I only have 5 months of joint account statements for I751

[PeteC78 0]

My wife and i had separate bank accounts since she came here.  We meant to merge them but simply never got around to doing it until about 5 months ago and we’ll have only 5 months of bank statements as “joint” when we send in our filing for I-751.  I do have joint tax filings last 2 yrs, joint deed to house, joint homeowners policy, electric bills, authorized credit card user statements (5 months), company group life insurance with her as beneficiary, on my medical/dental/vision insurance, beneficiary to my 401k and IRA, joint car title and car registration, emergency contacts for each other, state ID for her and my drivers license showing same address, gym memberships for both of us showing our address…and then pics of trips with hotel/flight receipts, pics with family/friends/church.  I think i’m good for the most part but I’m just afraid of only having inly last 5 months of bank statements as joint.  Will i be ok?

Edited August 9 by PeteC78
Added this was for i751

[Cw1977 219]

19 minutes ago, PeteC78 said:

My wife and i had separate bank accounts since she came here.  We meant to merge them but simply never got around to doing it until about 5 months ago and we’ll have only 5 months of bank statements as “joint” when we send in our filing for I-751.  I do have joint tax filings last 2 yrs, joint deed to house, joint homeowners policy, electric bills, authorized credit card user statements (5 months), company group life insurance with her as beneficiary, on my medical/dental/vision insurance, beneficiary to my 401k and IRA, joint car title and car registration, emergency contacts for each other, state ID for her and my drivers license showing same address, gym memberships for both of us showing our address…and then pics of trips with hotel/flight receipts, pics with family/friends/church.  I think i’m good for the most part but I’m just afraid of only having inly last 5 months of bank statements as joint.  Will i be ok?

it’s not ideal but highly unlikely to be an issue. Provided you both have an account with the same address and can show bills coming out of both, there’s no problem at all. Have a joint account isn’t a requirement. Living together as a couple is. Not everyone combines finances. Don’t worry! Submit both account statements and that should be fine 

[OldUser 10,390]

Submit what you have. Keep collecting evidence. If USCIS needs more later, you'll have it.

 

Good luck!

[mindthegap 2,677]

You cannot provide what doesn't exist. Send what you have, and keep accumulating stuff. 

[TBoneTX 47,923]

In addition (actually, before anything), shop for a lawyer who can draft wills, medical & financial powers of attorney, and similar estate documents.  These make superlative evidence for ROC, and they're even more crucial to have in "life."  Remember that if you move from one U.S. state to another, your will may need to be redone to conform to specific protocols and language.

[Fr8dog 474]

On 8/8/2025 at 10:56 PM, PeteC78 said:

we’ll have only 5 months of bank statements as “joint” when we send in our filing for I-751.  

 

That's five more then we had/have. 

 

Rest of your list looks pretty solid to me.

[Sukie 1,504]

Just put a note in your cover letter that you kept separate finances until xx/xx/xx when you opened a joint account.  Be sure that some of your household expenses show up on the statements - i.e. so you prove it's not just a "place holder" account.

 

You should be fine!

 

Best of luck on your journey.

 

Sukie in NY

[FeelingYoung66 25]

PeteC78.. I had a good chuckle reading your post. What are you worried about? IMO your evidence is overwhelming.. likely far beyond the average I-751 applicant.

[OldUser 10,390]

3 minutes ago, FeelingYoung66 said:

PeteC78.. I had a good chuckle reading your post. What are you worried about? IMO your evidence is overwhelming.. likely far beyond the average I-751 applicant.

5 months of joint bank account statements.

At the time of filing, some may have 21 months+ of statements. At least I had, since I merged funds before AOS 

[PeteC78 0]

On 8/17/2025 at 10:44 PM, FeelingYoung66 said:

PeteC78.. I had a good chuckle reading your post. What are you worried about? IMO your evidence is overwhelming.. likely far beyond the average I-751 applicant.

I’m worried about showing commingling of finances since we got married.

[TBoneTX 47,923]

Wills and powers of attorney indicate commingling of finances.  Get these drafted.  In addition, do what Sukie says above.

[FeelingYoung66 25]

2 hours ago, PeteC78 said:

I’m worried about showing commingling of finances since we got married.

In my opinion you shouldn't be worried at all. You have an abundance of strong evidence. Have some faith in what you have prepared. You're good to go.

 

Want more reassurance? My wife's combo I-751/N-400 interview was just two days ago. (3-yr rule on the N-400) For the I-751 we had no joint financial accounts of any kind to show (we each have our own separately) and the house we live in, purchased after marriage, is in my name only. Utilities are also in my name only. No wills, and no POA's. Otherwise, we did have much of the same evidence that you have but with five years of joint tax return transcripts downloaded from the IRS's website as opposed to your two. The examiner never even brought up the topic of the house deed or of any financial accounts, joint or otherwise. Most of these guys realize that this is 2025, not 1985, and that spouses now often keep their finances separate. The examiner did keep copies of joint insurances (house and auto) and a joint car lease agreement. Also kept our tax transcripts. And that was pretty much it financially. He was more interested in how we met and our life story since then. He liked our photos showing travel together and at family group events like Thanksgiving and such. Don't let anyone tell you that photos aren't helpful in an I-751 application and interview. They carry more weight than you might think. Good luck to you, and for Pete's sake... just relax. Speak the truth and you'll pass with flying colors.

Edited September 1 by FeelingYoung66

[PeteC78 0]

8 hours ago, FeelingYoung66 said:

In my opinion you shouldn't be worried at all. You have an abundance of strong evidence. Have some faith in what you have prepared. You're good to go.

 

Want more reassurance? My wife's combo I-751/N-400 interview was just two days ago. (3-yr rule on the N-400) For the I-751 we had no joint financial accounts of any kind to show (we each have our own separately) and the house we live in, purchased after marriage, is in my name only. Utilities are also in my name only. No wills, and no POA's. Otherwise, we did have much of the same evidence that you have but with five years of joint tax return transcripts downloaded from the IRS's website as opposed to your two. The examiner never even brought up the topic of the house deed or of any financial accounts, joint or otherwise. Most of these guys realize that this is 2025, not 1985, and that spouses now often keep their finances separate. The examiner did keep copies of joint insurances (house and auto) and a joint car lease agreement. Also kept our tax transcripts. And that was pretty much it financially. He was more interested in how we met and our life story since then. He liked our photos showing travel together and at family group events like Thanksgiving and such. Don't let anyone tell you that photos aren't helpful in an I-751 application and interview. They carry more weight than you might think. Good luck to you, and for Pete's sake... just relax. Speak the truth and you'll pass with flying colors.

Did your wife get approved?

Was she approved?

[FeelingYoung66 25]

2 hours ago, PeteC78 said:

Did your wife get approved?

Was she approved?

Oops.. forgot that part. Yes.. approved on both. We were comfortable in the interview from the start.

 

Some other things that might have made the officer's decision an easy one..

1) We're older than most K1 couples. I'm in my late 60's and my wife in her late 50's.

2) We dressed nicely. Business casual. I was shocked at how some of those in the waiting room were dressed for their appointments. One guy in a old t-shirt that wasn't even tucked-in.

3) My K1 spouse is from Canada. which is a very low-fraud country. Probably the lowest.

4) We had good quality photos documenting our relationship over a 12 year period. (Marriage was five years ago.)

5) Our three-inch binder of "evidence" was well organized with lots of cover sheets that said what the next page was. Everything (originals and copies) were in clear plastic protectors. The examiner never even got to the end of the binder where the affidavit letters were.

 

It was also a Friday afternoon before a three-day weekend. Goverment employee's are always in a happy mood on such days.

 

Again PeteC78.. your preparation as you have described it is fine. Way more than adequate. Relax and enjoy your interview. Check back with us when it's done.

Edited September 1 by FeelingYoung66
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