AOS: Attorney or not?

[DavenRoxy 1,073]

Darnell...how much does it cost the AOS package ??? 600$ or 1000$ .... i have no idea

Then you need to follow the guide:

http://www.visajourney.com/content/k1k3aos

And always, ALWAYS verify current prices at uscis.gov, as they sometimes change and VJ lags behind.

[Darnell 8,478]

yup - current prices are here:

http://www.uscis.gov/i-485

click, read, voila !

[Maribel&Kyle 1]

I am reading it .. That is a really insane amount ..

uh oh. bonus points for study uscis website !

[here's a link for you]

http://www.uscis.gov/i-485

[Darnell 8,478]

you not have to file this month or next, you've time to budget, now that you know the amount.

helpful hint:

if you two married in 2013 and IF your spouse got a SSN already,

it's dead easy to file 'married filing jointly' - sure, it might have to go as a paper-only return into the IRS, but

you can budget that refund to pay the AOS fees. Voila !

Edited January 28, 2014 by Darnell

[DavenRoxy 1,073]

you not have to file this month or next, you've time to budget, now that you know the amount.

helpful hint:

if you two married in 2013 and IF your spouse got a SSN already,

it's dead easy to file 'married filing jointly' - sure, it might have to go as a paper-only return into the IRS, but

you can budget that refund to pay the AOS fees. Voila !

I thought the paper ITR was for immigrants with TINs only? Doesn't having a SSN allow even first-year folks to file electronically?

[Darnell 8,478]

eh, usually,

the real-time checking done when filing electronically

with a service provider will fail,

for first time usage on an income tax return,

as

IRS not have any record of it's usage. USUALLY. What, you think the IRS has a feed from SSA? Man, I WISH !

Paper return is best, that first year. Sure, can have funds deposited, but sometimes even the Treasury department can't find anything, so flips it to a paper check.

[KayDeeCee 4,893]

If you are filing and declaring the non-resident spouse as a resident for the entire tax year, then you have to include a signed statement for that, and you need to file the old-fashioned paper trail way. http://www.irs.gov/Individuals/International-Taxpayers/Nonresident-Spouse-Treated-as-a-Resident

[DavenRoxy 1,073]

Didn't really matter in my case, I file paper every year anyway.

[noncompute 9]

Folks,

My fiance (at the time) came over on a K-1 visa. Since then, we have been married and are about to file the AOS paperwork.

Here is my question:

Should I keep my immigration attorney to get me through the rest of this process or is it fairly simple?

He did our K-1 paperwork for us without fault, and will now do the AOS, as well as accompany us for the interview when done. I am kind of of the opinion to just let him see this through until completion; however, my wife feels that it's just a waste of money. Does anyone have any thoughts about this?

Thank you!

Steve

I considered using a lawyer from the start, but once started I realized it's not that complicated.

Ask your lawyer for all the paperwork for the I-129F (G-325A, etc). Once you have these, you'll basically be transcribing the majority of information from one place to another.

Have your wife translate her birth certificate if she is proficient in English. If not, you can do it together and she can learn something new.

I plowed through it in about 2.5 hours from start to sealing the envelope. No problems.Just read carefully and follow the directions.

[eagles36fan 1]

Thanks for all the responses folks. I ended up ditching the attorney and working through majority of the paperwork today. I plan to spend tomorrow reviewing and finalizing the stuff and submit it by the end of the week.

I don't know how income tax was brought into this, but now I am scared because I didnt submit a paper return and treated my wife as a citizen. #######! I guess I need to sort that out

[KayDeeCee 4,893]

You said she was a US citizen on the taxes? Yes, you need to file an amendment and fix that.