Questions after Interview complete

[carterasc 3]

Hi guys, few questions about the process after interview is completed:

 

1) Approx how long does it take to receive the passport? Assuming no extra documents are asked

2) Before going to the US, we can pay the IV fee. Does the green card issue process starts only after we enter the states or after we pay the fee?

2a) If it is after we enter, approx how long does it take for physical GC to arrive?

3) Once we enter, do I have to change anything on my W-2 (as for IRS purposes I will be considered married once my spouse is in the US)? I think I can add her to my work insurance plan as this change is considered a qualifying life event?

4) Once we enter, things to do for my wife: SSN, Driver's License/StateID, bank account, credit card. Anything else important I am missing? I already have registered marriage certificate in NY as we got married there.

4a) For both SSN and GC, do you know if they allow to change name or is it the same as passport? For example, my SSN name doesn't have my middle name from my passport and I want to keep it that way for my GC as well. Same for my wife.

[Crazy Cat 41,731]

18 minutes ago, carterasc said:

Hi guys, few questions about the process after interview is completed:

 

1) Approx how long does it take to receive the passport? Assuming no extra documents are asked

2) Before going to the US, we can pay the IV fee. Does the green card issue process starts only after we enter the states or after we pay the fee?

2a) If it is after we enter, approx how long does it take for physical GC to arrive?

3) Once we enter, do I have to change anything on my W-2 (as for IRS purposes I will be considered married once my spouse is in the US)? I think I can add her to my work insurance plan as this change is considered a qualifying life event?

4) Once we enter, things to do for my wife: SSN, Driver's License/StateID, bank account, credit card. Anything else important I am missing? I already have registered marriage certificate in NY as we got married there.

4a) For both SSN and GC, do you know if they allow to change name or is it the same as passport? For example, my SSN name doesn't have my middle name from my passport and I want to keep it that way for my GC as well. Same for my wife.

2.  The Green Card will not be created until the $220 fee has been paid AND the new immigrant has entered the US.  

2a.  It could be a few weeks to a few months.

3.  You can change your W-4 with your employer if you wish.  It affects the amount of income tax withheld by the employer.  That is all it does.

 

[Wuozopo 4,293]

54 minutes ago, carterasc said:

1) Approx how long does it take to receive the passport? Assuming no extra documents are asked

Less than a week for London.

 

56 minutes ago, carterasc said:

3) Once we enter, do I have to change anything on my W-2 (as for IRS purposes I will be considered married once my spouse is in the US)? I think I can add her to my work insurance plan as this change is considered a qualifying life event?

The W4 is more of an estimator of how much to withhold from your check so you’ll come out about even at tax filing time. It is not mandatory to change it. Add the wife and you will get more money in the paycheck and less going to IRS toward your tax owed. Insurance: Talk to your HR department to get her added under a qualifying event. 

 

1 hour ago, carterasc said:

4a) For both SSN and GC, do you know if they allow to change name or is it the same as passport? For example, my SSN name doesn't have my middle name from my passport and I want to keep it that way for my GC as well. Same for my wife.

The greencard will be issued in the name on the visa as far as I know. Social security will have to match whatever US immigration has in their database as your name. 

[JeanneAdil 6,477]

should have already changed W4 after marriage and claimed spouse on taxes from the year married and on

 

your husband is going to go thru extra security checks as he is from India (yes living in UK but from india)

[carterasc 3]

Thanks for the reply guys!

 

My tax guy in the US said I can't claim "married" filing as my spouse is overseas still and is not in the country. I need to speak with another tax accountant in that case.

 

Another question: Can we enter the US after interview, and then leave the country after 10 days and then re-enter after 2 months? First visit would be to get the GC issued, get my spouse's SSN etc started and get the filing status to married.

I know the I551 stamp says you can enter up to 6 months but I'm unsure if that means multiple entry or single?

Worst case I can ask my friend to get mail from my house if the physical GC has arrived as he is traveling to meet us.

 

 

 

 

[Wuozopo 4,293]

4 hours ago, carterasc said:

 

My tax guy in the US said I can't claim "married" filing as my spouse is overseas still and is not in the country. I need to speak with another tax accountant in that case.

What @JeanneAdil said above about you could have already changed your W4  to married is not the same as filing a tax return. It’s just an option you could do with your employer…payroll Dept.  

When filing a tax return: You would have to file “married” the year you got married. But there is Married Filing Jointly and Married Filing Separately. You would not file Single. You can file a joint return even if your spouse is still overseas, but you have to get her an ITIN since she wouldn’t have a SSN. If you are also overseas, there may be no advantage to filing jointly.

 

4 hours ago, carterasc said:

Another question: Can we enter the US after interview, and then leave the country after 10 days and then re-enter after 2 months? First visit would be to get the GC issued, get my spouse's SSN etc started

Yes after the visa and passport are returned.

 

 

4 hours ago, carterasc said:

and get the filing status to married.

That makes no sense. You are married so your filing status is already married. Can you explain what you are trying to accomplish?

 

4 hours ago, carterasc said:

 

I know the I551 stamp says you can enter up to 6 months but I'm unsure if that means multiple entry or single?

The I551 stamp says “This person is a permanent resident (greencard holder)”. You can do anything with that stamp that you could do with the plastic card.  Enter as many times as you like with the stamp while you wait on the card.

[Crazy Cat 41,731]

5 hours ago, carterasc said:

My tax guy in the US said I can't claim "married" filing as my spouse is overseas still and is not in the country.

That is not accurate.  Fire him. 

[JeanneAdil 6,477]

And IRS says u can /I filed as joint back in 2010 when i married and all years after as non resident alien spouse till my husband came in 2015 

 

https://www.irs.gov/individuals/international-taxpayers/nonresident-alien-spousehttps://www.irs.gov/individuals/international-taxpayers/nonresident-alien-spouse

 

your spouse is a spouse no matter where he/she lives and you loose a lot by not filing for the ITIN by filing a W7 with supporting proofs of marriage and ID 

you are married and your tax man has no idea what he's talking about /   IRS does / follow their site 

 

u can file MFJ or MFS but you are no longer single

 

and we have to show proof of bona fida marriage to immigration   /  not sure how anyone can do this if IRS transcripts say otherwise

Edited October 16, 2021 by JeanneAdil

[juninho10 42]

How about health insurance? That's the #1 thing on my list along with getting a bank account.

 

And, what others said, you have to file taxes MARRIED separately/jointly if you guys are married. I think it'd be an offense to mark otherwise.

Edited October 22, 2021 by juninho10