Frequently Asked Questions

Each individual who is a Nonresident Alien and present in the U.S. under an F, J, M, or Q immigration status (both the “-1” and the “-2”) is required to file a Form 8843 – regardless of the age of the individual or whether any income was received by the individual. For example, if your spouse is present in the U.S. under an F-2 immigration status, he or she must file Form 8843. Likewise, if your son, who is 3 years old, is present in the U.S. under an F-2 immigration status, he must file Form 8843 (or more likely, you must complete the form and sign it on his behalf). IF you have a child who was born in the U.S., Form 8843 should not be filed for that U.S.-born child.

If you are from one of the following countries and you qualify to claim an exemption for your non-working spouse and/or dependents, each of those individuals must apply for an ITIN: American Samoa, Canada, Mexico, and Students from India (F-1, J-1, M-1 or Q-1 Student immigration statuses only). In such case, GTP will complete a Form W-7 for your spouse (husband or wife) and/or children. Please note that when applying for an ITIN in connection with filing the tax return, appropriate document copies must be attached; please refer to the Form W-7 instruction sheet that prints from GTP with the tax return.

If you are not from one of the countries listed above and your spouse and/or dependent does not receive any income from U.S. sources, they are not required to have an SSN or ITIN.

Typically nonresident aliens may only claim one personal exemption. However, there are a few exceptions.

• Residents of American Samoa, Canada, Mexico, and the Northern Mariana Islands may claim a personal exemption for a spouse and dependents who do not work or receive income;
• Students from India may claim a personal exemption for a spouse who does not work and is present in the U.S., as well as any children who were born in the U.S.

Unless you meet one of the exceptions listed above, you are not eligible to claim your spouse and/or children as dependents.

Nonresident Aliens are not allowed to claim a joint tax return. As such, EACH Nonresident Alien who receives ANY income from U.S. sources must file an income tax return. Therefore, if you have a spouse who works and/or receives any income, he or she must file an income tax return that is separate from you – you may not combine your income on one tax return.

Each individual who needs to file an income tax return must have a User Account in GTP; two people may not share the same User Account. To obtain a new Access Code, you should contact the institution that gave you the Access Code or you may purchase an Access Code from GTP at www.glaciertax.com.

The eligibility to claim an exemption for a spouse and/or dependents (children) is very limited for Nonresident Aliens. Only individuals from the following countries in limited situations may claim an exemption for a non-working spouse and/or dependents (children): American Samoa, Canada, Mexico, and Students from India (F-1, J-1, M-1 or Q-1 Student immigration statuses only).

The eligibility to claim an exemption for a spouse and/or dependents (children) is very limited for Nonresident Aliens. Only individuals from the following countries in limited situations may claim an exemption for a non-working spouse and/or dependents (children): American Samoa, Canada, Mexico, and Students from India (F-1, J-1, M-1 or Q-1 Student immigration statuses only).