Starting IR-1 process from outside the States!

[PAGA&LAGA 2]

Hi there! 
 

So my wife and I are currently based in Australia and we are looking to start the IR-1 process! 
My questions are:

1. From Australia, can we send our packet to the required service centre from outside the country? 
2. As my wife has no US income but had filed her taxes last year, will this still be accepted as a current tax return form?

 

Thanks for your assistance! 

[milimelo 4,463]

Consider filing online as that’s an option now. Instant NoA1. 

[milimelo 4,463]

For taxes, you’re taxed on worldwide income - have your wife look at her passport for info. 

[Crazy Cat 41,565]

I would consider filing online.  But if you choose to mail the I-130 package, send it here:

 

[Quarknase 1,072]

Second the online filing. Much less hassle. If you opt for paper filing, you'll mail it to Dallas lockbox: https://www.uscis.gov/i-130-addresses

Note that the petitioner will have to proof intent to re-establish domicile in the US at some point later in the process, and if the petitioner doesn't have US based income above the poverty line you will want to consider who can become your co-sponsor.

[PAGA&LAGA 2]

7 minutes ago, milimelo said:

Consider filing online as that’s an option now. Instant NoA1. 

Thanks! 

I was looking on here and couldn’t see too many people going for online filing so I was unsure if I should proceed. I’ll go ahead and look into filing online. 

[PAGA&LAGA 2]

8 minutes ago, milimelo said:

For taxes, you’re taxed on worldwide income - have your wife look at her passport for info. 

Going to sound a little silly here, but are you able to elaborate further? I believe she did declare her Australian income when she last filed. 

[PAGA&LAGA 2]

3 minutes ago, Quarknase said:

Second the online filing. Much less hassle. If you opt for paper filing, you'll mail it to Dallas lockbox: https://www.uscis.gov/i-130-addresses

Note that the petitioner will have to proof intent to re-establish domicile in the US at some point later in the process, and if the petitioner doesn't have US based income above the poverty line you will want to consider who can become your co-sponsor.

Thanks for that!

 

My wife still has a number of ties to the US  and we have asked her Mum to co-sponsor as my wife does not have any US income. 

[Quarknase 1,072]

15 minutes ago, PAGA&LAGA said:

Thanks! 

I was looking on here and couldn’t see too many people going for online filing so I was unsure if I should proceed. I’ll go ahead and look into filing online. 

we did it and boy was it simple. Highly recommend!

[Duke & Marie 1,389]

8 hours ago, PAGA&LAGA said:

Thanks! 

I was looking on here and couldn’t see too many people going for online filing so I was unsure if I should proceed. I’ll go ahead and look into filing online. 

Online filing is still relatively new only being introduced last July, hence the numbers appearing low when considering the number of peeps still in line from doing it the old snail mail route.. 

 

file online, her taxes should be fine if she filed and included her world wide income.

[Nitas_man 3,100]

9 hours ago, PAGA&LAGA said:

Going to sound a little silly here, but are you able to elaborate further? I believe she did declare her Australian income when she last filed. 

Online filing is new
 

If the filed her taxes she’s fine.  The 2019 tax return filed this year would be the correct return.

 

You will run into an affidavit of support issue after the petition is approved and you’re dealing with the NVC or the embassy.  Probably want to research that. For immigration purposes foreign earned income that will not continue after returning to the US is imputed as (zero)

[pushbrk 12,788]

20 minutes ago, Nitas_man said:

 

If the filed her taxes she’s fine.  The 2019 tax return filed this year would be the correct return.

 

Note that by the time any affidavit of support is due, it will probably be the 2020 return that is the latest, but information is required from three returns.

[Xyrstine 224]

21 hours ago, milimelo said:

Consider filing online as that’s an option now. Instant NoA1. 

Not always instant. Mine took a couple of weeks to come through even though we filed online. 

[PAGA&LAGA 2]

13 hours ago, Nitas_man said:

Online filing is new
 

If the filed her taxes she’s fine.  The 2019 tax return filed this year would be the correct return.

 

You will run into an affidavit of support issue after the petition is approved and you’re dealing with the NVC or the embassy.  Probably want to research that. For immigration purposes foreign earned income that will not continue after returning to the US is imputed as (zero)

Thanks for the info!

 

Yes I believe we’ll have to set up a co-sponsor with my mother in-law. I’ll research more here on VJ to get more info as you are correct, her foreign income will stop once we head to the states.