Living in Russia.

[ScottinCrimea]

The tax form says unless your wife is a legal resident of the US you cannot claim her as a dependent and you must list yourself as single.  It seemed awful strange having to declare myself single.

[chivo]

If you rent out your home in the US, they would want to tax you on the rent received. 

Wayne,

I own a home that I rent, but I still have a mortgage on it. I can't tell you about Social Security, but I use my interest against what a make for rent and its a wash (and then some). If you still have a mortgage, the interest will offset much if not all of the income you declare for the year. IOW, I pay 0 taxes when I file.

If your house is paid, maybe a refi would not be a bad move as you could have the tenants pay your payments while you enjoy the tax advantages. Just some food for thought. Ciao.

chivo   

[Wayne]

I still have a mortgage, but it is only for about 30% of the home's value.  If I rented out my house, I would need to find a place to store all my things.  I might be able to store all my furniture and stuff in the 3-car garage, and rent the house without the gargage.  I would probably get about $2000 per month for the rent.  The mortgage takes $1000 per month, so I would have a net amount to add to the Social Security.  I would continue to itemize deductions and have the real estate taxes and interest to deduct.  Too bad if I would have to file as a single tax payer.  By the time I substract the deductions and excemption for myself, there would be little to pay tax on. 

I still think it would be better for Oksana to come here first.  We could try living at my present home and see how she likes it.  We are still waiting to get results from the K-1.  It is 7 months since I sent the petition to USCIS.  I offered to Oksana that she could invite her best friend, L and her Son to come live with us for a while.  My home has 5 bedrooms, 5 baths, 2 kitchens, etc.  There would be plenty of room.  My relatives are always telling me I should open a bed-and-breakfast in my home.  L should be able to find a new job here at a hospital or clinic.  She would have to help with the expenses.  L has lived in USA for 2-1/2 years, so she could help Oksana to adjust.  L drives and has a car, so she could take Oksana shopping, etc.  Oksana could practice driving in L's car.  I saw L several times and I think we would all be able to get along together.

[CaptB]

Wayne,

Nice to see another fellow "Michigander" (I am a former "Yooper"......now living in Gaylord). As jb said......getting married means scrapping the K-1........I would'nt do it. Immigration issues are changing daily. My wife and I were married in Russia.....and she came here on a K-3. Getting married in Russia was alot of fun......great memories. But..............I would tell all newcomers that the k-1 will be faster (should'nt be.....but is). Jb's story (got k-1 approval, dropped-it, married in Russia, applied for k-3........waited 14 months for approval!!!!?!  I would stay put.


Capt B

[Wayne]

I think we should wait for the results of the K-1 before doing anything.  I want to go to Russia, but I should wait in case then send me a letter requesting more information.  I did file a waiver and I provided many pages of evidence of why it should be granted.  It was because of the filing limitations.  Meanwhile, today I spoke to a neighbor.  Recently, the house across the street from me went on the market for $575,000.  It is only a two bedroom, while mine is five.  I do not want to do anything that I might be sorry for. 

Oksana would like to live close to her best friend, L.  I think, probably, L and her son will end up here with us.

[ScottinCrimea]

Just my opinion, but I think it would be a huge mistake to have another woman living in your home, especially early on in your relationship and expecially a RW.  Like it or not, you will end up being the third wheel and resentments and jealousies will result.  Maybe you need to rethink this and look at the pros and cons.

[Phil dAmore]

Just my opinion, but I think it would be a huge mistake to have another woman living in your home.

Somewhere I read that the ancient Chinese symbol for trouble is two women living under the same roof.

... And who's going to argue with a 5,000 year old culture?

[catzenmouse]

Somewhere I read that the ancient Chinese symbol for trouble is two women living under the same roof.

... And who's going to argue with a 5,000 year old culture?

Now I understand why my wife and my girl cat don't like each other....

Ken

[SANDRO43]

Somewhere I read that the ancient Chinese symbol for trouble is two women living under the same roof.

Our new friend Roseklyn may probably confirm this : the mà character at left represents 2 women under a roof, the fàn character at right is maybe a man fleeing to a bar to drown his sorrows  .

[BC]

Our new friend Roseklyn may probably confirm this : the mà character at left represents 2 women under a roof, the

I could swear one of these two under the roof (left) is a man and not a woman...

[SANDRO43]

I could swear one of these two under the roof (left) is a man and not a woman...

You must be getting near-sighted, can't you see that both are wearing a skirt ? A man is obviously skirtless .

[Wayne]

I just spent 40 minutes on the telephone calling USCIS to ask about the status of my K-1.  You can call the 800 number, but be prepared to stay on the line pushing buttons forever before you get to talk to a person.  Finally, the woman said that because my case is more than 30 days beyond the normal processing time, she would send in a request to the California Service Center and it would take 30 to 45 days before I receive a response in the mail. 

[ScottinCrimea]

Anytime you talk to them at the NVC, their standard comment is, "Please wait 4 to 6 weeks before contacting us about this."  I would give it 10 days, check the automated thing and if nothing there then call again.  One word of advice:  Their hours are until midnight EDT and it's usually a lot easier to get connected after 6pm.

[Yulz]

If you are actually working while in Russia, I don't see how the US govenment could expect you to pay taxes.  

Believe me when I tell you, they do.. from what I know, you will be taxed on a worldwide income as long as you are a US citizen there is no way out

[Yulz]

I don't know about US tax laws but in UK a person is considered as a resident for tax depending on how much time he spends in which country. So if one is a UK resident for tax purposes that all the income he/she earns overseas will be taxable as if it was earned in UK. If he/she was non-UK resident for tax than he/she can claim all money earned free of UK tax.

Yup, the concept of residency is relevant in the UK and in Canada.. in the US, as far as I know, you will be taxed as long as you are a citizen.. So unless you cease to be a citizen, they will milk you dry

[DKMM]

Its not a concept of residency, its a matter of jurisdiction.  States sometimes call it residency but that's to differientiate between living in different states.

1st of all, you get a 80k exemption on foreign income if you lived abroad 11 months out of the year.  2nd, assuming you are paying local taxes, which you will in Russia (unless you work as a contractor) you get to credit that against your own so you won't pay double tax.

If you are working for a offshore US company, you will get your FICA withheld too.  If you work for a Russian company you won't pay FICA.

So if you work for a russian company are married and make 10k a month, you will pay a whopping 6k in taxes assuming you are a contractor and didn't pay any russian taxes.  not exactly getting milked at a real 5% rate. 

[Wayne]

Today, I received in the mail the I-797 Notice of Action approving the K1/K2 petition.  A few weeks ago, I contacted my Congressman, Dave Camp.  On 11 July, I received an email from his Aid saying that he made a call to USCIS.  Our petition was approved on 12 July!  I am glad that it was not 13 July--Friday the 13th.

The US Embassy in Moscow is scheduling the visa interview for about two months from the time they receive the case.  I still need to wait the results from NVC.  I have told Oksana to get the police reports re-newed.  She was born and lived in Uzbekistan until she was 18 years old, so she needs a police report covering from 16 until 18 years.  Of course, she already did this twice before!

I just hope and pray that everying will go well this time and Oksana and Yana can get the visas.

Remember, I filed an IMBRA waiver with this petition because it was the fourth time and less than two years.

WHAT A CRAZY SYSTEM!!!!!

Wayne