Documentarily complete but NVC asking to resubmit document?

[pushbrk 13,322]

22 hours ago, Kossaga said:

I did as instructed and received the same response as the previous two inquiries. I'm starting to wonder if these responses came from actual people or robots. I probably have to wait until they send my case to the embassy then contact the embassy. 

If you want to know, post the actual response minus the identifying information.  When you get a very quick response, it's usually not from a person who looked at what you wrote/submitted.  You were not required to explain why you had no income.  If you are explaining why you did not file tax returns, that's a different subject.  If you did not file tax returns for any of the past three years, there's a simple box to check on the affidavit of support for that.  Did you check that box?

 

Words mean things here.  For clarity, use the ones you see on the forms.

 

[Kossaga 0]

2 hours ago, S2N said:

The other option is to file a $0 return via paper for back years or file a return reporting $1 of interest income to e-file. I’d do $1 of interest to efile, but either works if you want to file.

 

Yes, I know it’s not required, but it’s free, there’s no harm in it, and if you e-file the transcripts will process very quickly so you can upload them as proof of filing.

 

My opinion is that there’s really not a good reason not to file a tax return even if it’s just a return saying you had no income. Prevents others from using your SSN to file a return (it happens), if there’s a stimulus/other government benefit, it’s easier to get usually if you’ve filed a return, and in this case, easier to show the Department of State that you filed a return than explain to them why you don’t need to.

 

Again, not required, but seems to be the easiest solution here.

If i were to file the two back years, would i be able to get everything done to upload as proof in a few days? At my specific embassy, they usually send out interview letters a month prior to the interview date. I think i'm going to contact them as soon as i receive my interview letter, if they ask for the back years, i file then. 

[S2N 45]

1 hour ago, Kossaga said:

If i were to file the two back years, would i be able to get everything done to upload as proof in a few days? At my specific embassy, they usually send out interview letters a month prior to the interview date. I think i'm going to contact them as soon as i receive my interview letter, if they ask for the back years, i file then. 

Yes. You can use FreeTaxUSA to file; then check your IRS account for transcripts in a few days. The last few years were very fast on e-File to transcript conversion (a few days), but the official timeline is 2-3 weeks.

 

If the transcripts don’t appear you can just upload the PDF copy of your 1040 with $1 of interest income as proof of filing. I might also print off the confirmation page from FreeTaxUSA as well.

How you prefer to handle this is up to you, but it would take you 30 minutes or less to just file the back year returns declaring $1 of interest and it’s free. If the software asks for a bank name just type in “Declaring to file” or something like that. This is the normal workaround for people with no income who want to file for whatever reason. If you haven’t gotten the interview date yet and the State Department is giving you trouble with multiple requests for your explanation for not filing, I’d just do it today since it’s super quick and easy to do and free, plus you wouldn’t owe anything.

 

Your call, though. My thought process is the path of least resistance is usually to do something that’s easy rather than explain why you’re not required to do it. Even in cases like yours where you’re correct that there’s not a requirement.

Edited Thursday at 12:06 AM by S2N