Joint accounts questions

M

My Melody

Registered Users (C)
This is my timeline:

F1 married to USC
********************
Married: 8/12/2005
Mail I130, I485, I765, I131 to Chicago Lockbox: 11/15/2005
RD: 11/17/2005
ND: 11/25/2005
FP Letter recv'd: 12/1/2005
FP for both I485 and I765: 12/14/2006
Interview Letter recv'd: 12/28/05
AP approved: 02/6/2006
AP received: 02/10/2006 (even though my online status hasn't changed since RD in Nov. 2005)
EAD approved online: 02/10/2006
Interview Date: 2/28/2006

DO: Los Angeles

I don't have many joint bills with my husband as he moved in with me. The lease agreement and all utility bills are under my name only. I have my name on his company's health insurance, dental insurance plans. We have joint auto insurance. Is that enough? We haven't open a joint bank account because he had bad credit before, that he worried will ruin my credit. Can we just state this reason honestly during interview? Please kindly advice!
 
Checking accounts are in no way connected to your credit...so how would his bad credit prevent you guys from opening joint accounts?

You can go tomorrow and open 3 joint accounts and ask for a new statement that shows both your names on it, and you'll be set from that angle.
 
I'm not too sure about that. One of my roomates's credit is really bad because of his checking account (of course it was an extreme situation since his account below $0 for like 3 months). I agree though, I don't think it will affect your credit to just create a joint bank account with your husband. You should call the bank and ask them.
 
My Melody,

Your timeline is exactly like mine.I just finished my Interview 2 Weeks ago.All we had to show to the officer is just Joint bank account, that's all we had.Other than that we had photos and same adress DL.sO DON'T worry try to get Joint account and you shud be fine.I think even officer understands that it is too early to show joint bills as u have been married just for couple months.
 
Thank you guys for your advice :) I am wondering if I can just provide either joint bank account or lease agreement. The apartment manager agrees to add my husband's name on the lease for me ;) As the green card I will get after this interview is only conditional and we have to go through the whole process again in 2 years, I think the Immigration Officiers won't be too strict and will allow newlyweds time to plan and develop their lives together. Besides, our interview is coming up so soon that I feel creating joint bills and account now can give them an impression of just doing it for the interview :p
Another question is I haven't got any news on finger prints and background check results. Probably I won't get my passport stamped even we get through the interview at the end of this month. How long I have to wait? Any ideas? Thanks :)
 
Hi Siri80, that exactly what I think. My husband and I have been together for 2 years though we married just 6 months ago. We know each other very well and have nothing to hide. They can't turn down my application just because we don't have joint bills. My husband said most couples here don't have joint accounts. Same true in my country. I think some immigration officers don't have joint accounts with their husbands or wives when they first married too ;)
Would you please share with me your interview experience such as their questions? Thanks a lot !
 
My Melody said:
Hi Siri80, that exactly what I think. My husband and I have been together for 2 years though we married just 6 months ago. We know each other very well and have nothing to hide. They can't turn down my application just because we don't have joint bills. My husband said most couples here don't have joint accounts. Same true in my country. I think some immigration officers don't have joint accounts with their husbands or wives when they first married too ;)
Would you please share with me your interview experience such as their questions? Thanks a lot !
Click to expand...

The burden of proving that the marraige is not a fraud and you are living together is on the applicant and petitioner. So as a sanity check, you are required to furnish evidence of joint financial responsibility, joint ownership of assets/liabilities and anything that has both names on it. Im sure your apartment office follws the rental law that requires you to add any person to your lease if they share your residence for more than 2 weeks, so its time you get going with that as the rental lease agreement would count a lot during your interview.

You are right when you say that married couples dont necessarily have to have joint account, joint bills, joint financial responsbibilites, joint rental lease agreements, but you have to differentiate yourself from the frauds who dont have joint accounts, joint financial responsbilitites, who cant prove they both live at the same address. Remember that the green card is for your benefit and you have to be proactive to do what it takes to get it.
Good Luck :)

P.S: You are given two more years after your conditional GC to prove that your marraige is bonafide and you are still living together. These 'joint' documents would go a long way in helping remove the conditions from your conditional GC.
 
Don't compare yourself to the way of living of the immigration officer (who is a US citizen) or if in your country or here many people who are married doesn't have a joint account. First, you are the immigrant and are asking for a benefit, so you are not in the same line of fire. It is true that to have joint things in our practical minds has nothing to do with marriage has to do with lifestyles, but for USCIS things don't work that way.

Now is pretty understandable that you don't have so many things because you just get your EAD approved, but if you were in F1 did you have a SSN? if is that case then they know that you could easily get joint issues with your husband. If not then you can explain why you don't have so many things in both names.

That they can deny you because you didn't have proof of it and you are marry to a US citizen? of course they can. I am not saying that they will but they can and happened in the past, and sometimes just as simple because there is nothing that link you with your husband, remember an emotion here is not enough you must put it on paper. Good to have insurance papers that show both of your names, get more stuff together and pictures. Every officer is different and nobody knows what "strict follow-the-manual" one you can get.

Good luck,
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Joint account question

I am a similar question. We got married recently too , 4 months back, and we do not have a joint account. I was on F1 and was holding a separate account and still am. We are planning to have a joint account and wanted to open it now but as our interview is in 1 and a half week we are not sure whether this is the appropriate time. They may feel that we did it to show them.

Please advice
 
Thanks

Thanks for the prompt reply. We do have lease documents, car title , car insurance . Will that be okay?
 
Another question

Is it fine to take a lawyer with you in the first interview?

Secondly, If the greencard is not approved in the first interview , do they take away the AP and EAD?
 
I would still open joint account. They normally ask to see statement for one month. PPL usually give them the last month. They shouldn't question age of the account and other details.

Lawyer is ok. If it's not approved pending name check, I believe you get to keep EAD and AP. If it's denied, I believe people get notice in the mail at later time so you should be able to hold on to those.
 
In rare instances, if your credit is bad you wont be able to open any account with financial institutions here in the US. These happens when your name gets reported in Chexsystems Inc.... these is as far as i know
 
Hello Pals,

Speaking about joint account; my hubby is a USC full time student. He works part time and I am still actively looking for a job. Hence, our bank account does show very little money we have since we got married. I have a co-sponsor. Will that raise a red flag?

Please advise.

Thanks.
 
Question

Sorry for asking so many questions . You said lawyer was okay ..so I want to make sure that would it have a negative impact while scrutinising if I take the lawyer ..in the sense would they think that why she got a lawyer?
 
Lawyers are fine

Asp,

Lawyers are part of the American dream too, they are expensive, but if you can afford one, then hire one. USCIS cares less about your lawyer's presence or not, but a lawyer's presence ensure that you aren't abused by a bully USCSI employee. At times, USCIS hating immigrant employee mistreat an immigrant, but the presence of a laywer deters such a behavior and ensure your rights are respected.

However, a lawyer's presence will not make up for lack of evidence. So, be prepared.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top