Club Colombia AOS!

[Mike and Adriana 0]

The G-325A should reflect the same name you use on the I-485. If your wife is taking your last name (as mind is), use it. You can easily explain why the names on the passport and K-3 visa do not match the application. Your marriage certificate supports the explanation. This is what we did and we got an AOS interview with NO RFE.

Mike

Hola All

So my question is, should the G-325A form reflect my wife's name change? Thanks.

Tony

[TonyS 0]

Thanks Mike! I always, I see you are helping and "giving back" to the forums.

The G-325A should reflect the same name you use on the I-485. If your wife is taking your last name (as mind is), use it. You can easily explain why the names on the passport and K-3 visa do not match the application. Your marriage certificate supports the explanation. This is what we did and we got an AOS interview with NO RFE.

Mike

Hola All

So my question is, should the G-325A form reflect my wife's name change? Thanks.

Tony

[HAL 9000 96]

Great Mike, thanks. I'll make sure to emphasize the whole not getting an RFE for that issue jejeje...

[paisita411 0]

Can someone point me to more specific info on the fee changes for the AOS that are coming in August? My husband has his 3rd interview in Bogota on July 23rd and we don't anticipate him traveling before August 1st. I'd like to see how the fee changes will affect us.

By the way, I'm glad to see that you've started this subgroup para los parceros Colombianos!!! Mike, as always, you continue to lend your support to everyone. Thank you for everything you do... I don't think I ever thanked you for the PM you send in February with the questions for our interview...they were great questions, only trouble was the email ended up in my junk mail and I saw it a week or two after the interview. I apologize for my tardiness, I was so devestaed that I forgot my manners! I'm using that list of questions for our new interview, but I'm hoping that this time things will proceed differently.

---Dre---

[parkpapa 0]

Maviwaro:

I am not a tax CPA, so use caution. However, I do not know of any way to deduct these expenses legitimatly. Perhaps you already know this, but one can file a joint return with a spouse, even if that spouse were still living in Colombia. I filed jointly with my wife last year, even though she did not arrive here until January, 2007. However, I could not claim my step-daughter as a dependent, because she was not physically in the U.S.

Mike

One ancillary question I have for those of you already in AOS... are these expenses in any way deductible on your tax forms?

Mike,

Your experience is the same as mine. I filed a joint return and could not claim the boys. I also found out (the hard way) that you cannot simply "file" as you have in the past. You have to send your forms to the ITIN office, which is NOT the same place you normally file your taxes. You need several additional forms which are out of the ordinary, as well. I strongly urge anyone filing a joint return with an out-of-country spouse to carefully review the information at the IRS website. You will likely need to also call the ITIN office for some info. Call them directly at 215-516-4846, rather than going through the IRS central number.

The ITIN office assigns a taxpayer ID number for your spouse which is needed before you can file your state taxes. The ID number will only be sent to your spouse and only to the address you specify as hers/his. In other words, it's possible that the number will be sent to Colombia. You, as the US spouse, cannot get this number. Your Colombian spouse can call the IRS for the number (they do have a Spanish language option).

I ended up filing twice because my first set of forms seemed to disappear. The IRS had no record of my submission three months after I sent it in. Then I found out I had done several things wrong with the first submission. So I sent the second set to the ITIN office. It takes them six to eight weeks to process everything. Then I found out the original set of forms had gone through and they had not allowed my deduction for Lorena because "she did not have a Social Security or taxpayer ID number". A phone call revealed that now that she is here, and as soon as she gets a number, I can claim the balance. Confusing? Welcome to the United States, baby.

[parkpapa 0]

Can someone point me to more specific info on the fee changes for the AOS that are coming in August? My husband has his 3rd interview in Bogota on July 23rd and we don't anticipate him traveling before August 1st. I'd like to see how the fee changes will affect us.

By the way, I'm glad to see that you've started this subgroup para los parceros Colombianos!!! Mike, as always, you continue to lend your support to everyone. Thank you for everything you do... I don't think I ever thanked you for the PM you send in February with the questions for our interview...they were great questions, only trouble was the email ended up in my junk mail and I saw it a week or two after the interview. I apologize for my tardiness, I was so devestaed that I forgot my manners! I'm using that list of questions for our new interview, but I'm hoping that this time things will proceed differently.

---Dre---

Andrea,

I had a chance to read and comment on the proposed changes a few months ago. There is a document outlining the changes but I don't have the web address. It can almost certainly be found on the ICIS website. In general, most costs are at least doubling, some are tripling, and a few are even more. I know that the AOS papers (don't remember the number) are going to somewhere over $900 per person in August.

[parkpapa 0]

Thanks Mike! I always, I see you are helping and "giving back" to the forums.

The G-325A should reflect the same name you use on the I-485. If your wife is taking your last name (as mind is), use it. You can easily explain why the names on the passport and K-3 visa do not match the application. Your marriage certificate supports the explanation. This is what we did and we got an AOS interview with NO RFE.

Mike

Hola All

So my question is, should the G-325A form reflect my wife's name change? Thanks.

Tony

Mike and all....

I admit I'm dense. ;-) When you say that the marriage certificate supports the explanation, are you saying that the certificate has her new name? Or simply is evidence as to the reason for the name change? I know - it's obvious, but sometimes the obvious stuff isn't. For me at least.

[Maria y Jeff 0]

Thanks Mike! I always, I see you are helping and "giving back" to the forums.

The G-325A should reflect the same name you use on the I-485. If your wife is taking your last name (as mind is), use it. You can easily explain why the names on the passport and K-3 visa do not match the application. Your marriage certificate supports the explanation. This is what we did and we got an AOS interview with NO RFE.

Mike

Hola All

So my question is, should the G-325A form reflect my wife's name change? Thanks.

Tony

Mike and all....

I admit I'm dense. ;-) When you say that the marriage certificate supports the explanation, are you saying that the certificate has her new name? Or simply is evidence as to the reason for the name change? I know - it's obvious, but sometimes the obvious stuff isn't. For me at least.

First things first, Congratulations Parkpapa on the visa !!! Here is the link to the new USCIS Fee Schedule: http://www.uscis.gov/files/nativedocuments...edule052907.pdf The $1010 I-485 fee includes the AOS, EAD, AP, and a price increase. The biometrics fee is waivered depending on your visa type. A 129-F application increased from $170 to $455. Also if the application is postmarked before July 31st, you use the old fee schedule. There is an article on the fees posted on the home page on VJ.

[florida_guy07 0]

I dont get the reason why someone would create a thread for AOS for colombians... I was not aware that colombians go through a different AOS process.

[parkpapa 0]

I dont get the reason why someone would create a thread for AOS for colombians... I was not aware that colombians go through a different AOS process.

I can't speak for anyone else, but my feeling is the AOS group was started for Colombians because we have been helping each other through the entire process - we are a family of sorts because of our shared history and shared love for Colombianas o Colombianos, and for the country as well. One would hope that our AOS experience could be of hope to other folks as well, but we went through the visa process pretty much together and we've elected to go through this new process together, also. If you find information of value, you are certainly welcome to it - and we welcome any constructive input from anyone else.

[Mike and Adriana 0]

What I mean is that the marriage license ties her maiden name and her married name together, since the certificate lists her name (maiden name) and my name (her married last name). The certificate does not list her married name.

Mike

Mike and all....

I admit I'm dense. ;-) When you say that the marriage certificate supports the explanation, are you saying that the certificate has her new name? Or simply is evidence as to the reason for the name change? I know - it's obvious, but sometimes the obvious stuff isn't. For me at least.

[Mike and Adriana 0]

I think Parkpapa pretty much summed up my feelings. I might add that I know who to trust on the Colombia Club thread. I do not know who to trust (i.e., those who really know what they are talking about, versus those who make it appear that they know what they are talking about when they really don't) outside of it (other than folks like Aussiewench and the other guy who posts alot...can't think of his name right now). So, for me, it's a level of comfort.

I dont get the reason why someone would create a thread for AOS for colombians... I was not aware that colombians go through a different AOS process.

I can't speak for anyone else, but my feeling is the AOS group was started for Colombians because we have been helping each other through the entire process - we are a family of sorts because of our shared history and shared love for Colombianas o Colombianos, and for the country as well. One would hope that our AOS experience could be of hope to other folks as well, but we went through the visa process pretty much together and we've elected to go through this new process together, also. If you find information of value, you are certainly welcome to it - and we welcome any constructive input from anyone else.

[Mike and Adriana 0]

I posted some info on how to do this a while back on another thread. However, if any of you Colombia Club folks get to the point where you want to file jointly, but your spouse is still in Colombia, let me know and I'll walk you through the process. In addition to filing your return in a different place to get a TIN, you also have to make an election to have your spouse treated as a resident alien even though she is still out of the country.

Further, if anyone did NOT file MFJ, but could have....you can always file an amended return (1040-X).

Further, understand that TINs are only available for those who are NOT eligible to receive an SSN. For those of you whose spouses will be in the U.S. and can get EAD, you can get an SSN and use that on next year's return.

Mike

Mike,

Your experience is the same as mine. I filed a joint return and could not claim the boys. I also found out (the hard way) that you cannot simply "file" as you have in the past. You have to send your forms to the ITIN office, which is NOT the same place you normally file your taxes. You need several additional forms which are out of the ordinary, as well. I strongly urge anyone filing a joint return with an out-of-country spouse to carefully review the information at the IRS website. You will likely need to also call the ITIN office for some info. Call them directly at 215-516-4846, rather than going through the IRS central number.

The ITIN office assigns a taxpayer ID number for your spouse which is needed before you can file your state taxes. The ID number will only be sent to your spouse and only to the address you specify as hers/his. In other words, it's possible that the number will be sent to Colombia. You, as the US spouse, cannot get this number. Your Colombian spouse can call the IRS for the number (they do have a Spanish language option).

I ended up filing twice because my first set of forms seemed to disappear. The IRS had no record of my submission three months after I sent it in. Then I found out I had done several things wrong with the first submission. So I sent the second set to the ITIN office. It takes them six to eight weeks to process everything. Then I found out the original set of forms had gone through and they had not allowed my deduction for Lorena because "she did not have a Social Security or taxpayer ID number". A phone call revealed that now that she is here, and as soon as she gets a number, I can claim the balance. Confusing? Welcome to the United States, baby.

[Mike and Adriana 0]

Dre - nice to see you posting again! Good luck with the upcoming interview. Sorry those questions did not get to you before.

TonyS - nice to see that you are still around also.

Can someone point me to more specific info on the fee changes for the AOS that are coming in August? My husband has his 3rd interview in Bogota on July 23rd and we don't anticipate him traveling before August 1st. I'd like to see how the fee changes will affect us.

By the way, I'm glad to see that you've started this subgroup para los parceros Colombianos!!! Mike, as always, you continue to lend your support to everyone. Thank you for everything you do... I don't think I ever thanked you for the PM you send in February with the questions for our interview...they were great questions, only trouble was the email ended up in my junk mail and I saw it a week or two after the interview. I apologize for my tardiness, I was so devestaed that I forgot my manners! I'm using that list of questions for our new interview, but I'm hoping that this time things will proceed differently.

---Dre---

[HAL 9000 96]

I dont get the reason why someone would create a thread for AOS for colombians... I was not aware that colombians go through a different AOS process.

I can't speak for anyone else, but my feeling is the AOS group was started for Colombians because we have been helping each other through the entire process - we are a family of sorts because of our shared history and shared love for Colombianas o Colombianos, and for the country as well. One would hope that our AOS experience could be of hope to other folks as well, but we went through the visa process pretty much together and we've elected to go through this new process together, also. If you find information of value, you are certainly welcome to it - and we welcome any constructive input from anyone else.

I believe the first post is self explanatory, including the non-inclusive descriptor under the thread title.

Anyway, yes, parkpapa! The previous Colombia Club thread IS a great thread and it readily made me think of all of you folks when we awaited that 10 minute interview in Bogotá. I can't imagine having gone through the waiting game elsewhere in these forums although I am more than happy to admit that the information we channeled into those pages have already helped a buddy of mine doing the same thing we're all doing get his fiancee's papers ready and he is now in charge with full confidence in the process for a K-1 visa. And the fiancee is from México.

Strength in numbers, so to state.

Have a great Sunday with the familia.