Cannot open joint account or add wife to bank account.

[Tidus992 47]

I went today to my current bank, and they could not add my wife to my account the Passport SS# and marriage certificate was not enough,,  went to a new bank and tried to open an account, again Passport SS# and marriage certificate was not enough, this one said she needed a permanent resident card, the lady was like when she has the card come back , I was like duh I need this to get a permanent residence card/green card.   What to do what to do, a joint account isn't needed to much if you happen to get an interview is it?  We have a utility bill with both our names,  2 credit cards that I added her as a authorized user with her name on the card,  I have her under my health insurance and some life insurance, and she is a beneficiary for my 401k and others.

 

 

 

 

Edited August 13, 2019 by Tidus992

[Just Paul 4,591]

3 minutes ago, Tidus992 said:

I went today to my current bank, and they could not add my wife to my account the Passport SS# and marriage certificate was not enough,,  went to a new bank and tried to open an account, again Passport SS# and marriage certificate was not enough, this one said she needed a permanent resident card, the lady was like when she has the card come back , I was like duh I need this to get a permanent residence card/green card.   What to do what to do, a joint account isn't needed to much if you happen to get an interview is it?  We have a utility bill with both our names,  2 credit cards that I added her as a authorized user with her name on the card,  I have her under my health insurance and some life instance, and she is a beneficiary for my 401k and others.

 

 

 

 

That is too bad about the banks.  I was able to add my wife to a regional bank and credit union account but not to Chase.

 

I wouldn't worry too much about it.  The other items you have are very good.

[Just Paul 4,591]

For each of you, you can also do a will and medical power of attorney.  Find the forms online and get them notarized, at your bank, for free

 

[Pengunista 221]

22 minutes ago, Tidus992 said:

I went today to my current bank, and they could not add my wife to my account the Passport SS# and marriage certificate was not enough,,  went to a new bank and tried to open an account, again Passport SS# and marriage certificate was not enough, this one said she needed a permanent resident card, the lady was like when she has the card come back , I was like duh I need this to get a permanent residence card/green card.   What to do what to do, a joint account isn't needed to much if you happen to get an interview is it?  We have a utility bill with both our names,  2 credit cards that I added her as a authorized user with her name on the card,  I have her under my health insurance and some life insurance, and she is a beneficiary for my 401k and others.

 

 

 

 

Did your wife changed her last name  when you guys got married? I’m asking because Chase and I think Wells Fargo was able to add me to my husbands old chase account and they only ask for my passport and utility bill as proof of residency, but the name on the passport needs to match with the name that’s on the utility bill. 

[Tidus992 47]

6 minutes ago, Pengunista said:

Did your wife changed her last name  when you guys got married? I’m asking because Chase and I think Wells Fargo was able to add me to my husbands old chase account and they only ask for my passport and utility bill as proof of residency, but the name on the passport needs to match with the name that’s on the utility bill. 

It didn't even get that far, she just said sorry come back when you have the card.

[PelagijaP 67]

Yup, we haven’t been able to get me added onto my husbands bank account either. It was frustrating because bank manager asked if I have AOS NOA1 letter(forgot what is it’s name), but when I took it out of my bag, she then said she needs some official document from USCIS with my photo in it. Don’t know why the heck did she ask for that letter then.

[Naes 12,205]

I was added to my husbands then fiancé’s Wells Fargo when I wasn’t even a resident and came here on a tourist visa for a visit.

 

 I would go and talk to them just in case. I know I wasn’t able to open my own account but adding to joint was no problem at all.

 

now another thing is after marriage they didn’t do my name change.

because the only official thing I had from uscis was my k1visa which was not valid anymore. So for that I waited till my EAD to arrive.

Edited August 14, 2019 by Naes

[KULtoATL 1,551]

Try Bank of America. They are immigrant friendly. I managed to get a joint account when I arrived on my K-1. I didn't even try other banks having read plenty of threads with people saying they got rejected. 

[GyC 78]

1 hour ago, KULtoATL said:

Try Bank of America. They are immigrant friendly. I managed to get a joint account when I arrived on my K-1. I didn't even try other banks having read plenty of threads with people saying they got rejected. 

I agree with KultoAtl... my wife and I share Bank of America bank accounts. They allowed her to be added to the accounts right after marriage, before we filed for AOS. Very easy and helpful. Best of luck!

[Lana&Ivy 215]

2 hours ago, KULtoATL said:

Try Bank of America. They are immigrant friendly. I managed to get a joint account when I arrived on my K-1. I didn't even try other banks having read plenty of threads with people saying they got rejected. 

I second this.  I was added to my husband's B of A accounts as soon as we got the Marriage Certificate.  The bank employee who helped us was an immigrant himself and told us he wanted to make it as easy as possible for me because he's been in my shoes and knows how overwhelming moving here can be.  It was a wonderful experience.

[sashsash 208]

22 minutes ago, Lana&Ivy said:

I second this.  I was added to my husband's B of A accounts as soon as we got the Marriage Certificate.  The bank employee who helped us was an immigrant himself and told us he wanted to make it as easy as possible for me because he's been in my shoes and knows how overwhelming moving here can be.  It was a wonderful experience.

That's nice When I went there to open a bank account they said that I need to have any ID with my new last name (obviously I changed it and back then I didn't have state ID) since my SSN is already on my married name. They didn't accept marriage certificate as a proof of name change lol

After I got my state ID I opened an account in Wells Fargo but I cannot be added to my husband's account at Chase (they require green card).

[Scott001 119]

You should be able to open an account w/o any problems. I was able to open a joint account at a credit union. I had to be the primary and my wife was the secondary. She does not have a SSN/ITIN or anything. We just used her passport. 

 

We did however fill out the ever mysterious W8-BEN. Here's another post on it. 

 

[EDIT] There's some good information in that thread. 

 

 

 

Edited August 14, 2019 by Scott001

[Pitaya 2,576]

Like a few others have commented, credit unions seem to be more immigrant-friendly. We were able to start a debit card/checking account with my wife with no problems. Actually, we also did a used car loan, where I was the co-signer on the loan. Trying to build up her credit rating. Gotta love credit unions.

[spring333 44]

I had acc on TFC or whatever the name of the bank inside Jewel is while on tourist visa. Lots of banks do that. Try somewhere else. 

[Pengunista 221]

1 hour ago, sashsash said:

That's nice When I went there to open a bank account they said that I need to have any ID with my new last name (obviously I changed it and back then I didn't have state ID) since my SSN is already on my married name. They didn't accept marriage certificate as a proof of name change lol

After I got my state ID I opened an account in Wells Fargo but I cannot be added to my husband's account at Chase (they require green card).

That’s odd, I guess each Chase has different policy? My husband was not able to add me to his USAA account so we looked around to other bank and we asked Chase since my husband has an old account with them and all they asked me is a utility bill that’s has my name and my passport that matches the name on the utility bill, and that’s it.  She was able to add me.