Probably dumb question... am I already a citizen?

[warlord 73]

Yup generally speaking born in the U.S.A.= U.S. citizen. The only exception I know of is if both parents are accredited foreign diplomats/heads of state.

That's pretty much it. Now we have "Anchor Babies" where illegal Mexicans are crossing over the border illegally just to have their baby born in the US to make them automatic citizens and eventually secure the parents future down the road...

[NickD 203]

Steve-Lol...Don't worry..I don't think they will be catching you just yet...

Again, speak to the IRS...To see if they can help you out further there...

And yes, as I mentioned before..You need US tax returns for your immigration-related forms...

The USCIS wants to see those...lol....

And meanwhile, file those Canadian taxes...lol...You don't want Revenue Canada after you either..

Lol.As for cheese.......I've got a few bricks in my fridge....(yeah, I stock up too..lol..)

Ant

P.S. Here is the rest of the webpage...Darn..I can't get the link to work right..

U.S. Citizens and Resident Aliens Abroad

If you are a U.S. citizen or resident alien, the rules for filing income, estate, and gift tax returns and paying estimated tax are generally the same whether you are in the United States or abroad. Your worldwide income is subject to U.S. income tax, regardless of where you reside.

When to File

If you reside overseas, or are in the military on duty outside the U.S., you are allowed an automatic 2-month extension to file your return until June 15. However, any tax due must be paid by the original return due date (April 15) to avoid interest charges.

If you are unable to file your return by the due date, you can request an additional extension to October 15 by filing Form 4868 before the return due date. However, any payments made after June 15 would be subject to both interest charges and failure to pay penalties.

Where to File

If you are a U.S. citizen or resident alien (Green Card Holder), and you live in a foreign country or you are a non resident alien, mail your U.S. tax return to:

Department of the Treasury

Internal Revenue Service Center

Austin, TX 73301-0215

Estimated tax payments should be mailed with form 1040-ES to:

Internal Revenue Service

P.O. Box 660406

Dallas, TX 75266-0406

USA

Taxpayer Identification Number

Each taxpayer who files, or is claimed as a dependent on, a U.S. tax return will need a social security number (SSN) or individual taxpayer identification number (ITIN). To obtain a SSN, use form SS-5, Application for a Social Security Card. To get form SS-5, or to find out if you are eligible for a social security card, contact a Social Security Office or visit Social Security International Operations. If you, or your spouse, are not eligible for a SSN, you can obtain an ITIN by filing form W-7 along with appropriate documentation.

Exchange Rates

You must express the amounts you report on your U.S. tax return in U.S. dollars. If you receive all or part of your income or pay some or all of your expenses in foreign currency, you must translate the foreign currency into U.S. dollars. Taxpayers generally use the yearly average exchange rate to report foreign-earned income that was received regularly throughout the year. However, if you had foreign transactions on specific days, you may also use the exchange rates for those days. Exchange rates can be found at www.oanda.com. Yearly average currency exchange rates for most countries can be found at Yearly Average Currency Exchange Rates.

How to Get Tax Help

The IRS Office in Philadelphia provides international tax assistance. This office is open Monday through Friday from 6:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. EST and can be contacted by:

Phone: 1 (215) 516-2000 (not toll-free)

FAX:1 (215) 516-2555

Email: Email the IRS

Mail: Internal Revenue Service

P.O. Box 920

Bensalem, PA 19020

USA

The IRS has customer service personnel available to provide tax assistance in the following Embassies and Consulates abroad:

Permanent IRS Offices Outside the United States Office Address Office Phone Numbers and Email

U.S. Consulate

Frankfurt

Giessener Str.

30

60435 Frankfurt am Main

Germany

Walk-In Assistance

Phone Service:

M-F: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Tel: +49-69-7535-3834

Fax: +49-69-7535-3803

Email: irs.frankfurt@irs.gov

U.S. Embassy

24/31 Grosvenor Square

London W1A 1 AE

England Walk-In Assistance:

Tu-Th: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. & 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Phone Service:

M-F: 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Tel: +44-207-894-0476

Fax: +44-207-495-4224

Email: irs.london@irs.gov

U.S. Embassy

2 Avenue Gabriel

75382 Paris Cedex 08

France Walk-In Assistance:

M-F: 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Phone Service:

M-F: 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. & 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m

Tel: +33-1-4312-2555

Fax: +33-1-4312-2303

Email: irs.paris@irs.gov

U.S. Embassy

No. 55 An Jia Lou Lu

Beijing 100600

China Limited taxpayer service at this time by appointment only. You may email for an appointment at amcitbeijing@state.gov.

Help with Unresolved Tax Problems

If you are experiencing a tax problem that is causing you economic harm or has not been resolved through normal channels, you can contact the Taxpayer Advocate by:

Phone: (787) 622-8940 (English) or (787) 622-8930 (Spanish)

FAX: (787) 622-8933

Mail: Internal Revenue Service

Taxpayer Advocate Office

P.O. Fox 193479

San Juan, PR 00919-3479

Hope this helps too...

Ant

Use to be as a USC, if working outside of this country for over 18 months, you did NOT have to pay federal income taxes. But if you came back, even for 1 second would have to pay taxes on the full 18 or more months. When did they change this? Can't even work in Timbuktu without paying US taxes?

One way NOT to pay taxes, is simply don't work, no income, no taxes. Just go on welfare and be a burden instead of a producer. Still say, this country is going crazy.

[Darnell 8,479]

what 'that page' is missing

is the exemption amount.

it ranges from 75,000 to 90,000, depending on year.

so - you'll be EXEMPT from paying tax on that first chunk.

IMO, filing is a good way to prove up to DOS/USCIS/DHS that you have enough income to support yer 'foreign spouse'.

It's a catch 22 - to be 'exempt' from paying income tax if you work overseas, but then to 'show income' - ya, you should file.

There are other ways to show income, irrespective of an income tax return.

Suggest you get some 1040 tax forms and instructions , practice filling them out in april, see what the numbers are, understand your tax liability or exemption from tax liability. you can file prior years returns anytime - but there is also 'penalty' to be paid, SOMETIMES, when filing 5 years out, or more. Don't sweat that part, just yet ...

Edited March 26, 2010 by Darnell

[s_mack 0]

I read into it some more and yeah, it looks like I would have been exempt and when not excempt, the credits from paying Canadian taxes outweigh the tax liability anyway... so OWING taxes isn't an issue. Its whether or not I get fined/jailed/sent to Iraq for not filing

When you mention demonstrating income to support the foreign spouse... that raises two questions I suppose y'all probably know the answer to:

1) Does that imply that my wife wouldn't be allowed to work? (even if we're married > 2 years?)

2) Would they take savings in lieu of income? In other words if they want to see that I'm making $x per year but instead I show them $y in savings (enough to cover z years of $x... lol), is that acceptable?

Edited March 26, 2010 by s_mack

[NickD 203]

I read into it some more and yeah, it looks like I would have been exempt and when not excempt, the credits from paying Canadian taxes outweigh the tax liability anyway... so OWING taxes isn't an issue. Its whether or not I get fined/jailed/sent to Iraq for not filing

When you mention demonstrating income to support the foreign spouse... that raises two questions I suppose y'all probably know the answer to:

1) Does that imply that my wife wouldn't be allowed to work? (even if we're married > 2 years?)

2) Would they take savings in lieu of income? In other words if they want to see that I'm making $x per year but instead I show them $y in savings (enough to cover z years of $x... lol), is that acceptable?

USCIS Forms has all the forms that are available, at this stage you are most interested in the I-864 for you and the I-864A for your future spouse, the I-864P has the poverty guidelines. I see these forms are new and didn't read them, but assets back when I applied were perfectly acceptable, well, also was earning far above the minimums and brought both a wife and her daughter here.

I got lazy with all these new forms to me then and just hired one of the best immigration attorneys I could find. Like conventional attorneys that only can practice in your state, immigration attorneys can practice in all states. So that gives you quite a choice. But we did our own I-751 and N-400, my attorney didn't want to do those, probably because I insist on a flat fee and would be calling him every five minutes for a progress report.

[Darnell 8,479]

I read into it some more and yeah, it looks like I would have been exempt and when not excempt, the credits from paying Canadian taxes outweigh the tax liability anyway... so OWING taxes isn't an issue. Its whether or not I get fined/jailed/sent to Iraq for not filing

When you mention demonstrating income to support the foreign spouse... that raises two questions I suppose y'all probably know the answer to:

1) Does that imply that my wife wouldn't be allowed to work? (even if we're married > 2 years?)

2) Would they take savings in lieu of income? In other words if they want to see that I'm making $x per year but instead I show them $y in savings (enough to cover z years of $x... lol), is that acceptable?

1. no, no implication on this at all. She can work in USA as soon as she can fulfill the requirements of an I-9 form (usually, at minimum - an I-551 stamp in passport, given on POE, plus a SSN).

2. yes, - is usually 3 times the poverty guidelines annual income amount. this is rough calculation - is

3 x PGAIA X 1.25

the 1.25 represents 125 percent (a multiplier which must be used ) Check the instructions for the I-864 - review assets and cash assets.

You might have issue with re-establishing domicile in USA - don't sweat that for now - but have it SET prior to interview day, and be prepared to SHOW/PROVE UP USA domicile on interview day.

Good Luck !

Edited April 2, 2010 by Darnell

[nane1104 146]

That's a very interesting and entertaining topic to read! I got a question though: Does Canada recognize dual- citizenship? Or would the OP have to give up his canadian citizenship if/when he gets his american passport?

Like...my dual citizen son will have to decide which citizenship he wants to keep once he turns 18.

[s_mack 0]

Canada recognizes multiple citizenships. See: http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/resources/publications/dual-citizenship.asp