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question re taxes

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giraffemd Collaborator

giraffemd   0

Posted
Filed: Lift. Cond. (pnd) Country: Canada
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I am filing my taxes for the first time here in the US, and we have to lift our conditions in July 2008...sooo..my question for you is...do we have to file jointly to give proof that we are a *legitimate couple* to satisfy USCIS to lift the conditions, or can I file seperately ....and is there any advantage or disadvantage to file jointly...we both have just normal jobs, with no deductions or expenses to declare, so don't really want to pay anyone to do our taxes...what is your experience with this? Thanks a bunch.

AOS, EAD, AP, filed on Feb 8, 2006

NOA received Feb 18, 2006

Biometrics done on Apr 21, at St. Paul office..wait some more......

Touched on April 24 and 28

email aproval for AP on May 1

email approval for EAD on May 3

received AP on May 3

received EAD in mail on May 8

start work of June 1

AOS interview in Bloomington on July 19 8am

AOS approved,passport stamped on July 19

as of Dec 10, 2006 still no greencard....waiting and waiting....USCIS says we are approved, and check back in 60 days...no idea what is happening

Dec 18, email stating welcome letter is in the mail

Dec 20, 5 emails saying they ordered production of my new card......

Dec 24...welcome to America letter in the snail mail

Dec 26...GC in hand and all is correct...

NOTE TO SELF..file to lift conditions 04/19/08

04/22/08 filed to lift conditions

05/01/08 package returned wrong form

05/05/08 re-submitted right form to california

05/09/08 cheque cashed

05/13/08 NOA

05/19/08 appointment letter for biometrics received..appointment on 05/28/08 at 11 am at USCIS St. Paul

05/28/08 took my two appointment letters and had my fingerprints done

11/13/08 touched and email stating card production ordered and will be sent to me in 30 days

11/21/08 GC in hand no mistakes expires 11/13/18

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Kathryn41 Grand Master

Kathryn41   3,205

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Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Canada
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Posted

There are some deductions that you can qualify for filing jointly, married - however, if your wages are above a certain mark you negate the deductions so it might be more financially appropriate to file separately, married:-). I know, I know - a lot of help! The best advice I can offer is something similar to what I did my first year here. We prepared a dry run of our taxes with me declaring my Canadian income and taking a foreign tax credit, and my not using my Canadian income but not getting the married deductions. It worked out significantly in our financial favour to combine incomes and take the foreign tax credit and the deductions. I suggest you prepare your taxes both ways and see which one works out for you the best financially. Tax returns are not the only way of showing a comingling of financial assets and if it is more economical for you to file separately, then do so. You can always explain that. Besides, both of the returns would have the same address and state you are married so there isn't a real problem. Picking up one of the big tax guides (Ernst & Young, etc.) might help you to maximize your deductions to determine which filing method is best for you. Good luck.

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maryandatif Community Regular

maryandatif   0

Posted
Filed: AOS (pnd) Country: Morocco
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Posted (edited)
I am filing my taxes for the first time here in the US, and we have to lift our conditions in July 2008...sooo..my question for you is...do we have to file jointly to give proof that we are a *legitimate couple* to satisfy USCIS to lift the conditions, or can I file seperately ....and is there any advantage or disadvantage to file jointly...we both have just normal jobs, with no deductions or expenses to declare, so don't really want to pay anyone to do our taxes...what is your experience with this? Thanks a bunch.

According to how I was reading the instructions in the 1040 packet I received, you file with which will give you the least amount of tax.

FILING STATUS

Check only the filing stateus that applies to you. The ones that will usually give you the lowest tax are listed last.

  • Married filing separately
  • Single
  • Head of Houshold
  • Married filing jointly or qualifying widiw(er) with dependent child.

TIP: More than one filing status can apply to you. Choose the one that will give you the lowest tax.

Mary K.

Edited by maryandatif

Mary (NC) Atif (Youssoufia)

NOA2 for 129F on 16 Nov 2005......NOA2 for I-130 on 28 Nov 2005

INTERVIEW DATE SCHEDULED FOR 9AM[GMT] 27 FEBRUARY 2006-Issued 221g for Validity of relationship....told being sent back to USCIS/Atif Received Visa On 10 March 2006

AOS/EAD

10 July 2006--signed I-485 and I-765

25 July 2006 recieved NOA-1 for both

18 Aug 2006 Biometrics Appt.

21 Oct 2006 EAD arrives in mail

26 Dec 2006 received aapt.->01 Feb 2007 AOS interview->CANCELLED! rescheduled 01 Aug 2007-waiting

09 Feb '07-received denial of AOS--#######??!! MTR filed--Interview-01 Aug 07

27 Sept '07-I-765 [#2] filed--14 Nov '07 Biomerics for I-765 [#2]

Take it from me....GO TO THE AOS INTERVIEW DATE ANYWAY!!!!! EVEN IF YOU GET THE SNAIL MAIL NOTICE!!!

August 2009--Permanent Resident Card arrives!!!!

We are Finished with Immigration for 10 years!!!!

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~*Dorothy*~ Proficient

~*Dorothy*~   2

Posted
Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Morocco
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Posted

I was wondering about that one myself. I would love to file together - especially with the USCIS watching over your shoulder - but I have a feeling that with me having W-2 from 3 different jobs plus husband's income would just put us in the wrong bracket and then what...I had to pay back the gov. for the past two years because of holding 2 jobs, with one of them not deducting enough...I am afraid to run into the same problem again....The thing is that I am so lost when it comes to taxes...How important to the USCIS is to file jointly - not all married couples do so...any input would be welcomed...

Thanks

Dorothy

______________________________________________________________

Citizenship (N-400)

09/15/2009 - Application mailed to Texas Lockbox

09/17/2009 - Delivered to the Lockbox

09/21/2009 - Check cashed

09/24/2009 - NOA dated 9/18/09

09/26/2009 - RFE mailed out dated 9/25 (biometrics notice)

10/14/2009 - Biometrics completed

01/01/2010 - finally an update - awaiting interview letter

02/08/2010 - interview (Garden City, NY) -- PASSED

03/03/2010 - Oath Ceremony in Brooklyn

03/13/2010 - U.S. Passport in hand

DONE!!!

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~*Dorothy*~ Proficient

~*Dorothy*~   2

Posted
Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Morocco
 Timeline
Posted
FILING STATUS

Check only the filing stateus that applies to you. The ones that will usually give you the lowest tax are listed last.

  • Married filing separately
  • Single
  • Head of Houshold
  • Married filing jointly or qualifying widiw(er) with dependent child.

TIP: More than one filing status can apply to you. Choose the one that will give you the lowest tax.

Mary K.

One question - who can file as a head of th household? And how big of a household are we talking about? No, that was two questions...

Apologies for the ignorance on the subject...

______________________________________________________________

Citizenship (N-400)

09/15/2009 - Application mailed to Texas Lockbox

09/17/2009 - Delivered to the Lockbox

09/21/2009 - Check cashed

09/24/2009 - NOA dated 9/18/09

09/26/2009 - RFE mailed out dated 9/25 (biometrics notice)

10/14/2009 - Biometrics completed

01/01/2010 - finally an update - awaiting interview letter

02/08/2010 - interview (Garden City, NY) -- PASSED

03/03/2010 - Oath Ceremony in Brooklyn

03/13/2010 - U.S. Passport in hand

DONE!!!

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Ban Hammer Grand Master

Ban Hammer   13,346

Posted
Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Brazil
 Timeline
Posted
FILING STATUS

Check only the filing stateus that applies to you. The ones that will usually give you the lowest tax are listed last.

  • Married filing separately
  • Single
  • Head of Houshold
  • Married filing jointly or qualifying widiw(er) with dependent child.

TIP: More than one filing status can apply to you. Choose the one that will give you the lowest tax.

Mary K.

One question - who can file as a head of th household? And how big of a household are we talking about? No, that was two questions...

Apologies for the ignorance on the subject...

head of household is something one files when he/she has dependants but no spouse.

* ~ * Charles * ~ *
 

I carry a gun because a cop is too heavy.

 

USE THE REPORT BUTTON INSTEAD OF MESSAGING A MODERATOR!

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~*Dorothy*~ Proficient

~*Dorothy*~   2

Posted
Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Morocco
 Timeline
Posted

Thanks Charles :thumbs:

______________________________________________________________

Citizenship (N-400)

09/15/2009 - Application mailed to Texas Lockbox

09/17/2009 - Delivered to the Lockbox

09/21/2009 - Check cashed

09/24/2009 - NOA dated 9/18/09

09/26/2009 - RFE mailed out dated 9/25 (biometrics notice)

10/14/2009 - Biometrics completed

01/01/2010 - finally an update - awaiting interview letter

02/08/2010 - interview (Garden City, NY) -- PASSED

03/03/2010 - Oath Ceremony in Brooklyn

03/13/2010 - U.S. Passport in hand

DONE!!!

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payxibka Grand Master

payxibka   10,045

Posted
Filed: AOS (apr) Country: Philippines
 Timeline
Posted
FILING STATUS

Check only the filing stateus that applies to you. The ones that will usually give you the lowest tax are listed last.

  • Married filing separately
  • Single
  • Head of Houshold
  • Married filing jointly or qualifying widiw(er) with dependent child.

TIP: More than one filing status can apply to you. Choose the one that will give you the lowest tax.

Mary K.

One question - who can file as a head of th household? And how big of a household are we talking about? No, that was two questions...

Apologies for the ignorance on the subject...

head of household is something one files when he/she has dependants but no spouse.

or married to a non-resident alien who also has with qualifying person (an exception to the general rule)

YMMV

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