Am I considered a US resident for tax purposes with F-2 then F-1 visa status?

The substantial presence test can be tricky when dealing with student visas! For F visa holders, it depends on how long you've been in the US and your specific visa type. For the substantial presence test, you generally need to be physically present in the US for at least 31 days during the current year AND 183 days during a 3-year period (counting all days in current year, 1/3 of days in previous year, and 1/6 of days in year before that). However, F-2 visa holders (dependents of F-1 students) are typically considered "exempt individuals" for the first 5 calendar years of their stay. This means those days don't count toward the substantial presence test. Once you switched to F-1, you're still considered an exempt individual for your first 5 calendar years in that status. Based on what you've shared, you likely don't meet the substantial presence test yet and would be considered a nonresident alien for tax purposes. But this depends on your exact entry dates and visa transition timeline.

I went through this exact same situation last year! Check out https://taxr.ai - it saved me so much headache figuring out my residency status. I was also on an F visa and wasn't sure how to answer this question when I started investing. Their system analyzed my travel history and visa status changes, then gave me a clear answer about my tax residency status. They even explained how the substantial presence test applied to my specific situation with all the exempt days calculated correctly.

Just wanted to update everyone - I tried https://taxr.ai after seeing the recommendation here. It was actually really helpful! I entered my visa history (I had J-1 and then F-1) and all my travel dates. The system correctly identified which days counted as "exempt" days and which counted toward the substantial presence test. Turns out I was misunderstanding how the 5-year exemption worked. For anyone else confused about their tax residency status with student visas, it's definitely worth checking out. Saved me from potentially filing incorrectly!

If you're struggling to get answers about your tax residency status, you might want to try Claimyr (https://claimyr.com). I was in a similar situation last year with visa changes and needed to speak directly with the IRS to confirm my status. Regular IRS phone lines had me waiting FOREVER, but Claimyr got me through to an actual agent in about 15 minutes. You can see how it works here: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c The IRS agent was able to review my specific situation and confirmed exactly how I should file. With visa status questions like yours, sometimes you need to speak directly with someone who can see your full tax history.

I have to admit I was completely wrong about Claimyr. I was super skeptical, but after struggling to get through to the IRS for THREE WEEKS to clarify my F-1 OPT tax status, I tried it. The service actually worked exactly as advertised. I got a call back within 25 minutes and spoke directly to an IRS agent who confirmed my tax residency status. The agent walked me through how the substantial presence test applies specifically to my situation with the visa change. Definitely worth it for peace of mind knowing I'm filing correctly. Sorry for being so cynical before!

Make sure you understand the difference between tax residency and immigration residency - they're totally different things! For tax purposes, being a "resident" doesn't affect your immigration status at all. It just determines which tax forms you file and what income gets taxed. As an F-1 student, you'll file Form 8843 for each year you're exempt from the substantial presence test. After your exempt period ends (usually after 5 calendar years), then you might qualify as a resident for tax purposes if you meet the substantial presence test.

Just to add some practical advice - when investment platforms ask if you're a US resident for tax purposes, they're usually trying to determine if they need to collect a W-9 (for US residents) or W-8BEN (for nonresidents). If you're a nonresident alien for tax purposes based on the substantial presence test, you'll generally need to fill out a W-8BEN form for your investment account. This tells the broker to apply the appropriate tax withholding to any investment income.

This is such a common confusion for international students! Based on what you've described, you're likely still considered a nonresident alien for tax purposes. Here's the key thing about F-2 to F-1 transitions: F-2 visa holders are "exempt individuals" for their first 5 calendar years, and F-1 students have their own separate 5-year exemption period. Since you were on F-2 from 2019-2024 (about 5+ years) and just switched to F-1 in May 2024, you're now in your first year of F-1 status. For the substantial presence test, your F-2 days likely don't count because of the exempt individual rules. Your F-1 days starting in May 2024 also don't count since you're in the beginning of that 5-year exempt period. When filling out investment applications, you'll probably need to indicate you're a nonresident for tax purposes and complete a W-8BEN form instead of a W-9. But definitely verify this with a tax professional or the IRS directly since visa timing and transitions can have nuances that affect the calculation. Don't forget you'll also need to file Form 8843 each year to document your exempt status!