difficulty opening bank account for new K1 wife

[ScottFL 0]

Could anyone help us with a little issue?

My wife came on K1. We got married Aug 8 and filed for AOS, Work Auth. and AP. She has had biometrics and has both Social Security card and Work Authorization card. We went to my bank to open her a bank account and they required:

-ID (she has passport and marriage certificate)

-Social Security # (she has card)

-Extension of Visa I797 if visa is expired. This one is the problem. I tried to explain that the visa is expired because the K1 has a 90 day hard limit and can't be extended, so there is no possibility of any extension form for it. We showed the I797 acknowledging receipt of her AOS app. they wouldn't accept it, stating they need an I797 with a stamp on it with a date extending the visa. I kept trying to get across to them that the K1 is different and that we're in status having applied for AOS and that others at this same stage have bank accounts.

What do I have to show them to be able to get my wife a bank account? Anyone know how I can go in a restate my case so they'll 'get it'?

Thanks,

Scott & Valentina

[mkg265 2]

Change banks to a more immigrant friendly one (banco popular for one). You don't even have to be legally in the United States to get a bank account. I had to open my husbands account in person for Bank of America and "bullied" them the whole time. I also had no problems adding him to my invest portfolio at Edward Jones.

[Ban Hammer 13,722]

mbc

[reeses16 8]

Maybe take her NOA for the AOS? Talk to a manager or go to another bank. Otherwise, it probably will only take a few months before she gets her greencard, Until then you could just give her cash to spend or request an extra debit card for her use (sort of like being authorized to use the account without being responsible).

[MrsCat 6]

Go to another bank. I just arrived and opened my account with only a piece of ID (out of country drivers license) and SSN. It was that simple. The lady could have cared less if I came here illegally from the moon as long as I had those two things. Of course it was a small local bank (First Hawaiian Bank).

If she needs an account then open one anywhere. If its that you want to bank at the same place, ask to speak with the bank manager and tell him if he isn't able to add her NOW, you're taking your money and going to another bank (try to have another bank already set up and drop the name). Usually they are more accommodating when they think they're actually going to lose your business.

[ScottFL 0]

Thanks everyone, for the replies. We went to a different branch of my same bank(Bank Atlantic), where they accepted the AOS NOA (I-797). Their guidelines asked specifically for an "Approved Extension I-797" but they took it. They also needed a second form of photo ID, and believe it or not, the Homeland Security-issued Work Authorization card (a photo ID with fingerprint) was not among their accepted ID forms. We may have to get her a FL ID card before she gets her driver's license and take it to the bank to complete her application.

But so far, it seems they're willing to open her an account; they're just being especially cognizant of relevant regulations under the Patriot Act and they pointed out how several other banks were recently fined millions of dollars for being too loose with the requirements for aliens. These regulations are meant to prevent money laundering and money disappearing from the country in the form of credit granted to illegals(and absconded with). It's sometimes frustrating how people in the legal immigration process have so many hurdles and expenses while so many people are here illegally.

Nevertheless, we will continue to do it all by the book. I don't even really resent my bank's extra security. I'd like to see all immigrants in the legal process rather than outside it, and it seems Bank Atlantic is covering themselves legally while making it known they prefer to do business with aliens only if they have proper papers. We have proper papers, but were a bit surprised by all that was required.

Yes, we could go to another bank, but I bank at Bank Atlantic and prefer them to the alternatives. They have great 7-day and late hours and low fees. Also, they didn't engage in any of the subprime lending nonsense and so are not tanking like other banks. Incidentally, a huge scam was recently broken up in California where an 'agency' was getting mortgages and equity lines for illegals using doctored papers, who then cashed out the credit lines and left the country, leaving taxpayers holding the bad paper. Ugh.

Thanks again everyone..

-Scott