Hi,

I am working in L1A visa status in NJ since Jan 23 2006 till now. I am filing my returns for the first time. Please help with my below questions.

1) Can I claim my mother as dependent who stayed with me in Visitors visa for 136 days during the year 2006?

2) I am single and living alone in usa. But, I am supporting my family back in India (my retired father, studying brother, unemployed mother, grandfathers medical and funeral expense in 2006, grandmothers medical etc, my cousin's school education - all of them in India). I am supporting them 75% of the overall family income. No one will claim me as dependent, only because they are not living with me in US and as are in India I have a tricky situation how to account all those expenses for returns. Can I get any kind of benefit out of it? Please help

3) Can you please make me a list of items that I should consider to include when I am filing the returns for the first time. For e.g.. I took personal loan from my company, I paid $2000 flight ticket for my mothers travel to USA etc.


Thanks,
Sundari

1) That's an IFFY proposition. Provided you meet the support requirement (at least HALF of her total support for the entire year), you can try to get her an ITIN so that you can claim her.

2) Other than your mother (see above), no.

3) Sorry, I can think of no other deductions available to you.