NVC Filers - March 2012

[Trav&Shell 83]

Ya, kinda cute. When he bought my engagement ring, he knew how much I loved my birthstone (peridot) so he got a peridot and diamond engagement ring. He said he saw it, and just knew that's the ring I would want. And he was right!

That's awesome! It's like he knows you

LOL... he is a NINJA remember?

hahaha oh yes, I married a ninja...that's right

[Neela & Jitu 79]

He does when he's not right LOL...and surprise?

The surprise was the acceptance email.

[Saylin 1,605]

Oh yes! We've got every dollar ready in savings that we'll need for the process (with a good cushion just in case), and I made Trav transfer the 88 to checking last Friday so the second I get the invoice - it's paid (He also gave me the account info...he's happy that I can keep things organized, and after reviewing some of the stuff he sent to USCIS - it's better that way )

And of course I took advice - I asked for your input, so I'd be kinda dumb to ignore it once you gave it Thanks for steering a freaking out person in the right direction!

[...]

Glad you got the money ready

And definitely glad I gave my opinion, you took it, and got good results (hopefully great once the bill is invoiced )

[Trav&Shell 83]

The surprise was the acceptance email.

OH RIGHT! Lol...*facepalm*

[Neela & Jitu 79]

Ya, kinda cute. When he bought my engagement ring, he knew how much I loved my birthstone (peridot) so he got a peridot and diamond engagement ring. He said he saw it, and just knew that's the ring I would want. And he was right!

Wow he is so understanding.

hahaha oh yes, I married a ninja...that's right

[Alaska2012 462]

So I'm sitting here thinking should I call or not, i just wanna know if they started rewieving our cases yet... But when I checked our payment thingy i still managed to sign in and still says paid. Am I supposed to get a SIF when they start going over our cases or is that when they are done?

[Saylin 1,605]

So I'm sitting here thinking should I call or not, i just wanna know if they started rewieving our cases yet... But when I checked our payment thingy i still managed to sign in and still says paid. Am I supposed to get a SIF when they start going over our cases or is that when they are done?

SIF (after sending in packages) used to be an indication of case complete. But, as of a few months now, this isn't happening as often (or at all) like it used to. Now, the only way to know of case complete (if non-EP) is through calling an operator.

I'd say call! You could have a CC and not even know it!

[Matt & Rocio 28]

There was a lively debate yesterday about what filing status to use if you were married in 2011 but your spouse never lived with you in the US. The IRS.gov website has a tool to guide you to your filing status. Here is a link to that tool:

http://www.irs.gov/ita/article/0,,id=219892,00.html

When I ran through it I was told to file married filing jointly, which I did. I submitted my paper tax return with the SSN field for my wife blank and included a W-7 signed by her along with a notarized copy of the biographic page of her passport. I hand delivered my return to the local IRS office and within 2 weeks I received her ITIN in the mail and a week after that my tax return had been processed and the funds were in my bank account. A week later I was able to request a transcript.

There is also a tool to determine if a dependent is eligible or not. Since my step-daughter was not a legal resident of the US during 2011 she was not eligible to be a dependent on my 2011 tax return. Here is a link to that tool:

http://www.irs.gov/ita/article/0,,id=219895,00.html

This is just my experience, I know others have filed differently and haven't had issues, but in my opinion (and based on the IRS website) we should all be filing MFJ for 2011.

[gad33 47]

What a WONDERFUL woman!! Sadly I can't even remember her name, but she picked up without even a WAIT. I took your advice and said "I was wondering if you could invoice my AOS bill", and she could pretty much see my entire case. She mentioned "you want to get down here to Virginia where it's warm don't you?" to which I said "I just want a hug!!" and she said "very good!" and laughed She said "sometimes, when a person tries to opt in for EP, what happens is the system gets confused...it hangs up and says 'what do I do now?!'...and that's what seems to have happened here." That made me laugh pretty good, lol. Then she said, "I will write this up and we'll get this sorted out right away. We'll get this fixed out for you and get an email to your husband ASAP so you can pay your bill." I mentioned I'd been able to fill out the DS-261 and she said "that's too funny because we haven't generated it yet...you're on the ball!" I said "Yes I am, maybe too much so?" and she laughed and said "Well, we're clearly not so it's good one of us is." Frown has officially been turned upside down...that was funny - and fun!

It's so nice when you get an operator who seems to know how you feel.

Hubby says we american's all sound a like.. it's all a 'southern accent' to him.

Hubby grew up in the Pacific North West and we have lived here for 6 years. It's funny as people aren't sure from his accent if he's Canadian or American.

Glad you got the money ready

And definitely glad I gave my opinion, you took it, and got good results (hopefully great once the bill is invoiced )

Isn't it great when people listen to you.

[Gigli2008 70]

Wow he is so understanding.

Edited March 30, 2012 by Gigli2008

[Saylin 1,605]

There was a lively debate yesterday about what filing status to use if you were married in 2011 but your spouse never lived with you in the US. The IRS.gov website has a tool to guide you to your filing status. Here is a link to that tool:

http://www.irs.gov/i...=219892,00.html

When I ran through it I was told to file married filing jointly, which I did. I submitted my paper tax return with the SSN field for my wife blank and included a W-7 signed by her along with a notarized copy of the biographic page of her passport. I hand delivered my return to the local IRS office and within 2 weeks I received her ITIN in the mail and a week after that my tax return had been processed and the funds were in my bank account. A week later I was able to request a transcript.

There is also a tool to determine if a dependent is eligible or not. Since my step-daughter was not a legal resident of the US during 2011 she was not eligible to be a dependent on my 2011 tax return. Here is a link to that tool:

http://www.irs.gov/i...=219895,00.html

This is just my experience, I know others have filed differently and haven't had issues, but in my opinion (and based on the IRS website) we should all be filing MFJ for 2011.

Either MFS or MFJ, doesn't matter. Some people don't have the means (some countries it's very difficult to get a certified/notarized copy of one's passport) or want to put in the extra effort to get an ITIN, so MFS is much simpler for them as no SSN/ITIN is needed. As long as it's one of the married statuses (or HoH if eligible), then you're good to go

[..]

Isn't it great when people listen to you.

Yes, it is

[Rac2012 0]

What a WONDERFUL woman!! Sadly I can't even remember her name, but she picked up without even a WAIT. I took your advice and said "I was wondering if you could invoice my AOS bill", and she could pretty much see my entire case. She mentioned "you want to get down here to Virginia where it's warm don't you?" to which I said "I just want a hug!!" and she said "very good!" and laughed She said "sometimes, when a person tries to opt in for EP, what happens is the system gets confused...it hangs up and says 'what do I do now?!'...and that's what seems to have happened here." That made me laugh pretty good, lol. Then she said, "I will write this up and we'll get this sorted out right away. We'll get this fixed out for you and get an email to your husband ASAP so you can pay your bill." I mentioned I'd been able to fill out the DS-261 and she said "that's too funny because we haven't generated it yet...you're on the ball!" I said "Yes I am, maybe too much so?" and she laughed and said "Well, we're clearly not so it's good one of us is." Frown has officially been turned upside down...that was funny - and fun!

Excellent Trav&Shell...I'm sure this has been an anxious week and a half! Glad you finally got the answer you needed. On to the next!!

[nica 5]

Anybody got their interview date yet? It's only been 9 days, but I'd be really thrilled to find out sometime next week... I hope we don't actually have to wait for the second week of April

[StephanieM 60]

I gotta be honest i'm kind of bummed four DR members received their interviews for May already (K-1 applicants). NVC is not showing us CR-1 applicants any love. Hoping for good news next week I guess.

Edited March 30, 2012 by StephanieM

[sheeshkabelle 153]

There was a lively debate yesterday about what filing status to use if you were married in 2011 but your spouse never lived with you in the US. The IRS.gov website has a tool to guide you to your filing status. Here is a link to that tool:

http://www.irs.gov/ita/article/0,,id=219892,00.html

When I ran through it I was told to file married filing jointly, which I did. I submitted my paper tax return with the SSN field for my wife blank and included a W-7 signed by her along with a notarized copy of the biographic page of her passport. I hand delivered my return to the local IRS office and within 2 weeks I received her ITIN in the mail and a week after that my tax return had been processed and the funds were in my bank account. A week later I was able to request a transcript.

There is also a tool to determine if a dependent is eligible or not. Since my step-daughter was not a legal resident of the US during 2011 she was not eligible to be a dependent on my 2011 tax return. Here is a link to that tool:

http://www.irs.gov/ita/article/0,,id=219895,00.html

This is just my experience, I know others have filed differently and haven't had issues, but in my opinion (and based on the IRS website) we should all be filing MFJ for 2011.

It depends on your circumstances.

If I filed MFJ and claimed my husband's income for 2011. I would have had a larger tax liability, and probably would have end up paying and not get a refund. (He made well over the 95k mark)

I was advised to file head of household. Head of household with a non-resident alien spouse you are considered 'unmarried' for that filing purpose. Your spouse can not count as the dependent, but your children do. (I have four)

Filing this way kept me from having to claim his foreign income, and gave me a bigger tax deduction than filing MFS. Head of Household the deduction is $8,500. Married filing separately is $5,800.

If one does not qualify for head of household, then yes, your only two options are MFJ or MFS.