Zachris

We have already sent in our package to remove conditions, so perhaps this question is too little too late for us. But, What do people mean by joint credit cards as evidence? When my wife came to the US she was basically a nobody -- no credit history and therefore a non-person in the US financial system. At the time I looked at applying for some joint credit cards and found that those things generally do not exist any more. I could include her as an authorized user of my credit cards, but doing that does not show up on the credit card statement. So, how could that be evidence? More importantly, I felt it was important to start a credit history for my wife. We began with a secured credit card. Basically, this is a credit card wherein you provide a deposit and this becomes the basis of your credit line on the card. You want to choose a card that regularly reports to the credit agencies, so that your good behavior can build credit. After two years of this, my wife was able to get a regular credit card with no annual fee and no deposit required. She now is a "somebody" according the the US financial system. I believe that obtaining this credit identity for her was an important step in providing for her should anything happen to me. So, when I sent in my evidence there were no joint credit cards. Joint utility bills seems to be a fiction that does not exist for my utility providers. I could have put her name on the telephone account, but that would have cost $60 (essentially the cost of starting a new account). So that did not make financial sense. Similarly, putting her name on my existing mortgage would have been treated as a re-finance. Again, something that did not make financial sense. Yes, we bought a car and her name is on the title and the joint car loan. I also have her as beneficiary of all my insurances, investments and retirement accounts. And, she is certainly on my health insurance. Most importantly, we had a child together. And my wife is the chief alternate in our daughter's educational investment account. So, I think we have enough financial evidence. I am just wondering about those credit cards. Do you have credit cards as joint accounts? Or is one person merely an "authorized" user and you are counting that? If you truly have a joint credit card account, what card/bank is it from?