Joint Bank Account

[rosco_qa 0]

Is it too late to add my wife to my existing bank account or credit card? We will send out I-751 in May (GC exp: 08-05-2012)? We only have below items & nothing else. The reason I didn't add my wife to bank account or credit card because she is house wife & do not work. Items we have:

• Joint Tax Return Transcript (2009).
• Joint Tax Return Transcript (2010).
• Joint Tax Return Transcript (2011).
• Heath insurance 2011 card (wife as beneficiary).
• Heath insurance 2011 coverage certificate (wife as beneficiary).
• Heath insurance 2012 coverage certificate (wife as beneficiary).
• EyeMed insurance card (wife as beneficiary).
• EyeMed coverage certificate (wife as beneficiary).
• DeltaCare insurance (wife as beneficiary).
• Driver's License of both of us with same address.
• JetBlue flight itinerary of vacation (January'2011).
• Some pictures (10/15) taken during vacation (January'2011).
  

Please advise.

Many Thanks.

[Hugglebuggles 60]

Oh boy!

As an outsider looking in, it may seem to the IO you do not trust your wife. Not having access to your bank account or credit cards may be a red flag. I would be prepared with an answer in the event you end up with an interview. Adding her now would be better than not doing it at all. With that said, not having a joint account or credit cards is not an automatic denial, its possible to be approved without it.

[VanessaTony 3,567]

nvm.

Edited April 17, 2012 by Vanessa&Tony

[tokyo.lovers 6]

i think you want to have evidence over time. adding her would be a good benefit now, but you would only have a statement showing you just started teh joint account. that is not too bad, but they want 2 years of evidence preferred.

even if you add her, and you don't want to have to share the money, you can always not give her the debit card or checks or anything. then her name is just on the documents.

[rosco_qa 0]

i think you want to have evidence over time. adding her would be a good benefit now, but you would only have a statement showing you just started teh joint account. that is not too bad, but they want 2 years of evidence preferred.

even if you add her, and you don't want to have to share the money, you can always not give her the debit card or checks or anything. then her name is just on the documents.

It's not about money folk's.

[Kathryn41 3,205]

A number of totally unacceptable comments and responses have been removed. The OP did not ask for your judgments about his situation. He asked specific questions that have straight forward answers. If you do not wish to provide the requested information in a courteous and supportive manner, then do not respond in this thread. One member has also been thread-banned.

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Edited April 17, 2012 by Kathryn41

[Kathryn41 3,205]

It is not too late to add your wife to your bank account and credit cards. You may also wish to add her name to a house deed or a lease as well although this isn't necessary. Ideally, you wish to show how the two of you are sharing both assets and the liabilities in your lives together. While you are supporting her financially, it is a good idea to make sure her name is also listed on such things as bank accounts, credit cards, property documents, etc. just in case something ever happened to you.

Other good evidence, especially if you haven't had her on your accounts up until now, is to do your wills and each of you have the other listed as beneficiary. You can also list each other as Executor/Trustee but this isn't necessary as long as you show that you have provided for each other legally in case something happens. Is she listed as your emergency contact with your employer? You may be able to get a copy of that to include.

What about retirement funds? Do you have her listed as your beneficiary there? What about insurance plans? Is she listed as a beneficiary if you have one? She has a driver's license. Is she also listed as an insured driver on your vehicle? Does she have a car of her own to drive? Does she have her own credit cards or debit cards that you pay the expenses for? If so, include copies of those. Even if she isn't working she is still eligible to buy an IRA for her own retirement purposes each year. Not only is it a good investment, it is also a good deduction on your income tax returns each year. While you would be paying for it ,it would be in her name and you, of course, would be listed as the beneficiary if anything happens to her. If you have any extra money you could buy a CD in both of your names. All of these things show planning not just for today's needs, but tomorrow's needs as well. A marriage is expected to be a long-term relationship so planning for the future together is definitely considered good evidence for the I-751 as well.

Does she receive any magazine subscriptions or things like that at the house? Any letters or cards sent to her? You can include the envelopes showing her name - and even better, something addressed to the two of you at the same address - also as evidence. Do you have a family cell phone plan with separate numbers for each of you listed? Include a copy of that statement as well.

It is good to have a variety of evidence. Photographs are great, but the more you can show how you have married your financial and legal lives together as well will definitely help to prove the validity of your marriage when you apply to remove the conditions.

Edited April 17, 2012 by Kathryn41

[Barca 10]

great advise Kathryn41 any 401k or retirement plans having her listed as a benificiary, life insurance policy so on and so forth...it is a bit difficult to prove the co-mingling if finance is not involved but I don't think you would receive an automatic denial you would probably get an RFE and possible interview...best of luck!

[Petition2252 7]

I don't have my wife on Credit Card accounts. As an immigrant, she would not qualify for my high credit since she has none.

We do share bank accounts though.

You can always provide other proof. See item 5 below.

Per Instructions for Form I-751:

[Matt & Bing 56]

I don't have my wife on Credit Card accounts. As an immigrant, she would not qualify for my high credit since she has none.

I've never heard of not being able to add another user (such as a spouse) to your credit card. My wife had no assets when she came here and obviously no credit. She has been added to several of our credit card accounts.

[Barca 10]

I've never heard of not being able to add another user (such as a spouse) to your credit card. My wife had no assets when she came here and obviously no credit. She has been added to several of our credit card accounts.

I second that statment!

[pepper 34]

I've never heard of not being able to add another user (such as a spouse) to your credit card. My wife had no assets when she came here and obviously no credit. She has been added to several of our credit card accounts.

+1 to that ! I too came here with zero credit history. We got approved for a joint credit card with no problems.

[Cino 5]

Even if she isn't working she is still eligible to buy an IRA for her own retirement purposes each year. Not only is it a good investment, it is also a good deduction on your income tax returns each year.

FYI, Roth IRA is not tax-deductible. If you leave money for at least 5 years & you are 59 1/2 years old, when you withdraw this retirement fund then it is tax-free money of course if you have made a profit.

Only traditional IRA is tax deductible.

[Petition2252 7]

+1 to that ! I too came here with zero credit history. We got approved for a joint credit card with no problems.

Hmmm.. we went to BofA and they said she probably would not qualify because I had a high credit line, and she had zero credit.

We tried for a regular card but they denied her and put her on a "training card" for the first year.

After that they merged her account into a regular card, but we still have not re-attempted to merge accounts.

We have shared bank accounts, just not credit card accounts.

[Barca 10]

Hmmm.. we went to BofA and they said she probably would not qualify because I had a high credit line, and she had zero credit.

We tried for a regular card but they denied her and put her on a "training card" for the first year.

After that they merged her account into a regular card, but we still have not re-attempted to merge accounts.

We have shared bank accounts, just not credit card accounts.

if you already have a card, you should be able to add her to your account not have her apply under her ssn!