Financial co-mingling during ROC.

[Ahren & Edna 4]

Hi,

My husband (USC) and I (green card holder) are in the process of removal of conditions on our 2 year green cards I-751. We have not mingled our finances much because I have not had a stable job in the last few months. We only share a joint credit card which we signed up for in cases of emergencies, but have never used it.

We however have lease agreements with both our names, utility bills, vehicle and medial insurances. Should we include an excerpt with our application, explaining to USCIS why we do not have joint bank accounts to show financial co-mingling, just in case they want to send as an RFE?

Will the lack of shared savings and checking bank accounts pose any problems to us?

Thanks in advance.

[Sukie 1,460]

Hi,

My husband (USC) and I (green card holder) are in the process of removal of conditions on our 2 year green cards I-751. We have not mingled our finances much because I have not had a stable job in the last few months. We only share a joint credit card which we signed up for in cases of emergencies, but have never used it.

We however have lease agreements with both our names, utility bills, vehicle and medial insurances. Should we include an excerpt with our application, explaining to USCIS why we do not have joint bank accounts to show financial co-mingling, just in case they want to send as an RFE?

Will the lack of shared savings and checking bank accounts pose any problems to us?

Thanks in advance.

An explanation will, most likely, be very helpful to USCIS to help them understand your particular situation.

Lack of financial co-mingling does not mean you will be denied a green card. It does up the probability of your being called for an interview.

You two should look into doing wills and medical powers of attorney. Nothing says "a bonafide marriage" better than planning for an unfortunate circumstance in the future.

Sukie in NY

[Ebunoluwa 6,136]

Mingling finances is not just about pooling your money into one pot, it is about you having access

to your spouse's bank account even though you are not working, you can have one joint bank account which you BOTH use.
Go over the list in the ROC guide and see what else you can come up with that you may not be thinking of to submit.
Your list is a bit meager.

[subwayguy 100]

Hi,

My husband (USC) and I (green card holder) are in the process of removal of conditions on our 2 year green cards I-751. We have not mingled our finances much because I have not had a stable job in the last few months. We only share a joint credit card which we signed up for in cases of emergencies, but have never used it.

We however have lease agreements with both our names, utility bills, vehicle and medial insurances. Should we include an excerpt with our application, explaining to USCIS why we do not have joint bank accounts to show financial co-mingling, just in case they want to send as an RFE?

Will the lack of shared savings and checking bank accounts pose any problems to us?

Thanks in advance.

Well, I had no income either for the most part of the 2 years either. But I was on my partner's saving and checking account.

one may question: if you haven't had a stable job, then how could you have survived?

Did you have access to your husband's money? Joint credit card only for emergencies? Then how did you spend money then?

[Ahren & Edna 4]

Thanks Sukie.

[Ahren & Edna 4]

Well, I had no income either for the most part of the 2 years either. But I was on my partner's saving and checking account.

one may question: if you haven't had a stable job, then how could you have survived?

Did you have access to your husband's money? Joint credit card only for emergencies? Then how did you spend money then?

Subwayguy,

I appreciate your response.

I survived because I have had jobs here and there and a checking account of my own, though it wasn't much. My husband takes care of the bigger bills like rent and so on. I take care of car payments and groceries with my salary, thats how we agreed. If theres anything we needed to pool money together for, I would do a transfer to his account and vice versa.

Now, my situation may not be ideal according to you, but I would like to hear from someone who has been in the same situation.

Regards.

[Ahren & Edna 4]

Mingling finances is not just about pooling your money into one pot, it is about you having access

to your spouse's bank account even though you are not working, you can have one joint bank account which you BOTH use.

Go over the list in the ROC guide and see what else you can come up with that you may not be thinking of to submit.

Your list is a bit meager.

Thank you Ebunoluwa,

I know that we can have one account, but we do not. It works for us that way, at least for now. I wanted to hear from people who have not had the same account and how they went about it, thanks though.

Regards.

[Ebunoluwa 6,136]

Uscis is looking for him to be on your account and you to be on his, both having full access to it no matter who pays for what out of which account. They also want bank statements from inception of marriage. That is what most get an RFE for, if you don't have that then you must have other forms of financial mingling, not just co habitation like same address proofs.

[BC-Neo 0]

Hi,

My husband (USC) and I (green card holder) are in the process of removal of conditions on our 2 year green cards I-751. We have not mingled our finances much because I have not had a stable job in the last few months. We only share a joint credit card which we signed up for in cases of emergencies, but have never used it.

We however have lease agreements with both our names, utility bills, vehicle and medial insurances. Should we include an excerpt with our application, explaining to USCIS why we do not have joint bank accounts to show financial co-mingling, just in case they want to send as an RFE?

Will the lack of shared savings and checking bank accounts pose any problems to us?

Thanks in advance.

I don't know if the lack of a joint account would be a problem but I do know by having one shows commitment to each other and it shows trust. When my wife arrived from Kenya. I placed her on my checking and saving account within the first month and we never received a RFE during the entire process. I would rather be safe than sorry later. One joint account that's in use would be better than sending a letter as to why you don't have a joint account. You guys could keep your separate accounts and have a single joint one. We only have the joint and we put money in and take it out. I pay all the bills while she handles the smaller things like shoe and clothes buying (as in she loves to shop) and highway toll charges which I always forget to pay.

[christophec 16]

The write to avoid RFE is to write a letter explaining why. this way, they cannot ask for a RFE regarding that matter because they saw you thought about it, and could not provide it for X particular reason.

That is what I did for my package, I do not have a joint account with activity, we will see what happen

[Cookie Monster 14 5]

I haven't had a job in the last two years either but I am still on many things and have access to everything including joint credit cards etc. We just sent our package in on Monday. I think the only thing I am not on is the mortgage because I moved in to the condo. But we know when we move and we pick a place that is "ours" I will be put on the mortgage or lease or whatever we decide to do at that point. But this was a personal decision for me and us.

I think writing a letter would help but I think showing you still have access to these things like a joint bank account is better. Hope this helps and good luck.

[Ahren & Edna 4]

The write to avoid RFE is to write a letter explaining why. this way, they cannot ask for a RFE regarding that matter because they saw you thought about it, and could not provide it for X particular reason.

That is what I did for my package, I do not have a joint account with activity, we will see what happen

Thanks Christophec,

I hope it works for you. I probably will do the same. We have a lot of other documents that we will provide and see how it goes.

Good luck!

[Ahren & Edna 4]

I haven't had a job in the last two years either but I am still on many things and have access to everything including joint credit cards etc. We just sent our package in on Monday. I think the only thing I am not on is the mortgage because I moved in to the condo. But we know when we move and we pick a place that is "ours" I will be put on the mortgage or lease or whatever we decide to do at that point. But this was a personal decision for me and us.

I think writing a letter would help but I think showing you still have access to these things like a joint bank account is better. Hope this helps and good luck.

Hi Cookie Monster,

Yes, this helps a lot. Thanks for the response. We have a lot of joint documents except the savings and checking accounts. I will put all that in and see what happens.

I just don't think it will be a good idea running up and about the bank now trying to get joint accounts just to prove a point to USCIS.

Thanks a lot!

I don't know if the lack of a joint account would be a problem but I do know by having one shows commitment to each other and it shows trust. When my wife arrived from Kenya. I placed her on my checking and saving account within the first month and we never received a RFE during the entire process. I would rather be safe than sorry later. One joint account that's in use would be better than sending a letter as to why you don't have a joint account. You guys could keep your separate accounts and have a single joint one. We only have the joint and we put money in and take it out. I pay all the bills while she handles the smaller things like shoe and clothes buying (as in she loves to shop) and highway toll charges which I always forget to pay.

Thank you Junior Member.

I will take that into account!

[zuluweta 250]

An explanation will, most likely, be very helpful to USCIS to help them understand your particular situation.

Lack of financial co-mingling does not mean you will be denied a green card. It does up the probability of your being called for an interview.

You two should look into doing wills and medical powers of attorney. Nothing says "a bonafide marriage" better than planning for an unfortunate circumstance in the future.

Sukie in NY

Is a medical power of attorney really necessary? Why would it be a necessity if a couple is married?

[Sukie 1,460]

Is a medical power of attorney really necessary? Why would it be a necessity if a couple is married?

A medical power of attorney names a person who will make medical decisions FOR YOU if you are not able to do it for yourself. There can be conflicts between a spouse and the incapacitated person's family of origin, and these can be terrible, terrible things.

It also means you and your spouse have talked about what you each want should something terrible happen.

Many of you will not remember the Terry Schiavo case. Ms. Schiavo was in a persistent vegetative state after a cardiac arrest. Her husband stated that he and Terry had talked about the fact that she would not want to have artificial means of life support. Terry's parents felt that she was still "in there" and that everything should be done to keep her alive. The Schiavos did NOT have medical powers of attorney.

If you trust your spouse to make the hard decision YOU want about what is done if you are incapacitated, and execute a medical power of attorney, this shows commitment to each other - and a belief that the two of you are a committed couple. It can also save untold heartache.

If you are young and single, the assumption is that your parents, if they are living, would be making these decisions. But when you are married, you are a unit - hopefully working together.

OK - off my soapbox now. Think about it. Talk about it. Tell your spouse what you want. Write it down.

Thanks for listening.

Sukie in NY