Hi
We are flying to US in December and I begin my work in January 1 2012.
At the accounting firm of the company where I'm going to work I understood that I'll need to fill some forms and one of the fields is going to be the number of dependents for the tax purposes ( unless I'm mistaken ).
I have a SS# but my wife and kids don't, I found that I can get an ITIN number for them. Is it possible to do this as soon as we arrive to US in December or is there some kind of waiting period?
If I can't request an ITIN for them, how can I sign them up as my dependents if they don't have any SS# nor ITIN#?
Thank you very much!

I hope this website helps:

U.S. Tax Solutions for resident alien and nonresident alien foreign nationals (http://www.thetaxguy.com/itin.htm)

On your W-4, you can claim MARRUED status with the MOST allowances claimed to be TWO. This is done to ensure enough taxes are withheld to cover your tax liability to the U.S. government.

On the state equivalent of the W-4, you can claim MARRIED and the number of allowances can equal the total of yourself, your wife and your children.

NO ITINs are required for submitting the W-4 or the state equivalent of the W-4.

Now, you CAN get ITINs for your wife and children, but unless the ITINs are needed to open a bank account (for your wife) or to attend school (for the children), you must WAIT until you file your first federa; tax return (for 2013, which will happen in January 0f 2013). When that return is filed, you will submit a Form w-7 for your wife and for each child, along with a notarized photocopy of their passport and visa picture pages.

If you need professional help come January, 2013, email me at [email protected]. This IS what I do!