No joint bank account okay at I-130 stage?

[Abby&Mario 100]

My Colombian husband and I got married last month and are putting the I-130 packet together. We have lived together in Bogotá since August. Today we went to the two banks where he has accounts, Citibank and Bancolombia, to try to either add my name to an existing account of his or open a new joint account (the better to prove co-mingling of financial resources). I have residency here now thanks to our marriage, but we were told at both banks that this service is no longer offered. The best either bank can do is authorize another user on his account. We were told that my name would not be on any document or statement, but I could get a debit card. Is there even a point in doing this if all we can send is a statement with his name on it and a copy of my debit card? (Don't love the idea of a random piece of paper with the card number floating around.) We went to BBVA and they do offer joint accounts, but since my husband works as a contractor, we wouldn't be able to open a new account with them since Colombian banks are extremely strict.

Has anyone dealt with this? We were together for more than three years before we got married, we live together and have tons of photos with his family and mine, I have residency here, and we have receipts showing that I paid for our wedding rings and he paid for a class I'm taking here. Our finances are blended despite not sharing a bank account. He's been supporting us until I get a job here and can contribute. At this very early stage, do we need to struggle with this bank account thing? Would an e-mail from either/both of his banks explaining that they don't offer joint accounts be a good thing to include? Or do we have enough evidence as it is? I just think co-mingling of financial resources is so important in terms of evidence, which is why I'm nervous about this.

I have also read while searching that by the time the embassy interview comes around, they really want you to have that joint account. Can anyone confirm this?

Thanks, all.

[apple21 953]

It won't be an issue.

We didn't have a joint bank account when my husband filed the i130 up until we finished the visa process.

I brought money remittance slips (hubby sends me a monthly allowance) during my embassy interview but the consul didn't ask for it.

Edited February 13, 2014 by apple21