Opening joint bank account - Advice?

[Stelare 35]

Hey all,

 

Just filed AoS and received the NOA1. My husband and I are trying to figure out the joint bank account stuff.

My I-94 expired a few days ago, along with my state ID (was only valid as long as my I-94 was). My SSN is in my new name (though I do have the card with my maiden name on it, if that makes a difference).

My husband is with Chase. My passport is in my maiden name. When we went to Chase, they needed my passport and proof of address document, and they would not take the marriage license as proof of name change - they wanted everything to be in the same name.

My name doesn't match up across documents  What should I do? IS there anything I can do?

 

I need to reapply for a new passport (Australian) some time during the year, as it expires in November. But it requires me to fly out for an interview at an Aus embassy (a whole other pain in the backside) - which means that we need to find some free time and fork out a bit of money to do that. So that probably won't happen for a little while.

 

[MyMistaLovaLova 24]

14 minutes ago, Stelare said:

Hey all,

 

Just filed AoS and received the NOA1. My husband and I are trying to figure out the joint bank account stuff.

My I-94 expired a few days ago, along with my state ID (was only valid as long as my I-94 was). My SSN is in my new name (though I do have the card with my maiden name on it, if that makes a difference).

My husband is with Chase. My passport is in my maiden name. When we went to Chase, they needed my passport and proof of address document, and they would not take the marriage license as proof of name change - they wanted everything to be in the same name.

My name doesn't match up across documents  What should I do? IS there anything I can do?

 

I need to reapply for a new passport (Australian) some time during the year, as it expires in November. But it requires me to fly out for an interview at an Aus embassy (a whole other pain in the backside) - which means that we need to find some free time and fork out a bit of money to do that. So that probably won't happen for a little while.

 

Chase decline my husband and I due to insufficient credit on his part. Granted, we only was opening a joint checking account. I had already a personal savings and checking account with chase with money in each account. 

 

Nonetheless,  VISAJOURNEY users advise to go open the joint account at Bank Of America. Everything was so smooth. In which case I would suggest for you to do the same. Your NOA1 replaces your i-94 so use the letter in the meantime and for the account.

[YecaCruz 379]

Hi I work at a bank but I'm just a teller. I've been working there for 6 years and know a thing or two so I'm hoping what I know might give some insight. Are you already on his account? Your marriage license serves as a legal name change document so I'm not sure why they wouldn't accept it in order to reflect your name change. 

 

If not and you are just being added now, depending on your bank's customer identification policies it might be that because your state issued ID is expired. We used my husband's K1 visa from his passport (which is US gov't issued) since it hadn't technically expired at the time. My bank says that we can only accept US Gov't issued ID's but I can't say what Chase's Customer Identification Policy is. Like I said I'm not sure if that's how chase does things but I wonder if that's where the issue lies: not having an unexpired, state issued ID? Surely there's another form of ID they can take, can you get a regular state-issued, non driver license ID?

 

Not sure if that helps, but with this info perhaps you can give Chase a call to see if that's the problem? Good luck!

Edited March 18, 2017 by JJGussiaas (Gush)

[Stelare 35]

1 minute ago, JJGussiaas (Gush) said:

Hi I work at a bank but I'm just a teller. I've been working there for 6 years and know a thing or two so I'm hoping what I know might give some insight. Are you already on his account? Your marriage license serves as a legal name change document so I'm not sure why they wouldn't accept it in order to reflect your name change. 

 

If not and you are just being added now, depending on your bank's customer identification policies it might be that because your state issued ID is expired. My bank says that we can only accept US Gov't issued ID's which is why they won't accept your Australian passport but that's just my bank and I can't say what Chase's Customer Identification Policy is. Like I said I'm not sure if that's how chase does things but I wonder if that's where the issue lies: not having an unexpired, state issued ID?

 

Not sure if that helps, but with this info perhaps you can give Chase a call to see if that's the problem? Good luck!

I'm not on his account.

 

We went to the bank just before I had received my state ID (I think the day we applied for it), just to ask them about opening a joint account together (my husband already having accounts with them). Apparently they just wouldn't take state ID for a foreigner, and would only take my passport, which has my maiden name, whilst proof of address and SSN has my new name @_@ . We took our marriage license with us and they said they couldn't accept it. The banker we spoke to did make a phone call to try and ask someone (some head office of some sort), as they knew our situation, but just no go :/ 

 

The whole thing is just a mess. I don't think I can get another state ID until my green card. It's like.. to do 'x' thing, you need to do 'y', but to do 'y', you need to do 'z', to do 'z', you need to do 'x'. I'm starting to go insane.

[YecaCruz 379]

What kind of bank doesn't take a state-issued ID, foreigner or not? Maybe he should switch, what a mess!

 

I'm so sorry this is happening to you. I guess you are bound to the bank's policies.  I'm glad his banker made some calls to try and make it work

 

Hopefully someone else around here has more insight?

Edited March 18, 2017 by JJGussiaas (Gush)

[Stelare 35]

Just now, JJGussiaas (Gush) said:

What kind of bank doesn't take a state-issued ID, foreigner or not? Maybe he should switch, what a mess!

 

I'm so sorry this is happening to you. I guess you are bound to the bank's policies.  I'm glad his banker made some calls to try and make it work

 

Hopefully someone else around here has more insight?

I don't know  To be honest, I didn't understand why. But at this point, it doesn't matter much since it's expired.

 

thank you anyway!

[Scandi 4,166]

Chase seems like a sucky bank. We have BoA and had no issues at all, they didn't even require an SSN. 

 

Open a new joint account at BoA maybe? Or wait until you get your EAD, that will most likely work fine.

[Stelare 35]

Just now, Scandi said:

Chase seems like a sucky bank. We have BoA and had no issues at all, they didn't even require an SSN. 

 

Open a new joint account at BoA maybe? Or wait until you get your EAD, that will most likely work fine.

We're definitely going to look into BoA, instead. I'll give them a call this week and find out what I need.

Doing simple things like opening a bank account in a whole new country is so tedious. When my SO was in Australia for a year (mind you, on a tourist visa), he opened a bank account up in about half an hour.

Getting used to new processes is hard

[Stelare 35]

1 minute ago, Dee elle said:

Oh yes  australian banking system   BPay, pay wave,  easy access, rarely charged fees...tell me again why i immigrated?  

Oh, thats right..... 2 adult children, their spouses and 6 most adorable and loved grandchildren.

Package deal....want to be with them?  Get the archaic banking system as well.... but doesnt stop me from dreaming ! 

I miss pay wave so much - just the generally faster eftpos machines. I feel like going to the grocery store is a much longer ordeal; the cashiers don't have scan rates so don't have much obligation to go fast, the eftpos machines take a million years to process payment, the self checkouts are so goddam slow. I get so antsy waiting. I miss the ease of shopping in Australia (except online shopping, that's way better here)

 

but yes, the sacrifices we make

[Suss&Camm 2,213]

So, regarding the name change on the account and marriage license etc. Some light on the situation:

First, I also bank at BofA. I opened my account in my maiden name, before getting married, before, SSN. That was no problem. When I got my SSN (maiden name) I went and added it, again not problem. After getting married, I went with my marriage certificate to change my name on my account - PROBLEM.

 

I was surprised cause all I had read about said, "oh you just need the marriage certificate as proof of name change". I asked the banker why, - and he went to talk to his supervisor as well to make sure - and I was told although, yes, the marriage license is the name change document, it is not an identification document. If I wanted to change my name on the accounts I'd need a primary ID document with that name on it as well (plus a secondary one, such as SSC, vehicle registration, pay stub, bank statement, debit/credit card etc, there are many of these).

 

He said primary ID's are for example, state issued ID, License; EAD, GC, it has to have full name and picture on it etc. This includes a foreign ID, so if you can change your name in your home country and get that ID it would also work to show the new name. This is an identification procedure, and I was told they are required by law to see this ID before being able to change the legal name on the account - so it's not bank specific.

 

When I got my Driver's license, which I got with my NOA1 from  i-485,  and later my EAD (brought marriage certificate and maiden name SSC) - I was able to do it. You could do it with either license or EAD (both primary ID's) and SSC (secondary ID) IF the SSC is name changed! That is why they "have to match" cause you need at least 1 primary and 1 secondary document in that name. My SSC being in my maiden name was fine since I also had my license. 

 

 

[Stelare 35]

15 minutes ago, Suss&Camm said:

So, regarding the name change on the account and marriage license etc. Some light on the situation:

First, I also bank at BofA. I opened my account in my maiden name, before getting married, before, SSN. That was no problem. When I got my SSN (maiden name) I went and added it, again not problem. After getting married, I went with my marriage certificate to change my name on my account - PROBLEM.

 

I was surprised cause all I had read about said, "oh you just need the marriage certificate as proof of name change". I asked the banker why, - and he went to talk to his supervisor as well to make sure - and I was told although, yes, the marriage license is the name change document, it is not an identification document. If I wanted to change my name on the accounts I'd need a primary ID document with that name on it as well (plus a secondary one, such as SSC, vehicle registration, pay stub, bank statement, debit/credit card etc, there are many of these).

 

He said primary ID's are for example, state issued ID, License; EAD, GC, it has to have full name and picture on it etc. This includes a foreign ID, so if you can change your name in your home country and get that ID it would also work to show the new name. This is an identification procedure, and I was told they are required by law to see this ID before being able to change the legal name on the account - so it's not bank specific.

 

When I got my Driver's license, which I got with my NOA1 from  i-485,  and later my EAD (brought marriage certificate and maiden name SSC) - I was able to do it. You could do it with either license or EAD (both primary ID's) and SSC (secondary ID) IF the SSC is name changed! That is why they "have to match" cause you need at least 1 primary and 1 secondary document in that name. My SSC being in my maiden name was fine since I also had my license. 

 

 

Thanks!

 

I think it varies by state, but if you got your drivers license with your NOA1 from I-485, I may be able to get a new state ID. Did you just take in the NOA1 I-797 form with you?

[Suss&Camm 2,213]

Just now, Stelare said:

Thanks!

 

I think it varies by state, but if you got your drivers license with your NOA1 from I-485, I may be able to get a new state ID. Did you just take in the NOA1 I-797 form with you?

Actually ID procedures for banks are part of the CIP (customer identification program) rule, which is part of the patriot act - i.e. it's federal law. https://www.privacyrights.org/consumer-guides/customer-identification-programs-financial-transactions

 

I took my foreign passport (maiden name), SSC (maiden name), NOA1 (married name) and marriage certificate (proof of name change required by local Texas DMV) - this differs by state however - but documents accepted should be on your state DMV website. They ran my lawful presence in SAVE under -foreign passport- but scanned all documents added and put the married name (ofc) on the ID application form, that they were verifying, itself.

[Scandi 4,166]

Sorry to hear you had issues with changing your name on the bank account, Suss. I can kinda understand their reasons though as a marriage certificate isn't an ID, but annoying nontheless. I don't have an account of my own and have no plans on ever getting one either, and it was super easy for my husband to have me added to his account, which is obviously a bit different than opening your own. 

 

One thing that is funny though.. we obviously did our joint bank account thingy after marriage, and they had no issues registering me on his account in my married name - all I had for proof of my new name was our marriage certificate. And when you tried to have your name changed they didn't want to go by the marriage certificate at all. Maybe there's also a difference since your marriage certificate doesn't show your married name? I like that about the Cali certificates, both maiden and married name shows. 

 

Anyway, I guess it doesn't matter much since they allowed you to open an account, the name change can be made whenever possible, it was never any hurry, right? 

 

And for OP, it could be quite important in this process to try to have your name changed in your home country and get a new passport as soon as possible. Obviously it's almost always a big project trying to get a new passport when abroad, expensive too, so I get that.

 

I get my new passport and Swedish driver's license tomorrow, both in my new name, it's such a relief to have a valid Swedish ID again. Maybe I can go to DMV to try for a state ID next week then? I have my NOA1 for the AOS of course, and my new passport.

Edited March 18, 2017 by Scandi

[Suss&Camm 2,213]

3 minutes ago, Scandi said:

Sorry to hear you had issues with changing your name on the bank account, Suss. I can kinda understand their reasons though as a marriage certificate isn't an ID, but annoying nontheless. I don't have an account of my own and have no plans on ever getting one either, and it was super easy for my husband to have me added to his account, which is obviously a bit different than opening your own. 

 

One thing that is funny though.. we obviously did our joint bank account thingy after marriage, and they had no issues registering me on his account in my married name - all I had for proof of my new name was our marriage certificate. And when you tried to have your name changed they didn't want to go by the marriage certificate at all. Maybe there's also a difference since your marriage certificate doesn't show your married name? I like that about the Cali certificates, both maiden and married name shows. 

I think it might be the fact that it was an individual account yes  You're right about that. It might have been different if I had marriage license and it was an already existing account owned by a USC. I don't think it has to do with the name on the certificate - it was never mentioned or looked at, and it is still not a primary ID.

 

3 minutes ago, Scandi said:

 

Anyway, I guess it doesn't matter much since they allowed you to open an account, the name change can be made whenever possible, it was never any hurry, right? 

No  It was never any hurry.. other than just wanting to get everything sorted over all. I opened my own accounts cause when I was transferring all my money from Sweden, I didn't want to transfer it into an account connected to a card - for safety - my husband only had his transaction account. I want to have my own checking cause I want to be able to make purchases that he doesn't know about, such as surprise gifts or travels in the future  Everyone does it differently we'll end up having:

 

1 - each our own checking where we receive salaries - if ever I get one! hahahaha

2 - a joint checking to where we transfer funds and from which we pay all bills etc.

3 - joint savings

 

3 minutes ago, Scandi said:

 

And for OP, it could be quite important in this process to try to have your name changed in your home country and get a new passport as soon as possible. Obviously it's almost always a big project trying to get a new passport when abroad, expensive too, so I get that.

 

I get my new passport and Swedish driver's license tomorrow, both in my new name, it's such a relief to have a valid Swedish ID again. Maybe I can go to DMV to try for a state ID next week then? I have my NOA1 for the AOS of course, and my new passport.

This is next on my list, since I just got my Green card, sorry if I'm getting off topic, but how'd you go about this again?

 

OP, pls let us know if it works out getting the ID, or like Scandi did it.

[LisaK 3]

I am in same situation,  here is the loophole getting one even in your own name. Use the passport in your maiden name and get a bill in your maiden name to your US address open the account in your maiden name just to get the Dam thing open, then next day go back with all ID marriage certificate and they have to change it!!!!!! It's all ridiculous I know