Planning ahead for ROC

[Villanelle 4,122]

I know Im getting a bit ahead of myself here as my husband entered on a k1 and is still waiting for the production of his GC, but Ive been reading ahead and am now concerned that we subsequently wont have enough evidence in 2 years when it comes time for ROC... Id rather do everything right now then be one of those posts in two years saying - its too late now- I cant go back and back date things.

Here is the problems were facing.

Im currently in the 'check system'. I can not open a bank account and really dont see any way in the immediate future to get out of it. (It really doesnt effect me. I dont have a bank account, I havent had one for years.) I get paid SS benefits on a SS 'debit mastercard' issued by the government. I use it to pay my bills.

My husband has since opened a US bank account, but its only in his name. So we have no joint accounts. My husband also has a foreign bank account because he receives a foreign pension. (closing it is not an option because its a Norwegian gov pension and must go into a Norwegian bank account) That account is only in his name. There is no way to add my name to that account as I have no 'ID' number in that country. (So basically the US bank account has been sitting barely used, most of our transactions are from the SS debit card or his foreign debit card)

So Ive read that separate bank accounts are OK. I am planning on printing out the statements on my husbands foreign account to show that all the transactions were at local businesses/atms. And the same for my account. Good so far?

We do not have a lease as I own the house we live in. I do not have a mortgage. Am I suppose to go down to the local clerks office and add him to the deed? Is that even possible?

I have one company for phone/cable/internet and I contacted them about adding him to the account and was told they only allow one name on the bill. I have yet to contact the electric company to ask if they have the same policy.

We both have DLs with the same addresses but only 1 car which is registered in my name. The ins policy has both of us on it.

For medical ins, I am covered under SS. He has prvt ins. So we have 2 totally different policies.

I can obtain a copy of my daughters school emergency contact form in which he is listed as a contact.

We both have library cards with this address.

He has a magazine subsubscription to this address. I do not.

(I would also have tax returns, affidavit letters, photos, future vacation receipts/stubs)

But overall you can see the problem. Most of the things I have are separate and pretty much the only connection is the physical location. Is that going to be enough? If not how do I rectify this now?

Edited November 17, 2012 by capri

[BigDaddy28 228]

I know Im getting a bit ahead of myself here as my husband entered on a k1 and is still waiting for the production of his GC, but Ive been reading ahead and am now concerned that we subsequently wont have enough evidence in 2 years when it comes time for ROC... Id rather do everything right now then be one of those posts in two years saying - its too late now- I cant go back and back date things.

Here is the problems were facing.

Im currently in the 'check system'. I can not open a bank account and really dont see any way in the immediate future to get out of it. (It really doesnt effect me. I dont have a bank account, I havent had one for years.) I get paid SS benefits on a SS 'debit mastercard' issued by the government. I use it to pay my bills.

My husband has since opened a US bank account, but its only in his name. So we have no joint accounts. My husband also has a foreign bank account because he receives a foreign pension. (closing it is not an option because its a Norwegian gov pension and must go into a Norwegian bank account) That account is only in his name. There is no way to add my name to that account as I have no 'ID' number in that country. (So basically the US bank account has been sitting barely used, most of our transactions are from the SS debit card or his foreign debit card)

So Ive read that separate bank accounts are OK. I am planning on printing out the statements on my husbands foreign account to show that all the transactions were at local businesses/atms. And the same for my account. Good so far?

We do not have a lease as I own the house we live in. I do not have a mortgage. Am I suppose to go down to the local clerks office and add him to the deed? Is that even possible?

I have one company for phone/cable/internet and I contacted them about adding him to the account and was told they only allow one name on the bill. I have yet to contact the electric company to ask if they have the same policy.

We both have DLs with the same addresses but only 1 car which is registered in my name. The ins policy has both of us on it.

For medical ins, I am covered under SS. He has prvt ins. So we have 2 totally different policies.

I can obtain a copy of my daughters school emergency contact form in which he is listed as a contact.

We both have library cards with this address.

He has a magazine subsubscription to this address. I do not.

(I would also have tax returns, affidavit letters, photos, future vacation receipts/stubs)

But overall you can see the problem. Most of the things I have are separate and pretty much the only connection is the physical location. Is that going to be enough? If not how do I rectify this now?

What you do is when you call your cable/phone/ electricity and other bills like that, tell them to put right under you name "ATTN your husbands name" I did that with my wife and it works.The deed I believe you can go and add your husbands name. Buy some life insurance/ car insurance/ house insurance all of these you can put both of your names together. The car title and registration, both of your names. credit cards both of your names. Work on your credit. You can go to rent a center: buy a TV, dish washer, laundry machines, bed: put in both your names. Phontos: if you could date it with your camera will be awesome. Buy AAA membership for 2 years in both names. Zoo membership in both names also will be good.

[VanessaTony 3,567]

For my husbands cell phone bill we added my name in the "bill to" address so the bills are sent with both our names, even though I'm not on the contract.

No need to re-register the car, or put him on the deed. You may buy a second car between now and then.

Is there a way for you to get out of this "check system"? i don't know what it is but if there's not try and get some sort of evidence of this fact.

The not joint insurance makes sense. Do you have Wills or Powers of Attorney made for each other? Do you have each other listed as beneficiaries to life insurance (I understand for you your daughter would come first).

**Edit - I do not agree with a lot of the suggestions made by the poster above me. Do not go into debt just to prove joint debt :S

Edited November 17, 2012 by Vanessa&Tony

[Villanelle 4,122]

^The 'checks system' is basically a system set up to prevent people who had an unpaid account from opening a new bank account at any other bank until they 'settle up'. Because of my previous divorce, I ended up in the checks system. My ex had bounced a check, never made good on it, the account was closed and since it was a joint account we were both turned into the checks system.

To get out of the 'checks system' is not an instant thing. First I would have to come up with the unpaid amount (around 1000$). Which is a significant amount (for me right now) Once I do, it would take the system a few months to process and release me before I would be able to go to a bank and be able to open an account or have my husband add me to his. So a conservative estimate would be- 8-9 months (4-5 to come up with the money and 2-3 for them to process) from today before I would be able to be on a joint account with my husband.

From a "ROC" veiwpoint thats pretty much half the two years of 'joint' history that would still be seperate. So overall looking at the cost and the benefit I dont feel like getting off the checks system would do me much good.

I figured my best bet was to show I receive SS benefits paid directly to the SS mastercard, hence the reason I do not have need for a bank account. But I can easily obtain a statement from checks system showing I am actively prohibited from opening a bank account along with the balance due and what I need to do to remedy it.

---

We do have wills, no life ins yet.

I will contact the cell phone/internet/utilities companies again and specfically ask about adding him on as a bill to or attn "Mr Capri" rather then adding him on to the account as a responsible party. (Its really sad how customer service reps dont explain other possible options. I mean they knew what I wanted, yet they didnt tell me I could do that)

[VanessaTony 3,567]

I've read of several cases where people were approved without bank accounts. You'd be surprised how other little things matter. Like cards from family and friends, and photos with friends/family. Print-outs showing each other paying for family bills/things. For example if he got a gym membership and paid it from your account. Joint netflix account is another I've heard of.

Re his account, can you be added as a cardholder rather than an account holder? Did you discuss the check bounce issue with your divorce lawyer (normally these things - debts - are sorted out during the divorce.. if you can prove that HE is responsible, not you, maybe they'll let you off)? Are you able to talk to whoever reported the bad check about how it wasn't your check, you're divorced etc etc and whether there's a way to get off outside of paying a bill that's not yours? I wouldn't worry for ROC, more just to get yourself "clean" in case you feel like getting an account one day.

Also ROC is MOSTLY about the length of marriage, but if you were to prove that you were getting OFF the chex system which is why the account was later, they would understand that.