November 2011 AOS FIlers

[Carlos EA 0]

Got the EAD/AP Combo Card Today!

Ditto - except mine is only EAD.

Edited January 15, 2012 by Carlos EA

[monyfer 27]

Only if the work was performed after receiving the EAD or GC, whichever comes earlier. Or, if the worker was on an H-1B/L-1 which does not apply here.

I should add that I am not a tax expert and am not qualified to provide tax advice. I MAY very well be wrong and everything I have listed above is solely based on my own knowledge and experiences.

I am not a tax expert either, but have thoroughly reviewed the IRS pub on resident/non resident aliens and this post is helpful as well http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/170514-income-tax-filing-newly-married/page__st__15

Foreign income has to be reported if you include your spouse on your US income tax. The good thing is most countries have tax treaties so they will not be taxed on that income.

Fore more info, see here : http://www.irs.gov/publications/p519/index.html

Edited January 15, 2012 by monyfer

[Patrick&Sarah 1]

Okay so two weeks ago we got an RFI it was for more tax records from me. I included them already but they wanted more. Okay no big deal sent them in and currently the I485 is in review of the RFI documents.

We did the wife's Biometrics on the 23rd of November in Seattle about two weeks before I had to deploy. Was told that they would help in expediting the EAD/AP card. On the USCIS website those have not been touched since they were received? Just wanting to know will it all have to wait for the I485 to process or will they work on the other documents seperately?

Thank you for any insite that can be given here.

Congrats to all that have received their docs.

[jm06 26]

I am not a tax expert either, but have thoroughly reviewed the IRS pub on resident/non resident aliens and this post is helpful as well http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/170514-income-tax-filing-newly-married/page__st__15

Foreign income has to be reported if you include your spouse on your US income tax. The good thing is most countries have tax treaties so they will not be taxed on that income.

Fore more info, see here : http://www.irs.gov/publications/p519/index.html

thank you guys for all the info about the taxes. I didn't work last year because I was in college F-1 visa so I didn't work here or either panama.

[Fifth Echelon 6]

I am not a tax expert either, but have thoroughly reviewed the IRS pub on resident/non resident aliens and this post is helpful as well http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/170514-income-tax-filing-newly-married/page__st__15

Foreign income has to be reported if you include your spouse on your US income tax. The good thing is most countries have tax treaties so they will not be taxed on that income.

Fore more info, see here : http://www.irs.gov/publications/p519/index.html

Oh that's right. You are correct. The bottom line is that foreign income does not have to be reported if earned before EAD/LPR status, IF filing as a Non-Resident or not filing at all. But as you state, it does have to be declared if filing as a resident (as the OP would be with his wife).

thank you guys for all the info about the taxes. I didn't work last year because I was in college F-1 visa so I didn't work here or either panama.

In that case, you are good to go. The original advice I provided would stand: you can file with your wife, and not have to declare your income (since you had none), and claim the deductions, exemptions, and better tax rates.

Ditto - except mine is only EAD.

Did you not apply for AP? Or did you apply and still receive a non-combo card?

[Carlos EA 0]

Oh that's right. You are correct. The bottom line is that foreign income does not have to be reported if earned before EAD/LPR status, IF filing as a Non-Resident or not filing at all. But as you state, it does have to be declared if filing as a resident (as the OP would be with his wife).

In that case, you are good to go. The original advice I provided would stand: you can file with your wife, and not have to declare your income (since you had none), and claim the deductions, exemptions, and better tax rates.

Did you not apply for AP? Or did you apply and still receive a non-combo card?

I didn't apply for an AP.

[willyfromnc 0]

Do I need to apply for a ss card before I can

Get a driver license in NC? Anyone kno?

[paul_kay 31]

Do I need to apply for a ss card before I can

Get a driver license in NC? Anyone kno?

Yes it is required in every State to show your SS card in getting State IDs and Drivers Licenses.

[new1 2]

Just received my EAD card too!

[KristinH 2]

His EAD card arrived today! The picture on it was one taken at his biometrics appointment, which we weren't expecting and he has a full beard! Thought they'd have used one of the many (better pictures) we sent in with the applications.

He does not have a SSN yet. Does he need to apply for one before he can begin working?

Thanks!

Carlos - We are anxious to hear how your interview went today! Hope all went all, give us an update when you can!

[Carlos EA 0]

So we just got back from our AOS interview in Seattle (btw there is a big snow storm coming into seattle tomorrow and IOs are being told that they can arrive 2 hours late if needed).

We arrived at 11:00am for our 11:15am interview. They were still interviewing people from the 10:30-11:15 slots - likely a result of IOs arriving late due to snow. At around 11:35 they called my name (beneficiary). Our IO was a very pleasant woman. She brought us (my wife, our lawyers and me) back to her office and proceeded to swear us in. She asked the basic information like my DOB and full name, where I lived and who lived with me - including how many rooms our apt has - and then asked how we met. We had with us a photo album of our court wedding and reception, which she went to grab and asked if we had brought that for her to see. She asked us who different people were in the photos and how many people we had at the reception.

After going through the Y/N questions from 1485, she asked if we had anything else for her - so I pulled out the passport, I94 and EAD. She asked me when I first entered the US and took my I94 and stapled it to the file she had with my information.

She then said that she would review our information once more before approving the application. If she needed more information, she said she would notify us through out lawyer - otherwise that we should receive the GC in the mail within one month.

I think everything went well and I hope that she just does this for everyone and I hope we get approved!! Just to note, she did not take our EAD nor did she stamp anything on any document of ours.

I'll keep you all posted as soon as I hear more form USCIS! :dance: Hopefully we will get my GC and welcome letter within the next two weeks!

[johnvil 2]

Just received my EAD card too!

Me too!

[johnvil 2]

Just received my EAD card too!

Me too!

[islandnook23 3]

got my ead card last week!!! update is a bit late.. :dance:

[new1 2]

Me too!

Hope everyone gets their card already. Now, hopefully GC isnt too far behind