how far back should bank statements go?

[meredith and zac 5]

I really don't want to print out 2 years worth of bank statements... how have you guys sent in transaction history for joint bank accounts?

[drlarryclements 4]

Unfortunately, I had the same impression. I got RFE'd. I just sent last Thursday 3 years of her acct (used for her payroll), our combined household acct, and our combined savings acct. 3 years of IRS filings, proof of car insurance, health insurance for 3 years, combined credit card statements as well.

They want it through the life of the marriage.

[Inky 1,110]

Send 2 years for all your evidence. Do not make a mess of this. LOTS of rfes have been handed out lately for people not sending 2 years of evidence.

Pick 1 print out for every couple of months for the last 2 years. For every item you are sending. Bank account, mortgage, certificates, bills etc.

[Nich-Nick 3,353]

I sent about four (beginning, middle, recent)and the first page only, to show the date and our joint names. My bank also includes small prints of each check written in that month. We write very few checks but I had made an effort that each of us mix it up on who was going to write the monthly check to pay the two we write checks to consistently every month. I picked about about three sample months that showed each of us writing checks on the account and made sure there was a sample of each of us paying the yard guy for example. I only sent those check pages and not the whole statement. My thoughts were-- I wanted to show joint account, different dates, and that we both pay the same people with a minimum of paper. Some feel like overwhelming them with gobs of paper is good. I want to make a clear point that they can easily see and each page has meaning. I also sent only the front page of our tax transcripts. It's not about income, but year filed, both names, married filing jointly. I also highlight what I want them to easily find...names, dates. I'm sure many don't agree, but I never got an RFE from start to citizenship so it worked for us.

Edited April 28, 2013 by Nich-Nick

[I & G 1]

I sent one statement for every couple months covering two years.

[SamBillz 23]

I did the same as I&G.

[newlyweds2010 208]

I sent complete (not just the first page) statements for every 3-4 months since we opened our joint bank account right after getting married until the time of submission of the package.

[Done--Really 331]

There have been far too many RFE's recently for folks who tried to take short cuts in supplying evidence--don't fo it. Why even consider a short cut when it is only paper and a little more postage ??