<p>Dear All,
I am new to the college confidential to be advised about my complicated case. I am a new immigrant to United States and I got my Green Card and Social Security # a couple of weeks before, after marrying a US Citizen.
Now I am applying for the Financial Aid during 2013-2014, as I recently became the resident of United States, I didn't file any taxes for 2012 here in US. My spouse earned more than 20,000 $ in an year and she filed her taxes for 2012. Now I needed to ask that either I shall select the option of "NOT GOING TO FILE TAXES" there in FAFSA application or any other option? Actually I tried to submit it by choosing "NOT GOING TO FILE", but the message appears that your total income (SPOUSE+MINE) exceeds the minimum level, so the system was inquiring that do I want to submit it anyway? This step actually confused me while submission of application. So kindly help me to resolve this issue.</p>
<p>Moreover, I needed to ask that do I need to register somewhere else to actually form the household, I mean, I recently got married, I don't carry any tax history, so do I need to register somewhere to get attached to my spouse's previous year tax file or shall I be automatically be attached with her after marrying to her ?</p>
<p>Please do help, as deadlines are approaching and I am not able to understand this issue.</p>
<p>You should call the number for FAFSA and ask a rep to walk you through this. Have the form up on your computer screen ready to try the suggestions. You might have to down load, print and hand do it.</p>
<p>The problem is that you fall into a gap that FAFSA has in that your marital status is as of the date you file the form, but tax rules dictate that your are not included on your spouse’s prior year return since you were not married at that time. But for FAFSA purposes, you do need to include that income. </p>
<p>The way it worked with some folks who did get married AFTER they filed the FAFSA, is that they filed it as singleton, then amended it, but you are not in that situation since you were not even eligible for federal aid without the marriage status. So talk to them and see if it can be done on line because it is much, much faster and easier to file that way, but you may have to hand file it with a downloaded and printed form if the computer safeguards won’t let you input your particular situation.</p>
<p>Where is it that you plan to study this fall? Make an appointment with the financial aid office there, and get their help with this issue. </p>
<p>If you can’t do that easily, try clicking on “Will File” but include your wife’s income and your income from 2012 (converted to USD at the average rate for that year). This will almost certainly result in your FAFSA application being flagged for verification, and you will get an email or letter from the college/university that you are planning to attend asking you for more information. You also might be flagged by Social Security because your number is so new. Don’t be surprised if that happens. Just send the college/university the information that they ask for.</p>
<p>There is no special place that you need to go to to register your marriage. Once you and your wife file the 2013 state and federal income tax forms as married, your information will be linked for the IRS (and hence for future FAFSA forms).</p>