Important Information about getting an ITIN (Individual Taxpayer Identification Number)

There have been some significant and unannounced changes in the ITIN process for this tax year!  

If you or your dependents do not have a SSN and need an ITIN in order to file a tax return, please be aware that the IRS is no longer accepting ITIN applications with tax returns.  Instead you will need to file the ITIN application (the form W-7) first and separately from your tax return, and only after receiving the number can you file your return.  Please note that this may cause you to have to file your tax return past the April 15 deadline.  Unfortunately at this time there is no process to avoid this.  Keep in mind however that if you do not owe the IRS a payment there is no penalty for filing a late return. 

For more information on filing the ITIN application please see #19 in the Tax FAQ at http://tinyurl.com/pggllgp and the previous ITIN announcement from the IRS at http://www.irs.gov/uac/Newsroom/Updated-ITIN-Procedure-Changes-Announced.  Please keep in mind that any mention of filing the W-7 with the ITIN is outdated and should not be followed.

GLACIER Tax Prep & 1042-S Delays

Due to campus closures, the release of 1042-S forms and the launch of GLACIER Tax Prep (GTP) have both been delayed until February 28, 2014 

March 2014 Visa Bulletin

March 2014 Visa Bulletin: EB-3 Cut-Off Dates Move Ahead for Most Countries; Modest Advancement for EB-2 China; Significant Retrogression for F-2A Mexico

According to the State Department’s March Visa Bulletin, the EB-3 subcategory for professionals and skilled workers will advance by three months for most countries, to September 1, 2012, India by two weeks to September 15, 2003, and the Philippines by two weeks to May 1, 2007.

The EB-3 other worker subcategory for China and Mexico will advance by three months, to September 1, 2012 and the Philippines by two weeks, to May 1, 2007. EB-3 India will advance by two weeks to September 15, 2003.

The priority date cut-off for EB-2 China will advance by five weeks to February 15, 2009 next month, but EB-2 India will remain at November 15, 2004.

In the family-based F-2A category for the spouses and minor children of lawful permanent residents, the cutoff date will remain at September 8, 2013 for all countries except for Mexico, which will retrogress by approximately one year and four months to April 15, 2012.

March 2014 Priority Date Cut-Offs

In March 2014, EB immigrant visa priority date cut-offs will be:

EB-1 Current for all countries.

EB-2 China: February 15, 2009
India: November 15, 2004
All other countries: Current

EB-3 Professionals and Skilled Workers China: September 1, 2012
India: September 15, 2003
Philippines: May 1, 2007
All other countries: September 1, 2012

EB-3 Other Workers China: September 1, 2012
India: September 15, 2003
Philippines: May 1, 2007
All other countries: September 1, 2012

EB-5 Current for all countries and subcategories.

Employment-Based Immigrant Visa Availability in the Coming Months 
The State Department projects that the priority date cut-off for EB-2 China will advance by three to five weeks per month over the next several months, but there will be no advancement for EB-2 India in the near term.

Several months of significant advancement in EB-3 cut-off dates for China, Mexico and most other countries is expected to generate increased demand. As such, cut-off dates for these countries are expected to see little forward movement in the coming months. If demand increases significantly, there could be some retrogression. Little to no advancement is expected for EB-3 India, but EB-3 Philippines is expected to advance three to six weeks per month.

EB-5 is expected to remain current for all countries in the near term.