My foreign adviser wants a U.S. residency certificate fast. Why would Form 8802 need a signed return copy marked 'COPY – do not process'?
I live in Germany and my adviser abroad wants a U.S. residency certificate quickly for treaty paperwork. I found the IRS Form 8802 process note saying that if the return has not posted yet, I may need to send a signed copy of the current-year return and mark it 'COPY – do not process.' That sounds strangely specific, which makes me think it is a common bottleneck.
I am trying to understand the practical reason for that step. If the return was already filed, why does the IRS still need a signed copy, and is including it early usually the easiest way to avoid a slow certificate request?
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