Amol

Does anyone know if you really need certified tax returns? Tax
transcripts have all the information that the tax returns have and are
from the IRS itself. So would a photocopy of your own return be
enough along with the tax transcripts as long as the numbers match up
with the tax transcripts?

Thanks,
Amol

[email protected] wrote in message news:<[email protected]. com>...
    > My recommendations(response) are in CAPS below your points in the body
    > of your posting.....
    >
    > > -3 yrs. tax return papers (1040 for sure, maybe w2?)
    > YOU NEED IRS CERTIFIED TAX RETURNS (NOT JUST YOUR OWN XEROX COPIES).
    > HOWEVER THESE TAKE TIME. SO IN ADDITION, GET YOUR TAX TRANSCRIPTS FROM
    > THE IRS. THOSE ARRIVE WITHIN 1-2 WEEKS.

ProfsnlOCMan

NObody "Knows" the correct answer....

IF you can get the certified copies, do so.. but they take 1-3 months.

Transcripts take about 2 weeks so they are a "must have"..

Certified copies have a gold seal on the top and impress the hell out
of the consular staff.

That being said, if you are too lazy or too cheap, then you can make
your own bed - remember you have to sleep in it, not the newgroup
readers !!!




[email protected] (Amol) wrote in message news:<[email protected] om>...
    > Does anyone know if you really need certified tax returns? Tax
    > transcripts have all the information that the tax returns have and are
    > from the IRS itself. So would a photocopy of your own return be
    > enough along with the tax transcripts as long as the numbers match up
    > with the tax transcripts?
    >
    > Thanks,
    > Amol
    >
    > [email protected] wrote in message news:<[email protected]. com>...
    > > My recommendations(response) are in CAPS below your points in the body
    > > of your posting.....
    > >
    > > > -3 yrs. tax return papers (1040 for sure, maybe w2?)
    > > YOU NEED IRS CERTIFIED TAX RETURNS (NOT JUST YOUR OWN XEROX COPIES).
    > > HOWEVER THESE TAKE TIME. SO IN ADDITION, GET YOUR TAX TRANSCRIPTS FROM
    > > THE IRS. THOSE ARRIVE WITHIN 1-2 WEEKS.

Amol

I don't know where you get this idea that having certified returns
with a gold seal impresses the consular staff. These people have been
through thousands of applications and I would be willing to bet that
they couldn't care less about a gold seal or not. If you have any
real examples as to how having certified returns is helpful, I would
be interested in hearing those.

That being said, I am looking for what other people have done in the
past, not a "definite" answer. There are plenty of people that post
here that have been through the process - have people going through
Mumbai used tax transcripts and had problems with them or have they
found that transcripts work fine?

There is a difference between being cautious/prepared versus being
paranoid and going overboard with what is needed. Unless anyone has
actually taken just transcripts and has been told that it is not
enough and they need certified returns, I don't see how it is "better"
to have the certified returns. Maybe everyone just takes certified
returns in which case there is no basis to say that transcripts are
enough... which is basically what I am trying to get an idea of. I am
not trying to start a fight here. This is a stressful process for
people as it is, and if it can be simplified or clarified based on
people's actual experiences, it can only help others filing in the
future.

Thanks,
Amol

[email protected] wrote in message news:<[email protected]. com>...
    > NObody "Knows" the correct answer....
    >
    > IF you can get the certified copies, do so.. but they take 1-3 months.
    >
    > Transcripts take about 2 weeks so they are a "must have"..
    >
    > Certified copies have a gold seal on the top and impress the hell out
    > of the consular staff.
    >
    > That being said, if you are too lazy or too cheap, then you can make
    > your own bed - remember you have to sleep in it, not the newgroup
    > readers !!!
    >
    >
    >
    >
    > [email protected] (Amol) wrote in message news:<[email protected] om>...
    > > Does anyone know if you really need certified tax returns? Tax
    > > transcripts have all the information that the tax returns have and are
    > > from the IRS itself. So would a photocopy of your own return be
    > > enough along with the tax transcripts as long as the numbers match up
    > > with the tax transcripts?
    > >
    > > Thanks,
    > > Amol
    > >
    > > [email protected] wrote in message news:<[email protected]. com>...
    > > > My recommendations(response) are in CAPS below your points in the body
    > > > of your posting.....
    > > >
    > > > > -3 yrs. tax return papers (1040 for sure, maybe w2?)
    > > > YOU NEED IRS CERTIFIED TAX RETURNS (NOT JUST YOUR OWN XEROX COPIES).
    > > > HOWEVER THESE TAKE TIME. SO IN ADDITION, GET YOUR TAX TRANSCRIPTS FROM
    > > > THE IRS. THOSE ARRIVE WITHIN 1-2 WEEKS.

Amol

Hey Hero,

Thanks for all the info you've been giving. I'm a little behind you
in terms of my timeline (NOA1 Sep 2, waiting for NOA2), but all the
info you and Eric have been posting will be very useful.

I'm in a very similar situation to you. My wife is from Gujarat and
due to time constraints we had our engagement/wedding ceremony
(registered marriage, not the traditional one) on the same day. So
I'd be very interested in the experience your wife goes through at the
consulate.

Good luck to both you and Eric with your process! Keep us posted as
you get more information.

Thanks,
Amol



[email protected] (Hero) wrote in message news:<[email protected]. com>...
    > okay, so here's a quick recap of my situation: my wife submitted the
    > packet 3 directly to the mumbai consulate about 3 weeks ago. now
    > we're waiting for the interview date, and preparing the paperwork, and
    > that's what i'm posting about. i'm trying to develop a list of what
    > she will need to take to the interview. here's what i've gathered
    > from postings and websites, i want to see if i have everything
    > covered. i've put what i believe i need and if i have questions i
    > need help with then i've put them in parenthesis.
    >
    > -aos, i-134; the i-864 will be done after she gets here
    >
    > -bank letter (where can i get details about this? is it just a
    > statement that shows i have $x in a bank?)
    >
    > -job letter - are there specifics about this? like signature by
    > manager, some payment stubs....what exactly do i need to show i have a
    > job?)
    >
    > -3 yrs. tax return papers (1040 for sure, maybe w2?)
    >
    > -police clearance
    >
    > -medical exam
    >
    > -wedding album
    >
    > -mine and her passport
    >
    > -mine and her birth certificate
    >
    > -marriage certificate
    >
    > -phone bills/emails/transcripts of chat
    >
    >
    > anything else i might have missed, please let me know. thanks.
    >
    >
    > [email protected] (Victor T.) wrote in message news:<[email protected] >...
    > > My wife went through the Chennai embassy for her K-3 visa. We were
    > > informed immediately after the interview that she was approved for the
    > > visa. They kept her passport to stamp the visa. The consulate officer
    > > said it would take 3 days but we got it the next day with the sealed
    > > brown envelope. Keep in mind the officer first had to check his
    > > computer to see if its ok to issue the visa. I don't know what he was
    > > checking but perhaps he was seeing if there were any red flags from
    > > the security checks, name checks etc.,
    > >
    > > Wish you the best!
    > >
    > > Victor

A. Chakra

Amol,

Here is what I did....I sent my wife tax transcripts for the last 3
years, as well as photocopies of my 2001,2000 and 1999 returns. I had
lost my copies for 2000 and 1999, so I asked the IRS to send me
photocopies, these took 3 months to arrive. I had a copy of my 2001
return (which was probably the most important).
I did not get the 2001 copy notarized. The 1999 and 2000 returns did
not have any IRS seal or stamp on them either, but came with a cover
letter from the IRS, saying they were true copies (maybe the cover
letter had the gold seal..I don't remember).

At my wife's interview (DCF-New Delhi), the consular officer just went
thru the I-864 and job letter. (I attached a cover letter along with
the I-864 listing everything I included...job letter, photocopies of
tax returns, W-2 copies, tax transcripts, bank letter,statements,
etc.-even included a resume and if I remember correclty a copy of my
graduate degree certificate) I also included W-2 statements from the
IRS, since I had lost my W-2s for either 99 or 2000 (but the copies
came along with the xerox copies of the returns I got from the IRS).
I personally think I was a little overprepared though. But I don't
regret that at all.

[email protected] (Amol) wrote in message news:<[email protected] om>...
    > I don't know where you get this idea that having certified returns
    > with a gold seal impresses the consular staff. These people have been
    > through thousands of applications and I would be willing to bet that
    > they couldn't care less about a gold seal or not. If you have any
    > real examples as to how having certified returns is helpful, I would
    > be interested in hearing those.
    >
    > That being said, I am looking for what other people have done in the
    > past, not a "definite" answer. There are plenty of people that post
    > here that have been through the process - have people going through
    > Mumbai used tax transcripts and had problems with them or have they
    > found that transcripts work fine?
    >
    > There is a difference between being cautious/prepared versus being
    > paranoid and going overboard with what is needed. Unless anyone has
    > actually taken just transcripts and has been told that it is not
    > enough and they need certified returns, I don't see how it is "better"
    > to have the certified returns. Maybe everyone just takes certified
    > returns in which case there is no basis to say that transcripts are
    > enough... which is basically what I am trying to get an idea of. I am
    > not trying to start a fight here. This is a stressful process for
    > people as it is, and if it can be simplified or clarified based on
    > people's actual experiences, it can only help others filing in the
    > future.
    >
    > Thanks,
    > Amol
    >
    > [email protected] wrote in message news:<[email protected]. com>...
    > > NObody "Knows" the correct answer....
    > >
    > > IF you can get the certified copies, do so.. but they take 1-3 months.
    > >
    > > Transcripts take about 2 weeks so they are a "must have"..
    > >
    > > Certified copies have a gold seal on the top and impress the hell out
    > > of the consular staff.
    > >
    > > That being said, if you are too lazy or too cheap, then you can make
    > > your own bed - remember you have to sleep in it, not the newgroup
    > > readers !!!
    > >
    > >
    > >
    > >
    > > [email protected] (Amol) wrote in message news:<[email protected] om>...
    > > > Does anyone know if you really need certified tax returns? Tax
    > > > transcripts have all the information that the tax returns have and are
    > > > from the IRS itself. So would a photocopy of your own return be
    > > > enough along with the tax transcripts as long as the numbers match up
    > > > with the tax transcripts?
    > > >
    > > > Thanks,
    > > > Amol
    > > >
    > > > [email protected] wrote in message news:<[email protected]. com>...
    > > > > My recommendations(response) are in CAPS below your points in the body
    > > > > of your posting.....
    > > > >
    > > > > > -3 yrs. tax return papers (1040 for sure, maybe w2?)
    > > > > YOU NEED IRS CERTIFIED TAX RETURNS (NOT JUST YOUR OWN XEROX COPIES).
    > > > > HOWEVER THESE TAKE TIME. SO IN ADDITION, GET YOUR TAX TRANSCRIPTS FROM
    > > > > THE IRS. THOSE ARRIVE WITHIN 1-2 WEEKS.

ProfsnlOCMan

Look you Jer_ !

Don't lecture me.... I was trying to help.. maybe once they put your
wife on admin review you'll learn a lesson to not be so high and
mighty lecturing others trying to help - just a typical unappreciative
desi, aren't you ?

And yes, they ARE impressed with proper documentation - they said so
to my fiancee, so I wasn't talking out of the wrong orifice in my body
OK ?


[email protected] (Amol) wrote in message news:<[email protected] om>...
    > I don't know where you get this idea that having certified returns
    > with a gold seal impresses the consular staff. These people have been
    > through thousands of applications and I would be willing to bet that
    > they couldn't care less about a gold seal or not. If you have any
    > real examples as to how having certified returns is helpful, I would
    > be interested in hearing those.
    >
    > That being said, I am looking for what other people have done in the
    > past, not a "definite" answer. There are plenty of people that post
    > here that have been through the process - have people going through
    > Mumbai used tax transcripts and had problems with them or have they
    > found that transcripts work fine?
    >
    > There is a difference between being cautious/prepared versus being
    > paranoid and going overboard with what is needed. Unless anyone has
    > actually taken just transcripts and has been told that it is not
    > enough and they need certified returns, I don't see how it is "better"
    > to have the certified returns. Maybe everyone just takes certified
    > returns in which case there is no basis to say that transcripts are
    > enough... which is basically what I am trying to get an idea of. I am
    > not trying to start a fight here. This is a stressful process for
    > people as it is, and if it can be simplified or clarified based on
    > people's actual experiences, it can only help others filing in the
    > future.
    >
    > Thanks,
    > Amol
    >
    > [email protected] wrote in message news:<[email protected]. com>...
    > > NObody "Knows" the correct answer....
    > >
    > > IF you can get the certified copies, do so.. but they take 1-3 months.
    > >
    > > Transcripts take about 2 weeks so they are a "must have"..
    > >
    > > Certified copies have a gold seal on the top and impress the hell out
    > > of the consular staff.
    > >
    > > That being said, if you are too lazy or too cheap, then you can make
    > > your own bed - remember you have to sleep in it, not the newgroup
    > > readers !!!
    > >
    > >
    > >
    > >
    > > [email protected] (Amol) wrote in message news:<[email protected] om>...
    > > > Does anyone know if you really need certified tax returns? Tax
    > > > transcripts have all the information that the tax returns have and are
    > > > from the IRS itself. So would a photocopy of your own return be
    > > > enough along with the tax transcripts as long as the numbers match up
    > > > with the tax transcripts?
    > > >
    > > > Thanks,
    > > > Amol
    > > >
    > > > [email protected] wrote in message news:<[email protected]. com>...
    > > > > My recommendations(response) are in CAPS below your points in the body
    > > > > of your posting.....
    > > > >
    > > > > > -3 yrs. tax return papers (1040 for sure, maybe w2?)
    > > > > YOU NEED IRS CERTIFIED TAX RETURNS (NOT JUST YOUR OWN XEROX COPIES).
    > > > > HOWEVER THESE TAKE TIME. SO IN ADDITION, GET YOUR TAX TRANSCRIPTS FROM
    > > > > THE IRS. THOSE ARRIVE WITHIN 1-2 WEEKS.

Amol

Look, I appreciate your help. What I don't appreciate is you making
everything personal. I've been through a number of your posts in the
past where you have attacked people personally. If you'd just give
advice without being rude and making everything personal, everyone on
this board would be a lot happier.

[email protected] wrote in message news:<[email protected]. com>...
    > Look you Jer_ !
    >
    > Don't lecture me.... I was trying to help.. maybe once they put your
    > wife on admin review you'll learn a lesson to not be so high and
    > mighty lecturing others trying to help - just a typical unappreciative
    > desi, aren't you ?
    >
    > And yes, they ARE impressed with proper documentation - they said so
    > to my fiancee, so I wasn't talking out of the wrong orifice in my body
    > OK ?
    >
    >
    > [email protected] (Amol) wrote in message news:<[email protected] om>...
    > > I don't know where you get this idea that having certified returns
    > > with a gold seal impresses the consular staff. These people have been
    > > through thousands of applications and I would be willing to bet that
    > > they couldn't care less about a gold seal or not. If you have any
    > > real examples as to how having certified returns is helpful, I would
    > > be interested in hearing those.
    > >
    > > That being said, I am looking for what other people have done in the
    > > past, not a "definite" answer. There are plenty of people that post
    > > here that have been through the process - have people going through
    > > Mumbai used tax transcripts and had problems with them or have they
    > > found that transcripts work fine?
    > >
    > > There is a difference between being cautious/prepared versus being
    > > paranoid and going overboard with what is needed. Unless anyone has
    > > actually taken just transcripts and has been told that it is not
    > > enough and they need certified returns, I don't see how it is "better"
    > > to have the certified returns. Maybe everyone just takes certified
    > > returns in which case there is no basis to say that transcripts are
    > > enough... which is basically what I am trying to get an idea of. I am
    > > not trying to start a fight here. This is a stressful process for
    > > people as it is, and if it can be simplified or clarified based on
    > > people's actual experiences, it can only help others filing in the
    > > future.
    > >
    > > Thanks,
    > > Amol
    > >
    > > [email protected] wrote in message news:<[email protected]. com>...
    > > > NObody "Knows" the correct answer....
    > > >
    > > > IF you can get the certified copies, do so.. but they take 1-3 months.
    > > >
    > > > Transcripts take about 2 weeks so they are a "must have"..
    > > >
    > > > Certified copies have a gold seal on the top and impress the hell out
    > > > of the consular staff.
    > > >
    > > > That being said, if you are too lazy or too cheap, then you can make
    > > > your own bed - remember you have to sleep in it, not the newgroup
    > > > readers !!!
    > > >
    > > >
    > > >
    > > >
    > > > [email protected] (Amol) wrote in message news:<[email protected] om>...
    > > > > Does anyone know if you really need certified tax returns? Tax
    > > > > transcripts have all the information that the tax returns have and are
    > > > > from the IRS itself. So would a photocopy of your own return be
    > > > > enough along with the tax transcripts as long as the numbers match up
    > > > > with the tax transcripts?
    > > > >
    > > > > Thanks,
    > > > > Amol
    > > > >
    > > > > [email protected] wrote in message news:<[email protected]. com>...
    > > > > > My recommendations(response) are in CAPS below your points in the body
    > > > > > of your posting.....
    > > > > >
    > > > > > > -3 yrs. tax return papers (1040 for sure, maybe w2?)
    > > > > > YOU NEED IRS CERTIFIED TAX RETURNS (NOT JUST YOUR OWN XEROX COPIES).
    > > > > > HOWEVER THESE TAKE TIME. SO IN ADDITION, GET YOUR TAX TRANSCRIPTS FROM
    > > > > > THE IRS. THOSE ARRIVE WITHIN 1-2 WEEKS.

Amol

Thanks a lot. Appreciate the details.

Amol

[email protected] (A. Chakra) wrote in message news:<[email protected]. com>...
    > Amol,
    >
    > Here is what I did....I sent my wife tax transcripts for the last 3
    > years, as well as photocopies of my 2001,2000 and 1999 returns. I had
    > lost my copies for 2000 and 1999, so I asked the IRS to send me
    > photocopies, these took 3 months to arrive. I had a copy of my 2001
    > return (which was probably the most important).
    > I did not get the 2001 copy notarized. The 1999 and 2000 returns did
    > not have any IRS seal or stamp on them either, but came with a cover
    > letter from the IRS, saying they were true copies (maybe the cover
    > letter had the gold seal..I don't remember).
    >
    > At my wife's interview (DCF-New Delhi), the consular officer just went
    > thru the I-864 and job letter. (I attached a cover letter along with
    > the I-864 listing everything I included...job letter, photocopies of
    > tax returns, W-2 copies, tax transcripts, bank letter,statements,
    > etc.-even included a resume and if I remember correclty a copy of my
    > graduate degree certificate) I also included W-2 statements from the
    > IRS, since I had lost my W-2s for either 99 or 2000 (but the copies
    > came along with the xerox copies of the returns I got from the IRS).
    > I personally think I was a little overprepared though. But I don't
    > regret that at all.
    >
    > [email protected] (Amol) wrote in message news:<[email protected] om>...
    > > I don't know where you get this idea that having certified returns
    > > with a gold seal impresses the consular staff. These people have been
    > > through thousands of applications and I would be willing to bet that
    > > they couldn't care less about a gold seal or not. If you have any
    > > real examples as to how having certified returns is helpful, I would
    > > be interested in hearing those.
    > >
    > > That being said, I am looking for what other people have done in the
    > > past, not a "definite" answer. There are plenty of people that post
    > > here that have been through the process - have people going through
    > > Mumbai used tax transcripts and had problems with them or have they
    > > found that transcripts work fine?
    > >
    > > There is a difference between being cautious/prepared versus being
    > > paranoid and going overboard with what is needed. Unless anyone has
    > > actually taken just transcripts and has been told that it is not
    > > enough and they need certified returns, I don't see how it is "better"
    > > to have the certified returns. Maybe everyone just takes certified
    > > returns in which case there is no basis to say that transcripts are
    > > enough... which is basically what I am trying to get an idea of. I am
    > > not trying to start a fight here. This is a stressful process for
    > > people as it is, and if it can be simplified or clarified based on
    > > people's actual experiences, it can only help others filing in the
    > > future.
    > >
    > > Thanks,
    > > Amol
    > >
    > > [email protected] wrote in message news:<[email protected]. com>...
    > > > NObody "Knows" the correct answer....
    > > >
    > > > IF you can get the certified copies, do so.. but they take 1-3 months.
    > > >
    > > > Transcripts take about 2 weeks so they are a "must have"..
    > > >
    > > > Certified copies have a gold seal on the top and impress the hell out
    > > > of the consular staff.
    > > >
    > > > That being said, if you are too lazy or too cheap, then you can make
    > > > your own bed - remember you have to sleep in it, not the newgroup
    > > > readers !!!
    > > >
    > > >
    > > >
    > > >
    > > > [email protected] (Amol) wrote in message news:<[email protected] om>...
    > > > > Does anyone know if you really need certified tax returns? Tax
    > > > > transcripts have all the information that the tax returns have and are
    > > > > from the IRS itself. So would a photocopy of your own return be
    > > > > enough along with the tax transcripts as long as the numbers match up
    > > > > with the tax transcripts?
    > > > >
    > > > > Thanks,
    > > > > Amol
    > > > >
    > > > > [email protected] wrote in message news:<[email protected]. com>...
    > > > > > My recommendations(response) are in CAPS below your points in the body
    > > > > > of your posting.....
    > > > > >
    > > > > > > -3 yrs. tax return papers (1040 for sure, maybe w2?)
    > > > > > YOU NEED IRS CERTIFIED TAX RETURNS (NOT JUST YOUR OWN XEROX COPIES).
    > > > > > HOWEVER THESE TAKE TIME. SO IN ADDITION, GET YOUR TAX TRANSCRIPTS FROM
    > > > > > THE IRS. THOSE ARRIVE WITHIN 1-2 WEEKS.

Dekkas Angel

I dont care about anyones problems like those of cutenurse. I would rather
attack friendly people. I am a liar and I cant read
I also despise persons from other countries.
"Hero" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
    > okay, so here's a quick recap of my situation: my wife submitted the
    > packet 3 directly to the mumbai consulate about 3 weeks ago. now
    > we're waiting for the interview date, and preparing the paperwork, and
    > that's what i'm posting about. i'm trying to develop a list of what
    > she will need to take to the interview. here's what i've gathered
    > from postings and websites, i want to see if i have everything
    > covered. i've put what i believe i need and if i have questions i
    > need help with then i've put them in parenthesis.
    > -aos, i-134; the i-864 will be done after she gets here
    > -bank letter (where can i get details about this? is it just a
    > statement that shows i have $x in a bank?)
    > -job letter - are there specifics about this? like signature by
    > manager, some payment stubs....what exactly do i need to show i have a
    > job?)
    > -3 yrs. tax return papers (1040 for sure, maybe w2?)
    > -police clearance
    > -medical exam
    > -wedding album
    > -mine and her passport
    > -mine and her birth certificate
    > -marriage certificate
    > -phone bills/emails/transcripts of chat
    > anything else i might have missed, please let me know. thanks.
    > [email protected] (Victor T.) wrote in message
news:<[email protected] >...
    > > My wife went through the Chennai embassy for her K-3 visa. We were
    > > informed immediately after the interview that she was approved for the
    > > visa. They kept her passport to stamp the visa. The consulate officer
    > > said it would take 3 days but we got it the next day with the sealed
    > > brown envelope. Keep in mind the officer first had to check his
    > > computer to see if its ok to issue the visa. I don't know what he was
    > > checking but perhaps he was seeing if there were any red flags from
    > > the security checks, name checks etc.,
    > >
    > > Wish you the best!
    > >
    > > Victor