possible to open a joint bank acct before marriage? also ssn questions

[EmilyM 0]

Hey everyone,

now that I've moved in with my fiance, I was working on getting my life set up here. I was wondering, is it possible to set up a joint bank account with my fiance before we are married? (the wedding is in august). Also, is it possible for a k-1 visa holder to get a bank account with just a SSN and passport? I don't have a US driver's license yet, but I was going to try and get it after we're married and I've filed the aos package.

The m&i bank online application says I need a driver's license but I was just wondering if that doesn't really matter if you actually go into the branch?

Also, I was kind of confused by what I was reading in the forums about working with a SSN. As a k-1 visa holder, can I work legally when I get my SSN? or do I need to wait for the employment authorization? I had read something that said k-1 visa holders can work... does that just mean I'm able to work, just not authorized to do so? (I don't want to screw anything up by trying to get a job when I'm not supposed to)

I'm sorry if this has been asked a billion times, I did search the forums but its always nice to have some reassurance, and every situation is a little different. I am just trying to get everything straight in my head so I am prepared for whats coming.

Thanks for all the help!

[suzukiwookie 1]

I haven't moved down to the US yet, but what I did is I opened up a Canadian chequing account with RBC and then I used that to open an RBC Centura account (US account). So now I have both (one here and one in the US). I recommend doing it this way, as all the other banks down there are very antagonistic towards "aliens" and will give you a hard time. Also, yes you can add your fiancee to the account without being married. Hell, you can add the crossing guard or the mail man if you really wanted to. As long as they show up to the bank branch with you and sign some papers. Anyways, the bad thing is that if you have good credit in Canada it counts for nothin in the US, so you have to start building american credit, and an RBC centura account is your door to this. You can also try applying for a couple of dept store credit cards (they'll give anyone a card). But I recommend going with RBC.

As far as the working and SSN questions... well you will find many conflicting answers. The SSN dept will tell you that you CAN work as a K-1 visa holder, and the USCIS seems to have a different opinion - they seem to think that you need an EAD. So it's kind of useless to ask this question here, because people will just give you their guesses and even if you ask the US gov, they will give you two different answers. The question could really come down to - is the us gov really going to be parked outside of your house waiting for you to go to work illegally? And if you do get caught, are they actually going to boot you out of the US (even though you're going through the AOS process)? My thoughts are probably not. But not certain.

[jundp 191]

My fiance and I opened a joint bank account on his last visit here. We used his German passport and gave them his US SSN (he had one when he lived in the US as a minor). We didn't have any problems at all. He's a joint owner on the account.

We used Bank of America, in case that makes a difference.

[shiri 0]

Hey everyone,

now that I've moved in with my fiance, I was working on getting my life set up here. I was wondering, is it possible to set up a joint bank account with my fiance before we are married? (the wedding is in august). Also, is it possible for a k-1 visa holder to get a bank account with just a SSN and passport? I don't have a US driver's license yet, but I was going to try and get it after we're married and I've filed the aos package.

The m&i bank online application says I need a driver's license but I was just wondering if that doesn't really matter if you actually go into the branch?

Also, I was kind of confused by what I was reading in the forums about working with a SSN. As a k-1 visa holder, can I work legally when I get my SSN? or do I need to wait for the employment authorization? I had read something that said k-1 visa holders can work... does that just mean I'm able to work, just not authorized to do so? (I don't want to screw anything up by trying to get a job when I'm not supposed to)

I'm sorry if this has been asked a billion times, I did search the forums but its always nice to have some reassurance, and every situation is a little different. I am just trying to get everything straight in my head so I am prepared for whats coming.

Thanks for all the help!

I don't know a concrete answer for the ssn thing... however you can get the account. I once had a joint account with a boyfriend here years ago... and then my husband and I opened an account here for us jointly. He still is a legal resident of Canada. You might not have a US driver's license, but do you have a foreign one? If so, use that! My husband did.

[Petgrl 0]

M & I should be no problem for you. My fiance opened an account at that bank with no SSN, just his passport and DL from his country. They were awesome to work with.

[Dakine 26]

Some banks offer a ITF [in Trust For] account. It's saving but has a debit card. No need SSN for alien. No need signature also. I did so for my wife when she was still in the Philippines. Made it easy and cheap way to get money to her. She just used the debit card. I kept a minimal amount in the account. Cost was about $5 a hundred.

Was good evidence for interview also.

[EmilyM 0]

ok, thanks for the replies!

next week I'm going to get my SSN, I will probably open a bank acct then as well. Will probably wait to get the EAD to work, just to be safe, its not a long wait anyway.

Thanks again!

[Nina+Matt 0]

i was able to get added to my then fiances bank account with bank of america,. no problem at all! ssn and foreign dl was enough! to open an account for myself, i need a us government issued id, so i had to wait for my dl before i was able to open my own account!

i guess it depends on what bank you go to...... just try it, you cant loose anything, other than your patience

[Steve'sGirl 0]

We opened a joint bank account (at Wachovia) quite a while ago. No SSN needed for the non-USC. Just the passport.

Edited June 26, 2008 by Steve'sGirl