Bank accounts

[DaveNot 55]

Okay, so in the process of going through ROC prep now. I have requested and printed almost 3 years worth of bank statements. We have several bank accounts between us (my wife and I), used for various things, 4 in total.

 

Considering our accounting is quite complicated how we manage and handle money between us, would you recommend that I highlight key points on the statement to show specific transactions for the examiner? Major purchases, bills, wage transfers and such? Or is this just not worth doing?

[Wuozopo 4,293]

Are they joint accounts? Both names?

[DaveNot 55]

Yes, we have two joint checking accounts one for various bills and everyday things. Then we switched to credit to pay everything where she's and authorized user on the credit accounts. The credit cards are used for rewards then added to savings. Then we have individual accounts where wage transfers have taken place to be transferred to the main joint checking.

 

It's a complicated system we have, but it works for us to keep track of everything. I'm Just not sure if it will work for uscis.

Edited June 9, 2017 by DaveNot

[Rc123rc 528]

Simple bank statement when you opened the account and then one currently should do fine. Both names need to be on the account. Major joint purchases would be autos and property. Probably don't need much else. Tax returns are a big factor. Bank accounts are only one aspect of proving a relationship.

[DaveNot 55]

Those are in the works. We do not have property in both names as the property was purchased prior to me entering into the relationship. We only have a car where she's on the deed as joint owner and survivorship. Do you think I should be concerned there?

Edited June 9, 2017 by DaveNot

[Russ&Caro 1,549]

We sent in our application about 2 months ago. We provided full statements for almost 3 years for all of our joint accounts. We did not annotate nor highlight any specific transactions. My thinking, confirmed by research, was not to presume what specifics they are looking for within the statements. You probably have already seen this but the guidelines for financial evidence on the USCIS site within the i-751 instructions state that they want to see all transactions on the statements - not just the summary page.  Good luck.

[Ebunoluwa 6,136]

You are on the right tract by submitting the monthly statements but it is really not necessary to highlight. I would write a short

explanation latter on how you conduct your finances and that this works best for you and put it on top of the statements.

Though some people advice to only send an opening and current statement I have seen time and time again RFE's for monthly

financial statements showing how you mingle and conduct the financial budget, so yes, send all or at least every other statement.

 

Look through the ROC guide list here on VJ to see if you have something else that you are not thinking of.
Joint cell phone, joint health insurance, joint gym cards, a will, a living will, power of attorney, life insurance leaving each other as beneficiary,

receipts and photos from trips or with family, anything that ties you two together as a mingled marriage.

[Wuozopo 4,293]

We personally sent statements for our joint accounts and skipped the accounts that I was not named on. The main checking account was very active with money flowing in and out so must have been adequate for them. A joint account with a smaller amount of money and little activity is probably not as convincing. We also were fine with earliest statement, two in the middle, and the latest. Do you ever write checks? Are there statements that show thumbnails of checks with each of you writing checks on the same account? That would show you both use it. We don't write many, but I found a couple of instances and chose those statements as the ones to use. 

 

For your individual accounts, perhaps you can send evidence that the other spouse is named beneficiary. Ask the bank to prepare something if you don't have that copy. That seems better than a stack of monthly statements for an account that isn't joint.

 

For credit cards since both names did not appear on the statement, we photocopied the cards side by side showing same account number in each name. 

 

I'm 100% yes to highlighting what you want them to notice.

 

 

[Sukie 1,465]

We have just gotten through the ROC process with flying colors with many of the fears you have.  I own the house by myself (bought prior to our meeting), but both our names are on the homeowner's insurance.  I put a cover page explaining this on top of the house papers.  We have one car in my name (purchased prior to our marriage) and one car in both names.  Just sent the title and the insurance for the joint car (though the other car is listed, of course).  I put a cover sheet on top of the auto papers explaining our situation.

 

Just write a cover sheet to put on top of your bank and credit statements and explain how you handle your finances.

 

Easy-peasy.

 

I believe I did highlight things like major purchases with a high-lighter, but I did not write on the statements themselves.

 

Best of luck to you.

 

Sukie in NY