Does anyone else have this problem or any ideas on what to do?

[kssette 30]

I am trying to show proof of a bonafide marriage in case we get a request for further evidence. I tried first to add my husband to my bank account but was told he had to be here in the US with me and a valid passport. Obviously that is not possible. Next I tried to change my status to married for tax purposes.......another no go. It states if you are married to a nonresident alien you have to mark single......ughhhhhhhh!!!!

So I talk to an attorney about giving my husband "Deed Gift" to my house there by making us property owners together. Awesome proof right! And I can do this I am told but the risk is the mortgage company after seeing a new owner added to the deed can pull my loan and request the loan be paid in full immediately.

I tried to add him to my Electric company account......this may be possible at a later date (not today anyways). They require an international conference call to speak to us both to add him to the account. Still no guarantee.

Finally, I did manage to get him added to my Water bill account. No questions ask.....wooooohoooo!

Does anyone out there have any other ideas?

We are an older Muslim couple who married in what some people would consider a short time, and I am just worried it is a red flag so I am trying to gather evidence just in case immigration ask for it.

[aditya3245 113]

I am trying to show proof of a bonafide marriage in case we get a request for further evidence. I tried first to add my husband to my bank account but was told he had to be here in the US with me and a valid passport. Obviously that is not possible. Next I tried to change my status to married for tax purposes.......another no go. It states if you are married to a nonresident alien you have to mark single......ughhhhhhhh!!!!

So I talk to an attorney about giving my husband "Deed Gift" to my house there by making us property owners together. Awesome proof right! And I can do this I am told but the risk is the mortgage company after seeing a new owner added to the deed can pull my loan and request the loan be paid in full immediately.

I tried to add him to my Electric company account......this may be possible at a later date (not today anyways). They require an international conference call to speak to us both to add him to the account. Still no guarantee.

Finally, I did manage to get him added to my Water bill account. No questions ask.....wooooohoooo!

Does anyone out there have any other ideas?

We are an older Muslim couple who married in what some people would consider a short time, and I am just worried it is a red flag so I am trying to gather evidence just in case immigration ask for it.

You could

- add him to your credit as an additional cardholder

- add him to your life/health/car insurance

- submit pictures (as many as possible)

- logs of gifts he sent to you - or - you sent to him

Are you using skype/whatsapp/email ?

Log everything and highlight his number(s)/ email id/ whatsapp - and do this over months.

Take trips to see him or perhaps the two of you could meet in a third country.

Log your currency draws as a tourist to his country, your air tickets, pictures taken on trips, purchases made during the trip

And these are just starters.

[bdrew612 1,071]

Where did you get that tax information from? That's not accurate. I spoke with the IRS and was told regardless of my spouse's residence, I have to file married. The difference is filing married seperate or married jointly. You cannot file single if you are not single.

My husband does not live in the US currently, but when he was here visiting, we were able to add him to my checking account. We went into the branch, spoke with the manager and explained our situation. It was no problem, they just made a photo copy of our marriage certificate, his UK driver license and his passport.

Do you have photos together? Phone records, maybe a couple chat logs? Copies of plane tickets when you visited each other, affidavits from family members who can attest that the marriage is bona fide.

[JA_Martinez 81]

It is next to impossible to add foreign spouses to anything in the US until they have their own SS#. All of us have hit that going through the process, it kinda is what it is. The govt knows this. Be very careful about trying to do this in any financial situation, esp taxes, just for the sake on bonafides. They will be most interested in proof that you are not in an "arranged" type relationship so you will need to prove to them that you are not. Meaning proof of communication with each other over whatever time, proof/letters from others (family, friends, etc) who can provide written and signed confirmation of how they know you both, time theyve spent with you under what circumstances, etc. Think of it this way....there have been way too many Americans who have arranged for a wife from another country through a "service" of sorts. Because the service.providers are good at getting around the system and it looks like its legit, its easy to marry someone from another country, and used to be very easy to just bring them here. You have to provide proof that thats not the case with you. You are correct that it might be a red flag for you, but no financial ties with them living abroad are not going to make much difference unless you have proof of those there.

[kaevom 0]

You can file tax with your husband just get him a ITIN in IRS. and you can declare as married in your income tax. thats what i did with my husband.. so far our case goes smoothly..

Good Luck

[JA_Martinez 81]

I agree on the tax thing. You MUST file as married if you are, but file seperately otherwise they will force you to include your spouses income in your tax return. (Attys complicate things ALOT).

[BethAnn and Omar 42]

I echo those sentiments about not filing single. I learned the hard way lol and now I have to submit an ammended tax return ugh!

As far as the other evidence, for us they were most interested in how many times I visited my husband, especially after we were married. They wanted to see pictures and have us identify dates on pictures. Also, made a difference (for us anyway) that I attended the interview). They never asked for any additional evidence.

Hope this helps,

BethAnn

[kssette 30]

Thanks so much for the responses............pictures, emailed letters, chats on skype, etc......I have all those. That is not a problem to show them. I submitted pictures too with the I-130 petition. Its the solid legal stuff I am thinking about. When I filled out the petition I read they ask for us to submit proof of property ownership or bank accts together.

The information on the taxes I got from my w-4. It specifically state to check single if married to a non-resident alien.......but now I have filed my federal and state return just 2 days ago as single and everyone here says that is not correct. I will have to do an amended return if what you tell me is correct. thanks for the help.

[kssette 30]

You can file tax with your husband just get him a ITIN in IRS. and you can declare as married in your income tax. thats what i did with my husband.. so far our case goes smoothly..

Good Luck

ITIN? what is that? A number I am guessing?

[kssette 30]

ITIN? what is that? A number I am guessing?

Nevermind, lol.....just googled it. I should have done that to begin with. Sorry, some days I think my brain is in idiot mode. This is what this whole process is doing to me

[jdba 22]

Where did you get that tax information from? That's not accurate. I spoke with the IRS and was told regardless of my spouse's residence, I have to file married. The difference is filing married seperate or married jointly. You cannot file single if you are not single.

My husband does not live in the US currently, but when he was here visiting, we were able to add him to my checking account. We went into the branch, spoke with the manager and explained our situation. It was no problem, they just made a photo copy of our marriage certificate, his UK driver license and his passport.

Do you have photos together? Phone records, maybe a couple chat logs? Copies of plane tickets when you visited each other, affidavits from family members who can attest that the marriage is bona fide.

I got the same info from the IRS last year. That I had to file single or head of household. I could not put my husband on my taxes because I did not support him and he didn't support me. That he is a non-resident and didn't qualify for a tax Id number because when he came he would get a social and they could not have both.

I think it's confusing and even the IRS tells some people they can file married and others no.

[AKSinghSingh79 143]

Thanks so much for the responses............pictures, emailed letters, chats on skype, etc......I have all those. That is not a problem to show them. I submitted pictures too with the I-130 petition. Its the solid legal stuff I am thinking about. When I filled out the petition I read they ask for us to submit proof of property ownership or bank accts together.

The information on the taxes I got from my w-4. It specifically state to check single if married to a non-resident alien.......but now I have filed my federal and state return just 2 days ago as single and everyone here says that is not correct. I will have to do an amended return if what you tell me is correct. thanks for the help.

I understand what she is referring to. She is not referring to the tax status you file at the beginning of the year (married filing jointly, single, etc...).

On the W-4 which you fill out with most employers you select your withholding category (single, married....) It does state right on the W-4 that if your spouse is a non-resident alien, mark single. I did the same thing myself but still file taxes married jointly.

To the OP, use your 2013 taxes as additional proof as others have stated, since you are married you must file either married jointly or married separately.

[Darnell 8,478]

Stuff I was able to do, about 30 days after the returning from the marriage trip:

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/219357-question-on-the-bonafides-of-a-marriage/?view=findpost&p=3348329

I cover 'the list' from the instructions, so you might want to read it.

[Scom 5]

I filed for AOS and I have my green card interview on March 4th but as of yet I have not received my SS#. We can not have a joint bank account, Joint bills, or a joint credit card because of this. The most I have submitted is my name on our lease though I have had to be added as an "Occupant" rather than a joint lease holder with my husband as again, I do not have a SS# yet. Im sure all cases are unique and I would certainly hope that in cases such as ours this is not held against us. My immigration attorney was happy with the documents I submitted and I have no had a request for further evidence so I am praying that on the big day everything will be ok.

I have 2 years of itemized phone bills of when we were apart documenting thousands of phone calls between us, dozens of letters & cards we wrote each other when we were apart in their original envelopes to show the dates and stamps of authenticity, a dozen affidavits from family and friend, plus lots and lots of photos of our wedding day and general photos with friends and family. I have also gained 2 step-children from my marriage and I included all cards letters and correspondences from them that they sent me when I was back in the UK.

Because we do not have house hold bills in joint names, I included joint mail like Christmas cards, wedding card, engagement cards etc... and kept them in the envelopes they came in so immigration can see when they were posted and that they are all addressed to "Mr. and Mrs. comely".

I have a meeting with my Immigration attorney in two weeks to go through all my documentation for my green card interview and any other supporting documentation I may need to bring. I hope that I get my SS# prior to my interview so we can have me added to my husbands bank account and his credit card etc.... But if it does not arrive in time then surly at the interview stage they will understand why we don't have joint finances? I truly hope so.

Edited February 1, 2014 by StaceyComley

[Gosia & Tito 199]

I filed for AOS and I have my green card interview on March 4th but as of yet I have not received my SS#. We can not have a joint bank account, Joint bills, or a joint credit card because of this. The most I have submitted is my name on our lease though I have had to be added as an "Occupant" rather than a joint lease holder with my husband as again, I do not have a SS# yet. Im sure all cases are unique and I would certainly hope that in cases such as ours this is not held against us. My immigration attorney was happy with the documents I submitted and I have no had a request for further evidence so I am praying that on the big day everything will be ok.

I have 2 years of itemized phone bills of when we were apart documenting thousands of phone calls between us, dozens of letters & cards we wrote each other when we were apart in their original envelopes to show the dates and stamps of authenticity, a dozen affidavits from family and friend, plus lots and lots of photos of our wedding day and general photos with friends and family. I have also gained 2 step-children from my marriage and I included all cards letters and correspondences from them that they sent me when I was back in the UK.

Because we do not have house hold bills in joint names, I included joint mail like Christmas cards, wedding card, engagement cards etc... and kept them in the envelopes they came in so immigration can see when they were posted and that they are all addressed to "Mr. and Mrs. comely".

I have a meeting with my Immigration attorney in two weeks to go through all my documentation for my green card interview and any other supporting documentation I may need to bring. I hope that I get my SS# prior to my interview so we can have me added to my husbands bank account and his credit card etc.... But if it does not arrive in time then surly at the interview stage they will understand why we don't have joint finances? I truly hope so.

You do not need a SSn for a joint bank account. SOme banks might want you believe that but it is not correct. Try Bank of America if there is one where you are. If not, find one that will do it. My now wife was added jointly to mine next day after she arrived. We didn't get her SSN until after married, so we wouldn't have to change names.

Same for CC and car title, etc.

I don't know about a lease, but shortly after she arrived I closed on a refi and had here on the title, though only I are on the loan, with no SSN.

Since you are close to the interview, it might not matter. For practical purposes, there is no expectation of commingling for AOS, but you could gain some 'history' for the ROC time.