Can't really understand the form I-864EZ thing...

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/419233-cant-really-understand-the-form-i-864ez-thing/page__view__findpost__p__6041248

[Hypnos 6,576]

"The following items must be submitted with Form I-864:

ALL sponsors:

A copy of your individual Federal income tax return, including W-2s for the most recent tax year, or a statement and/or evidence describing why you were not required to file." (from http://www.uscis.gov.../i-864instr.pdf)

What do you guys think of that? If we can provide a document from either the swedish government or IRS then we might be able to skip this step, correct? Can anyone confirm?

But he is required to file, and hasn't. That's the rub, and the thing that you seem to be dancing around.

The US requires all of its citizens to file individual tax returns every year, even if they are living in other countries. They do not care that he is also a Swedish citizen, they only care that he is a US citizen who has not filed taxes with the IRS. He can either file back taxes or you will not be able to file an I-864 (or a variant) which will result in you not being able to immigrate to the US.

The US wants something from him, you want something from them. If you want to get what you want, you will have to give them what they want; there is no way around this.

You should consult with a US tax professional and investigate how to file back taxes, or abandon your attempts to obtain a green card.

Edited March 12, 2013 by Hypnos

[Bullan 0]

Sorry, I'm not trying to dance around anything. Please don't treat me as someone who's trying to escape taxes or whatever. I'm just trying to get my head around this thing and make sure I know what we need to do. And I don't yet. However, we're gonna call IRS early tomorrow morning and might even set up a meeting. We've got our files from the swedish govern.mt. of his old tax files which we can provide and then maybe try to do a late tax file in the US as well.

[Hypnos 6,576]

Everyone kept saying "file taxes" and you kept coming up with reasons why you felt you shouldn't file taxes, so that's the reason why I responded as I did. Filing taxes isn't optional, it's a requirement, and tax evasion is a crime.

With reciprocal agreements between the US and Sweden, his tax liability would likely be minimal or perhaps even nonexistent.

Edited March 12, 2013 by Hypnos

[Bullan 0]

I'm not really worried about him having to pay taxes, I'm worried that we won't be able to do this file thing years later without the help of an expensive lawyer. I'm also shocked that no one, like his dad for example, has not informed him about this extremely important detail before.

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

You can file taxes late. If you don't owe any money on them, there is no penalty for late filing.

I already told you can google old tax forms and find them, fill them out, and send them in.

I already told you that if he made zero money anywhere in the world, that he does not need to file taxes. There is a minimum income threshold, and it sounds like for some of these years he was not working at all.

Expecting to completely figure out US taxes in a few hours as a foreign national is asking too much. Your husband should be helping out. No offense to you, but this thread is going around in circles.

[Bullan 0]

No you're right. I'll talk to him when he gets back but he's as confused as I am. But we'll contact IRS, and then file the taxes. Thanks for the patience....

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

No you're right. I'll talk to him when he gets back but he's as confused as I am. But we'll contact IRS, and then file the taxes. Thanks for the patience....

Good luck with everything I am sure in a few days you'll come back and report it's all done and filed. It's not too hard but understanding it all takes more than a few hours

To answer your other question, normally USCIS goes by current income, so you will show paystubs or a letter from his employer to show his current income. He's only been working a month, though, so there is a chance they'd ask for a co-sponsor anyway.

Edited March 13, 2013 by Harpa Timsah

[AnotherLostSoul 167]

I would say before you think ahead of the game and this freaking I-864 form, get in good terms with the IRS and have him backfil his taxes. US does not care how old one is (18, or 60) if one is working and is a US citizen (and US does not recognize dual citizenship and deals with your husband as a US citizen ignoring that he has any other citizenship) they have to file taxes. That's a different story whether they will have to pay taxes, or they will be exempt due to low income. Doesn't matter, filing is a MUST. So, for now, focus on that one, instead of the I-864. Once these are all filed, and he can obtain his tax transcripts then you can see how he qualifies, or how he doesn't and act accordingly to find another joint sponsor, or not. I think you try to both overthink this as well as really avoid back filing for his taxes. He needs to do it. And since he is the US citizen maybe he should put more effort into this and call up IRS than you posting here and asking basically the same thing over and over. Not trying to be rude, but people very clearly told you what are the steps, so read them over and act. Good luck!

[Bullan 0]

Hehe, I showed him the thread and now he feels guilty enough to take care of it.

Mission accomplished, guys!

No, but honestly. I'm glad we found out about this, I don't want him to end up in trouble due to ignorance. Time to file taxes!

[AnotherLostSoul 167]

Hehe, I showed him the thread and now he feels guilty enough to take care of it.

Mission accomplished, guys!

No, but honestly. I'm glad we found out about this, I don't want him to end up in trouble due to ignorance. Time to file taxes!

Hey Bullan:

Good to hear he actually realizes that he needs to do something too, not just you jump around ask the same questions over and over. But I do say, stick with this forum though, it is a very good one, there's tons of info in here. But you just have to accept when people say things, they don't say it for joke. So, yes, he needs to file taxes, whether he likes it or not. It's a pain but there's no other way around this. He wants something from the government (you getting permanent residency) and government wants something in return (his filings for taxes). If he wants you to be in good hands it is time to get back in the good graces with IRS...

All the best!

[Bullan 0]

We've talked to IRS. They say we ONLY have to file for 2012 as that's the only year he made enough money. We double-checked five times, asking them about FILING the taxes. I am really confused now as you guys said we have to file no matter what income...

I am so sorry if this pisses you off but really, I am getting confused as the officals says one thing and you keep saying to me that I'm trying to avoid filing taxes...

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

Bullan: I said three times that there is a minimum threshold, and if you made under that amount you do not need to file taxes. I said it in post 21. I said it in post 6. I linked to post 6 in post 16. Maybe there is an english comprehension problem?

You didn't tell us until much later in this thread that your husband was not working for some of these years. We don't know when you worked or didn't.

Edited March 13, 2013 by Harpa Timsah

[Bullan 0]

Stop being so mean!

I'm fluent in english and I wrote in MY SECOND post that he had barely worked in Sweden, that he was a student! His first real job was this one in USA!

Maybe you should read what I wrote before being nasty about me not reading what you wrote. It's all been very confusing and you all have said "no matter what, you have to file taxes"

[Bullan 0]

I made it very clear that he did not have an income, or a large one, back home. In several of my posts. Yet all you nagged me about was me trying to commit some sort of crime and not wanting to file taxes...!

Edited March 13, 2013 by Bullan