I-751: Financial Co-mingling went into full gear only 6 months ago

[D R C 2]

Hi All,

My wife and I were married in January 2014 in front of a judge. We set up a joint bank account + an account of her own which I put money into when I was financially able to. As I mentioned in an earlier post, we primarily used the joint account to build up funds to buy our own place. For most of 2014 and 2015, I was the primary person who paid all of the bills -- cable, cell phone, credit card, groceries, etc. as she didn't have a job lined up just yet. She also had a bank account in her home country which I encouraged her to keep as an emergency fund.

So in short, in 2014 and 2015 it was primarily only me supporting the both of us. We were living with family at the time so expenses were manageable. We have the joint account statements showing we made an occasional deposit, including several large monetary gifts following our wedding reception, and in Christmas 2015. Having said this, the account was lightly used until it came time to close on our place.

She landed a part-time job in October 2015 and we closed on our place in November 2015. She started chipping in twice a month beginning January 2016, in conjunction with her pay days, a small amount of money that helps pay our bills.

-I have a "paycheck" checking account that has two functions: 1) to handle my incoming paychecks, and 2) keep two months worth of mortgage payments on reserve.

-I move some paycheck funds into my "payment" checking account to pay bills. This also earns frequent flier miles so it's an added bonus, and we like to travel, too.

-She chips in money from her account into my "payment" account to help pay for our bills; I encourage her to save as much as she can.

So in reality, our 'real' co-mingling of finances only really began with the start of our mortgage payments six months ago and us living in our own property. She was mostly dependent on me on that financial support prior to that. Since this year started, we've had to tighten the belt considerably to keep a roof over our heads, pay the bills, and put food on the table. My "payment" account shows additional funds from her twice a month, but I messed up once when I put both her share and my paycheck in the same deposit lol!

Having said all of this, do I need to show USCIS how the money flows from account to account (joint & individual), or will joint statements showing some activity suffice?

Six months in, we're getting the hang of it and we're loving every moment.

[NikLR 13,227]

I'd put the joint statements and mention in a letter that you were the main support for the family because your wife was unemployed.

Joint accounts are good. Also if she's adding money into your accounts you can show the deposits or transfers to said accounts. You can add things like wills, MPOA, the title to your house, and other things which are held jointly to help boost the petition.

[D R C 2]

NLR -

Appreciate the help with the wording. I felt I was missing some leverage to go along with the joint bank statements because of our single income household.

The weight on my shoulders lessens with each additional dollar to the monthly pot...

DRC808

[NikLR 13,227]

Im the saver in our family so I totally gwt it. Thankfully we had a VA loan for our home or else it would have been at least another couple years of renting. Now we save for things for the home, lol, like air conditioning!

So boring being so adult sometimes! Lol!!

[D R C 2]

NLR -

Sorry one last thing that I forgot to mention is that we pay all of our recurring bills through my own checking account because it gives us miles. For the last 6 months or so, the amounts that she gives me are deposited into my own (not joint) checking account. I can easily pick out the dates/amounts since it generally follows her pay days.

Would it be advisable to add the last six months of my individual checking account statements (in my own name, not joint) with the amounts she contributed highlighted, as well as quarterly statements as far back as we could possibly go to show that I was the primary means of support during the period she was unemployed?

Otherwise the plan is to submit only the joint statements with letter, and hope we don't get an RFE asking for connecting bank statements/documentation.

Thanks!

[NikLR 13,227]

I wouldn't bother showing that you were the primary support, but do include from both her and your account where she transferred you money.

dbl post.. grr.

Edited June 28, 2016 by NLR