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JohnLee

Tax question

By JohnLee in Tax & Finances During US Immigration

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JohnLee Newbie

JohnLee   0

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Hello All,

 

I got married in vietnam february 2019, and i did my i130 in April 2019.

 

My wife lives in Vietnam, and i live in America.

 

My W2 at work still shows single. Do i need to change it to married now or wait until my wife arrives in America?

 

For tax 2020, do i still file it single or married? since my wife doesn't have a a SSN.

 

Thank you,

 

 

 

 

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LilyJ Proficient

LilyJ   1,258

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Filed: IR-1/CR-1 Visa Country: Denmark
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Posted (edited)

You are required to file your 2020 taxes as married. Legally you cannot file as single when you are married. Your two options are married filing separately or married filing jointly. You can either apply for your wife to get an ITIN to use for married filing jointly, or you can do married filing separately in which you will have to print and paper file your taxes with your wife's name under spouse and "NRA" (stands for Non-Resident Alien) written under where her SSN would normally go and mail it. Update to your job that you have gotten married if you haven't already.

Edited by LilyJ

Our CR1 Journey:

 

USCIS Stage:

  • Feb 14 2019: NOA1 (NSC)
  • July 31 2019: I129f NOA1
  • Sep 19 2019: I129f NOA2 (Denied - 50 days from NOA1)
  • Sep 19 2019: I130 NOA2 (Approved - 217 days from NOA1)

 

NVC Stage:

  • Sep 27 2019: Sent to Department of State
  • Oct 31 2019: Case number received (34 days since sent)
  • Nov 1 2019: IV & AOS fees received & paid
  • Nov 14 2019: IV & AOS submitted
  • Dec 18 2019: All docs accepted, but one additional doc requested (5 weeks from submission)
  • Dec 18 2019: Requested doc submitted
  • Feb 19 2020: Documentarily Qualified (9 weeks from 2nd submission, 14 weeks from first submission)

 

Interview Stage:

  • Mar 11 2020: Interview letter received
  • Apr 1 2020: Interview date
  • Mar 17 2020: Interview cancelled due to COVID-19
  • August 3 2020: Rescheduled letter received, new appointment August 25 2020
  • August 25 2020: Visa approved at interview! (558 days from NOA1)
  • September 10 2020: Embassy received passport in mail
  • September 15 2020: Passport with visa in hand

 

October 11 2020: Arrived in US!

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Tesco Enthusiast

Tesco   70

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Filed: IR-1/CR-1 Visa Country: United Kingdom
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Getting an ITIN for your wife makes sense so that you can file MFJ and benefit from the additional $12k tax allowance and higher banding thresholds. I applied for a ITIN through a CAA accountant in Orlando, as she was here at the time. Your wife can however present her passport at the U.S. Embassy in her home country. 

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Crazy Cat Grand Master

Crazy Cat   41,886

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Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Taiwan
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17 minutes ago, JohnLee said:

My W2 at work still shows single. Do i need to change it to married now or wait until my wife arrives in America?

Your choice as the W-4 (not W-2) is strictly a document used by your employer to determine how much tax to withhold from your pay.  However, your 1040 tax filing (IRS) is different.  If you are married as of Dec 31st, you cannot file as single for that tax year.

"The US immigration process requires a great deal of knowledge, planning, time, patience, and a significant amount of money.  It is quite a journey!"

- Some old child of the 50's & 60's on his laptop 

 

Senior Master Sergeant, US Air Force- Retired (after 20+ years)- Missile Systems Maintenance & Titan 2 ICBM Launch Crew Duty (200+ Alert tours)

Registered Nurse- Retired- I practiced in the areas of Labor & Delivery, Home Health, Adolescent Psych, & Adult Psych.

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______________________________________

In summary, it took 13 months for approval of the CR-1.  It took 44 months for approval of the I-751.  It took 4 months for approval of the N-400.   It took 172 days from N-400 application to Oath Ceremony.   It took 6 weeks for Passport, then 7 additional weeks for return of wife's Naturalization Certificate.. 
 

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Ryan H Grand Master

Ryan H   3,812

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Filed: Lift. Cond. (apr) Country: China
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Moved from IR-1/CR-1 Process & Procedures to Tax & Finances During US Immigration forum.

Our journey:

Spoiler

September 2007: Met online via social networking site (MySpace); began exchanging messages.
March 26, 2009: We become a couple!
September 10, 2009: Arrived for first meeting in-person!
June 17, 2010: Arrived for second in-person meeting and start of travel together to other areas of China!
June 21, 2010: Engaged!!!
September 1, 2010: Switched course from K1 to CR-1
December 8, 2010: Wedding date set; it will be on February 18, 2011!
February 9, 2011: Depart for China
February 11, 2011: Registered for marriage in Wuhan, officially married!!!
February 18, 2011: Wedding ceremony in Shiyan!!!
April 22, 2011: Mailed I-130 to Chicago
April 28, 2011: Received NOA1 via text/email, file routed to CSC (priority date April 25th)
April 29, 2011: Updated
May 3, 2011: Received NOA1 hardcopy in mail
July 26, 2011: Received NOA2 via text/email!!!
July 30, 2011: Received NOA2 hardcopy in mail
August 8, 2011: NVC received file
September 1, 2011: NVC case number assigned
September 2, 2011: AOS invoice received, OPTIN email for EP sent
September 7, 2011: Paid AOS bill (payment portal showed PAID on September 9, 2011)
September 8, 2011: OPTIN email accepted, GZO number assigned
September 10, 2011: Emailed AOS package
September 12, 2011: IV bill invoiced
September 13, 2011: Paid IV bill (payment portal showed PAID on September 14, 2011)
September 14, 2011: Emailed IV package
October 3, 2011: Emailed checklist response (checklist generated due to typo on Form DS-230)
October 6, 2011: Case complete at NVC
November 10, 2011: Interview - APPROVED!!!
December 7, 2011: POE - Sea-Tac Airport

September 17, 2013: Mailed I-751 to CSC

September 23, 2013: Received NOA1 in mail (receipt date September 19th)

October 16, 2013: Biometrics Appointment

January 28, 2014: Production of new Green Card ordered

February 3, 2014: New Green Card received; done with USCIS until fall of 2023*

December 18, 2023:  Filed I-90 to renew Green Card

December 21, 2023:  Production of new Green Card ordered - will be seeing USCIS again every 10 years for renewal

 

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Nitas_man Experienced

Nitas_man   3,100

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Filed: Other Country: Saudi Arabia
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On 8/5/2019 at 12:57 AM, JohnLee said:

Thank you all.

 

Another question. Once I get ITIN for my wife and filed MFJ. i would need her signature on the 1040 too right? So I need to send the paper to Vietnam for her to sign then have her send it back to me in america.

 

Thank you

SmartSelect_20190804-225056_Samsung Internet.jpg

Yes

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