Adding Foreign Wife to Checking and Credit Card Accounts

[Mela17 36]

For AOS? Or do you mean for ROC? It was my understanding that the requiring evidence of co-mingling for AOS won't be as extensive anyways since you will be appying for that right away.

You don't have to put this information in your AOS application but you might get chosen for an interview, if this is the case, bring the co mingling evidence then. What I listed is what my hubs and i brought to our AOS interview.

[TBoneTX 45,497]

Great advice. Thanks. Any advice on who to go to to draft these? Lawyers can be expensive lol.

Welcome, si man. Sometimes, you can find a lawyer with set and comparatively reasonable rates for constructing Wills and the ancillary documents. There are on-line resources that might have templates. A couple are on the tip of my brain, but you can do a Web search for "do-it-yourself wills in ____ [your state]."

I'm not a lawyer, but lawyers have told me -- and it simply makes sense -- to check very thoroughly that the Will template is the most current for your state of residence. There are important differences between states' versions. In addition, check the witness & signature requirements very carefully. In short, I was told, have your wits completely about you if you plan to do it yourself.

Edited August 12, 2013 by TBoneTX

[HawaiianCecil 31]

I was trying to find specific answers to the following questions, and couldn't, so I thought I'd just ask here and see if anyone has experience/knows.

This is with Wells Fargo checking:

When adding her as a joint owner, will this require me to close my checking account and open up a new one with her?

Will she get a separate debit card with a separate number or with the same number?

If it is the same number, how does one order something online and have to enter billing info - do you have to enter both names or will either go through?

This is with a Wells Fargo credit card account:

Is it possible to add someone with no credit history and zero credit to your already existing credit card account as a JOINT owner? Or is the only option to add her as an authorized user?

Same question regarding her getting a separate card - is it with the same number or different number?

Thanks. Just want to be prepared with my options.

I just did all of the above with no problems. Added my husband to my existing credit cards, utility bills, car title etc.SSN# was all they needed!

[Tim/Mav 305]

To much Drama. Do as Darnell instructed which is later. Hello! Get married first.

[bigdog 376]

She most likely will need a social and or state ID. As to establishing her own credit, if she is in school (ESL) at local community college will count, check out CITIC card for students, got one for my wife to start her USA credit.

[Chicagoguy 2 27]

See bigdog. She will need her own Social Security number for most of these things you are trying to do.

[Tim/Mav 305]

See bigdog. She will need her own Social Security number for most of these things you are trying to do.

Her Entry to the US is based upon a K-1 Visa and thats all it is good for. Its a whole different process getting Legal Accounts after the Marridge. I admire Leon for mowing the grass before it even grows. Slow down. Things grow in time.

[UK-USA-K1 128]

I don't know your exact financial situation, but something I didn't notice when skimming through the thread is a prepaid credit card. They are perfect for starting to get people credit and you can get it done jointly. It's been quite a while since I did it, but I did do it at Wells Fargo. At the time all they required was a $500 cash deposit, then they give you a credit card with credit based on that deposit. There is a fee for the card which was around $35/year when I did it, but it builds up from no credit to some credit if you have her use it and pay it off regularly.

Also, if you are able, putting her on utilities is a good way to co-mingle and should be easier to do.

As far as checking is concerned, the only thing I know for sure is it's easy to add a person to the account as long as they have their social security number. They will need you to come into a branch and fill out paperwork and she will have to sign a signature card, but that is generally all that takes.

[Gosia & Tito 199]

I'd like to share my experience about getting car loans. My husband traded in his vehicle last month and he added me as a coborrower. We got our loan through the dealership. A week after signing the paperwork, the dealership called my husband and asked him to sign another paperwork because they cannot add me as a coborrower. The reason behind was because my green card will expire before the contract ends. I don't know how it works but every bank follows different procedures so it might be worth a try.

Depends on the bank. Just did same, no problems. Also, wife GC (the conditional), expires before the car loan is paid off

Her Entry to the US is based upon a K-1 Visa and thats all it is good for. Its a whole different process getting Legal Accounts after the Marridge. I admire Leon for mowing the grass before it even grows. Slow down. Things grow in time.

I added my now wife as a user on a couple of my CCs before she came to the country (about 1 year, when we started the K-1). And used the card occasionally for purchases.

Before she arrived she was already getting CC offers. Credit history was already built, not much, but enough to get in the CC marketing lists.

Welcome, si man. Sometimes, you can find a lawyer with set and comparatively reasonable rates for constructing Wills and the ancillary documents. There are on-line resources that might have templates. A couple are on the tip of my brain, but you can do a Web search for "do-it-yourself wills in ____ [your state]."

I'm not a lawyer, but lawyers have told me -- and it simply makes sense -- to check very thoroughly that the Will template is the most current for your state of residence. There are important differences between states' versions. In addition, check the witness & signature requirements very carefully. In short, I was told, have your wits completely about you if you plan to do it yourself.

Legal Zoom.com. And no, I do not work with them. They have very reasonable fees for all sorts of legal documents; often 5-10% of what a lawyer would charge.

[David & Diana R 1,005]

I was trying to find specific answers to the following questions, and couldn't, so I thought I'd just ask here and see if anyone has experience/knows.

This is with Wells Fargo checking:

When adding her as a joint owner, will this require me to close my checking account and open up a new one with her?

Will she get a separate debit card with a separate number or with the same number?

If it is the same number, how does one order something online and have to enter billing info - do you have to enter both names or will either go through?

This is with a Wells Fargo credit card account:

Is it possible to add someone with no credit history and zero credit to your already existing credit card account as a JOINT owner? Or is the only option to add her as an authorized user?

Same question regarding her getting a separate card - is it with the same number or different number?

Thanks. Just want to be prepared with my options.

Easy answer....Call Wells Fargo

[Protocol417 161]

I don't know your exact financial situation, but something I didn't notice when skimming through the thread is a prepaid credit card. They are perfect for starting to get people credit and you can get it done jointly. It's been quite a while since I did it, but I did do it at Wells Fargo. At the time all they required was a $500 cash deposit, then they give you a credit card with credit based on that deposit. There is a fee for the card which was around $35/year when I did it, but it builds up from no credit to some credit if you have her use it and pay it off regularly.

When I was trying to build up my own credit, I checked into prepaid credit cards through my Credit Union. In the process, I applied for a small, unsecured loan on a whim, just to see what would happen. I didn't think I would get approved because I was fresh from a bankruptcy.

Voila! Approved! No deposit necessary, no penalty for paying off early, and a pretty decent rate, too.

So that's another thing to try. It's easier to get these type of loans through Credit Unions where you are a member, and it generally doesn't take very much to become a member (there are three in my area that will accept you based on where you live alone).

[UK-USA-K1 128]

When I was trying to build up my own credit, I checked into prepaid credit cards through my Credit Union. In the process, I applied for a small, unsecured loan on a whim, just to see what would happen. I didn't think I would get approved because I was fresh from a bankruptcy.

Voila! Approved! No deposit necessary, no penalty for paying off early, and a pretty decent rate, too.

So that's another thing to try. It's easier to get these type of loans through Credit Unions where you are a member, and it generally doesn't take very much to become a member (there are three in my area that will accept you based on where you live alone).

Very true, I'd definitely attempt to get the unsecured loan first, and they may well qualify if they do it jointly, but assuming that a newly immigrated resident with a lack of a credit history may not qualify without any prior history and with only a temporary status, I suggested the step of the secured loan and the utilities. Both will build up credit with minimal trouble and will all work for co-mingling as well. Basically there is a myriad of options, and I'm certain that when they go into the bank, any competent banker will be able to point them to the options that will work for this particular couple within the rules and regulations of their particular bank.

[GreenMetro 5]

I added my wife to my bank account and credit card with no more than verifying my information. I explained that we were filing for the visa and why I wanted her added. Took about 30 minutes to do both over the phone. Got her added and card issued with no problems. I would suggest calling and speaking with a customer service rep. FYI my wife dosent have a ssn or anything yet either. Good luck to you!