Bank letter question as it pertains to the Montréal Consulate...

[Necrotica 0]

Hey, everyone. I'm hoping those of you who have gone through the Montréal Consulate can tell me if they looked at your bank letter or not.

My bank (U.S. Bank) claims they do not keep easily-accessible records of deposits made in a year's time, thus they cannot produce the letter I need for the Affidavit of Support unless I pay something like $20 researching fee per statement. I'd need 9 of them since only the last 90 days' worth of statements are kept online. That would equal $180, if my calculations are correct. No way am I paying that.

The lady at the bank told me that if I want to calculate the figure myself from my check stubs and get back to her with an amount, she'll write the letter for me. I could do this, but it's not going to be completely accurate since I know my parents have given me small amounts during the year and I have no proof of those transactions whatsoever. They're amounts that won't make any impact whatsoever if they're left off the bank letter, but it makes me a little nervous nonetheless. I want to be able to back up that amount with proof of accuracy.

So, my question is... when you had your interview, did you need the bank letter?

Here's what I have thus far:

- Notarized I-134

- 3 years of IRS transcripts

- Employer letter (been working there 3 months so far, if that matters)

- Pay stubs (which I will certainly have many more by the time my fiancé gets his interview date)

I do make more than 150% of the poverty guidelines... more than twice than the poverty guidelines, actually, so I'm hoping I can possibly forego the letter.

Also, unrelated... how long does it take to get a birth certificate in Montréal? That's where my fiancé lives (just 2 blocks from the Consulate... we're lucky in that respect). He's set to get his Packet 3 any day now, and the only thing we don't have yet (other than my bank letter) is that. I'm hoping it'll be quick enough to get that we can just check it off on the checklist and send it back to the Consulate and get it in time for the interview.

Sorry for such a drawn-out post. It's 2 am and my mind isn't all here anymore, hehe. Thanks in advance for your help.

[Jersey Girl 2]

A lot of people have trouble getting a letter from their bank stating exactly what's asked for. But if you get a notarized letter from them showing how much is on deposit now, that's probably good evidence. Also, if you have some current monthly statements, that's further evidence.

Even though you meet the income requirements, I wouldn't show up with nothing from the bank, hoping you won't be asked. I'd spend $20 and get some kind of letter from them about your assets. (But I'm overly cautious.)

[Reba 2]

Do you keep your bank statements at least? Most people have gotten by just fine with the statements and pay stubs, because most banks can't be arsed to do the letters. If you can at least get them to write a letter that says "as of this date there is $XXX in this account, and this account was opened on XX date" signed your friendly bank manager, should be ok. And include statements and pay stubs.

[EricM 0]

My fiancee also had trouble with her bank. Bank of America (hers, at least) gave her a letter with:

- Current balance

- Average balance

- Date opened

At the bottom, it says, "If total amount deposited or withdrawn in the above accounts is requested for the past twelve months, please refer to copies of bank statements."

The problem we had was the same one you're having - my fiancee doesn't have any bank statements, because she went for the paperless (electronic) account option. So there's no way for her to get the statements (they don't keep 12 months' worth, online) unless she pays $20 per statement or something, and we just can't afford that.

So, here's what we did. Keep in mind that my interview's this Friday, so I will let you all know how well it worked:

First of all, my fiancee wrote a letter explaining the issue.

"Because I do all of my banking online, I do not have paper copies of any of my bank account statements. I have included a printout of my YTD earnings at <job>, as well as a paycheck model of my bi-weekly paycheck showing my deductions for taxes and insurance. My paychecks are also paperless, and are direct deposited into my checking account.

My YTD total with <job> is <amount> before tax, with <amount> in deductions. Prior to my employment with <job>, I was with <former employer>."

Then, she got her payroll department to make a paycheck model showing her year totals, how much she pays for company insurance benefits, etc. Then she went to http://www.paycheckcity.com/ and got it to calculate her 'take-home' pay (it deducts taxes, social security, medicare, dental, medical, vision, etc). She printed this out.

So, in total, we've got the affidavit of support, plus the bank letter, plus an additional letter from my fiancee explaining the situation, her paycheck model, and the printout from paycheckcity.com.

Hopefully this'll be enough to satisfy them. I'll let you know!

[Necrotica 0]

My fiancee also had trouble with her bank. Bank of America (hers, at least) gave her a letter with:

- Current balance

- Average balance

- Date opened

At the bottom, it says, "If total amount deposited or withdrawn in the above accounts is requested for the past twelve months, please refer to copies of bank statements."

The problem we had was the same one you're having - my fiancee doesn't have any bank statements, because she went for the paperless (electronic) account option. So there's no way for her to get the statements (they don't keep 12 months' worth, online) unless she pays $20 per statement or something, and we just can't afford that.

So, here's what we did. Keep in mind that my interview's this Friday, so I will let you all know how well it worked:

First of all, my fiancee wrote a letter explaining the issue.

"Because I do all of my banking online, I do not have paper copies of any of my bank account statements. I have included a printout of my YTD earnings at <job>, as well as a paycheck model of my bi-weekly paycheck showing my deductions for taxes and insurance. My paychecks are also paperless, and are direct deposited into my checking account.

My YTD total with <job> is <amount> before tax, with <amount> in deductions. Prior to my employment with <job>, I was with <former employer>."

Then, she got her payroll department to make a paycheck model showing her year totals, how much she pays for company insurance benefits, etc. Then she went to http://www.paycheckcity.com/ and got it to calculate her 'take-home' pay (it deducts taxes, social security, medicare, dental, medical, vision, etc). She printed this out.

So, in total, we've got the affidavit of support, plus the bank letter, plus an additional letter from my fiancee explaining the situation, her paycheck model, and the printout from paycheckcity.com.

Hopefully this'll be enough to satisfy them. I'll let you know!

That's exactly how it goes in my situation, too. Since I do my banking online, I'm also paperless and only have the last 90 days' worth of statements online and they want to charge me for the rest of the year's worth.

I wonder if it would help for me to start printing out my statements starting now. My fiancé hasn't even gotten Packet 3 yet, so it'll probably take a few months for him to get his interview. If I get 6 months of statements to send to him, maybe that would also help.

Good luck at the interview!

[Darkchild80 0]

My affividit of support was fine. I did not have a letter from my bank. I gave my fiance 3 paystubs, A letter from my employer with my salary, and 3 years of tax transcripts. Everything was fine in the finance department.

[ljs 1]

They took my bank letter from my fiance's bank when I was in Montreal last month. He also had difficultly obtaining a letter and also asked for the $20/month search fees but he took a copy of his statements to the bank manager and a letter draft and asked them to do it and they finally did. But it was a major pain and negotiation.

Good Luck.

Linda

[KarenCee 3]

I guess I bank with a very accomodating bank. Mine gave me just what I needed, even though I do online banking too. The banks should have records, regardless of what type banking you do. I don't know why some banks are such hardazzes to work with. When my bank associate knew what I was doing and why I wanted it, she was more than happy to create such a letter for me.

[hockeygal 0]

We didn't have a letter from the bank. Just printed out the last statement showing the current balance.

Of course, we had other stuff (tax returns, affidavit, a pay stub abd letter from employer...)

oops - we didn't go through Montreal. I missed that part. nevahmind.

Edited December 12, 2006 by hockeygal

[Jersey Girl 2]

My bank filled in a standard form they have. It's a one-pager with room to report 3 different accounts. They get asked for this information all the time, especially when people are qualifying for mortgages.

[Mephys 2]

Im living in Montreal and last time I ordered a birth certificate I just mailed the form that I printed off the internet and I received it within 2 weeks.

He can dowload the form here birth certificate

On a quick note, if his birth was registered in french like me, all he's gonna get is a french BC. Then hes gonna have to have it translated. I had a translator doing it and he got it notarized for 17$. If you need the contact illl be glad to send it to you

Mephys

[Necrotica 0]

Im living in Montreal and last time I ordered a birth certificate I just mailed the form that I printed off the internet and I received it within 2 weeks.

He can dowload the form here birth certificate

On a quick note, if his birth was registered in french like me, all he's gonna get is a french BC. Then hes gonna have to have it translated. I had a translator doing it and he got it notarized for 17$. If you need the contact illl be glad to send it to you

Mephys

Sure! Thanks! Yeah, all his parents spoke was French, so it'll definitely be in French. He keeps insisting that he can get it in English, but I'll take that contact for him in the case he ends up being wrong.

Update: I went to a different bank branch, and the "Universal Banker" there is going to do the letter. It's going to cost me $30/hour, though... gods, if it's more than an hour, I'm going to have a heart attack.

[Mephys 2]

Im living in Montreal and last time I ordered a birth certificate I just mailed the form that I printed off the internet and I received it within 2 weeks.

He can dowload the form here birth certificate

On a quick note, if his birth was registered in french like me, all he's gonna get is a french BC. Then hes gonna have to have it translated. I had a translator doing it and he got it notarized for 17$. If you need the contact illl be glad to send it to you

Mephys

Sure! Thanks! Yeah, all his parents spoke was French, so it'll definitely be in French. He keeps insisting that he can get it in English, but I'll take that contact for him in the case he ends up being wrong.

Oh please believe me. Tell this to your fiance. Im 100% french ( ok getting americanized now:P ) . I sent to the Directeur de l'etat civil a english form to obtain 2 birth certificate in english and I added a note saying that both BC must be in english for US immigration purpose and that I would not accept it in french. Then 2 weeks and 30$ later, I received 2 BC in french. I called twice and had the same answer twice from dumb people, they told me that they never do that cause its the law, they cant deliver official papers in a language that is not the one in which it was filled in the first place. So I asked why nobody called me to inform me of that instead of sending something I didnt ask for, nobody could answer me and I was told they never refund. Finally I ended up asking by e-mail and a nice lady told me to write them a letter explaining the situation and why I was complaining, including both certificates. And finally 4 weeks later I received a credit on my credit card.

So they answer is no, hes never gonna get one , I tried believe me. I figured since its a bilingual province that this could be done, but no.

Just have him order a french BC if he doesnt have one already ( I already had one so thats why I returned the other ones) and have him translated. Again I can refer you someone that can do it and have it notarized.

The link I gave you is the one to get a BC, cause its gonna be delievered in french for him anyways. Even if he prints the form in english like I did

Mephys

Edited December 16, 2006 by Mephys

[Cassie 8]

I was asked for all documents I wanted to submit as evidence, one of which was the bank letter Jerry sent me. We had an easier time of it since we use a relatively small credit union.

[Necrotica 0]

Oh please believe me. Tell this to your fiance. Im 100% french ( ok getting americanized now:P ) . I sent to the Directeur de l'etat civil a english form to obtain 2 birth certificate in english and I added a note saying that both BC must be in english for US immigration purpose and that I would not accept it in french. Then 2 weeks and 30$ later, I received 2 BC in french. I called twice and had the same answer twice from dumb people, they told me that they never do that cause its the law, they cant deliver official papers in a language that is not the one in which it was filled in the first place. So I asked why nobody called me to inform me of that instead of sending something I didnt ask for, nobody could answer me and I was told they never refund. Finally I ended up asking by e-mail and a nice lady told me to write them a letter explaining the situation and why I was complaining, including both certificates. And finally 4 weeks later I received a credit on my credit card.

So they answer is no, hes never gonna get one , I tried believe me. I figured since its a bilingual province that this could be done, but no.

Just have him order a french BC if he doesnt have one already ( I already had one so thats why I returned the other ones) and have him translated. Again I can refer you someone that can do it and have it notarized.

The link I gave you is the one to get a BC, cause its gonna be delievered in french for him anyways. Even if he prints the form in english like I did

Mephys

Oh, I believe you. It's just that he doesn't believe me! He'll find out once he gets the birth certificate, I guess.