The "been there done that" thread: life in the US after DV

[HurricaneTU]

Atlanta is a nightmare and same for Houston, ime. They are large airports which are not well organized for the amount of incoming international flights. I flew into Minneapolis-St. Paul and they were quick.

 

[DougNNNN]

I've heard a few people say Hawaii is a good place to process. I can agree that it's definitely way more laid back that other airports, plus if you have a day or two to spare, its a very pretty place to visit

Responding from Waikiki right now. We entered Honolulu Airport last Saturday to activate our Visas. The line was nothing compared to LAX, and although BP took about 40 min to do their end of the paperwork, (family of 4), they were friendly and helpful the whole time. I think it took us maybe 10 minutes to get through the line to the BP counter, compared to hour+ at LAX every time I've been there.

The only downside at this point in time is the large number of Chinese people in the line, considering the Coronavirus "concerns".

 

[Airspray]

Thanks for all your replies. Will definitely consider everything you said when booking my activation trip.

I've heard a few people say Hawaii is a good place to process. I can agree that it's definitely way more laid back that other airports, plus if you have a day or two to spare, its a very pretty place to visit

That would be an awesome idea, only I'm flying from the Middle East so Hawaii is just the opposie side of the world

 

[Drehitchcock]

Atlanta is a nightmare and same for Houston, ime. They are large airports which are not well organized for the amount of incoming international flights. I flew into Minneapolis-St. Paul and they were quick.

Oh! Cool to know! We’re moving to the Twin Cities and using that as our POE in May (as long as interview in 2 weeks goes well!).

 

[robbo1]

I just moved to LA last week but did my activation trip in August. Do I have to file taxes this year declaring my Australian income from August?
Oh and I just landed my first job interview! Not bad for one week.

 

[SusieQQQ]

I just moved to LA last week but did my activation trip in August. Do I have to file taxes this year declaring my Australian income from August?
Oh and I just landed my first job interview! Not bad for one week.

yes, and congrats on things moving along so swiftly!

 

[Bob22]

Honestly I didn't find LAX that bad. Maybe I got lucky but the entire process maybe took an hour. While the guy wasn't friendly he wasn't rude either, just got on with his business. Seemed fine.

 

[DougNNNN]

Honestly I didn't find LAX that bad. Maybe I got lucky but the entire process maybe took an hour. While the guy wasn't friendly he wasn't rude either, just got on with his business. Seemed fine.

You were lucky. Lost count how many times I've flown into LAX, and just waiting in the packed line always took over an hour.

 

[EmilyW]

We got lucky in LAX too. Was processed in around 10-15 minutes.

BUT, we had a connecting Qantas flight so we had airport staff escorting us the whole time.

 

[Bob22]

So for the tax return, do you include foreign income only after you became a resident? I don't see how any income earned before we were residents has anything to do with the IRS.

 

[DougNNNN]

I don't see how any income earned before we were residents has anything to do with the IRS.

I laughed at a bit at your post brother.

You come from the country that taxes all money earnt overseas....NZ isn't the only country that wants money at every opportunity.

Good thing is, the US taxes "foreign income", (which your income prior to residency should be), at a lower rate than NZ I believe. It also used to be, (not sure if it still is), that the first USD100k of foreign income is tax exempt. (Could be 85K...I forget exactly).

So...tell them, get the exempt status, and not get in trouble for not reporting your income.

Good luck with it. Dealing with the dual-country tax thing is not something I'm looking forward to either!

 

[SusieQQQ]

So for the tax return, do you include foreign income only after you became a resident? I don't see how any income earned before we were residents has anything to do with the IRS.

yes, of course.
Your first tax return is two parts, non resident before you land (this is really only a “FYI” as to the earlier part of the year) and resident after you land, which is where the IRS comes in.
You can choose to file as resident for the full year - apparently there are some situations in which this makes tax sense, but I don’t think any of those generally apply to DV entrants (think more like: a spouse coming in on a new immigrant visa who hasn’t worked).

 

[SusieQQQ]

I laughed at a bit at your post brother.

You come from the country that taxes all money earnt overseas....NZ isn't the only country that wants money at every opportunity.

Good thing is, the US taxes "foreign income", (which your income prior to residency should be), at a lower rate than NZ I believe. It also used to be, (not sure if it still is), that the first USD100k of foreign income is tax exempt. (Could be 85K...I forget exactly).

So...tell them, get the exempt status, and not get in trouble for not reporting your income.

Good luck with it. Dealing with the dual-country tax thing is not something I'm looking forward to either!

If you’re implying you get taxed by the IRS on income earned overseas before you get a green card, that’s incorrect.

 

[DougNNNN]

If you’re implying you get taxed by the IRS on income earned overseas before you get a green card, that’s incorrect.

I said the exact opposite in relation to o/s income, but need to learn myself the whole gamut of dual nation tax issues in the US.

 

[SusieQQQ]

I said the exact opposite in relation to o/s income, but need to learn myself the whole gamut of dual nation tax issues in the US.

Ok, your bit (I added the underlines) that said “Good thing is, the US taxes "foreign income", (which your income prior to residency should be), at a lower rate than NZ I believe. It also used to be, (not sure if it still is), that the first USD100k of foreign income is tax exempt. (Could be 85K...I forget exactly). So...tell them, get the exempt status, and not get in trouble for not reporting your income.” seemed to imply that he’d be subject to IRS tax requirements rather than the opposite.

 

[DougNNNN]

Sigh...are you in a mood to feel superior?

Tax exempt means not taxed. It won't get taxed. Nothing to worry about by reporting it. Lots to worry about by not reporting it.

Stop looking for an argument where none exists.

 

[SusieQQQ]

Sigh...are you in a mood to feel superior?

Tax exempt means not taxed. It won't get taxed. Nothing to worry about by reporting it. Lots to worry about by not reporting it.

Stop looking for an argument where none exists.

I'm not in the mood for anything other than clearing up misleading statements,

There is a way to do the tax returns.

P.S you shouldn't take corrections so personally. Giving correct advice to people is more important than a poster’s ego.

 

[DougNNNN]

I'm not in the mood for anything other than clearing up misleading statements,

There is a way to do the tax returns.

P.S you shouldn't take corrections so personally. Giving correct advice to people is more important than a poster’s ego.

For someone giving advice about not taking things personally, you should probably stop making things personal.

We're both saying report the income, and it won't get taxed. Move on.

 

[SusieQQQ]

Good grief. At least the right way to report it has been posted above. Hopefully Bob ignores the confusing post to kitchen sink report and does it as per irs instructions.

 

[DougNNNN]