Re: RFE when couple does not share financial responcibilites

[Pinkrlion 2,718]

I would not stress about your packet. As the reminder letter stated, if they have questions or believe that you did not provide sufficient enough proof of a good faith marriage, that you will be scheduled for an interview.

[Ash.1101 1,756]

Ash...............well said, thanks. And I like your analogy. Yea....that was generally my initial understanding of comingling. As I responded to other's , I became a little unsure. Yes...they are looking for "a line of (financial) trust between two people".

Thank you! I was actually sitting here for a minute trying to figure out a better way to describe it, since most financial transactions are all electronic numbers now a days. Some things are easier to understand when put into something more tangible.

Again though, like others have said, provide the evidence you have, worst comes to worse you get an interview and then really, you'll get a good chance to explain how ya'll do things as a functional couple and there most likely won't be any issues. =]

[KawikaDavid 2]

Thank you! I was actually sitting here for a minute trying to figure out a better way to describe it, since most financial transactions are all electronic numbers now a days. Some things are easier to understand when put into something more tangible.

Again though, like others have said, provide the evidence you have, worst comes to worse you get an interview and then really, you'll get a good chance to explain how ya'll do things as a functional couple and there most likely won't be any issues. =]

Thanks again and happy 4th to you and yours, take care.

[Sukie 1,460]

David,

May I suggest one thing: if you are scheduled for an interview, you and your wife need to sit down with someone who is familiar with the kinds of questions they will ask and you need to rehearse so that each of you come up with the same answer. Your situation is not that "usual" so you'll both need to prepare to answer questions about how you handle your financial life. If you and your spouse obviously have the same answers and the same attitude toward the fact that your financial choices work for you as a couple, then that's great. As long as you are both happy with the arrangement, then so be it!

A few minutes to prepare will go a long way!

Best of luck!

Sukie in NY

[watdog 8]

We recently received a I-797-E Request for evidence. The primary request was to submit evidence of comingling of finances. We do not do that because my wife (Filipina) only makes min wage and I make considerably more; also our prenup indicates that I assume such financial responsibilities.

Any helpful recommendations, suggestions?

thanks so much

David

David,

My wife and I are in a very similar situation. As other said, just try to send in what you have as joint car insurance (pain to get if she is not licensed yet), joint renters insurance, drivers license, apartment lease, joint bank account with statements paying living bills, cell phone bill, and photo's of drivers license to show proof of living together. Also, my wife is filipina as well. It's not so much in that she makes minimum wage vs see you spend money together and live a life together.

For many others commenting here. Filipina's are used to cash only currency without all the paperwork. It's extremely confusing for them, I also looked into the prenup but then did a trust instead. My wife made about 40k last year however, could never maintain a balance over $1,500 to avoid the bank fees on here bank account. It's just how they live, most call it live for today not for tomorrow.

As for credit cards and authorized user...it really does nothing. The authorized user has all access to the funds with no financial responsibility, it also does not help build there credit. For us, we got a secured card and created her own credit so she can have in future. We don't carry any joint credit cards. I was unable to add her to the power bill without credit as well, water/trash was through our apartment complex. Really only 1 bill.

Bottom line, give what you can in regards to the RFE. You have some solid things you can include and then go to the interview. When questions on finance directed at my wife come up, they see she gets really confused. Even cashing a check is pain, why do they need my fingerprints? They saw my ID, it's me

[Phil&Mich 36]

we are in a similar situation except that I am the beneficiary (Filipina wife here) I don't work so I am not contributing money in our finances.

my name is not included in any bills.

our water bill is address to the "costumer"

my husband tried to add my name in our electric bill. through phone and online though and our electric bill account was hacked! made him so mad he never tried again lol

we have pre nup too but we don't plan telling the USCIS about this.

mortgage of our house is under his name only because he bought the house years before he even met me.

But:

he added me as joint owner in his bank account

we opened a new account for me and added him as my joint owner as well

I am a beneficiary of his 401k

I am under his health insurance

my name is under our car insurances

he bought me car and the title is under our names

we filled last years tax as married jointly

I am a co user of his credit cards

I keep all my dental and in my case hospital bills because both our names are in it!

next year before doing my ROC, I'm planning to ask his bestfriend (who introduced us) to make affidavit for us

oh I also have drivers liscence indicating we live in the same address..

I hope to hear an update in your post, and I wish to know what are the evidences you sent for basis if you don't mind..

Good luck!

[KawikaDavid 2]

David,

My wife and I are in a very similar situation. As other said, just try to send in what you have as joint car insurance (pain to get if she is not licensed yet), joint renters insurance, drivers license, apartment lease, joint bank account with statements paying living bills, cell phone bill, and photo's of drivers license to show proof of living together. Also, my wife is filipina as well. It's not so much in that she makes minimum wage vs see you spend money together and live a life together.

For many others commenting here. Filipina's are used to cash only currency without all the paperwork. It's extremely confusing for them, I also looked into the prenup but then did a trust instead. My wife made about 40k last year however, could never maintain a balance over $1,500 to avoid the bank fees on here bank account. It's just how they live, most call it live for today not for tomorrow.

As for credit cards and authorized user...it really does nothing. The authorized user has all access to the funds with no financial responsibility, it also does not help build there credit. For us, we got a secured card and created her own credit so she can have in future. We don't carry any joint credit cards. I was unable to add her to the power bill without credit as well, water/trash was through our apartment complex. Really only 1 bill.

Bottom line, give what you can in regards to the RFE. You have some solid things you can include and then go to the interview. When questions on finance directed at my wife come up, they see she gets really confused. Even cashing a check is pain, why do they need my fingerprints? They saw my ID, it's me

Watdog, thanks for the very nice letter. You gave me another idea---a reason she's not on utilities "because I was under the impression she needed a credit rating to be added." Did you receive an RFE, and then later a request for interview? thanks!

[watdog 8]

No, I have not received an RFE however, my petition is only in for a few months. However, I did have the RFE for I-485 which was about my income as I had foreign income and just needed to show my income from overseas as it gets confusing with currency exchange. What Phil&Mich wrote is about what I included. Below is a list though.

1. Retirement plans showing each other as beneficiary.

2. Photo copies of drivers license of all addresses lived at since marriage.

3. Copies of Apartment lease for all years of marriage. (My house is premarital, rented out prior to marriage)

4. Joint checking account we use to pay bills and rent.

5. Car insurance showing coverage for both of us.

6. Copies of wife's car title with both our names on it. (my car was premarital, she can't drive manual anyway)

7. Affidavits from two friends that we spend time with.

8. Joint tax returns since marriage.

9. Photo copies of healthcare showing plan under myself and beneficiary as my wife.
10. Copies of renters insurance with both our names.

Like you the credit thing would have killed us in interest. After the car was paid off I changed the title to include her. The bills only wanted to be under one person as well, without her credit they wanted deposits and it was just pointless.

My situation will be a bit different as I had separated from my company (Nov 2015) and she was covering the income for about 5 months, my new position May (2016) is taking me worldwide again so she won't be able to work. However, if you have a child include the birth certificate. That's pretty much a guarantee no interview as your life will be tied together forever.

Edited July 5, 2016 by watdog

[GoldenGate 0]

Reading this thread of not having joint banking statements is somewhat concerning since did not provide a single joint banking statements. We filed ROC in March 2016.

My husband and I do not have joint banking accounts just because we found it easier not to merge our finances and monitor our own expenses. We've been working professionals for 7+ years in the US (he is USC and I've been on H1B for 5 years). Our salaries are about the same (his is 10% more). We split rent 50/50 which is automatically deducted from each other's checking accounts. The utilities are paid by whoever called to schedule the service (I pay for PGE, he pays for xfinity, T-Mobile). Groceries and other home stuff is paid by whoever is shopping that day. We are not really neat picking and counting these expenses since they're insignificant. He covers our medical insurance as his employer's insurance is far better than what my employer offers. We file joint tax returns and have each other as beneficiaries for 401K and life insurance. As for the savings, we have individual accounts. We are saving for the downpayment and will pool in the funds when the time comes. Unfortunately, SF Bay housing market is not being kind to us

I will be on my husangWe will have joint account once we expand our family in the January 2017 as I'm planning to be at home with our baby for 9-12 months. At the moment, I'm saving religiously so that we are not stretching too thin on a single income.

I really hope other evidence in our packet makes up for the lack of joint banking. Quite honestly, it never occurred to us the importance of joint banking for ROC. But we're prepared to explain our case of not having financials if RFE rolls in.

Good luck everyone!

[NikLR 13,227]

As always, if you don't satisfy the initial submission or RFE, then you'll be called in for an interview. At that point in time you can explain your mutually decided financial position to the USCIS officer. Since not combining finances is so common among USC marriages, as long as you have some financial co-mingling showing trust, chances of a denial is pretty darn slim.

[Shauneg 762]

David,

My wife and I are in a very similar situation. As other said, just try to send in what you have as joint car insurance (pain to get if she is not licensed yet), joint renters insurance, drivers license, apartment lease, joint bank account with statements paying living bills, cell phone bill, and photo's of drivers license to show proof of living together. Also, my wife is filipina as well. It's not so much in that she makes minimum wage vs see you spend money together and live a life together.

For many others commenting here. Filipina's are used to cash only currency without all the paperwork. It's extremely confusing for them, I also looked into the prenup but then did a trust instead. My wife made about 40k last year however, could never maintain a balance over $1,500 to avoid the bank fees on here bank account. It's just how they live, most call it live for today not for tomorrow.

As for credit cards and authorized user...it really does nothing. The authorized user has all access to the funds with no financial responsibility, it also does not help build there credit. For us, we got a secured card and created her own credit so she can have in future. We don't carry any joint credit cards. I was unable to add her to the power bill without credit as well, water/trash was through our apartment complex. Really only 1 bill.

Bottom line, give what you can in regards to the RFE. You have some solid things you can include and then go to the interview. When questions on finance directed at my wife come up, they see she gets really confused. Even cashing a check is pain, why do they need my fingerprints? They saw my ID, it's me

Yes we are aware, it's not just the Philippines that deal in cash only. That doesn't explain why the bills can't be in both names, that's his reasoning...only point I was making. She doesn't know how to pay bills so she isn't named on them (huh?). Anyway adding her now does nothing...

[watdog 8]

Yes we are aware, it's not just the Philippines that deal in cash only. That doesn't explain why the bills can't be in both names, that's his reasoning...only point I was making. She doesn't know how to pay bills so she isn't named on them (huh?). Anyway adding her now does nothing...

I was unable to add her because of the lack of credit or no credit. It would have costed over $500 in deposits just to add her on the bills. As you mentioned it doesn't matter now, really a utility bill doesn't show anything that joint addresses through car insurance, drivers license, joint tax return, and lease agreement don't already show.