Hi.
I am married and came here in US on 25th Jan 2009 on L1 B Visa. I am not staying here with my spouse and kid. I have to fill my W4 form and hve to send it to my employer. Can I claim my spouse and kid for getting allowances? However I am planning to bring them by July 2009. Please suggest me how to fill this form to get maximum allowances. Am I eligible to claim my wife and kid?

Form W-4 is used to determine the amount of tax withheld, but does not determine the actual tax due. When you file your annual U.S. tax return early in 2010, if more tax was withheld than is due, you will get a tax refund. Don't stress over the exact amount of tax withheld.

Even for 2009, you can choose to file joint return as residents and claim you child (if child in present in the U.S. in 2009). You must both declare your worldwide income. Read about L1 tax filing: Your U.S. Tax Return: The U.S. Visas (http://taxipay.blogspot.com/2008/08/us-visas.html)

On W4 you may put married and 1 allowance.

Even for 2009, you can choose to file joint return as residents and claim you child (if child in present in the U.S. in 2009). You must both declare your worldwide income. Read about L1 tax filing: Your U.S. Tax Return: The U.S. Visas (http://taxipay.blogspot.com/2008/08/us-visas.html)

On W4 you may put married and 1 allowance.

My wife will not be working here. She is not willing to work here. Also my kid is just 2 mnths old now. So to claim allowances is it necessary to have both of them here in USA?
Is it necessary for both of them to stay here for whole year to get allowances? I mean if they join me sometime in Dec 09, can I claim these allowances for entire current year 2009? How to file to get maximum refund if I don't submit my W4. Thanks in advance.

You may be able to file joint return as residents even if you wife will not be in the U.S. in 2009. You can claim the child if the child is in U.S. for some period of 2009.