Starting early to build evidence?

[Marrienne 113]

Hello!!!

We just got to the US a month ago.

I am on a CR1 and we already have started building evidence of a joint life, because we figured the sooner we do this the more we will have when it is time to adjust.

So far we have opened joint accounts and we have a house under both our names.

Eventually we will have a car to both our names.

We have also listed each other as emergency contacts and beneficiaries etc. He is listed as the stepfather at school for the boys and in all medical forms (i.e. allowed to take kids to doctor, receive medical info etc)

We will file taxes together of course and he is insuring the kids under his insurance.

We do NOT plan on a loan or a credit card. We do not believe in building debt with a bank.

Anything else we can start on right now to help build evidence?

Thanks for any help!!

[NikLR 13,232]

As a new immigrant you do need to realize that loans and credit cards build your credit score.

I have a credit card and I pay it off every month. It's a good way to build your credit and not go into debt.

But starting now is a good time to start your ROC collection. Sounds like you've started well.

I hope your husband is doing better and the kids intergrate into school alright.

Edited August 28, 2016 by NLR

[Anitafeliz 1,133]

CR1 have to adjust? I didn't know this.....

Edited August 28, 2016 by Anitafeliz

[NikLR 13,232]

CR1 have to adjust? I didn't know this.....

No they have to remove conditions

[Marrienne 113]

I meant remove conditions:)

[Anitafeliz 1,133]

No they have to remove conditions

ahhh ok thanks

[Marrienne 113]

But isn't credit score used if you want to buy a home and such?

We already own a house.

They will not give a credit card to an unemployed immigrant and we do not believe in borrowing money. It is our life philosophy.

Will this hurt us? Do we have to have a credit score???

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

But isn't credit score used if you want to buy a home and such?

We already own a house.

They will not give a credit card to an unemployed immigrant and we do not believe in borrowing money. It is our life philosophy.

Will this hurt us? Do we have to have a credit score???

You don't HAVE to have a credit score but you never know when you might need it. Being able to borrow if your life depended on it is a good thing, I think.

You can only get a credit score by "using" credit. You can take out a credit card and then use it but pay off the balance each month, like NLR said. It is sort of gaming the system to get a credit score without going into debt. If you do it that way then you will not pay any interest either.

I think it is very important to do this. If you never use credit, then good for you. But to not be able to use it should something happen is not wise, imo.

[EmilyW 1,543]

We have secured credit cards. It's our money but we use the credit function. We've been able to build a credit score quickly that way (in the 700s) and that's doing us just fine.

[Sukie 1,473]

Save mail (not junk mail) that comes addressed to both of you - especially things like wedding invitations, party invitations, baby announcements, social events. If you go on a plane or train trip, save boarding passes (itineraries are not as good as the actual boarding passes). When you make hotel reservations, be sure BOTH of your names are on the reservation. If you rent a car, be sure BOTH your names are on the car rental (spouses are supposed to be added for free at most mainstream rental places). Save medical insurance statements (we get a "confirmation of coverage" every year).

Since you own a home, then you should have homeowner's insurance. Make sure BOTH names are listed. This is important not only from a CR1 perspective, but because if something terrible happens to the home, only the people listed on the policy are allowed to make claims. Don't get caught out here.

You don't specifically have "wills" on your list (not sure - you mention beneficiaries). Since there are children and assets (house/car) involved, you both need wills. And medical powers of attorney (Google "Terry Schiavo" to see why).

The pieces of information you are saving are proving that you live together and travel through life together, and have planned for when there might be an emergency. That contributes to a bona fide relationship.

I know you had quite a hard road to get here. Congratulations. Good luck in two years!

Sukie in NY

[NikLR 13,232]

I agree with Harpa on the credit issue.

Sukie has also provided some great evidence that you should get done asap. Mostly because you never know what you need in life, and as with credit, it's better to have than have not.

Edited August 28, 2016 by NLR

[berber_wife 90]

Hubby and I only have one credit card, but my parents have like 15 and they don't even carry debt. Every car has a purpose (airline rewards card, gas rewards car, hotel rewards card, cash back rewards card) and they use they then like cash that gives them some extra perks.

As advice from someone going through it now, if you used the IRS website to print tax transcripts during visa/AOS, make VERY careful notes on your login info. I could not for the life of me figure out how to log back in at ROC and eventually had to send my package with just the return and W2s.

Also, if both of you for some reason go a tax year without any income, you can and should still file taxes (I didn't know this and now we have a year with no joint taxes ?).

[Marrienne 113]

Thanks guys for the great tips!!!
The will thing I hadn't thought of, I will look into it!!

[N-o-l-a 7,168]

You don't HAVE to have a credit score but you never know when you might need it. Being able to borrow if your life depended on it is a good thing, I think.

You can only get a credit score by "using" credit. You can take out a credit card and then use it but pay off the balance each month, like NLR said. It is sort of gaming the system to get a credit score without going into debt. If you do it that way then you will not pay any interest either.

I think it is very important to do this. If you never use credit, then good for you. But to not be able to use it should something happen is not wise, imo.

This. We don't carry a debt on any of our credit cards and I have a score of 820 or 830. I don't have a use for it now, but if something were to come up and we needed to borrow money or an employer were to check it, then it looks positive.

My immigrant husband opened a secured card in his name to start his credit report and then after that was able to piggy back on some of our joint accounts and now also has a very good score.

[skidivawannabe 2]

But isn't credit score used if you want to buy a home and such?

We already own a house.

They will not give a credit card to an unemployed immigrant and we do not believe in borrowing money. It is our life philosophy.

Will this hurt us? Do we have to have a credit score???

Credit score is a necessary evil.

Get a secured card at the very least and pay it off every month.