Kim & Gesner

I never really thought that much about the bank account thing. I am the US citizen, and I don't even have my own bank account. I do everything via cash or reloadable pre-paid credit card. I had a bank account until about 2 years ago when I had a very bad experience with my credit union, which happened to be owned by my employer. By the time their "accounting error" was setteled, it ended up costing ME over $500!! I closed my account and have been just fine ever since. Hopefully it won't be an issue for AOS for my husband, surely I'm not the only American who chooses not to use a bank!

I wouldn't think it would be a problem. A bank account is the not the only way to prove comlingling. If you have a lease or mortgage together, utility bills, health insurance, car insurance, car titles, phone bills, credit cards together or any other proof, you should be fine. I know you aren't the only person in the US without an account. When I divorced in 2006, I took myself off my ex's account (Bank of America). I was finishing school, working and taking care of 2 sons so I did not have much money and did not see paying fee's for a bank account I really could not afford. My student loan money was paid through a college debit card and that's what I used for years. I guess it was sort of like a debit card but it was through the school. They had an office where I could make my paycheck deposits, withdrawals, had an ATM on campus only. I did not have an actual account until I moved to Maryland last year. It's normal to have a bank account but I know there are people who do not use them.

When I was at the interview, the IO asked for the bank statement. He didn't look at it, just need a copy to put it in our file. But it sounds like he expected us to have one.

Opening a bank account doesn't cost anything. Especially with most bank now, if you keep $500 daily balance, it's free. Nothing to lose.

Lawyer is expensive. I didn't want to take a change, skip something that can be done and end up paying a fortune to fix it.

I have a bank account, I am just not going to open another just solely for the purpose of adding him to an account when I can wait until his EAD comes in and we can get his SSN and add him to my already existing account. My direct deposit goes into my account which is also linked with my job so I get special "perks" for working for a "contracted employer" so I am not going to change that. I have read over and over that USCIS understands that newlyweds will not have a lot of joint accounts and when you consider that we just decided to push the marriage up and eloped, we were not really prepared for all of this. I think I submitted plenty of evidence of our relationship. ROC I have been told is where they want to see the comingling of finances, moreso than now.

Maybe I am being naive but I really think we will be fine. I do not think I am going to need a lawyer to fight me not having him on my banking account or health insurance at work when his EAD went into production 10 days before the interview.....

I think that in 9 out of 10 cases, the decision has been all but made before you even walk in the door for the interview. I definitely believe they give beneficiaries from certain countries harder times than others just because of stereotypes that unfortunately exist. I think as long as the forms are filled out and you've included the marriage certificate and some other bits and pieces, you're pretty much ok. I think they like to see more at the interview to see if you've at least tried. I think your explanation regarding the lack of Gesi's SSN is logical and practical - can't make something out of nothing, can you?

Very true! I hope our interview goes smooth. Gesi speaks 4 languages, english being the 4th. I do just fine understanding him but sometimes he has a hard time understanding others, esp with american slang. He doesn't quite understand everything at times. We have been going over the AOS questions posted in the guide section and I am glad we have because some things on there he has to have explained. I think when people ask things too fast, he doesn't pick everything up. But I take my time and explain things.

I bank with BB&T (Branch Banking & Trust) and we defintitely have to wait. I am not going to change banks just to open an account he can be on and I will explain that to immigration. I think too mush fishing for one just looks a little "desperate for evidence" to immigration.... for lack of better word. And I definitely do not mean any harm in that statement, I think everyone is fine just waiting to open an account where you already are. Even if Gesi gets his EAD before Oct 16th, there are no guarantees we will have time to go apply for SSN, we will be cutting it so close that I think I will just wait, explain we JUST got it (if we even do before then) and explain that adding him to my accounts and insurance is one of the first things we plan to do!

I am expecting it to come within a week or two. 30 days seems a bit much.

Am glad that I finally recieved an update after alll this time! Wonder why I haven't got an interview date?

Any Ideas??

Thanks

Most likely it's because your local office is busier than others OR if you are adjusting from a K-1, AOS seems to take a tad bit longer for some, but not all. But that's a very vague glance at other's timelines from other forums so don't take too much into that. It just seems to be hit and miss on those but just a percentage of them seems to take longer than adjusting without going through the K-1 process.

Maybe someone else could shed more light into this for you. But I think most likely it's just your local office.

Congrats on your update! i hope it gets there soon enough so you can have time to do something with it!

I'm just waiting on my FIL...this is getting ridiculous...how much time do you need to put the paperwork together????? UGGGG (vent over)

Having to wait on someone else is the worst!! I am the type that does what needs to be done immediately! I hate wasting time, it's a pet peeve of mine. I am sorry you are having to wait for him. Does he realize how important this issue is?? Does he know you have a time frame to get the paperwork back to USCIS?? Maybe put a bug in his ear about it....

Hi finally back with an update. I got a text... EAD card in production!! Yet no interview date.

Congrats to all!

Am happy to see many people have an interview date

Best of wishes

Nice! We got ours this morning also. Hoping it arrives soon! I don't know how long it normally takes from production to receipt. Guess I can check that out!

So I am sleeping just a few minutes ago and my phone goes off. We got notice his EAD is in production! Our interview is in 10 days so I am not sure what we can get done or if we will even have it by time the interview as it says allow 30 days to receive it, but it was an update!

right! More happy people here when I got the interview letter than anywhere else. Even hubby, when I told him we got the interview, he just smiled and said something like, well isn't that what is suppose to happen? And I was like: yeah! but it means we didn't get an RFE, and everything is fine. And he answered: I knew everything is fine. I was never worried.

so.... yep! VJ august filers are our little family! lo!

Awwwww I am so so sorry Frenchian!! I was so caught up in my little drama that I didn't even see you got your interview date!! Congrats!!!!!

And thanks to everyone, yes we are much like a lil family here

Yes, I followed some of their responses and it is exactly that. Just plain jealousy and really crappy manners. They think they are entitle to talk like that to anyone. Just ignore them (and pretty much the rest of the forums for that matter)

I'm sorry you had to go through that but take it from who is coming from

Thanks! I agree. I am just gonna stick to our Aug AOS thread. I read questions from other's occasionally but do not offer any help because of the forums gods seem to think no one is better educated than them. I might not know all of the answers when it comes to immigration but I have class, and tact. No education can teach you that!

Don't worry about it. I know exactly who are you talking about. They are just annoyed by the fact that you are doing aos and they did cr-1 visas

Yeah I was wondering if me doing AOS had anything to do with it. They totally misread my question...

I asked two questions, the second being "My husbands passport (Haitian passport) expires in May 2013. Once he receives his GC, will he need to apply for a US Passport? Will his Haitian Passport be invalid? I am not sure how any of that works and would appreciate any advice on what happens for travel documents once GC is received"?

I sincerely did not know ONLY US Citizen can have US Passports and really didn't give that much thought. But two different people (big time know it alls on this site) basically attacked me about claiming my husband as a US Citizen, which I did not do. My post is on the AOS thread, anyone can see what I asked and see that I never claimed him to be a US Citizen, I just simply did not know the process once he gets his green card, does he apply for a US Passport or does he renew his Haitian Passport. They totally went off on me telling me about how it's breaking the law, how it can trigger deportation, etc, etc. But I never, ever claimed him to be a US Citizen, I just asked if he applies for a US Passport. Maybe it was a stupid question, but did it really warrant the personal attack?????

Ugh, I have been reemed a new butt hole today by asking a question. I think my time on this site is done....... I can't handle personal attacks on something I did not say or claim. The "know it all" gods that be came down on me, treating me like a freaking kid. I can't stand coming to ask help for a question and being attacked on something completely different. Anyway, I wish you all much luck on your journey. I think I am going to finish mine off site.

Harpa Timsah gave you utterly important and almost priceless advice: asking if your foreign husband should apply for a US passport indicates that you are clueless in these things, which isn't a problem when it comes to trying to learn how to dance, but can be immigration suicide the moment US citizenship is involved.

"False claim of US citizenship," as Harpa indicated, is the worst non-violent crime a foreigner can commit. It's a felony, a crime involving moral turpitude, and reason for expedited deportation with a lifetime bar attached and no waiver available. Because it's such a big honkin' deal, your husband needs to soak this in like a child that's being told that touching the hot iron will hurt badly. It's easy to get lured into committing such crime; people have just marked a field asking if they would like to register to vote when applying for a driver's license, and they are living in their old country again. You may like Haiti, but I'm not sure you would want to live there with your hubby until hell freezes over.

The passport of a country is proof of citizenship and nationality. Thus, only a US citizen -- not even a US national (only) -- can have a US passport. A foreigner can never have a US passport.

Ummm, calm down. I said I never, ever, ever, ever claimed him to be a US Citizen so really why the attack?? I am not completely clueless on everything. I simply did not know if he was to apply for a US Passport or renew his Haitian Passport, nor where to do that. Goodness, you act like I committed a crime by asking!!! I absolutely KNOW he is not a US Citizen and again, NEVER claimed him to be one!!! I thought the purpose of this site is to help and guide people, not personally attack someone for doing or saying something that simply was not done. Yes, I admit I did not know ONLY US Citizens are the ONLY people to have US Passports, it's something I learned but I do not think a personal attack on me for asking was warranted. I thanked her for her help.

On a side note, we got some unrelated news... it's a girl!! We're gonna name her Amira.

Awwwwww how sweeet!!! Congratulations and that's a beautiful name!!! I so wish I could have another but I am almost 41 yrs old so I do not see it happening.....

Not all banks need SSN to have bank account especially when the person is just going to be added to the someone's existing account.

My bank does. I called the online banking number and they said they believe he needs his SSN but to check with my local branch office and they stated the same thing, he needs his SSN first. My job also said the same thing about adding him to my health insurance. I rent a basement apt from my childhood friend with ALL bills paid so there are no utilities to add him to. But eventually, once he is working we will move possibly back to Texas where I am originally from...so I am holding off moving locally until we have more clear plans.

But thanks everyone for your input. You guys rock!

It is very important that you and your husband understand that a Permanent Resident is NOT a citizen, because if he ever falsely claims to be a US Citizen, he will be banned from the US for life (yes even after getting the GC). US passports are for US citizens. Your husband will be a Haitian citizen and a US permanent resident. Falsely claiming to be a US Citizen might include registering to vote, serving on a jury, or checking off a box on an employment form that he is a citizen. I even saw a person who filled out a job application claiming to be a Citizen, and got in hot water. A Permanent Resident cannot do any of these things. For traveling, he will also need to apply for visas as a Haitian Citizen, and will not have the visa-free abilities that a US Citizen has. The GC is only permission to live and work in the US.

Thanks, but he and I both clearly know he is not a US citizen. We have never intentionally nor unintentionally claimed him to be anything other than my husband from Haiti. I just simply did not know ON:Y US Citizens could have US Passports. That's why I asked what passport he needs to apply for.

Yes He can, just go to the Haitian embassy's website, I am sure that will tell him specifically what he needs to bring.

And good luck with the Interview!!

Great!! Thank you so much!

He needs to renew his Haitian passport if he needs to travel out of America.

Thank you! Can that be done at a Haitian Embassy/Consulate here in the states? We live about 20 miles from the Haitian Embassy in Washington D.C. Or will he need to travel to Haiti before it expires to obtain a new one? Sorry if I sound oblivious to all of this, I guess I am

I have 2 questions I hope someone can help with.

1) Our interview is scheduled for October 16th (less than 2 weeks away). Is there really any need for the EAD at this point, other than being able to obtain a SSN and add my husband to bank account, insurance, etc? Is it a problem that we will not have this evidence for the interview when they ask for additional information showing ties as married couple? We just married May 26th.

Also

2) My husbands passport (Haitian passport) expires in May 2013. Once he receives his GC, will he need to apply for a US Passport? Will his Haitian Passport be invalid? I am not sure how any of that works and would appreciate any advice on what happens for travel documents once GC is received?

Just got a text for EAD Card/ Document Production

Congrats!!! I know there are several of here waiting on some news on our EADs. Maybe something will come soon!

Anybody watching the presidential debate

I am at work and was watching as much as I can but working in the ER that time of night, well I got bits and pieces of it! I do plan on catching some re-airings of it though! This election is a mess! lol

Well I rent from my best friend but I moved here before I ever met Gesi. Once he can work finding our own place will be top priority.

I don't think so. If you live in a very expensive place (CA, NYC) where renting is high compared to other cities in USA you def need a roomate

Or the DC area lol it's CRAZY expensive here!!

I am an August Filer too. we sent the packet August 06,2012 and the NOA1 date August 13,2012. Had my biometrics appointment August 31. Hoping for a smooth AOS journey everyone.

Our timelines for AOS are similar. We also did our biometrics Aug 31st. Our interview is Oct 16th at 11am in Baltimore, MD. Welcome to our group!

Haha ya'll sound like Gesi, being from Haiti, he's never seen snow. He doesn't like the cold. Sometime when it gets chilly at night, he sleeps in a hoodie w/pajama pants wrapped up in a thermal blanket AND still under the cover on the bed.....lol I just laugh.