Need help with I-134

[brener69 114]

Hello VJ community, I have searched for this answer but have had no luck in finding it. I am needing to switch banks before my finacee's interview and I am wondering if this will create a problem. I can get a letter from the bank as far as deposits go. I have another bank account already but it has been just a secondary spending account and not my main account. I would really appreciate any help on this. 

[EmmNM 179]

13 minutes ago, brener69 said:

Hello VJ community, I have searched for this answer but have had no luck in finding it. I am needing to switch banks before my finacee's interview and I am wondering if this will create a problem. I can get a letter from the bank as far as deposits go. I have another bank account already but it has been just a secondary spending account and not my main account. I would really appreciate any help on this. 

I dont know the answer to this sorry. I defer to somebody else. But isnt there anyway you can just stay in the bank a bit longer? Thats what I would do. Or keep that old one at least open so you can get a letter from them. Even if you transfer your money. That way you could include a letter from both banks to show the money trail.

[kris&me 572]

should not be an issue

have u been asked in an RFE to show bank statements?

if so, just provide what is asked

but usually they do not ask to see these

[JoelThai 313]

1 hour ago, brener69 said:

Hello VJ community, I have searched for this answer but have had no luck in finding it. I am needing to switch banks before my finacee's interview and I am wondering if this will create a problem. I can get a letter from the bank as far as deposits go. I have another bank account already but it has been just a secondary spending account and not my main account. I would really appreciate any help on this. 

 

If your income does not meet the Poverty Guidelines, evidence of bank deposits and other liquid assets are requested to be provided.   One of the items requested for evidence is a letter from the bank showing deposit amounts, date of the account opening, and deposits over the last year.

 

The reason that the date of account opening is important is that it is used to determine if an account has been newly opened which could be an indication that assets have been "borrowed or loaned" and only held for a short period of time and will be returned after the visa has been issued.

 

If it is necessary to transfer funds to a new bank, I would first get a letter from the "old" bank documenting the above (date of account opening, current balance, deposits for last 12 months) before closing the account.   After the new account is opened at the new bank, do the same.   This way you are prepared to show that you have held the assets for a reasonable period of time and can explain that the assets have been transferred if it is questioned during the Embassy Interview.

Edited July 4, 2018 by JoelThai

[brener69 114]

5 minutes ago, JoelThai said:

 

If your income does not meet the Poverty Guidelines, evidence of bank deposits and other liquid assets are requested to be provided.   One of the items requested for evidence is a letter from the bank showing deposit amounts, date of the account opening, and deposits over the last year.

 

The reason that the date of account opening is important is that it is used to determine if an account has been newly opened which could be an indication that assets have been "borrowed or loaned" and only held for a short period of time and will be returned after the visa has been issued.

 

If it is necessary to transfer funds to a new bank, I would first get a letter from the "old" bank documenting the above (date of account opening, current balance, deposits for last 12 months) before closing the account.   After the new account is opened at the new bank, do the same.   This way you are prepared to show that you have held the assets for a reasonable period of time and can explain that the assets have been transferred if it is questioned during the Embassy Interview.

I meet the poverty guidelines I am not worried about that. The issue is it is a joint account with my ex wife that I took over in the divorce. We divorced 4 years ago and I think it would be better to get rid of that one because I am sure that will probably cause some red flags. We have a good relationship and I have no issue with trust or anything like that. 

[JoelThai 313]

32 minutes ago, kris&me said:

should not be an issue

have u been asked in an RFE to show bank statements?

if so, just provide what is asked

but usually they do not ask to see these

 

Evidence of financial support (I-134) it typically requested by the Embassy prior to Interview.   This is what the OP is prepraring.

You will need to do the same for the US Embassy in Ecuador.   See here:  

https://travel.state.gov/content/dam/visas/K1/GYQ_Guayaquil.pdf

[brener69 114]

35 minutes ago, kris&me said:

should not be an issue

have u been asked in an RFE to show bank statements?

if so, just provide what is asked

but usually they do not ask to see these

No I just sent in my I-129F last month so I don't even expect anything to happen for 5 or 6 months.

[EmmNM 179]

2 minutes ago, brener69 said:

I meet the poverty guidelines I am not worried about that. The issue is it is a joint account with my ex wife that I took over in the divorce. We divorced 4 years ago and I think it would be better to get rid of that one because I am sure that will probably cause some red flags. We have a good relationship and I have no issue with trust or anything like that. 

It shouldn't matter that your ex wife used to be on the account. All that matters is that she is not now. The bank is not going to put her name on the letter. As long as she has been removed from the account.

Edited July 4, 2018 by EmmNM

[JoelThai 313]

1 minute ago, brener69 said:

I meet the poverty guidelines I am not worried about that. The issue is it is a joint account with my ex wife that I took over in the divorce. We divorced 4 years ago and I think it would be better to get rid of that one because I am sure that will probably cause some red flags. We have a good relationship and I have no issue with trust or anything like that. 

 

Seems reasonable.  As mentioned in the instructions for the I-134, before closing the account, as I suggested, get a letter from the officer of the bank stating the following:

 

(1) Date account opened;
(2) Total amount deposited for the past year; and

(3) Present balance.

 

Then do the same after the new account is opened.   That way you have evidence of continued holding of the assets.

[brener69 114]

4 minutes ago, EmmNM said:

It shouldn't matter that your ex wife used to be on the account. All that matters is that she is not now. The bank is not going to put her name on the letter. As long as she has been removed from the account.

That's the issue is that she is still on the account. The only way to remove a joint account holder is if they die.

[JoelThai 313]

5 minutes ago, EmmNM said:

It shouldn't matter that your ex wife used to be on the account. All that matters is that she is not now. The bank is not going to put her name on the letter. As long as she has been removed from the account.

 

This is probably even better.   If possible, have her removed from the account.

[brener69 114]

3 minutes ago, JoelThai said:

 

Seems reasonable.  As mentioned in the instructions for the I-134, before closing the account, as I suggested, get a letter from the officer of the bank stating the following:

 

(1) Date account opened;
(2) Total amount deposited for the past year; and

(3) Present balance.

 

Then do the same after the new account is opened.   That way you have evidence of continued holding of the assets.

That's what I was planning on doing I just didn't know if it would raise any flags or not with the Consulate 

[EmmNM 179]

2 minutes ago, brener69 said:

That's the issue is that she is still on the account. The only way to remove a joint account holder is if they die.

That can't be true? I removed my ex husband easily from my bank account. We just both had to sign something at the bank.

 

If there is absolutely no way to remove her then do what the others have said. Get a bank letter before you close. Get a new bank letter when you open. And document any bank transfers or cashiers checks that you may get.

[JoelThai 313]

16 minutes ago, brener69 said:

That's what I was planning on doing I just didn't know if it would raise any flags or not with the Consulate 

 

See if you can get the letter from the bank officer without your ex-wifes name on it.  That is all that is required as supporting evidence for the I-134.   You do not need to provide actual bank statements.   If the letter only has your name on it, the Consulate Officer will not beware that it is a joint account.   But if the bank requires the name of both account holders on the letter, I think you will need to include letters from both the old and new accounts with a note of explanation.   Alone, each letter would have a red flag, the first because it is a joint account, and the second because the account is new.

Edited July 4, 2018 by JoelThai

[JoelThai 313]

And FWIW, if you have income that is significantly about the Poverty Guideline, you could probably skip any documentation of other assets.   It seems (unfortunately) that most people do not have any savings to document, so it would not be unusual to not include it.