Chase Bank is giving me Mixed Signals

[dr0wsydruid 5]

We haven't filed the i-130 yet, and I don't have an ITIN. I don't have proof of residence (like a utility bill) because I don't live here yet. 
All we want is to add me to my husband's chequing account through Chase bank. 
When I called the info line for Chase, I was told all I would need is my passport, and that would be it. That I could go in, with husb, and set up to be added to his chequing account, with JUST PHOTO ID.
I called a branch we were going to go to, and the lady there told me that I needed photo ID (passport,) AND state ID, OR a photo ID and proof of my address in the US. 
I don't. Have? A state ID? Nor do I have a US address. We're trying to add me to his bank account so that we can start putting our  finances together in preparation for the i-130 and me moving here. 
What on earth do I have to do to figure this out and get it done? When I talked to the lady at the branch, and I mentioned that I don't even have an ITIN yet, she genuinely didn't know what an ITIN was. 
This is exhausting. Advice? 

[WaterLeaf 199]

Keep trying. There will be a lot of people who do not know what to do about this situation. Go to the branch in person and talk to someone higher up who can manage it, not someone who can't get something done for you. If they can't, go to another bank who would.

 

Some bank asks for specific information, some don't.

[gregcrs2 1,777]

Stop worrying about it.  Just get added to the checking account when you reside in the USA.  Not having joint financials prior to entering the USA should have no effect on getting your spousal visa.  We filed I-130 a few days after getting married and added my spouse to the checking account a few weeks after arriving in the USA.  

[SalishSea 16,770]

I think the Patriot Act is what has impacted ID requirements in the banking industry.  My husband had to have his Washington state driver's license before we could open a joint account at my credit union.

 

Can your husband add you to other things, such as utility bills? Beneficiary of investments/savings accounts etc?

 

Are you coming from BC to Seattle?  Washington state is one of the more lenient ones in terms of issuing drivers licenses to immigrants.  My husband did have to take the written and road tests, but he didn't have to wait for the EAD/AOS etc.

[Going through 5,668]

30 minutes ago, aestherisms said:

We haven't filed the i-130 yet, and I don't have an ITIN. I don't have proof of residence (like a utility bill) because I don't live here yet. 
All we want is to add me to my husband's chequing account through Chase bank. 
When I called the info line for Chase, I was told all I would need is my passport, and that would be it. That I could go in, with husb, and set up to be added to his chequing account, with JUST PHOTO ID.
I called a branch we were going to go to, and the lady there told me that I needed photo ID (passport,) AND state ID, OR a photo ID and proof of my address in the US. 
I don't. Have? A state ID? Nor do I have a US address. We're trying to add me to his bank account so that we can start putting our  finances together in preparation for the i-130 and me moving here. 
What on earth do I have to do to figure this out and get it done? When I talked to the lady at the branch, and I mentioned that I don't even have an ITIN yet, she genuinely didn't know what an ITIN was. 
This is exhausting. Advice? 

When I got on my husband's Chase account, I used my Canadian passport and my Canadian drivers licence.  The photo ID doesn't have to be American ID (unless Chase has changed their policies).  I would call back the branch and ask to speak to an account manager/financial services manager for clarification.  Alternatively, wait until you are in the US, have your husband add you to the utility bills, and use that.

Edited January 3, 2019 by Going through

[jakejon 1,196]

Chase are a nightmare. I arrived on a K1 and had to wait until I was added on a Utility Bill (which took 1 month) before they would even allow me to be added to my husbands account. I was added prior to his lease and we tried to use that as proof of address but they wouldn't accept that. We went to several branches and all said the same thing. 

 

As mentioned above, it's to do with the Patriot Act. I think you will have an extremely difficult time getting added to your spouse's Chase account especially if you are not present in the US and also not having a Utility (Joint) in your name per say.

Edited January 3, 2019 by jakejon

[Going through 5,668]

Oh forgot to add----check if there are any TD Banks where you live.  Easier to be added to that since TD does cross-border banking with Canadian TD Banks.

[ms_bobdog 501]

Totally unrelated to the question-- why do you need to be added to your husband's account before submitting your i130? If you are thinking proof of relationship, there are many other ways you can do that  

[SalishSea 16,770]

1 minute ago, ms_bobdog said:

Totally unrelated to the question-- why do you need to be added to your husband's account before submitting your i130? If you are thinking proof of relationship, there are many other ways you can do that  

Especially since the petition will likely take close to a year to get to the interview stage.  Plenty of time to accumulate evidence of financial commingling.

[ms_bobdog 501]

Just now, Jorgedig said:

Especially since the petition will likely take close to a year to get to the interview stage.  Plenty of time to accumulate evidence of financial commingling.

Exactly what I was thinking. Besides, if husband and wife live in separate countries, they will not expect too much in way of financial co-mingling. Focusing on time spent together is more meaningful.

[Nitas_man 3,100]

15 hours ago, aestherisms said:

We haven't filed the i-130 yet, and I don't have an ITIN. I don't have proof of residence (like a utility bill) because I don't live here yet. 
All we want is to add me to my husband's chequing account through Chase bank. 
When I called the info line for Chase, I was told all I would need is my passport, and that would be it. That I could go in, with husb, and set up to be added to his chequing account, with JUST PHOTO ID.
I called a branch we were going to go to, and the lady there told me that I needed photo ID (passport,) AND state ID, OR a photo ID and proof of my address in the US. 
I don't. Have? A state ID? Nor do I have a US address. We're trying to add me to his bank account so that we can start putting our  finances together in preparation for the i-130 and me moving here. 
What on earth do I have to do to figure this out and get it done? When I talked to the lady at the branch, and I mentioned that I don't even have an ITIN yet, she genuinely didn't know what an ITIN was. 
This is exhausting. Advice? 

You guys are exhausting yourselves for nothing.  There is no need for financial co-mingling to process an I-130 or an immigrant visa.  

File your petition, get your visa, enter the country, receive green card/SS card, get a drivers license, and then take care of your banking.  The ONLY thing I did after we got married (because the enrollment window opens when you get married) was add my wife to my employer health policy.  It takes a little bit of a fight because they pretend they need a SS number but after I reminded them that they can enroll a newborn and wait for a number they can enroll a new spouse and wait for one as well.

She couldn't use it, but at least she was enrolled.

Edited January 4, 2019 by Nitas_man

[JP John 65]

If you deal with TD in Canada and there is a TD Bank near your USA location they will open you an account with photo ID.  I have had an account for a number of months and I am still in the midst of the K1 process.

[AstroCanada 206]

Chase struggled a lot with adding my husband to my account until he had his physical green card.  The I-551 stamp in his passport when he arrived just did not compute for them.