NVC Filers - March 2012

[sheeshkabelle 153]

Thanks I understand but I had to research what to do and my husband had to send me signature etc plus I went to a few tax places where everyone said file single so I know why it can be confusing... if I take 2011 info for interview wouldnt they realize i didnt make enough and have a problem with this.

Tax places get my goat. They have no clue! You file as married filing separately or head of household. After your husband is here and has a social security number you can file jointly.

Yes, they will notice you do not make enough for sponsorship. You need a joint sponsor.

[Saylin 1,605]

Tax places get my goat. They have no clue! You file as married filing separately or head of household. After your husband is here and has a social security number you can file jointly.

Yes, they will notice you do not make enough for sponsorship. You need a joint sponsor.

You can also file as Married Filing Jointly. That's what my husband and I did

[sheeshkabelle 153]

You can also file as Married Filing Jointly. That's what my husband and I did

I saw your previous post. We looked into that, I was told get him a tax payer ID and send this and that and everything else. blah. I just file head of house hold and be done with it. I have four kids, I already get plenty tax breaks

I was also told after he gets here and has a SSN we could amend my returns for the two years we were married. I think it may get me an extra $50.

But hey, that's still $$$ I didn't have before!

[Laure&Colin 557]

Yes, it's more complicated to file taxes while the spouse is overseas without a SSN, but it has to be done, if you want to do it legally. And it's honestly not much more work. My husband and I had to do it in 2010. So, it took an extra five minutes to write up a letter saying I wanted to be treated as a resident for tax purpose, and print and sign that. And it didn't take any time at all to get a certified copy of my passport. And it took my husband an hour to file in all the boxes on the 1040EZ. And then five minutes to go to the post office to mail the package. Isn't that worth it to get your SO to the US instead of being rejected at the consulate/embassy for filing as SINGLE when you're MARRIED?! And isn't it worth the extra time so the IRS doesn't come after you for filing SINGLE when you're MARRIED?! You should NEVER return to those tax places that suggested what they did to you. It was BAD advice. They know NOTHING about having spouses living abroad.

And yes, since you didn't make enough money in 2011, that's why you need to get a joint sponsor.

For anyone who would have difficulties getting a signed document from their foreign spouse, you can also do the married filing separately. Then you don't need an ITIN for the foreign spouse, you just right "NRA" (non-resident alien) in the box for the spouse's SSN, and that's it. This is what my husband did.

[VisaJourney2011 14]

When sending Tax transcript for AOS package, does it have to be in unopened envelope? just as we received it from IRS?

or should we just remove it from the envelope and paper clip all 3 recent years together?

Edited March 6, 2012 by VisaJourney2011

[Laure&Colin 557]

When sending Tax transcript for AOS package, does it have to be in unopened envelope? just as we received it from IRS?

or should we just remove it from the envelope and paper clip all 3 recent years together?

You can safely open the enveloppe! As you'll see for yourself, they don't look like "official" papers at all. At least ours didn't!

Actually you'd better open and check that they sent you the right documents for the right years, cause for us they made a mistake and we had to order one again.

[StephanieM 60]

For anyone who would have difficulties getting a signed document from their foreign spouse, you can also do the married filing separately. Then you don't need an ITIN for the foreign spouse, you just right "NRA" (non-resident alien) in the box for the spouse's SSN, and that's it. This is what my husband did.

Yes!!! This is exactly what I did also. The only thing is that you will not be able to do it electronically. You will have to send to the IRS by mail. :-)

[GoingCrazy2012 16]

Ok I did not see this question in the FAQ so I'm technically entitle to ask it without fear of retaliation by my VJ Friends LOL! Just kidding! but now on a serious note: I know it says "NOT TO PANIC" but,

HOW LONG is the NVC Payment Portal supposed to be DOWN while they're invoicing your I-864 and putting the rest of your case on your system?

It has been down all day for me. It still reads: "This case is in the process of termination. Fee payments and online forms can no longer be accepted. If you believe you have received this message in error, or to resume processing of the case, please contact the NVC immediately."

Anybody who has experienced this, how long until it is back up and you're able to access it again? Thanks!

[foobaz123 39]

Yes, it's more complicated to file taxes while the spouse is overseas without a SSN, but it has to be done, if you want to do it legally. And it's honestly not much more work. My husband and I had to do it in 2010. So, it took an extra five minutes to write up a letter saying I wanted to be treated as a resident for tax purpose, and print and sign that. And it didn't take any time at all to get a certified copy of my passport. And it took my husband an hour to file in all the boxes on the 1040EZ. And then five minutes to go to the post office to mail the package. Isn't that worth it to get your SO to the US instead of being rejected at the consulate/embassy for filing as SINGLE when you're MARRIED?! And isn't it worth the extra time so the IRS doesn't come after you for filing SINGLE when you're MARRIED?! You should NEVER return to those tax places that suggested what they did to you. It was BAD advice. They know NOTHING about having spouses living abroad.

And yes, since you didn't make enough money in 2011, that's why you need to get a joint sponsor.

Whereas you're entirely correct in everything you say, I would point out dear Saylin you were doing it in Canada and not Gambia or China Sometimes getting such things done in such places can be a pain (depending on where you are in China. I can only speak on it for direct experience). For instance, getting the passport notarized in China was going to be such a pain Sue just mailed the passport to me to have it done here.

That said, even if it is a huge pain Married Separately doesn't need all that I don't think so it would still be the better choice than single. I think those tax places recommend such a braindead solution because they really don't know tax law and are usually just lazy. After all, the qualifications to work at such a place (even if some are knowledgeable) is a short class and a heartbeat (heartbeat optional).

[foobaz123 39]

Ok I did not see this question in the FAQ so I'm technically entitle to ask it without fear of retaliation by my VJ Friends LOL! Just kidding! but now on a serious note: I know it says "NOT TO PANIC" but,

HOW LONG is the NVC Payment Portal supposed to be DOWN while they're invoicing your I-864 and putting the rest of your case on your system?

It has been down all day for me. It still reads: "This case is in the process of termination. Fee payments and online forms can no longer be accepted. If you believe you have received this message in error, or to resume processing of the case, please contact the NVC immediately."

Anybody who has experienced this, how long until it is back up and you're able to access it again? Thanks!

It was that way for me an entire business day and most of the next. I'm sure most of the processes run in a batch mode, instead of real time, and thus things get updated relatively slowly. The only good news is that your AOS (I-864) bill ought to be available soon after it comes back, if not right after.

[PantomimeGoose 59]

Yay! Interview date April 27th!

[foobaz123 39]

Yay! Interview date April 27th!

Yay!! :dance:

[Darnell 8,478]

Okay guys,

I received this email identical into both my email and the email address of my wife:

In subject line: Case # (ACL FOR NEOPOST DS-1200)

Both email that we received has attachment in the PDF form which contains:

Info about the case + choice of address and agent--Since my wife already emailed them the choice of agent so I am not gonna send another-(right)?

Does that mean they have accepted the 3032 sent to them from my wife's email?

The payment portal has AOS ready to be paid, should I go ahead and pay it ? ( Don't have to wait for anything else I supose?)

this is the first part off the ds-3032 kit. The second part is the AOS fee bill. I know this stuff is covered on page 1, posts #1 and #2, but in case you not like to read this stuff, please read something else?

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/221785-ds-3032-slowdown/page__view__findpost__p__3560467

[Darnell 8,478]

Whereas you're entirely correct in everything you say, I would point out dear Saylin you were doing it in Canada and not Gambia or China Sometimes getting such things done in such places can be a pain (depending on where you are in China. I can only speak on it for direct experience). For instance, getting the passport notarized in China was going to be such a pain Sue just mailed the passport to me to have it done here.

That said, even if it is a huge pain Married Separately doesn't need all that I don't think so it would still be the better choice than single. I think those tax places recommend such a braindead solution because they really don't know tax law and are usually just lazy. After all, the qualifications to work at such a place (even if some are knowledgeable) is a short class and a heartbeat (heartbeat optional).

Agreed - getting a bio page of a passport (copy) notarized is a pita.

I sent my wife to Chengdu to get it done. There's a running commentary in the China forum and at chinafamilyvisa.com

re: TAX Places [sic] - I hate these guys, and I'm in this business!!! [one of my companies puts out a tax package for EROs]

I love the way Rugjby approached it, though - was great seeing all the drama unfold.

[foobaz123 39]

Agreed - getting a bio page of a passport (copy) notarized is a pita.

I sent my wife to Chengdu to get it done. There's a running commentary in the China forum and at chinafamilyvisa.com

re: TAX Places [sic] - I hate these guys, and I'm in this business!!! [one of my companies puts out a tax package for EROs]

I love the way Rugjby approached it, though - was great seeing all the drama unfold.

I didn't even want Sue to have to deal with it. It was a small risk mailing the passport but she had to send me wet ink 1040s anyway so why not add one more bit?

I mailed off the tax package today. I'm hoping that they don't take too long with the ITIN and getting the refund out to me.