Naturalizing and [un]employment

[axstonecutter 0]

Just some background, I am a LPR and getting started on my naturalization process. I will not be submitting the paperwork for a few more months but I thought that it is never too early to get started.

So to the heart of the matter...

For as long as I have been able to, I have always worked. However, throughout 2009 I became semi-unemployed due to a huge reduction in the work force and applied to receive UI benefits. And by early 2010, I was laid off from the last job I worked at and became unemployed full time. Since then I have been unable to find work in this terrible economy. Obviously I will be declaring that I am unemployed on the N-400. Now when I get to the interview, will the USCIS look down on the fact that I am unemployed now and the fact that I may be unemployed by the time of the interview?

Edited January 28, 2011 by axstonecutter

[jkelly07 120]

they want three years tax returns or tax transcripts,if you are unemployed write it on a seperate sheet of paper atteach it your n-400,you did not work thay may ask how are you supporting your family, good luck

[Tero 105]

They are quite aware of the unemployment rate in this economy and should not penalize you for that.

[axstonecutter 0]

they want three years tax returns or tax transcripts,if you are unemployed write it on a seperate sheet of paper atteach it your n-400,you did not work thay may ask how are you supporting your family, good luck

Three years of tax returns and/or transcripts is no problem. I should have more than just three years of tax filings, even during periods of unemployment.

I do not have any one that I am supporting. I am single and have never been married.

[Sand 5]

This question was asked to me during the Interview. the Interviewer asked me, If i am working, i said No i dont have job right now. she said then how u supporting urself? i said my Spouse supporting me right now. she had to write it down and that was it. with no problem.

[Brother Hesekiel 2,236]

My suggestion: file a tax return anyway, even if the amount you made was $0, for two reasons:

1) There is a question on the N-400 form asking: "Have you ever failed to file a tax return since becoming a LPR?"

It's so nice to be able to answer "No" to this and not having to explain this, even if you strictly speaking were not required to file if you had no income. Just not having to deal with this is worth it, IMHO.

2) It's so comforting to just enclose all of the tax transcripts (not copies of the 1040s) with the N-400. An IRS tax transcript is a short form of a tax return that contains just a few numbers, much in what appears to be Chinese to non-Chinese people like myself. The I.O. will most likely only look if you have the "correct amount" of tax transcripts in your file. Since you are not married that would be five or, in case you are a Green Card holder for longer, even more. The I.O. will not look at the income; the only number that interest them is the years filed, meaning 2010/2009/2008/2007/2006 . . . and so on.

[axstonecutter 0]

My suggestion: file a tax return anyway, even if the amount you made was $0, for two reasons:

1) There is a question on the N-400 form asking: "Have you ever failed to file a tax return since becoming a LPR?"

It's so nice to be able to answer "No" to this and not having to explain this, even if you strictly speaking were not required to file if you had no income. Just not having to deal with this is worth it, IMHO.

2) It's so comforting to just enclose all of the tax transcripts (not copies of the 1040s) with the N-400. An IRS tax transcript is a short form of a tax return that contains just a few numbers, much in what appears to be Chinese to non-Chinese people like myself. The I.O. will most likely only look if you have the "correct amount" of tax transcripts in your file. Since you are not married that would be five or, in case you are a Green Card holder for longer, even more. The I.O. will not look at the income; the only number that interest them is the years filed, meaning 2010/2009/2008/2007/2006 . . . and so on.

Thanks for the reply. However, I am not concerned about my tax records. I have always filed taxes for the past five years, since that is all the USCIS is concerned with. And even while I am collecting unemployment benefits, I have to file taxes regardless because unemployment benefits are taxable and I receive a 1099 from the state to report the benefits paid to me.

My initial post is more concerned about how being unemployed will look to the USICS while I am applying for naturalization.

Edited January 28, 2011 by axstonecutter

[bonnerbonner 6]

From an unemployed VJ friend to another. In going thru my application, the IO asked if I was working since my job date stopped in March 2010. I told him no. Asked if hubby was making enough to support our family, I answered more than enough. Then he wrote something in red and kept on going. As they said in previous posts, your tax returns are more important filing and if u owe u can show payment arrangement. You will be just fine.

[Brother Hesekiel 2,236]

Unemployment is a non-issue for naturalization purposes. However, you are mistaken about the 5-year time span USCIS is concerned with. The wording is "ever . . . since you became a resident," and not "within the past 5 years" and if you ever failed to file an income tax return since becoming a citizen you'll have to answer that question accordingly.

[axstonecutter 0]

Unemployment is a non-issue for naturalization purposes. However, you are mistaken about the 5-year time span USCIS is concerned with. The wording is "ever . . . since you became a resident," and not "within the past 5 years" and if you ever failed to file an income tax return since becoming a citizen you'll have to answer that question accordingly.

Mistaken or not, I have to reiterate that I do not have any issues when it comes to filing my taxes for the last five years [and beyond] and/or since becoming a LPR.

Again, my concern is strictly on the unemployment aspect of my life and how that will look to the USCIS and an immigration officer. However, since people on here have been saying that being unemployed is not that big of a deal, it seems like I do not have to worry about being unemployed. Please correct me if I am mistaken about this and only this issue.

Thanks anyway for trying to help.

[bonnerbonner 6]

Unemployment - Non Issue

[nigel 7]

Unemployment - Non Issue

I agree...Unemployment is not & should'nt be a issue, there are many, many people not working in todays market, but also there is many stay at home mam and dads also,

They might inquire of how you get supported ect, but you have already got a valid answer for that correct?

aslong you show you jointly payed taxes the last 3 yrs, that's the bottomline here....

Good luck

[axstonecutter 0]

I agree...Unemployment is not & should'nt be a issue, there are many, many people not working in todays market, but also there is many stay at home mam and dads also,

They might inquire of how you get supported ect, but you have already got a valid answer for that correct?

Thanks for the feedback. The only valid answer that I have to give to an immigration officer about supporting myself is the paltry amount of money that I receive from unemployment benefits, which I know the USCIS does not care about.

aslong you show you jointly payed taxes the last 3 yrs, that's the bottomline here....

No offense however, I think it would behove you to have taken the time to read post #4 of this thread where I state:

Three years of tax returns and/or transcripts is no problem. I should have more than just three years of tax filings, even during periods of unemployment.

I do not have any one that I am supporting. I am single and have never been married.

Reading and comprehending prior posts benefits everyone involved in the discussion.