ITIN number and required documents

[Fuji1978 33]

I need assistance filing for the ITIN number for foreign spouse. I read the requirements and they are requiring original or certified copies of supporting documents. My wife is in Ghana and I do not have her original passport. I only have scanned copy. I do have certified copies of our marriage certificate as well as her birth certificate. If I submit these two certified copies and scanned copies of other documents with photo such as passport and police report, will they accept that as evidence? Please has anyone done this without possessing the original passport? I have read the requirements on IRS website but it looks like we wouldn't be able to come up with any other documents on the list.

1- voter id is the old style and no longer used

2- she has been waiting over a year for her drivers license in Ghana - so we don' t have that

3- I don't have possession of her passport nor do I have any faith in her mailing it from Ghana.

[Transborderwife 4,666]

I'm not certain how it works for Ghana, but for Canada a certified copy may only be used if obtained from the issuing agency

[Kastrs 723]

No I am sorry, your wife would need to send you the w7 and notarized passport that has been notarized by an authorized agent-which is typically the US embassy although you should check the IRS website to verify. It is probably easier in your case to file MFS and enter her SSN as NRA

[MariaR323 199]

Unfortunately, if you cannot obtain the documents they list they will deny the ITIN application.

You can file MFS and claim the spousal exemption given the foreign spouse has no U.S. source income.

[Fuji1978 33]

No I am sorry, your wife would need to send you the w7 and notarized passport that has been notarized by an authorized agent-which is typically the US embassy although you should check the IRS website to verify. It is probably easier in your case to file MFS and enter her SSN as NRA

Do you mean she can go to the US Embassy and obtain a notarization of her passport and send that to me? Not the original passport correct? They will look at her document and provide a notarization form of some sort?

[Transborderwife 4,666]

Do you mean she can go to the US Embassy and obtain a notarization of her passport and send that to me? Not the original passport correct? They will look at her document and provide a notarization form of some sort?

Either or and I believe so

[Kastrs 723]

Do you mean she can go to the US Embassy and obtain a notarization of her passport and send that to me? Not the original passport correct? They will look at her document and provide a notarization form of some sort?

She will need to visit the US Embassy with the W7, her original passport, and a copy of the biographic page of her passport

If you do not bring the original passport along with a copy, then they will not notarize the copy for you, also this fee typically costs $50 and you may need an appointment at the embassy

After it is notorized she will need to mail the documents to you along with a signed statement that she wishes to be treated as a resident alien for the 2015 tax year

[Fuji1978 33]

Thank you everyone

[MrsBonsu 138]

I was gonna do the same, but my tax person said they won't approve unless I have his passport to send with it, she said they use to let you do a notarized copy but not anymore

[strongmyk 51]

Do you mean she can go to the US Embassy and obtain a notarization of her passport and send that to me? Not the original passport correct? They will look at her document and provide a notarization form of some sort?

This wouldn't owrk. I tried with my wife and the embassy told her they do not notarize foreign passports

[strongmyk 51]

Hi All ,

So i just received the ITIN for my wife this afternoon from the IRS.

It was pretty simple and straightforward.

All that i did was to send her original birth certificate and drivers' license from Ghana together with the completed W-7 form.

in all it took about 4 weeks from applying for the ITIN to receipt of the ITIN number

I need assistance filing for the ITIN number for foreign spouse. I read the requirements and they are requiring original or certified copies of supporting documents. My wife is in Ghana and I do not have her original passport. I only have scanned copy. I do have certified copies of our marriage certificate as well as her birth certificate. If I submit these two certified copies and scanned copies of other documents with photo such as passport and police report, will they accept that as evidence? Please has anyone done this without possessing the original passport? I have read the requirements on IRS website but it looks like we wouldn't be able to come up with any other documents on the list.

1- voter id is the old style and no longer used

2- she has been waiting over a year for her drivers license in Ghana - so we don' t have that

3- I don't have possession of her passport nor do I have any faith in her mailing it from Ghana.

You can't even mail Ghana passport.

no courier service will accept it. My wife tried on several occasions but none was prepared to accept it.

easiest way to go is use her original birth certificate and drivers license or voter's ID.

[Alaska2012 462]

Why don't you file MFS now and amend your taxes once your wife is here and have a ssn?

[Adil & Jeanne 296]

marriage license and birth certificate and the W 7 form is all you need

I applied in 2010 and used it for the 5 years adil was still in morocco

he was in college but he could have worked, you just have to claim his foreign income

[Love To Teach 161]

Don't you have to have your spouses' tax paperwork like we have here in the USA, like a W-2? My hubby is self-employed, and I read that we would have to pay social security taxes, etc. on his income (which right now, isn't a lot)? So I think we are going to wait and file amended tax returns after he gets here. Hopefully, he will be here before 3 years are over, as I hear you can only amend 3 years back. If I could just state his income and add it in, believe me, I would do it because it would really help us.

[Pkr 21]

No I am sorry, your wife would need to send you the w7 and notarized passport that has been notarized by an authorized agent-which is typically the US embassy although you should check the IRS website to verify. It is probably easier in your case to file MFS and enter her SSN as NRA

Should MFS be filed online or we need to send a manual file