[I-944] Obtaining my IRS tax transcripts is currently IMPOSSIBLE?

[deboragch 0]

i send my documents without my IRS Transcripts cause i was not able like you, we add my USC spouse tax TRANSCRIPTS, mine my IRS tax forms, my w2 and a big WE TRIED letter explaining why we were not able to get the TRANSCRIPTS, i have not gotten an RFE, but at least that buys us time in case there is an RFE. I heard some people manage without the transcripts, some people got RFE, so for me i'll wait and see..

[Pavi_nyc 1]

On 6/24/2020 at 3:12 PM, Dory said:

Hello,

 

I am a US citizen trying to file for a marriage-based green card with my (non-US citizen) spouse who currently is residing within the USA. We have no dependents.

 

We have completed the "full I-130 package", and the "full I-485 package" EXCEPT for one single item: my IRS tax transcripts required for the hellish I-944 supporting document requirements (a subset of the I-485 package). 

 

My spouse successfully used the online IRS website to instantly get her tax transcripts. However, this website has so far been a dead end for me. The reason? In order for the IRS to verify my identity and order the transcripts instantly through their online website, I must to provide one of the following identifiers:

 

• The last 8 digits of one of my credit cards (which is NOT an American Express card)
• A student loan account number
• An auto loan account number
• A mortgage or home equity loan account number
• A home equity line of credit account number

 

The problem? I do not have ANY of these. I have never taken out a loan or mortgage at any point in my life, and my one credit card that I've used all my life is an Amex, which they do not recognize for some reason.

 

So it looks like the instant IRS transcript access is off the table, what other options are present?

 

1. I can fill out and mail Form 4506-T to an IRS office and have them mail me back the forms in 3-5 weeks, which is a painfully long delay for my entire green card application process.
   • EXCEPT, according to the IRS helpline, the IRS offices which process these are closed due to COVID-19, so even if I send it, who knows how incredibly long it will take to get back to me. I filled out an application and mailed it last week, but don't expect to see anything come from it anytime soon, especially with how there has been a recent uptick in COVID-19. 
2. I can call the IRS Transcript Order phone line [800-908-9946] and place an order over the phone for my IRS tax transcripts, which would then take 7-10 days to be mailed to me (an annoying, but tolerable delay in my application)
   • EXCEPT, if anyone calls this number, you'll see that it does not work! Presumably due to COVID-19, the phone order system is just unusable -- and, again, who knows how long it will remain that way??

 

Currently I have included my last 3 years of 1040 tax return forms, in my I-485 application as a sort of substitute for the tax transcripts even though I know that the transcripts are what they are asking for. I do know that this is not what they want in the application. 

 

******************************

 

I really, really want to get this application submitted as soon as possible as my spouse and I really need her to obtain employment authorization + ability to travel back to her home country as soon as possible. So, here are my main questions:

 

• Is anyone else stuck in a similar situation? How are you handling it?

 

• Could I ... (1) mail in my I-130 package by itself, and then mail in my I-485 package later once I get my transcripts? (2) mail in BOTH my I-130 and I-485 packages with an explanation in my cover letters stating my current situation and stating that I will mail them my IRS tax transcripts as soon as it is possible for me to actually do so? 
  • Side Question: Is online I-130/I-485 package filing a thing? Is it smarter to file online given all the COVID business? It would save me some $$$ for shipping since the I-944 supporting documents make the application into a huge pile of papers...

 

• In the hopes of being able to get my transcripts online, I ordered a new VISA credit card from my bank which arrived today. I activated it and used it to purchase one thing, but when I tried to use it to get through the IRS website it (unsurprisingly) did not work. Does anyone know roughly how long it might take the IRS to "recognize" a new credit card? 

 

Thank you so much for any help or feedback,

 

--Zach

I'm married to a USC. I was able to get my tax transcripts easily, but my wife had a lot trouble with the IRS website. Her phone number was not being recognized. We tried a lot of things, like changing prepaid to postpaid, changing carriers, calling IRS. The only thing that worked was contacting a CPA in the city and asking them to print the tax transcripts. I found a CPA through yelp and had to pay $300 (NYC price), but he got the job done. So, better find a CPA who can do it and be done with it. 

 

I have heard of RFEs issued for tax transcripts. It is better to pay for it and send it in one go than wait around for the RFE.

 

Ironically, my wife's account on IRS website started working 2 weeks after we sent in our application.

 

[kippenpox 18]

I have not been able to get them online for the same reason. I was able to get them mailed to my old address, and asked my former landlady to send them to me.