Not allowed to open JOINT ACCOUNT in Phils.

[Giskat09 2]

Im really pissed off. Last July, i asked this lady at China Bank Ortigas if i can open a joint account. She told me i can as long as my husband will fill up the 3 pieces Specimen Signature Bank card, a consent letter from my husband and at least 2 valid ID's. She gave me this 3 cards and i send it to my husband and telling him to send me his 2 valid id and a consent letter that he allows me to open a joint account.

AFTER 3 weeks of damn waiting of those documents... i got it today the documents and when i inquire to another China Bank about opening the joint account. The lady told me that my husband should be here personally and also me and my husband needs to fill up the agreement form and notarize it. I was really really mad coz she added that i need to submit my husband's ALIEN REGISTRATION CARD since he is US Citizen.

DAMN! I almost yell at her! After 3 weeks of waiting, if i only knew this... I should have send the I-I30 form, G325A and other documents to my husband on the first week of September to start filing.

Is it ok if we do not have a joint account? We are just going to submit the marriage certificate, his birth certifcate and the forms.

Is this ok or are we going to receive any RFE?

Please calm me coz im about to cancel this filing!

Edited September 25, 2008 by jiskat08

[Ling Ling 22]

Our petition was approved without a joint bank account.

I understand PI is different, and more strict about having proof that a marriage is legitimate.

I think that at the petition stage, if you can just send in your marriage certificate and maybe some pictures (of the two of you) in different places, you should be fine.

A single picture with family can sometimes speak louder than $1000 in a joint bank account.

Before your interview, it might be good if you had a joint account in the US, or if your husband added you to his health insurance, car insurance, etc.

You should send in your I-130 package as SOON as you have everything together. Don't let the lack of a joint account slow you you down.

Good luck

...the journey continues.

[Giskat09 2]

so we can ADD our wedding PHOTO including the I-I30 form and other documents? Philippines is really damn strict of these stuffs!

Our petition was approved without a joint bank account.

I understand PI is different, and more strict about having proof that a marriage is legitimate.

I think that at the petition stage, if you can just send in your marriage certificate and maybe some pictures (of the two of you) in different places, you should be fine.

A single picture with family can sometimes speak louder than $1000 in a joint bank account.

Before your interview, it might be good if you had a joint account in the US, or if your husband added you to his health insurance, car insurance, etc.

You should send in your I-130 package as SOON as you have everything together. Don't let the lack of a joint account slow you you down.

Good luck

...the journey continues.

[Ling Ling 22]

so we can ADD our wedding PHOTO including the I-I30 form and other documents? Philippines is really damn strict of these stuffs!

I don't claim to be an expert on PI or an expert on immigration, but I'm an expert on common sense.

Just looking at the series of pictures you have in your signature, you and your husband do not fit the typical fraud profile.

Your husband appears to be Pinoy, you appear to be the same age, and you both look really happy together.

I'm sure that when the sun comes up, more PI folks will chime in, but I think your pictures say a lot about your story.

We sent a bunch of pictures with our I-130, and a statement about how we met.

Again, I know Japan and Philippines are apples and oranges, but without even knowing you, I think you have a legitimate marriage, and it won't be hard to prove.

[Giskat09 2]

ok. Because when it comes to pictures, we can only bring that on the day of our interview and not on filing I-I30. But ill try to submit that including a letter how we met.

[Ling Ling 22]

ok. Because when it comes to pictures, we can only bring that on the day of our interview and not on filing I-I30. But ill try to submit that including a letter how we met.

Hmmmm, like I said, "I'm not an expert on PI".

We were told to send pictures and a letter of how we met.

You should wait to hear from someone here from PI.

The last thing I want to do is give you advice that makes your case last longer.

[Giskat09 2]

ok. hope my fellow Filipinos help about this.. Thanks a lot =)

[ryandgracey 2]

Well, we sent ALL we could to establish our relationship...marriage certs, a third-party affidavit attesting to our marriage, tons of pics...my husband had just added me to his bank account and to his insurance so maybe you could do that instead of opening a joint account here. We had tried that too and we could not....not to mention the outrageous amt of USD he would have to bring with him.

Apparently, the truckload of pics from his past 3 visits helped...USCIS must'v had a good laugh.

You deserve to be together. don't let a bank account be a roadblock for you.

Good luck!!!!

[Minya's wife 25]

ok. hope my fellow Filipinos help about this.. Thanks a lot =)

Umm...filing the I-130 petition with USCIS has nothing to do with the PI and any rules specific to that country's US consulate. This petition is a US petition, filed to a US govt. office, the evidence asked for is the same, whether your spouse is from the Phillipines or whatever other country.

And yes, you can include a few photos....although the statment is vague, photos can be a part of the evidence to prove a "family relationship". Read the instructions carefully as to what evidence you can include and pay special attention to the item J on the list.

From the I-130's filing instructions:

NOTE: ... you should submit one or more of the following types of documentation that may evidence that bona fides of your marriage:

E. Documentation showing joint ownership or property; or

F. A lease showing joint tenancy of a common residence; or

G. Documentation showing co-mingling of financial resources; or

H. Birth certificate(s) of child(ren) born to you, the petitioner, and your spouse together; or

I. Affidavits sworn to or affirmed by third parties having personal knowledge of the bona fides of the marital relationship. (Each affidavit must contain the full name and address, date and place of birth of the person making the affidavit, his or her relationship to the petitioner of beneficiary, if any, and complete information and details explaining how the person acquired his or her knowledge of your marriage); or

J. Any other relevant documentation to establish that there is an ongoing marital union.

Photos can be 'relevant' to establishing your ongoing marital union, especially if they are date-stamped showing the 'ongoing' status of your relationship.

-P

[Giskat09 2]

how can he add me in his insurance? i have no SSN and im stil here in Phils.. he is still single in his TAX and he cannot include me in all the benefits that he recieves becoz i have no SSN....

what im going to do is to develop a picture tmorw morning.. our wedding pics..

Well, we sent ALL we could to establish our relationship...marriage certs, a third-party affidavit attesting to our marriage, tons of pics...my husband had just added me to his bank account and to his insurance so maybe you could do that instead of opening a joint account here. We had tried that too and we could not....not to mention the outrageous amt of USD he would have to bring with him.

Apparently, the truckload of pics from his past 3 visits helped...USCIS must'v had a good laugh.

You deserve to be together. don't let a bank account be a roadblock for you.

Good luck!!!!

[wowswift 3]

Can he get a duplicate credit card in your name? That's what we did. And my husband has my name on his lease saying I can stay, so we sent that in too.

[tanyaru 3]

Im really pissed off. Last July, i asked this lady at China Bank Ortigas if i can open a joint account. She told me i can as long as my husband will fill up the 3 pieces Specimen Signature Bank card, a consent letter from my husband and at least 2 valid ID's. She gave me this 3 cards and i send it to my husband and telling him to send me his 2 valid id and a consent letter that he allows me to open a joint account.

AFTER 3 weeks of damn waiting of those documents... i got it today the documents and when i inquire to another China Bank about opening the joint account. The lady told me that my husband should be here personally and also me and my husband needs to fill up the agreement form and notarize it. I was really really mad coz she added that i need to submit my husband's ALIEN REGISTRATION CARD since he is US Citizen.

DAMN! I almost yell at her! After 3 weeks of waiting, if i only knew this... I should have send the I-I30 form, G325A and other documents to my husband on the first week of September to start filing.

Is it ok if we do not have a joint account? We are just going to submit the marriage certificate, his birth certifcate and the forms.

Is this ok or are we going to receive any RFE?

Please calm me coz im about to cancel this filing!

Instead of doing joint account you can request an additional card for him, that is joint finances as well.

[Giskat09 2]

he has no credit card but i do have... the thing is, i am going to submit this II30 and other documents to my husband this week.. i have no time to call the HSBC for me to make my husband as a supplementary.

i'm about to give up on this #### visa journey. if only i could live here in phils i would love to.. but i need to be with my husband.

Can he get a duplicate credit card in your name? That's what we did. And my husband has my name on his lease saying I can stay, so we sent that in too.

[Boorai 0]

he has no credit card but i do have... the thing is, i am going to submit this II30 and other documents to my husband this week.. i have no time to call the HSBC for me to make my husband as a supplementary.

i'm about to give up on this #### visa journey. if only i could live here in phils i would love to.. but i need to be with my husband.

Can he get a duplicate credit card in your name? That's what we did. And my husband has my name on his lease saying I can stay, so we sent that in too.

Ok...these you CAN do..because I have for me and mmy Pinay wife.

1)I wanted to be able to send my wife and our daughte money WITHOUt paying for outrageus western union fees...so(I bank with Chase)..i asked Chase for an additional debit card and sent that to Grace. She was able to withdraw cash from any ATM machine in PI with it. But there are attached fees, which are not outrageous, but at there no the less.

move on the #2...

2) to avoid those fees...I called HSBC, here in the states,,they have two type of on-line accounts. Saving and Checking. You husband can open one of these then make a bank-to-bank transfer from his account into the HSBC account. You can then withdraw cash from ANY HSBC ATM without any attached fees. HSBC does take 3 business days for the transfer to occur...but with some prep, he can transfer to you without delay.

My wife RyandGracey, suggested having you placed on his health insurance plan. This can be done WITHOUT any social security number for you or you child. I did this just 1.5 months ago. 1)this further validates your marriage and 2) you have health coverage both there AND the second you step off the airplane when you get here...WHIC IS HUGE!! I cannot convey how important that is. My insurere is Anthem Blue Cross, Blue Shield. If this is his..it shold be no problem.

I do hope this helps. don't hesitate to ask me any follow up questions.

And your journey has just started...don't bail out of it now.

[Boorai 0]

he has no credit card but i do have... the thing is, i am going to submit this II30 and other documents to my husband this week.. i have no time to call the HSBC for me to make my husband as a supplementary.

i'm about to give up on this #### visa journey. if only i could live here in phils i would love to.. but i need to be with my husband.

Can he get a duplicate credit card in your name? That's what we did. And my husband has my name on his lease saying I can stay, so we sent that in too.

Ok...these you CAN do..because I have for me and mmy Pinay wife.

1)I wanted to be able to send my wife and our daughte money WITHOUt paying for outrageus western union fees...so(I bank with Chase)..i asked Chase for an additional debit card and sent that to Grace. She was able to withdraw cash from any ATM machine in PI with it. But there are attached fees, which are not outrageous, but at there no the less.

move on the #2...

2) to avoid those fees...I called HSBC, here in the states,,they have two type of on-line accounts. Saving and Checking. You husband can open one of these then make a bank-to-bank transfer from his account into the HSBC account. You can then withdraw cash from ANY HSBC ATM without any attached fees. HSBC does take 3 business days for the transfer to occur...but with some prep, he can transfer to you without delay.

My wife RyandGracey, suggested having you placed on his health insurance plan. This can be done WITHOUT any social security number for you or you child. I did this just 1.5 months ago. 1)this further validates your marriage and 2) you have health coverage both there AND the second you step off the airplane when you get here...WHIC IS HUGE!! I cannot convey how important that is. My insurere is Anthem Blue Cross, Blue Shield. If this is his..it shold be no problem.

I do hope this helps. don't hesitate to ask me any follow up questions.

And your journey has just started...don't bail out of it now.

Plus I open an account with Visa credit card, put Grace as an authorized user...and sent her the card. She uses it in PI....plus if he get s a credit card with airline miles bonus...purchases on the card can go toward airline ticket costs later.