My experience with W7 process to get ITIN without using passport

[hindustani24 7]

Just wanted to share my experience because I have read numeral times as to the reason why petitioner choose to file "single" and not "married filing jointly" is because they do not want to have their spouses mail their passport to US as it can result in a passport being lost. I was facing the same dilemma because I did not have her passport with me here and getting a certified copy or notarized + appostile in her country was too much hassle. Then I figured from the instruction of W7 that Passport is not the only supporting document. See the link:

http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/iw7.pdf

If you submit an original valid passport (or a notarized or certified copy of a valid passport), you do not need to submit any other documents. Otherwise, you must submit at least two of the documents listed below. The documents must be current*, verify your identity (that is, contain your name).... and there is a list of supporting documents that you can send such as drivers license, birth certificate, voter id, etc...

Last time I came back, I took my wife's birth certificate with me as I needed that for DS-230 and then I also told my wife to mail me the voter id because losing a voter id in mail is better than losing a passport. I took both original to my bank and got them notarized and sent them with my W7 on March 5th with my return and today I already got her ITIN number in the mail (in just 2 weeks) . Now just waiting to see a big fat deposit in my bank account and filing return jointly would also help during her interview at the embassy.

Edited March 22, 2011 by hindustani24

[Done--Really 331]

Really glad you posted your experience--I read the instructions the same way, but everyone said NO NO NO--it won't work, so I had put off the whole thing and filed for an extension while I figured things out. Now I know for sure that I not only can read, but others can't. Thank you again. VERY helpful.

[Brusik 11]

I sent in a copy of my wifes passport that was notarized...

I had pictured copyof passport, A certified text document of the passport.. It was notarized and translated.......

Edited March 22, 2011 by darkdancer333

[dashmon 0]

Just wanted to share my experience because I have read numeral times as to the reason why petitioner choose to file "single" and not "married filing jointly" is because they do not want to have their spouses mail their passport to US as it can result in a passport being lost. I was facing the same dilemma because I did not have her passport with me here and getting a certified copy or notarized + appostile in her country was too much hassle. Then I figured from the instruction of W7 that Passport is not the only supporting document. See the link:

http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/iw7.pdf

If you submit an original valid passport (or a notarized or certified copy of a valid passport), you do not need to submit any other documents. Otherwise, you must submit at least two of the documents listed below. The documents must be current*, verify your identity (that is, contain your name).... and there is a list of supporting documents that you can send such as drivers license, birth certificate, voter id, etc...

Last time I came back, I took my wife's birth certificate with me as I needed that for DS-230 and then I also told my wife to mail me the voter id because losing a voter id in mail is better than losing a passport. I took both original to my bank and got them notarized and sent them with my W7 on March 5th with my return and today I already got her ITIN number in the mail (in just 2 weeks) . Now just waiting to see a big fat deposit in my bank account and filing return jointly would also help during her interview at the embassy.

Thanks for sharing your experience.

I am doing the same thing... fingers crossed.

A H&R block reperesentative I talked with discouraged this approach and said you need a notarized copy of the passport. It seems he has had 9/10 applications rejected previously.

[July15 4]

Last time I came back, I took my wife's birth certificate with me as I needed that for DS-230 and then I also told my wife to mail me the voter id because losing a voter id in mail is better than losing a passport. I took both original to my bank and got them notarized and sent them with my W7 on March 5th with my return and today I already got her ITIN number in the mail (in just 2 weeks) . Now just waiting to see a big fat deposit in my bank account and filing return jointly would also help during her interview at the embassy.

This is Great! I also sent mine on March 5th, so I should be getting mine anytime soon. I sent a copy of the passport notarized by a US notary.

This is nice to read. Thanks for sharing :-)

[Musashii 21]

Thanks for sharing.

A consultant from H&R Block did the same thing when my wife consulted them and she was advised to file as "Single".

After reading the posts on VJ forums I asked her to confirm directly with IRS and then she was told she had to file either "married filing separately" or "married filing jointly".

I sent her a copy of my passport along with W-7 form to apply for ITIN but it is not notarized. Now the questions which arise are:

1. Do I need to send her a notarized copy again or can she just get it notarized from any notary public / authority in the states?

2. They told her that she needs to submit an original W-7 form (completed and signed). Since she works second shift (3:00PM to 12:00AM) I could not send the documents through courier as there would be nobody at home to sign and receive. I sent by registered post last week and she still has not received. Can I scan and mail to her a copy of original (completed and signed) W-7 instead? Will it be acceptable?

3. She filed her federal taxes back in January and received the returns in February. She was going to file for state taxes when we found out that we were done in by H&R Block (curse them). Will my wife have to apply for an extension?

[giantkoolit2011 0]

Just wanted to share my experience because I have read numeral times as to the reason why petitioner choose to file "single" and not "married filing jointly" is because they do not want to have their spouses mail their passport to US as it can result in a passport being lost. I was facing the same dilemma because I did not have her passport with me here and getting a certified copy or notarized + appostile in her country was too much hassle. Then I figured from the instruction of W7 that Passport is not the only supporting document. See the link:

http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/iw7.pdf

If you submit an original valid passport (or a notarized or certified copy of a valid passport), you do not need to submit any other documents. Otherwise, you must submit at least two of the documents listed below. The documents must be current*, verify your identity (that is, contain your name).... and there is a list of supporting documents that you can send such as drivers license, birth certificate, voter id, etc...

Last time I came back, I took my wife's birth certificate with me as I needed that for DS-230 and then I also told my wife to mail me the voter id because losing a voter id in mail is better than losing a passport. I took both original to my bank and got them notarized and sent them with my W7 on March 5th with my return and today I already got her ITIN number in the mail (in just 2 weeks) . Now just waiting to see a big fat deposit in my bank account and filing return jointly would also help during her interview at the embassy.

Edited March 22, 2012 by giantkoolit2011

[giantkoolit2011 0]

Just wanted to share my experience because I have read numeral times as to the reason why petitioner choose to file "single" and not "married filing jointly" is because they do not want to have their spouses mail their passport to US as it can result in a passport being lost. I was facing the same dilemma because I did not have her passport with me here and getting a certified copy or notarized + appostile in her country was too much hassle. Then I figured from the instruction of W7 that Passport is not the only supporting document. See the link:

http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/iw7.pdf

If you submit an original valid passport (or a notarized or certified copy of a valid passport), you do not need to submit any other documents. Otherwise, you must submit at least two of the documents listed below. The documents must be current*, verify your identity (that is, contain your name).... and there is a list of supporting documents that you can send such as drivers license, birth certificate, voter id, etc...

Last time I came back, I took my wife's birth certificate with me as I needed that for DS-230 and then I also told my wife to mail me the voter id because losing a voter id in mail is better than losing a passport. I took both original to my bank and got them notarized and sent them with my W7 on March 5th with my return and today I already got her ITIN number in the mail (in just 2 weeks) . Now just waiting to see a big fat deposit in my bank account and filing return jointly would also help during her interview at the embassy.

Hello!

It's a very informative.

My question is...is it required to file as "married filing jointly" or has a choice to file as "single". What are the benefits of both filing? Is it true that the beneficiary should submit W-7?

Thanks!

[JlovesL 0]

hey hindustani24 did you use your spouse name as its stated on the id card?

or did you put her married name?

[FANGFANG 0]

Just wanted to ask if any of the above had found out if the notarized copy of the passport was accepted or not.

We just went to the IRS office here and was told the ONLY way is to mail the original passport to the IRS.

Its a bit of an issue for us because the I-94 expires in less than two months and they said it could take up to two months to finish and return the passport.

[Darnell 8,478]

FangFang - is possible that the IRS office will accept the tax return submittal with the w-7, but you have to talk with the site supervisor.

[speedwell 224]

The notarized copy of the passport is NOT ACCEPTABLE anymore as of the 2012 filing year.

[FANGFANG 0]

I'm going to try returning tomorrow and asking to speak with the site supervisor. Wouldn't understand why someone at the office couldn't verify the passport and let us leave them with a signed statement on a photocopy of the passport. But I know many of these procedures are hard to understand haha...

If that doesn't work then we are stuck with a hard choice.

1. Don't file a joint return.

2. File a joint return and risk the passport not arriving back in time.

We are filing for AOS and will submit the paperwork early next week. Not sure but I think next we would need to have the passport for the biometrics appointment. I guess to be extra prepared we will take the passport tomorrow and get a state-issued ID card for back-up.