Even after three months of negotiations, there is still a lot of uncertainty about the next coronavirus stimulus package. However, President Donald Trump still seems very determined to release another big relief package. If Congress passes another round of coronavirus stimulus checks, then citizens living outside the U.S. or residents of U.S. territories or Freely Associated States should clear up their doubts now. This will help them claim their check quickly.
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How will my check arrive?
Before we answer other more crucial questions, one thing you need to know is that U.S. citizens living outside the U.S. were eligible for the first round of payments under the CARES Act. If Congress passes another round, they will likely follow the same rules. This means citizens living outside the U.S. would be eligible for coronavirus stimulus checks if they meet the other basic requirements.
There have been plenty of questions from people living outside the U.S. about how their payment will arrive. A simple answer to this is that your payment will arrive the same way your first payment did. Those living outside the country would have received their first payment either via direct deposit or a check mailed to the address the IRS had from your tax return or from your Social Security retirement or other federal benefit program.
If you want to make changes, either to your direct deposit information or your mailing address, then you should do it now.
Another common question is from those living in a U.S. territory, who want to know if they will be eligible for the second check or not. People living in the U.S. territories of Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, American Samoa, Guam or the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands were eligible for the first payment.
Thus, they are likely to be eligible for the second payment as well. However, people living in U.S. territories didn’t get the first payment directly from the IRS. Rather, their local tax authorities handed out the payment using information from the IRS.
Thus, if Congress approves another round of stimulus checks, and you don’t get your check, then you need to get in touch with your local tax authority.
Will residents of Freely Associated States get stimulus checks?
Another common question is from those living in the Freely Associated States, who also want to know if they will be eligible for the second payment or not. Residents of the Republic of Palau, the Republic of the Marshall Islands and the Federated States of Micronesia may not be eligible for the payment.
However, if you are a U.S. resident but currently live in the Freely Associated States, then you may be eligible for the second payment.
Once Congress approves the second coronavirus stimulus package and checks, you will be able to get an update on your payment by visiting the IRS Get My Payment webpage.
