December 2015 AOS filer status

[Ausa 66]

Today my status for I 485 changed to Ready for interview. Yeah!!!!!

Awesome!

[racheal&david 108]

Today my status for I 485 changed to Ready for interview. Yeah!!!!!

Congrats! Can't wait for the rest of us to have the same!

[Amhara 460]

We are going to file MFJ. My husband didn't have any income last year, so we don't need to worry about adding his income on our return. He doesn't have an SSN, but we anticipate that he should have it by this March at the latest. That gives us time to file the return by the due date. I prepare my returns by hand, so I will know our tax due/refund status early on so if we owe, then I can pay the balance before the due date.

MFJ (married filing jointly) is especially beneficial for those of us in apartments and not enough deductions to itemize. You will get the MFJ standard deduction AND get to add your spouse's personal exemption. That means more of your income is sheltered from tax.

Our 2016 return should be sweet because we will be able to get the American Opportunity tax credit, which is a healthy sized tax credit. All for the next four years! Yes! (Well, tuition is a good chunk of dough...)

[SincerelyMeike 52]

Ugh I can't wait to get my rfe in the mail.. I really want to know what I messed up on. I swear I did everything perfectly. Checked over everything 20 times before I sent it out..

[Mena28 35]

So side track alittle, I know I shouldn't post it here but because we are all in the same pending case, just wondering if you guys are going to file for taxes married filing jointly? Do you guys get tax preparer or diy using turbotax? Is it that simple to use turbo tax? My husband and I are fresh newly weds, without any assets or property, we are living in rented apartment, and other than his job that's all he has for income. What do you guys suggest?

when you go to the search bar at the top, put in filing taxes or something like that, there are a few threads I have read through.

We will be filing "married filing jointly" because I had no income in the US last year. But I did have income in my homecountry, so we have to declare that on a separate form (2555 I think?). But the exemption for that seems to be very high, I had a good income and I am nowhere near reaching the limit. Obviously I did pay taxes in Austria last year (there we have them deducted out of our paycheck and get what we paid too much back IF we bother to file a taxreturn).

Our 2016 return should be sweet because we will be able to get the American Opportunity tax credit, which is a healthy sized tax credit. All for the next four years! Yes! (Well, tuition is a good chunk of dough...)

What is that? Never heard of it (big surprise lol). My husband is currently paying my tuition, because I have no income, but it is making him grouchy :-P

[mdcatelli 16]

That's very good news! Congrats and good luck!

So side track alittle, I know I shouldn't post it here but because we are all in the same pending case, just wondering if you guys are going to file for taxes married filing jointly? Do you guys get tax preparer or diy using turbotax? Is it that simple to use turbo tax? My husband and I are fresh newly weds, without any assets or property, we are living in rented apartment, and other than his job that's all he has for income. What do you guys suggest?

I think this year we are filing married but seperately. I dont' have income in the U.S. yet but still have to do my Canadian taxes, so that seems like the easy way to do it this year. Next year though we will file jointly

[racheal&david 108]

Literally just got the text...RFE on it's way! Highly anticipated this though, I'm pretty sure it'll be for my mother-in-laws (my co-sponsor) official IRS transcripts, I did send in all other financial documents but because she didn't have these available when I filed I took the risk and filed anyway. No biggie, if it's that. It's movement regardless, now just to wait for the hardcopy and get it sorted...​

[Amhara 460]

What is that? Never heard of it (big surprise lol). My husband is currently paying my tuition, because I have no income, but it is making him grouchy :-P

There are two tax credits available for those that paid tuition in the tax year - American Opportunity (AOTC) and Lifetime Learning (LLTC). If you are going for undergrad coursework, then AOTC is the way to go. If you are pursuing graduate classes or once you claimed AOTC for four years, you claim the LLTC. You can claim the tax credit (TC) if you paid out of pocket or with student loans; however, you can't claim any amounts paid with non-taxable scholarships. The tax credits do have income limitations, but tax software can calculate them for you. If anyone here was taking college courses in 2015, you should be getting a Form 1098-T, which will be used to calculate the tax credit. So tell him that what he pays the college will help buffer the tax bill next year! LOL

[xbritto 25]

So my husband was reading today that there are two different types of rfe's. RFIE and RFFE. One is request for INITIAL evidence and one is for FURTHER evidence.

The further evidence RFE pauses the 60-90 days timeframe... but the initial evidence RFE restarts the 60-90 day timeframe. We got the Initial evidence one. We've already done the necessary stuff and sent it back... but does anyone know... the RFIE was for our I-485.... will this delay getting EAD/AP????

Thanks a bunch

[Mena28 35]

There are two tax credits available for those that paid tuition in the tax year - American Opportunity (AOTC) and Lifetime Learning (LLTC). If you are going for undergrad coursework, then AOTC is the way to go. If you are pursuing graduate classes or once you claimed AOTC for four years, you claim the LLTC. You can claim the tax credit (TC) if you paid out of pocket or with student loans; however, you can't claim any amounts paid with non-taxable scholarships. The tax credits do have income limitations, but tax software can calculate them for you. If anyone here was taking college courses in 2015, you should be getting a Form 1098-T, which will be used to calculate the tax credit. So tell him that what he pays the college will help buffer the tax bill next year! LOL

Ah, thanks for the explanation!

I am thinking that this must be what my husband referred to when he mentioned that at least next year we will be able to apply the tuition expenses towards the taxes.

Life here is SO much more EXPENSIVE than were I am from, I am still having to learn a whole deal :-D

[TandL 5]

Today my status for I 485 changed to Ready for interview. Yeah!!!!!

wow! congrats

[SincerelyMeike 52]

So my husband was reading today that there are two different types of rfe's. RFIE and RFFE. One is request for INITIAL evidence and one is for FURTHER evidence.

The further evidence RFE pauses the 60-90 days timeframe... but the initial evidence RFE restarts the 60-90 day timeframe. We got the Initial evidence one. We've already done the necessary stuff and sent it back... but does anyone know... the RFIE was for our I-485.... will this delay getting EAD/AP????

Thanks a bunch

NOOOOO ((( I got the Initial evidence as well!!

Has anyone in here gotten further evidence?!

[KASH2011 382]

Today my status for I 485 changed to Ready for interview. Yeah!!!!!

Congrats and good luck!

[Amhara 460]

NOOOOO ((( I got the Initial evidence as well!!

Did you get your RFE letter yet?

I was wondering if I missed sending my proof of US citizenship, but I was reading on the instructions to I-864, that if you already sent proof with your Form I-129F, then you don't need to resend it. Phew! However, joint sponsors do need to send proof.

[SincerelyMeike 52]

Did you get your RFE letter yet?

I was wondering if I missed sending my proof of US citizenship, but I was reading on the instructions to I-864, that if you already sent proof with your Form I-129F, then you don't need to resend it. Phew! However, joint sponsors do need to send proof.

No... did you get initial or further evidence? I sent proof of citizenship for both my husband and my joint sponsor