N-400 form - send in full tax returns for 3 years?

[Caroline 0]

Hi there,

I am putting my N-400 form together. I have been married to a US citizen for many years and living here for 7 years with a green card.

In proving our relationship, you can send in tax returns. Should I send full tax returns for 3 years? Or just 1 year? Seems like a lot of unnecessary paper.

Thanks

Caroline

[BigDaddy28 228]

You have to send 3 years tax returns. But when question if you have been a resident for 7 years, why don't you apply based on 5 years. It's less paperwork for you.

[Tintin and Mike 127]

Yes, submit the last 3 years. Unnecessary as it may seem but it's required or expect delays

http://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/files/article/attachments.pdf

[aleful 1,905]

Hi there,

I am putting my N-400 form together. I have been married to a US citizen for many years and living here for 7 years with a green card.

In proving our relationship, you can send in tax returns. Should I send full tax returns for 3 years? Or just 1 year? Seems like a lot of unnecessary paper.

Thanks

Caroline

hi,

you don't need to prove your relationship, you will be filing based on 5 years of residency. you need to take the last 5 years of taxes

it's not to prove relationship, it's to prove that you have been paying taxes, take them to the interview

[Ning 619]

Hi there,

I am putting my N-400 form together. I have been married to a US citizen for many years and living here for 7 years with a green card.

In proving our relationship, you can send in tax returns. Should I send full tax returns for 3 years? Or just 1 year? Seems like a lot of unnecessary paper.

Thanks

Caroline

Simplify by use tax transcripts. Free from IRS.

[Caroline 0]

I'm confused.

Do I need to send in three years of tax returns? Or tax returns for all the years I have lived here?

It only says:

documents referring to you and your spouse:

tax returns, bank accounts, leases, mortgages or birth certificates of children

It doesn't state how many years.

Also we have children, so can I just send in copies of their birth certificates or should I also do tax returns etc. If I do birth certificates are copies ok or should I send in originals.

Thanks

[Shub 78]

Always, always send copies of everything unless they expressly request originals.

The form itself as well as your two pictures must be originals. The rest can and should be copies.

Like somebody else said, why don't you apply based on the 5-year rule? Then you don't need to submit paperwork pertaining to your spouse.

Go to http://www.uscis.gov/n-400 and click on the link that says "Document Checklist, Current Fees, Naturalization Eligibility Worksheet (608 KB PDF)".

If you apply based on the 5-year rule, you basically need only send the form, the check, a photocopy of both sides of your green card, and two mugshots.

But if you really want to make your life more complicated and apply based on your marriage (3-year rule), then have the IRS send you free tax return transcripts for the last 3 tax years. Copies of your children's birth certificates are fine.

Edited January 4, 2014 by Shub

[Caroline 0]

Thanks, that is helpful. I will do the 5 year one.

[NickD 203]

1927 act of congress states if you came here via marriage, you will be a better citizen married to a US citizen, and as so, can apply for the so called marriage privilege in 3 rather than 5 years. This is when the USCIS goes way overboard with proof of living together, joint ownership, paying taxes together, and joint everything.

You did not take advantage of this privilege and are in the five year category now.

Basically all you need to send in is the N-400 form, your check, copy of your green card, and two passport photos they don't use anymore, anyway. Your average interview should be less than ten minutes. Know why you filled out the N-400 the way you did and study that civics test.

One little newer trick some IO's are pulling is if you had any minor traffic violations, they want proof you paid those fines. Sounds stupid to me, because if you even got a five buck parking ticket and didn't pay that, our state will pull your driver's license. But if you have your driver's license, should be proof enough you paid all of your fines.

Another is if your marriage ended up in a divorce, would be okay if you stayed divorced, but if applying for US citizenship to petition for someone in your home country, will have a lot of explaining to do. But if married to the same person and have kids, shouldn't have any problems.