AOS March 2016 filers/Part 2

[newyorkaos 15]

Hello everyone I have an important question

 

We are preparing our taxes so we can bring it to the interview at the end of the month and our accountant informed us that we may have to pay penalty for lack of coverage for my spouse. My spouse was undocumented prior to July 2016 when he got his SSN and started working. The company started health coverage in November. I know you can go up to 3 months without coverage in between jobs so I was thinking if there were a penalty it would have been for October only. Please shed some light if anyone has info. We are filing married filing jointly. 

Any input is appreciated.

[sparkles_ 456]

4 hours ago, newyorkaos said:

Hello everyone I have an important question

 

We are preparing our taxes so we can bring it to the interview at the end of the month and our accountant informed us that we may have to pay penalty for lack of coverage for my spouse. My spouse was undocumented prior to July 2016 when he got his SSN and started working. The company started health coverage in November. I know you can go up to 3 months without coverage in between jobs so I was thinking if there were a penalty it would have been for October only. Please shed some light if anyone has info. We are filing married filing jointly. 

Any input is appreciated.

We filed joint and we were automatically waived the penalty for some reason (it said so on the 1040 form printout).....not sure how, but I'm assuming it is the questions you answer that decide who and what is waived penalty wise. I'll know for sure once we get our refund, I was expecting to pay it this year but hey. 

 

I believe if, big if, there is a penalty is would only be for Oct., however I think that you may also find your spouse's fee waived as well. I think those adjusting status on an EAD can't be subject to the fee since they can't get from the marketplace and can't get expanded medicaid. Don't quote me on that, though.

[Linyahui 103]

Hi, All:

 

We have our first InfoPass appointment next Wednesday, February 22. For those who have had InfoPass appointments before, what questions did you ask?

 

We're concerned that his application has been somehow forgotten. It's still in the NBC and we can see from the USCIS account that it hasn't been touched since March 21, 2016. 

 

Our congresswoman's office contacted the USCIS liaison on Dec 2. No response since then.

 

What can we ask at the appointment to figure out what is going on? 

[sparkles_ 456]

2 hours ago, Linyahui said:

Hi, All:

 

We have our first InfoPass appointment next Wednesday, February 22. For those who have had InfoPass appointments before, what questions did you ask?

 

We're concerned that his application has been somehow forgotten. It's still in the NBC and we can see from the USCIS account that it hasn't been touched since March 21, 2016. 

 

Our congresswoman's office contacted the USCIS liaison on Dec 2. No response since then.

 

What can we ask at the appointment to figure out what is going on? 

Ask if it is truly pending background or if it is background complete and awaiting a transfer.

 

Other than this, if it is background pending.....ask if somehow his background has expired? I don't know but I've heard they are only good for a year. Hence why a lot of people's cases come alive after renewing the EAD. It signals them to either get it transferred, or re run backgrounds quickly and transfer. 

 

They should call the NBC for you and figure if it is anything else holding it up without you even asking.

[daveyjoe! 5]

22 hours ago, newyorkaos said:

Hello everyone I have an important question

 

We are preparing our taxes so we can bring it to the interview at the end of the month and our accountant informed us that we may have to pay penalty for lack of coverage for my spouse. My spouse was undocumented prior to July 2016 when he got his SSN and started working. The company started health coverage in November. I know you can go up to 3 months without coverage in between jobs so I was thinking if there were a penalty it would have been for October only. Please shed some light if anyone has info. We are filing married filing jointly. 

Any input is appreciated.

WAIT - My interview is on the 23rd... Taxes for 2016 aren't due until April... do we need to have 2016s completed yet... because that would be really unfortunate...

[sparkles_ 456]

2 minutes ago, daveyjoe! said:

WAIT - My interview is on the 23rd... Taxes for 2016 aren't due until April... do we need to have 2016s completed yet... because that would be really unfortunate...

No you don't, bring your w2 forms and just explain you don't file til April 1 or April whenever. 

[Linyahui 103]

2 hours ago, sparkles_ said:

Ask if it is truly pending background or if it is background complete and awaiting a transfer.

 

Other than this, if it is background pending.....ask if somehow his background has expired? I don't know but I've heard they are only good for a year. Hence why a lot of people's cases come alive after renewing the EAD. It signals them to either get it transferred, or re run backgrounds quickly and transfer. 

 

They should call the NBC for you and figure if it is anything else holding it up without you even asking.

 

Thanks, as always, Sparkles. I'm nervous about this appointment...that either we won't find out anything new or I'll get frustrated and cry in front of the officer...definitely a possibility at this point. 

[Ninahi 53]

12 hours ago, Linyahui said:

Hi, All:

 

We have our first InfoPass appointment next Wednesday, February 22. For those who have had InfoPass appointments before, what questions did you ask?

 

We're concerned that his application has been somehow forgotten. It's still in the NBC and we can see from the USCIS account that it hasn't been touched since March 21, 2016. 

 

Our congresswoman's office contacted the USCIS liaison on Dec 2. No response since then.

 

What can we ask at the appointment to figure out what is going on? 

Hopefully you'll IO will be nice! I have come to learn that polite but professional wins the race. You're not there to emotionally plead with them, you are there to ask very serious factual questions and you want very serious factual answers. 

It's good to prepare your timeline and documents so you can show the IO what has been done and when on your part (eg. the congresswoman's office inquiry going unanswered.) My IO seemed to appreciate that I had everything documented and very clearly outlined.

 

It's okay to ask the same question multiple times if you feel like your concern wasn't addressed (eg. In your case I'd insist knowing what was the last action taken on your application, where is the application physically situated and what is the next step for your application/why is it still waiting/why it hasn't been transferred.)

 

Just try to remain calm and collected, and hopefully your appointment will actually be helpful. 

[newyorkaos 15]

15 hours ago, daveyjoe! said:

WAIT - My interview is on the 23rd... Taxes for 2016 aren't due until April... do we need to have 2016s completed yet... because that would be really unfortunate...

 

15 hours ago, sparkles_ said:

No you don't, bring your w2 forms and just explain you don't file til April 1 or April whenever. 

Now that this coverage penalty has arose, we are actually thinking of delaying the filing and just bring along the W2s. We  are looking at a penalty of 2k!!!!!  We thought of consulting another tax acct and studying the penalty coverage better. It's insane. Daveyjoe! Let me know how does that go during your interview otherwise immana have to make an emergency run to H&R block. Best of Luck on your interview,it's next week!!!! Then ours is on the monday after next week.

thanks sparkles for your input.

Edited February 16, 2017 by newyorkaos

[Linyahui 103]

8 hours ago, Ninahi said:

Hopefully you'll IO will be nice! I have come to learn that polite but professional wins the race. You're not there to emotionally plead with them, you are there to ask very serious factual questions and you want very serious factual answers. 

It's good to prepare your timeline and documents so you can show the IO what has been done and when on your part (eg. the congresswoman's office inquiry going unanswered.) My IO seemed to appreciate that I had everything documented and very clearly outlined.

 

It's okay to ask the same question multiple times if you feel like your concern wasn't addressed (eg. In your case I'd insist knowing what was the last action taken on your application, where is the application physically situated and what is the next step for your application/why is it still waiting/why it hasn't been transferred.)

 

Just try to remain calm and collected, and hopefully your appointment will actually be helpful. 

Thanks for the feedback, Ninahi. I agree; politely assertive and appreciative has seemed to elicit the best responses in the IOs with whom I've spoken over the past year. 

 

I've prepared a timeline with each step I've taken to try to get information, as well as some questions I want to ask (Sparkles really helped me craft them more specifically). I appreciate your input, too, and will incorporate those suggestions into my list of questions.

 

Is there any time limit for the appointment (i.e. if I haven't gotten any information in 15 minutes, is my time up?). Can I ask to speak to a supervisor if the IO can't or won't give me any information? Finally, I've heard we're supposed to bring all paperwork related to the case up to that point, so I'll be bringing our fat aqua binder with everything we've filed since K-1. Any possibility the IO will request to keep anything from the binder?

 

Thank you, all. Since we can't even get help from our congresswoman, I really don't know where else to turn. 

[sparkles_ 456]

Linyahui, I have some info for you via my lawyer. And for anyone still waiting really. She went to the local field office today to get on the handle about basically half of her clients being super delayed. Well, we got this info. One, all local offices slowed wayyyy down due to the political climate and administration changes that were up on the air. Now it seems things are smoothed out concerning this, since it appears no immigration law concerning AOS will change. Also some offices have been experiencing system problems with the computer software....I didn't think to ask if it included the NBC as well. But that issue is close to being resolved. 

Edited February 16, 2017 by sparkles_

[sparkles_ 456]

4 hours ago, Linyahui said:

Thanks for the feedback, Ninahi. I agree; politely assertive and appreciative has seemed to elicit the best responses in the IOs with whom I've spoken over the past year. 

 

I've prepared a timeline with each step I've taken to try to get information, as well as some questions I want to ask (Sparkles really helped me craft them more specifically). I appreciate your input, too, and will incorporate those suggestions into my list of questions.

 

Is there any time limit for the appointment (i.e. if I haven't gotten any information in 15 minutes, is my time up?). Can I ask to speak to a supervisor if the IO can't or won't give me any information? Finally, I've heard we're supposed to bring all paperwork related to the case up to that point, so I'll be bringing our fat aqua binder with everything we've filed since K-1. Any possibility the IO will request to keep anything from the binder?

 

Thank you, all. Since we can't even get help from our congresswoman, I really don't know where else to turn. 

Don't be afraid to ask for what is called the floor supervisor, it's like the manager of the IOs in that area, if the person you have doesn't or can't help you. Usually you can ask kindly and get one unless they are tied up at that time. They will never keep anything from you at an infopass but it makes it easier for them to reference if you have copies with you. 

 

Also, make note of their names on their name badge or when they say their name. Use it when you speak to them, like " Andy, I'm hoping you can help me with xyz..."  instead of just out and out asking. It helps a ton. 

Edited February 16, 2017 by sparkles_

[sparkles_ 456]

7 hours ago, newyorkaos said:

 

Now that this coverage penalty has arose, we are actually thinking of delaying the filing and just bring along the W2s. We  are looking at a penalty of 2k!!!!!  We thought of consulting another tax acct and studying the penalty coverage better. It's insane. Daveyjoe! Let me know how does that go during your interview otherwise immana have to make an emergency run to H&R block. Best of Luck on your interview,it's next week!!!! Then ours is on the monday after next week.

thanks sparkles for your input.

My co sponsor is doing the same, won't be filing til a week or two before the deadline to avoid the penalty fee. I see it this way. They frequently take into account people who had income changes based on paystubs and job letters and such mid year. A w2 only before April 15 should be nothing major. I think it's a totally legit explanation as to why you won't file til April either. 2 grand is not exactly pocket change however you don't have to pay that asap either. It isn't owed to the IRS, so you can file and delay paying for months and it won't hurt you only come out of next year (2018) refund if you don't pay by then. My mother is a tax preparer and she schooled me on this  

Edited February 16, 2017 by sparkles_

[SanneW 30]

Having grown with you all I just going to put this here. A bit more than 2 weeks to go, and still didnt start on my civics. 

Rushing citizenship really is no joke. Seeing what I all have to learn right now, before I leave. 

I might move to the naturalization people, tho still hard to let you all go!!! Especially since theres still some waiting

If anything...if this topic is still active in may ill stop by with hopefully good news again from myself but also you all

[sparkles_ 456]

5 minutes ago, SanneW said:

Having grown with you all I just going to put this here. A bit more than 2 weeks to go, and still didnt start on my civics. 

Rushing citizenship really is no joke. Seeing what I all have to learn right now, before I leave. 

I might move to the naturalization people, tho still hard to let you all go!!! Especially since theres still some waiting

If anything...if this topic is still active in may ill stop by with hopefully good news again from myself but also you all

For the military you will get a short short version of that test. I remember when my ex took it in the army in 2010, seems like it was 10-12 easy questions and they basically repeat them til you pass that day. Not saying don't study, but don't stress it either!

 

 

Edited February 16, 2017 by sparkles_