Anyone approved without evidence of commingled finances?

[miss805 2]

Hi Vjers! I came here on K1 visa late 2010, I got my Green Card this year and it was approved without an interview. I come from EU country (considered low fraud country), if that makes any difference.

My husband and I married for love and we have a happy marriage. However, he refuses to add me to his bank account. He says that it's nothing personal and that this is something he has decided a long time ago. He says that me being foreigner doesn't make any difference, and he would have done the same with anyone else, even if his wife was USC. He wants to keep 100% control over his money in case there ever is an ugly break-up in the future. Let me mention that he is the only financial provider right now, I don't have a job yet (but looking for one). We have a joint account (other than his main bank account) but we don't touch the money in it (it's more like emergency account).

Now, I know that having a joint account and evidence of commingled finances is one of the most important pieces of evidence for ROC interview, if not the most important. We were lucky that we didn't have an interview for AOS. I know that they expect a lot of evidence for ROC and not having joint finances is something frowned upon. I won't ROC until early 2013, but this is something I'm already worried about.

Has anyone ever been approved without having evidence of commingled finances and joint bank account? Do we risk not having ROC approved without a joint account?

[Inky 1,110]

I don't really see the problem you said you have a joint account ?

It doesn't matter if you spend the money or not from that account just the fact that it is a joint account is fine.

[miss805 2]

I thought bank account statements are needed for interview to show activity and usual eveyday spendings on the account? We don't really use that account, only if we really need it for emergencies.

[Inky 1,110]

I thought bank account statements are needed for interview to show activity and usual eveyday spendings on the account? We don't really use that account, only if we really need it for emergencies.

You can still get statements from the account showing deposits / savings in the account. You can also get a statement saying its a joint account and when you opened it together etc.

There is no requirement to show " activity " of any sort. You just prove you have a shared account weather you use it or its just a savings account/emergency account.

[VanessaTony 3,567]

Agree with Inky. You have a joint account. Activity in the account isn't a big deal. in fact being "savings" actually bodes well.

[Zen Den 18]

I thought bank account statements are needed for interview to show activity and usual eveyday spendings on the account? We don't really use that account, only if we really need it for emergencies.

your bank statement doesn't need to show spending. what' important is you have it. besides, there are a lot of other proofs of co-mingling such as letters/cards addressed to both of you, pictures of you at family gatherings, joint tax filing, etc

[miss805 2]

That's really good to know! Thanks guys, I feel relieved!

[Germanimmigrant 12]

That's really good to know! Thanks guys, I feel relieved!

Honestly, is this all financial commingling you have with your husband? No joint credit card or authorized user on your husband's card?

In theory, that account that you have shows commingling. If it has only a few hundred dollars in it, one might question the commitment. If this is serious savings, then it might be ok. I hope you also have insurance policies where you name each other as beneficiaries. In general, commingling finances is the single most important indicator of a marriage (at least for USCIS). If you don't have enough, your husband should consider putting you on his other account(s), at least until your immigration journey is over. That much trust is duly necessary. If you can't trust your partner fully, why even get married in the first place?

[mr and mrs 187]

have you filed taxes jointly?

one of the reasons we were sure to co-mingle financially, as they say, was because we (meaning both my alien husband and my USC self) knew that evidence of this was a requirement for our immigration process.

did your husband go so far as to have you sign a prenuptial agreement to protect his assets as well? i wonder how a prenup would be viewed by the USCIS.

[miss805 2]

Honestly, is this all financial commingling you have with your husband? No joint credit card or authorized user on your husband's card?

Yes, so far. No, we don't have a joint credit card (he only has one and rarely uses it and I don't have one) and like I said, he would not put me on his main checking account.

In theory, that account that you have shows commingling. If it has only a few hundred dollars in it, one might question the commitment. If this is serious savings, then it might be ok. I hope you also have insurance policies where you name each other as beneficiaries. In general, commingling finances is the single most important indicator of a marriage (at least for USCIS). If you don't have enough, your husband should consider putting you on his other account(s), at least until your immigration journey is over. That much trust is duly necessary. If you can't trust your partner fully, why even get married in the first place?

Neither of us have life or any kind of insurance yet. I appreciate your input and maybe my husband doesn't trust me fully but I didn't come here for marriage advice.

[ceadsearc 516]

You have a joint account, like everyone else said, so that works in your favor. Either way, you won't be denied outright for that. I'm assuming you have plenty of other things for evidence that show that you are living as a marriage couple that you can provide to USCIS. You may or may not get an interview but they won't just deny over a bank account.

[miss805 2]

have you filed taxes jointly?

one of the reasons we were sure to co-mingle financially, as they say, was because we (meaning both my alien husband and my USC self) knew that evidence of this was a requirement for our immigration process.

did your husband go so far as to have you sign a prenuptial agreement to protect his assets as well? i wonder how a prenup would be viewed by the USCIS.

We were not yet married in 2010 and January when he filed taxes.

Hoestly, the only reason I wish he would put me on his account is to make sure that we have evidence of financial commingling for ROC. I don't care about being able to use his money whenever I wanted because it's HIS money, he worked for it and me being able to spend his money is not something that I should be able to do automatically. Even if he did authorize me to use his account I would always ask him first if I could use it. It's just the way I was raised. I don't take anything for granted or think it's my right just because I am married to him.

No, we don't have a prenuptial agreement.

[miss805 2]

You have a joint account, like everyone else said, so that works in your favor. Either way, you won't be denied outright for that. I'm assuming you have plenty of other things for evidence that show that you are living as a marriage couple that you can provide to USCIS. You may or may not get an interview but they won't just deny over a bank account.

Thanks, I sure hope so. Yes, we have other evidence and are able to prove that we live together, take trips etc. together as a married couple.

[miss805 2]

Neither of us have life or any kind of insurance yet.

Oh, expect for health insurance. I'm listed as a dependant on his health care plan.

[Anh map 2,098]

Being able to demonstrate a comingling of lives is very important. Things such as: child's birth certificate, common address on drivers licenses/id cards, joint memberships, joint credit accounts, mail addressed to the both of you, both listed on car insurance, medical insurance, life insurance, membership in religious organizations, etc. A joint savings account is also good. All the things that are typical of a married couple. No one couple will have all the types of evidence.

You can only show what you have. Making sure that you have as much as you can is completely up to you and your spouse. There are many things that you can begin doing now that will be good evidence when ROC time rolls around. Have a discussion with your spouse to see if he sees the importance of building good evidence or not. Then you will be well prepared for the ROC stage.