Joint bank account alternative options ? for proof

[Purple_Paladin 25]

I hope it's ok to create a new post for this as it's a different subject that doesn't really fall under the first.

 

So, we did not get a joint bank account yet. My husband isn't allowed to work yet, so we were waiting until he was allowed. Also, it was just easier since it took a while for the banks to hash out the situation with the funds for some reason. (French banks seem to be a nightmare, or maybe just his.) 

In any case, he finally has his funds transferred and he has his own account. To help pay bills, he just transfers money to me and I pay them. We were going to split it up once he had a job, but that's what we've been doing for now.

 

Is his bank account mailed to our home enough proof that he's living here with me as a couple? We do have a joint phone bill now, he and my step-daughter are on my plan and they send me the funds to pay, I can print out and include a copy of the bill.

They are also on my health insurance plan now, I can print something with that? Or just photocopy the cards?

In addition to this I have photos of us of course, our wedding, us with the family, us at trivia night with my brother, etc...

Would these work?

 

TIA!

 

[OldUser 10,691]

Well, if he set up his own account, why couldn't he open a joint account?

 

You're not required to merge all funds per se, but for many it makes sense combining at least some funds for recurring costs such as rent, utility bills, car loans. From outsider's view (like USCIS adjudicator) it may look like one of you or both of you have trust issues in relationship manifesting in unwillingness to share finances. Like one YouTube lawyer said, sending money back and forth from individual accounts looks like roommates sharing bills? How are you planning to receive tax refund, for example, who will receive it? If you have a joint account, it just goes there. 

 

I'm not trying to accuse you of anything, but laying out thinking an officer with old school thinking may have.

 

Absolutely print and add any other evidence of comingling life lile health or car insurance. Finance is a big piece of puzzle though and you may need to explain your arrangement in rational way to officer 

Edited 23 hours ago by OldUser

[TBoneTX 48,148]

You should also strongly consider drafting estate documents -- wills, medical & durable powers of attorney, HIPAA releases, etc.  No matter how young you are or how little you think you have, you don't want to be without these.

 

These documents are superior evidence for Removing Conditions (your next step after this), and they're even more crucial to have in "life" as early as possible.  See if Pennsylvania has officially compatible forms somewhere on the state/Commonwealth's official website; if not, shop for an attorney who can draft them inexpensively.  I'm not a lawyer, but I specifically asked one, and she said that estate/probate attorneys make their biggest money off people who "do these forms themselves from templates on the Internet," so keep that in mind.   

[Purple_Paladin 25]

9 minutes ago, OldUser said:

Well, if he set up his own account, why couldn't you open joint account?

We absolutely could have, it was just a time issue. Setting up his account (and my step-daughters) took the bank 2 days of back and forth and it was time I didn't have between school and work. So I figured we'd worry about the joint account later when he had a job since it took so long just for that much. 
I basically set it aside to use the time for things that seemed more important at the time. (i.e.- getting them both cell phones here and health insurance here.)

 

Honestly, I'm just trying to do the best I can with the time I have here. Nursing school + working full time + all of the requirements for AOS = 🫠

I'm doing my best.

 

So the things we do have aren't good enough then? We need to go get the joint account? I can if I must, but I was hoping to get this packet out by Saturday morning. I work tomorrow and I have a ton of reading to catch up on. And everything with the banks takes so darn long. I just wanted to attempt to get the packet out within the 90 day time frame, if possible.

[TBoneTX 48,148]

3 minutes ago, Purple_Paladin said:

So the things we do have aren't good enough then? We need to go get the joint account?

You don't really need much at all for AOS*; the marriage certificate within 90 days should suffice.

     *unless requirements have changed since my time

Couples have separate bank accounts all the time -- USCIS knows this.

Send what you have and fret less.   

[OldUser 10,691]

1 minute ago, Purple_Paladin said:

We absolutely could have, it was just a time issue. Setting up his account (and my step-daughters) took the bank 2 days of back and forth and it was time I didn't have between school and work. So I figured we'd worry about the joint account later when he had a job since it took so long just for that much. 
I basically set it aside to use the time for things that seemed more important at the time. (i.e.- getting them both cell phones here and health insurance here.)

 

Honestly, I'm just trying to do the best I can with the time I have here. Nursing school + working full time + all of the requirements for AOS = 🫠

I'm doing my best.

 

So the things we do have aren't good enough then? We need to go get the joint account? I can if I must, but I was hoping to get this packet out by Saturday morning. I work tomorrow and I have a ton of reading to catch up on. And everything with the banks takes so darn long. I just wanted to attempt to get the packet out within the 90 day time frame, if possible.

Opening an account could be done online in many cases. If he already opened account with a particular bank, they'll be happy to open joint a lot easier now that he is known to them.

Bonus food for thought... One of you suddenly dies tomorrow. Wouldn't be nice to allow the other spouse access funds quickly to cover expenses? Especially with children involved. 

 

My advice is to do the most, not the least you can. Don't delay paperwork, send it out, it's a priority. But set up joint things in the background. USCIS will expect a lot more proof of comingling life at I-751 and N-400 stages. 

 

Good luck!

[TBoneTX 48,148]

Addendum:    For Removing Conditions (next step), you WILL have to provide lots of bona fide evidence.

Take everything relevant in hard-copy form that comes in from this point forward, and throw it into a box.

Set up a special computer folder for everything digital that comes in, and transfer relevant stuff into it.

By ROC time, you'll have the high-class problem of deciding what NOT to include.

[Purple_Paladin 25]

20 minutes ago, OldUser said:

You're not required to merge all funds per se, but for many it makes sense combining at least some funds for recurring costs such as rent, utility bills, car loans.

We'll have a joint account for the bills by the time we have an interview, if not sooner. It really was just a time issue after the accounts they have took so long to be set up. I just figured it would go more smoothly once they had the AOS and docs the banks were more familiar with. As it stands they got some form they were asked to fill out that I don't think they are supposed to have to fill out. Something from the IRS labeled "Individual Nonresident Alien Checklist" with Form W-8BEN "Certificate of Foreign Status of Beneficial Owner for US Tax Withholding Individuals"
It makes no sense to any of us because on the document, it says right on the form that you don't need this form if you are a "US person, including a resident alien individual" which I thought is what they are. I was hoping that sending AOS, I-485 approval would fix it... or maybe I-797... in any case, that's tomorrow's problem.

 

For today I'm trying to ascertain if a copy of the cell phone bill and their individual accounts is enough for now? 

[TBoneTX 48,148]

21 minutes ago, Purple_Paladin said:

I'm trying to ascertain if a copy of the cell phone bill and their individual accounts is enough for now

That's fine!  Fret less.

[W199 500]

58 minutes ago, TBoneTX said:

You don't really need much at all for AOS*; the marriage certificate within 90 days should suffice.

     *unless requirements have changed since my time

Couples have separate bank accounts all the time -- USCIS knows this.

Send what you have and fret less.   

Yup, all we sent was the marriage certificate and maybe some wedding photos. You just arrived from overseas, and just got married. Unless it looks like fraud for some reason, that's all you need. 

 

It is for the ROC, I-751, that you need all the evidence to show that you are living as husband and wife. Keep in mind to plan ahead for doing a joint lease or joint house title, because that is one of the keys.  and comingling the finances. 

[SalishSea 18,579]

8 hours ago, Purple_Paladin said:

US person, including a resident alien individual

They are not resident aliens yet though.  Not until they have their green cards.

 

We did a K-1, and as soon as my husband had his SSN, we just went to my credit union and opened a joint account.  We also have our own personal accounts there.  It was no big deal and did not take days and days.  If that's what you've encountered, I'd try a different bank/credit union.