No Joint Bank Account--Is that OK?

[elmcitymaven 9,712]

You have to have more than one child to be a real parent, don't you know.

ZOMG -- USCIS is going slap conditions back on!

[Darnell 8,479]

Good Lord - this is turning into a debate? Ouch..

[NickD 203]

Having gone through a divorce in Wisconsin, didn't make any difference whose name was where, if I had 26 cents in my pocket, 13 cents was hers. That bad experience taught me to think of marriage in terms of divorce. Sure there USCIS regulations and procedures, but you also have to deal with your state statues and many of these contradict each other.

The only regret I had when I met my new wife to be in late 2002, is that we didn't meet 25 years earlier. With my experience, the major commitment I had to make and her as well, was saying "I do", at the marriage ceremony. We had and still have that complete trust in each other after almost six months of marriage.

From there it was downhill, during our AOS, couldn't do a damn thing because of that idiotic APA that AH passed through congress. Not even a simple hundred buck joint bank account. Huge worry was keeping my beloved wife here having to deal with the AOS process. When she finally got her conditional green card, finally could share my personal possessions with her legally with no hesitation in my paid off home deed, vehicles, can't do that for a toaster, but would have as well, plus my CD, savings, and checking accounts.

I was very apprehensive but forced to sign that stupid I-864, not that I thought my wife would ever cheat on me, she made me believe in such as thing as soulmates. But in having a child with a pre-condition that was kicked off my insurance policy. When those medical bills pile up, you have no choice but to receive some kind of aid. But that was after my life insurance policy, retirement, large savings account was all spent on medical care for my kid. Don't have that option with the I-864, so is a risk. And this again is due to our GOD damned government permitting insurance companies to put that pre-condition clause in there policies. Still debating today if they will take that out.

So with that god damned I-864, leaves us with a choice of having our beloved deported or signing it, took the risk, you don't meet a person like that everyday. We did have a stress free life for 21 months after she received her card, but the same ####### all over again. But this time we had evidence and a lot of it,but then the damned USCIS misplaced our application, a hell of a lot more stress. Calling the USCIS was worthless as well as contacting the ombudsman, my senator got that straightened out in no time. Was helpful he is on the budget committee for the USCIS.

My main point is that, again depending upon your state, if your marriage does end up in a divorce, doesn't make any difference whose name is where, when you said "I DO", that is when the commitment started, not with the USCIS. Well except for the I-864, we tore that up when my wife got her USC. But if you want to keep your spouse, sure helps if you can prove that financial legal type sharing. If you don't trust your spouse, shouldn't have gotten married in the first place.

[simplykris 0]

Joint Bank accounts are very important

make sure you send official tax transcripts from the IRS , this can be obtained for free

why is that? Is that a deal breaker? I just filed my I-751 and we sent the tax papers from our tax filings(3 yrs) .

[franticsky 0]

why is that? Is that a deal breaker? I just filed my I-751 and we sent the tax papers from our tax filings(3 yrs) .

It may or may not be a deal breaker , depends on the officer who deals with your file , some filers have received RFE's because the transcripts were not official transcripts from the IRS

[M.O 6]

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

It may or may not be a deal breaker , depends on the officer who deals with your file , some filers have received RFE's because the transcripts were not official transcripts from the IRS

If you filed by mail, photocopies of your signed returns should be fine. Of course, if you filed electronically, you have no choice but to provide transcripts.

[Dumb American 0]

"NO JOINT BANK ACCOUNT?"

This is only one example of proof of a bono fided marriage. I must admit it is the easiest one.

But, co-mingling of assets are considered accomplished if joint tax returns were filed by both.

In our I-751 joint application, we sent only the birth certificates of our children of options listed below.

As provided in 8 CFR 216.4(a)(5) and 216.5(e)(2), documentation that can be submitted to establish the bona fides of the marriage may include, but is not limited to:

• Several verifiable documents showing the co-mingling of finances (i.e., joint bank accounts, mortgages, jointly filed income tax returns signed by both parties, etc.).

• Documents showing joint residence of the Conditional Permanent Resident (CPR) and petitioning spouse for a large portion of their lives as husband and wife (i.e., joint apartment leases, deeds, etc.).

• Joint insurance policies (i.e., life, health, etc.).

• Birth certificates of children born to the couple.

• Affidavits of third parties having knowledge of the bona fides of the marital relationship.

Removal of Conditions (I-751) Timeline to Permanent Resident[/b]

10/22//09- Mailed Petition Via USPS Certified Mail

10/29/09- NOA received: 21:23 AM on November 29, 2009 in LAGUNA NIGUEL, CA 92677.

11/12/09- Check Cashed

11/13/09- Received Appointment Letter for Biometrics

12/09/09- Biometrics in St Louis, MO

Waiting???? No card, nothing on USCIS as progress of petition for Change of Status

[NickD 203]

"NO JOINT BANK ACCOUNT?"

This is only one example of proof of a bono fided marriage. I must admit it is the easiest one.

But, co-mingling of assets are considered accomplished if joint tax returns were filed by both.

In our I-751 joint application, we sent only the birth certificates of our children of options listed below.

As provided in 8 CFR 216.4(a)(5) and 216.5(e)(2), documentation that can be submitted to establish the bona fides of the marriage may include, but is not limited to:

• Several verifiable documents showing the co-mingling of finances (i.e., joint bank accounts, mortgages, jointly filed income tax returns signed by both parties, etc.).

• Documents showing joint residence of the Conditional Permanent Resident (CPR) and petitioning spouse for a large portion of their lives as husband and wife (i.e., joint apartment leases, deeds, etc.).

• Joint insurance policies (i.e., life, health, etc.).

• Birth certificates of children born to the couple.

• Affidavits of third parties having knowledge of the bona fides of the marital relationship.

Removal of Conditions (I-751) Timeline to Permanent Resident[/b]

10/22//09- Mailed Petition Via USPS Certified Mail

10/29/09- NOA received: 21:23 AM on November 29, 2009 in LAGUNA NIGUEL, CA 92677.

11/12/09- Check Cashed

11/13/09- Received Appointment Letter for Biometrics

12/09/09- Biometrics in St Louis, MO

Waiting???? No card, nothing on USCIS as progress of petition for Change of Status

We filed the I-751 27Mar07 but didn't receive our ten year cards, wife and daughter until 14Jun08 with the Nebraska Service Center. Their posted processing dates were getting close to March 2007 than dropped back to July 2006, think that was 6Jul06 that resulted in a huge panick. Recall typing in that date precisely like it was posted in their processing times site and finding this board. To learn that we were not alone. Also learned the USCIS was only processing 140K I-751's per year. Was a very stressful time, we already made an infopass appointment. But the cards finally came in the mail so canceled that additional 430 mile round trip.

Find it hard to believe the USCIS is still fooling around with the I-751, without a valid green card or that crazy one year extension, you cannot work nor travel.

Just as a mild reminder, in around March of 2008, we sent in all updated tax returns, legal purchases, and bank account evidence. Was no big deal as was compiling that evidence for the N-400. That went a lot faster, with all that stress in getting that ten year card, wife only carried it for a couple of months. She did not want to surrender it at her oath ceremony. Asked them if they could punch a hole in it all something to invalidate it.

We submitted the same marriage evidence again for the N-400, but found that we also had to submit our divorce papers, marriage certificate, and proof that I was a USC again. Wife saw a 3 1/2 inch thick pile of our evidence. They already had all that stuff we had to submit again. Guess they don't read their own literature on the paper reduction act.

We could have brought in over two dozen people to testify under oath that we are living together. I went with her, her IO wouldn't even look at me, all they wanted to see was my papers. Reminded me of Nazi Germany. Let me see your papers!

[Susan73 5]

Hello, everyone! This forum has always been very helpful for me so I hope you guys can help me out.

My wife and I are going to be mailing our packet to remove the conditions on her residence very soon and I was wondering about proof. We have a joint tax return photocopy, joint life insurance and joint health insurance...but we don't yet have a joint bank account. Should those three items I DO have be enough evidence? I certainly think it should be but I wanted your opinions. Thanks!

Just to be on the safe side, why dont you open a joint account now and put some money into it, even a small amt and pay some common bills this month. So if you do get an RFE youc an always send them the joint account details....also ask your bank to give you a letter saying the account is a joint one..my bank did that for me...

and once you are done with all this paper work, you can close the account.

[bora bora 1]

It may or may not be a deal breaker , depends on the officer who deals with your file , some filers have received RFE's because the transcripts were not official transcripts from the IRS

Ours were not official, hell, we only sent copies of what our accountant sent us and we were approved in less than 3 months, no RFEs.

[Jigi 0]

hi,

You should be fine.... but just a note for the future. You guys can open a joint account and keep it for these kind of purposes with little balances....

Jigi