I might be on the wrong track here, but one option for assistance with US tax forms for foreign nationals might be to apply for a US stock trading account through a local stockbroker.
I setup a US trading account several years ago here in Australia through CommSec (local bank broker). I had to fill out a W8-BEN and a few other forms but they provided a full guide on how to do it. Just a thought.
Not quite. From a preliminary reading, it seems to me that there might be special exemptions on dividends from stocks and other instruments for nonresident alien individuals that don't extend to other kinds of income.
On the other hand, does Apple really need a TIN at all? Some people report that Apple is happy to have you skip it on the W-8BEN you submit to them because the 70% on iphone apps is 'sales/commission' and not 'royalties', hence not taxable at all (for non-US developers). I have asked Apple for clarification and am waiting to hear.
I setup a US trading account several years ago here in Australia through CommSec (local bank broker). I had to fill out a W8-BEN and a few other forms but they provided a full guide on how to do it. Just a thought.