Joint Sponsor Questions!!!

[milane 0]

Hello

I am a USC living in Germany my husband is German and my children are also USC. My father is in the USA and will be our Joint sponsor, since I have no state side income. The only income we have is from my husband (German). Here are my questions

1. If I understand correctly my father fills out the Support form in the USA and then sends it to me?

2. Where does he get the forms from?

3. Who is included in the household size? Would it just be my father his wife and my husband or all of us ?

4. Should we also make copies of our German tax returns?

Thanks alot for the help

Cindy

[MargotDarko 0]

Hello

I am a USC living in Germany my husband is German and my children are also USC. My father is in the USA and will be our Joint sponsor, since I have no state side income. The only income we have is from my husband (German). Here are my questions

1. If I understand correctly my father fills out the Support form in the USA and then sends it to me?

2. Where does he get the forms from?

3. Who is included in the household size? Would it just be my father his wife and my husband or all of us ?

4. Should we also make copies of our German tax returns?

Thanks alot for the help

Cindy

Hello.

1. That is correct. Make sure he sends you a copy of his recent 1040 and his W2s (and/or 1099's if he gets them).

2. You download them from online - www.uscis.gov

3. The household size will be your dad, his wife, and your husband - plus any dependents listed on his tax return. It would only include you if you were going to live there with him and he was going to financially support you as well. If they have a child at home that is not dependent on them and their income does not need to be included in the total, then they would not be included in the household size.

4. I don't think you'll have to have them, but why not? Better to be over prepared.

As a side note, the assets page can be blank if the income is sufficient, and you are still the sponsor and need to fill out a I-864 - you might have already known that but it took me a bit to figure it out.

[Chica Yeyé 41]

Sheesh!!!! Margot always beats me to the punch in answering... which is good because she is amazing in her responses!!!!

And yes, do not forget you as the USC are always the primary sponsor and need to file an I-864.

Also, remember you need to keep filing with the IRS even if you are abroad- maybe you know that already, but it took us a while to figure it out and filing late put us back like 3 darn months... ARGHH.

Good luck, L.

[MargotDarko 0]

Sheesh!!!! Margot always beats me to the punch in answering... which is good because she is amazing in her responses!!!!

And yes, do not forget you as the USC are always the primary sponsor and need to file an I-864.

Also, remember you need to keep filing with the IRS even if you are abroad- maybe you know that already, but it took us a while to figure it out and filing late put us back like 3 darn months... ARGHH.

Good luck, L.

Aw, thanks!

Good point about filing! I didn't know either, but thankfully we found out in time.

[milwaukeegirl 0]

Sheesh!!!! Margot always beats me to the punch in answering... which is good because she is amazing in her responses!!!!

And yes, do not forget you as the USC are always the primary sponsor and need to file an I-864.

Also, remember you need to keep filing with the IRS even if you are abroad- maybe you know that already, but it took us a while to figure it out and filing late put us back like 3 darn months... ARGHH.

Good luck, L.

Hi- I'm an American citizen living in England for the past year and a half with my UK husband. We're in the process of DCF in London. As I was preparing my I-864, I realized that I should have filed my taxes for 2006 and did not. I didn't realize I made enough money to have to qualify! Anyway, I now have to fill out the 1040, W7 to get my husband a number (he doesn't have a social security number), and 2555-EZ for overseas tax exclusion. Is this similar to what you had to do? I'm a bit worried about how long this is all going to take. My temporary visa expires this November, so we were aiming to move to America by then. Did you have to fill out a W7 on behalf of your spouse? I've been told that I need to send in a notarized copy of my husband's birth certificate or passport, but no one in England seems to understand the notarizing process. Any suggestions? Thanks in advance!

Natalie

[MargotDarko 0]

Sheesh!!!! Margot always beats me to the punch in answering... which is good because she is amazing in her responses!!!!

And yes, do not forget you as the USC are always the primary sponsor and need to file an I-864.

Also, remember you need to keep filing with the IRS even if you are abroad- maybe you know that already, but it took us a while to figure it out and filing late put us back like 3 darn months... ARGHH.

Good luck, L.

Hi- I'm an American citizen living in England for the past year and a half with my UK husband. We're in the process of DCF in London. As I was preparing my I-864, I realized that I should have filed my taxes for 2006 and did not. I didn't realize I made enough money to have to qualify! Anyway, I now have to fill out the 1040, W7 to get my husband a number (he doesn't have a social security number), and 2555-EZ for overseas tax exclusion. Is this similar to what you had to do? I'm a bit worried about how long this is all going to take. My temporary visa expires this November, so we were aiming to move to America by then. Did you have to fill out a W7 on behalf of your spouse? I've been told that I need to send in a notarized copy of my husband's birth certificate or passport, but no one in England seems to understand the notarizing process. Any suggestions? Thanks in advance!

Natalie

To avoid the problem with having to do the W7 for your husband, you can file "married - filing separately" and then write N/A in the SSN section for your husband. He only has to have a ITIN if he's filling. I included a handwritten letter saying why he doesn't have one or a SSN. Then I'm just going to take a photocopy of my 1040 and 2555-EZ to the interview to show that I filed - you don't have to wait for something official to be processed and mailed to you. I'm also taking proof of postage. If you file "married - filing jointly" then he has to have an ITIN - there's a place London where you pay about £20 for the notarised copy with the apostille or you have it done at the American Embassy. But that's it.

The complication is that you would actually be backfiling at this point since the last day to file for 2006 for overseas people was June 17. I'm not sure if you have to do something different or not in that case. Go to www.irs.gov and there's a phone number to call for help. They're really good at helping.

How far along in the process are you? If you have what's called "packet 3" with the DS-230 and readiness for interview sheet, then you're fine for November as long as you keep doing everything they ask quickly. Do you have or have you sent away for the police certificate yet?

[elmcitymaven 9,712]

To avoid the problem with having to do the W7 for your husband, you can file "married - filing separately" and then write N/A in the SSN section for your husband. He only has to have a ITIN if he's filling. I included a handwritten letter saying why he doesn't have one or a SSN. Then I'm just going to take a photocopy of my 1040 and 2555-EZ to the interview to show that I filed - you don't have to wait for something official to be processed and mailed to you. I'm also taking proof of postage. If you file "married - filing jointly" then he has to have an ITIN - there's a place London where you pay about £20 for the notarised copy with the apostille or you have it done at the American Embassy. But that's it.

The complication is that you would actually be backfiling at this point since the last day to file for 2006 for overseas people was June 17. I'm not sure if you have to do something different or not in that case. Go to www.irs.gov and there's a phone number to call for help. They're really good at helping.

How far along in the process are you? If you have what's called "packet 3" with the DS-230 and readiness for interview sheet, then you're fine for November as long as you keep doing everything they ask quickly. Do you have or have you sent away for the police certificate yet?

I only found out I was supposed to be filing for the past 11 years when it came time to start the DCF process. After an initial freakout, I discovered that I only had to file for the previous three years (2004-06, in my case), and because I made below the threshhold for US tax, I owed nothing to Uncle Sam. The IRS guys in London are awesome -- really helpful and patient. Their number is 020 7894 0477, and they are open for telephone enquiries from 9am-12pm Mon-Fri. Give them a ring! Or you can visit them at the Embassy Tues-Thurs from 9am-4pm -- no appointment required for US Citizens but bring your passport to get in.

I asked about what to do about W7s and ITINs and they told me that it would be a hell of a lot easier for me to file as married filing separately, for the reasons Margot states above. They told me to write "NRA" for Non-Resident Alien in the SSN box for Bruce, and I didn't include any explanatory note as to why Bruce didn't have or need an SSN. If you really need to take advantage of the extra deductions that married filing jointly affords, look into that route. But for most of us, separately is fine in these circumstances.

I filed directly at the London Embassy's IRS office as I live locally, which meant that they took a copy of all my forms and stamped them with an "IRS Received" stamp. But posting is also okay, as long as you take a copy. Proof of postage is a great idea, Margot!

I wouldn't worry about filing late for 2006 if you have no liability. Hey, I hadn't filed a tax return since 1996 and I was just fine. You will be too.

[MargotDarko 0]

To avoid the problem with having to do the W7 for your husband, you can file "married - filing separately" and then write N/A in the SSN section for your husband. He only has to have a ITIN if he's filling. I included a handwritten letter saying why he doesn't have one or a SSN. Then I'm just going to take a photocopy of my 1040 and 2555-EZ to the interview to show that I filed - you don't have to wait for something official to be processed and mailed to you. I'm also taking proof of postage. If you file "married - filing jointly" then he has to have an ITIN - there's a place London where you pay about £20 for the notarised copy with the apostille or you have it done at the American Embassy. But that's it.

The complication is that you would actually be backfiling at this point since the last day to file for 2006 for overseas people was June 17. I'm not sure if you have to do something different or not in that case. Go to www.irs.gov and there's a phone number to call for help. They're really good at helping.

How far along in the process are you? If you have what's called "packet 3" with the DS-230 and readiness for interview sheet, then you're fine for November as long as you keep doing everything they ask quickly. Do you have or have you sent away for the police certificate yet?

I only found out I was supposed to be filing for the past 11 years when it came time to start the DCF process. After an initial freakout, I discovered that I only had to file for the previous three years (2004-06, in my case), and because I made below the threshhold for US tax, I owed nothing to Uncle Sam. The IRS guys in London are awesome -- really helpful and patient. Their number is 020 7894 0477, and they are open for telephone enquiries from 9am-12pm Mon-Fri. Give them a ring! Or you can visit them at the Embassy Tues-Thurs from 9am-4pm -- no appointment required for US Citizens but bring your passport to get in.

I asked about what to do about W7s and ITINs and they told me that it would be a hell of a lot easier for me to file as married filing separately, for the reasons Margot states above. They told me to write "NRA" for Non-Resident Alien in the SSN box for Bruce, and I didn't include any explanatory note as to why Bruce didn't have or need an SSN. If you really need to take advantage of the extra deductions that married filing jointly affords, look into that route. But for most of us, separately is fine in these circumstances.

I filed directly at the London Embassy's IRS office as I live locally, which meant that they took a copy of all my forms and stamped them with an "IRS Received" stamp. But posting is also okay, as long as you take a copy. Proof of postage is a great idea, Margot!

I wouldn't worry about filing late for 2006 if you have no liability. Hey, I hadn't filed a tax return since 1996 and I was just fine. You will be too.

Good to know filing late isn't a problem when you don't have any liability. I wish I had known about the NRA thing - I wouldn't have needed the note. Of course, I could have just called and asked! Oh well.

[redpixie 0]

My fiance was a student until recently, so he doesn't have any tax related paperwork. Obviously he needs to do something with regards to a tax return to make sure we have all the correct paperwork in order shuld our petition go through (please let it go through!). His parents are going to act as my sponsors, and I am assuming that my fiance needs some tax exemption notice. Should we contact the US Embassy in Dublin to find out what to do?