or family member with access to a fax in the US, have it sent to them, and have them scan and email a copy to you. You should get it pretty quick that way. IRS transcripts are always the best option because then you don't risk not including something you should have.

As for co-sponsor or not... it is pretty odd that they require income info when you're moving to the US. Personally I wouldn't use a co-sponsor unless it's needed. You will get an RFE if it's needed and as you have someone lined up getting that done is pretty easy. This way you don't need to include someone unless ABSOLUTELY necessary.

Best of luck

ok...so I only need a copy of my most recent US tax return..gotcha...So I should just make a copy of the 1040 and the 2555ez that I filed this year? I dont have a w-2 because Ive only worked in Australia the past 4 years, should I just make a copy of my Australian year-end income statement? When I file my US tax return from Australia the IRS doesnt require any proof of my income here like a w-2...its sort of an honor system believe it or not lol. Im also exempt from paying any US income tax because Im able to file the 2555ez foreign income exclusion because I never earned more than $91,400 annually here. So Ive never recieved anything from the IRS after I filed the exclusion because I never owed anything nor did I ever get anything back.

Im hoping we wont get an RFE because we need the process with the consulate to go as quickly as possible (we've already purchased our plane tickets to the states)

So maybe we'll just go with a co-sponsor to be safe...still not sure about that. I just wish there was a way to find out if we need a joint sponsor or not.. the consulate here isnt that helpful via email.

thanks for the help

[larymiriam 0]

Household is explained in the I-864 instructions. It includes anyone you claim in your taxes, whether you've done an I-864 before, any children you have under X age... it's explained in the instructions.

The I-864 requires you to have filed all previous taxes and write that information on the I-864 page that asks for it. You only need to supply a copy of the most recent however.

The tax returns must be a COMPLETE tax return including all w2s, 1099s and schedules. Otherwise an IRS tax transcript is best. You can request a tax transcript be faxed to you. If you have a friend or family member with access to a fax in the US, have it sent to them, and have them scan and email a copy to you. You should get it pretty quick that way. IRS transcripts are always the best option because then you don't risk not including something you should have.

As for co-sponsor or not... it is pretty odd that they require income info when you're moving to the US. Personally I wouldn't use a co-sponsor unless it's needed. You will get an RFE if it's needed and as you have someone lined up getting that done is pretty easy. This way you don't need to include someone unless ABSOLUTELY necessary.

Best of luck

ok...so I only need a copy of my most recent US tax return..gotcha...So I should just make a copy of the 1040 and the 2555ez that I filed this year? I dont have a w-2 because Ive only worked in Australia the past 4 years, should I just make a copy of my Australian year-end income statement? When I file my US tax return from Australia the IRS doesnt require any proof of my income here like a w-2...its sort of an honor system believe it or not lol. Im also exempt from paying any US income tax because Im able to file the 2555ez foreign income exclusion because I never earned more than $91,400 annually here. So Ive never recieved anything from the IRS after I filed the exclusion because I never owed anything nor did I ever get anything back.

Im hoping we wont get an RFE because we need the process with the consulate to go as quickly as possible (we've already purchased our plane tickets to the states)

So maybe we'll just go with a co-sponsor to be safe...still not sure about that. I just wish there was a way to find out if we need a joint sponsor or not.. the consulate here isnt that helpful via email.

thanks for the help

[kaffy 2]

But do we even need a joint sponsor? Will my previous income here in Oz actually satisfy proof of support for the I-864? So confusing.

Yes, you will need a co-sponsor. No, your previous Oz based income will not satisfy proof of support. The only way it will satisfy the I-864 is if it continues after you move back to the States.

The majority of us that file DCF use co-sponsors

[larymiriam 0]

Yes, you will need a co-sponsor. No, your previous Oz based income will not satisfy proof of support. The only way it will satisfy the I-864 is if it continues after you move back to the States.

The majority of us that file DCF use co-sponsors

Thanks

So then does it matter if I only have a copy, not a trancript of my last US tax return even its based soley on past income in Australia anyway? Should I even bother showing any Australian income on the I-864 if we have a solid co-sponsor?

jeez I think it would be alot simpler if they had a different affadavit of support for DCF filers that simply asked if you had continuing income in the states, yes or no..Or maybe they could just require the I-864 to be filed by the co-sponsor?

[TJ2010 5]

Hi everyone

I'm going through the visa process now. My husband and I have a kind of unique situation but I won't bore you with the details. I've been searching for the answer to my question but I just can't seem to find a conclusive answer...

I live in New South Wales... does the police certificate get sent to me, or to the consulate? The reason I ask is, I want to get it now, while we're still waiting for the NOA2 to come through. If the certificate is sent to my home address then no problem. If it is sent to the consulate, big problem as the consulate won't have a file on me yet and be confused. Am I right?

Please let me know from your experiences whether I can get it now and have it sent to me, or have to wait till my package comes through from the consulate.

Many thanks in advance!

Jess

[CareBear 18]

Hey Jess - I dont have NOA2 yet and I went and got my police certificate organised 2 weeks ago. I got them to send it to my home address and there was no issue with that however it was a Queensland one. At the bottom of the request form I filled in there was an option of where to send it to and I opted for myself

Hope that helps and good luck.

[bextavaz 4]

NVC actually request the police cert, although, it also says in the specific instructions that qld police will mail to the consulate... Seems dumb why they would without a case number...

Anyway, most of us have told them to send to us to include with our ds230's... And NVC then just forwards it (after freaking you out with a false RFE) with the rest of your paperwork

[larymiriam 0]

I-864 questions...

Ive been looking all over the internet but there are so many conflicting answers

Im hoping I can finally get some solid answers

#1- I864 part 4 lines 12 and 13 where it asks for my(the petitioner)mailing address and place of residence do I use my current Australia address and residence or do I use my intended address in the states along with my current residence in Australia?

#2- I864 part 4 line 14... do I use my Australia telephone number or the phone number at the address where we already have a rental agreement to live in the states when we arrive there? BTW I might be getting a cell phone account attached to the US address if it helps.

#3- I864 part 4 line 15... I'll be showing proof that I intend on establishing domicile in the states (US bank account, rental agreement as well as mail to that address in the states, a bill of sale for a car I purchased recently in the states and some other intended domicile proof), so do I say my country of domicile is USA? or Australia where Ive lived and worked the past 4 years?

#4- I864 part 5 line 21a. "persons you are sponsoring" It says to not count anyone twice, ok so I entered "1" (my wife) for line 21a. where it says to enter the amount from line 10.

On line 21c."persons NOT sponsored on the affadavit" where it says "If you are currently married enter "1" for your spouse" Should I leave that blank because I already entered "1" on line 21a.?

Im petitioning for my wife but I cant count her twice so which line should I count her on? 21a or 21c?

#5- I864 part 6 line 22a. ....Do I enter my employers actual name or the name of the company I work for?

#6- I864 part 6 line 23 .... Do I enter my annual income as "zero" because I only earned foreign income and I qualified for the foreign income exclusion and submitted form 2555 to the IRS and will be submitting a copy of it along with the 1040 for the interview? or do I enter my annual Australia gross income converted to US dollars? If so, based on what exchange rate and do I need proof of that rate? I'll also be submitting a copy of the 1040 I filed this year, do I use a total from that form?

Also, is my annual income based on the US tax year or the Australia tax year which is completely different?

And do I need to show a copy of my Australian annual income statement for proof of my wages?

We already have a solid co-sponsor because I wont be employed when we arrive in the states and we dont have assets to qualify so I just was wondering if I would just enter "zero" or if the total would still have to match my foreign income total or some other total from the 1040 or the 2555 tax forms that I filed.

#7- I864 part 6 line 24 ... We wont be using my wifes income because she'll be quitting her job when we leave Australia, but do we still need to enter her name on line 24b.? Because on line 24e. it seems to apply to my wife but it asks for the "person listed above", if we dont enter her name on line 24b she wont be "listed above" ..if that makes any sense lol. And to boot, it says that her income can only be submitted under certain conditions and we already know she qualify for those conditions. ugh

One other thing...They ask for a copy or transcript of my most recent tax return..I wont be able to get a transcript in time so I'll have to go with a copy...what exactly do they want a copy of? The 1040 and the 2555 as it looked before I mailed it to the IRS? I made a copy of each before I mailed them but Im not sure if thats what the consulate wants.

thanks for any help

Edited July 5, 2010 by larymiriam

[TJ2010 5]

Thank you all for your quick reply. The police certificate thing was confusing me, the first time around I'm reasonably sure I remember the police certificate being sent to me, not the consulate, but I thought perhaps the policy had changed.

Seems like I've just found a fly in the ointment though. My immigration status might be a little dodgy. My hubby is going to have to make a call to the powers that be to know more. I left the US and stayed in Australia for too long, and my Greencard expired (majorly stupid on our part). We were told that we'd have to go through the process again, but reading the VJ forums today, I've found that I may have some kind of "deported in absentia" against my name, which makes sense as how would they know that I left the country. Tricky. I think some kind of waiver, and proof that I left the country before the conditional GC expired might fix the problem but... we won't know till he calls tomorrow.

[Deb+Steve 13]

Hi everyone

I'm going through the visa process now. My husband and I have a kind of unique situation but I won't bore you with the details. I've been searching for the answer to my question but I just can't seem to find a conclusive answer...

I live in New South Wales... does the police certificate get sent to me, or to the consulate? The reason I ask is, I want to get it now, while we're still waiting for the NOA2 to come through. If the certificate is sent to my home address then no problem. If it is sent to the consulate, big problem as the consulate won't have a file on me yet and be confused. Am I right?

Please let me know from your experiences whether I can get it now and have it sent to me, or have to wait till my package comes through from the consulate.

Many thanks in advance!

Jess

You're doing CR1 so the NVC will request it be sent with your DS-230. Not sure of the NSW application form, but there is a part where you can specify your address. Best of luck ...