I am house wife do not work so no joint account no joint utility bills no joint property deed

[Cryssiekins 976]

Having a sole account to share finances is not the norm anymore.  My husband and I have one shared checking and one shared savings.  Separately we have our own checking accounts as well.  In our marriage, I handle about 95% of our finances bc I’m naturally better at it, and that’s what works for us.  We only included our joint account information in RoC, even though it’s missing some responsibilities that come out of separate accounts.  I think the purpose here is to show shared resources that are in regular use.  I don’t believe that the officer will go line by line and judge what we pay for.  Immigration is invasive, but I don’t know if it would be that invasive. 

 

My concern was she made it seem like she had no access to funds, period.  That is not normal in a marriage.  

[geowrian 22,337]

5 minutes ago, Ash.1101 said:

Honestly I've yet to meet a couple that has had ONLY separate accounts. At the minimum, there's a joint account involved for shared resources per se, not necessarily for just bills but things for they may do together or as a family, and then separate accounts for their own money that they earn at their own respective jobs.

It's not the norm in the people I know, but I do know a few couples who do this fine. That said, they 1) aren't involved with immigration, and 2) they've accrued plenty of other evidence of financial commingling naturally - shared bills, beneficiaries on policies and plans, medical advocacy, etc. There's no good reason to have no or very little evidence (barring unusual cases like abuse where a spouse prevents them from having or accessing any such evidence).

[nastra30 2,287]

Why isn't OP responding to questions so folks can help more.

Edited March 25, 2019 by nastra30

[Roel 7,192]

Are you at least on your husbands health insurance? Do you have any mail addresed to you coming to your house? I cant believe you wouldn't be on the lease at least. Power of attorney? Are you in your husbands Will? Shared phone bill? Damn girl say that you at least have a phone! 

[Ash.1101 1,756]

37 minutes ago, nastra30 said:

Why isn't OP responding to questions so folks can help more.

Not everyone posts and then waits around for answers. If she has kids, she may not get on until later when they’re napping or it’s the like calmer time where she can get on the computer and read the replies.

[nastra30 2,287]

13 minutes ago, Ash.1101 said:

Not everyone posts and then waits around for answers. If she has kids, she may not get on until later when they’re napping or it’s the like calmer time where she can get on the computer and read the replies.

I know that; thanks. sometimes; I post and come back later too. But some answers are better based on feedback from OP. She posted 18 hours ago though.

[Cryssiekins 976]

3 minutes ago, nastra30 said:

I know that; thanks. sometimes; I post and come back later too. But some answers are better based on feedback from OP. She posted 18 hours ago though.

Agreed!  She made a statement about what she didn’t have, but nothing about what she actually submitted so that anyone could weigh in on whether it was enough, or what she should do to prepare for an RFE. 

 

Naturally a pessimist, I am operating on the thought that there’s no financial co mingling at all, which is worrisome, not just for immigration purposes either. 

[Mrsjackson 300]

I’m a housewife too I stay home with kids. Plenty of things will work for me. First, for those asking about access to funds, OP doesn’t need her name on the account. I have my husband’s debit card (he doesn’t grocery shop or really need access to the card a lot but in case he does he’ll use his business card and then just transfer the funds back over using his mobile app). Also some people use Apple Pay a lot now. So my name is not yet on the account that I use everyday (I know he needs to add me we need to get on that), but I have the pin and am the one using it. So nothing the OP has said means she has no access to funds. My husband also hands me cash a lot of the time too. 

 

Do you have a driver’s license with your address on it? Scan both your DL’s showing the same address. Health insurance policy with both your names on it? Auto insurance with both names on it? Find out which of your utility bills you can be added on. There are so many ways to do this and you should start yesterday. 

Edited March 25, 2019 by Mrsjackson

[Cyberfx1024 7,980]

43 minutes ago, Mrsjackson said:

I’m a housewife too I stay home with kids. Plenty of things will work for me. First, for those asking about access to funds, OP doesn’t need her name on the account. I have my husband’s debit card (he doesn’t grocery shop or really need access to the card a lot but in case he does he’ll use his business card and then just transfer the funds back over using his mobile app). Also some people use Apple Pay a lot now. So my name is not yet on the account that I use everyday (I know he needs to add me we need to get on that), but I have the pin and am the one using it. So nothing the OP has said means she has no access to funds. My husband also hands me cash a lot of the time too. 

 

Do you have a driver’s license with your address on it? Scan both your DL’s showing the same address. Health insurance policy with both your names on it? Auto insurance with both names on it? Find out which of your utility bills you can be added on. There are so many ways to do this and you should start yesterday. 

My wife is a house wife as well. But her name is still on the joint checking account, on my credit card as a authorized user. 

[Cryssiekins 976]

50 minutes ago, Mrsjackson said:

I’m a housewife too I stay home with kids. Plenty of things will work for me. First, for those asking about access to funds, OP doesn’t need her name on the account. I have my husband’s debit card (he doesn’t grocery shop or really need access to the card a lot but in case he does he’ll use his business card and then just transfer the funds back over using his mobile app). Also some people use Apple Pay a lot now. So my name is not yet on the account that I use everyday (I know he needs to add me we need to get on that), but I have the pin and am the one using it. So nothing the OP has said means she has no access to funds. My husband also hands me cash a lot of the time too. 

That’s all fine and well, but do know if you’re not on the accounts, and god forbid, your spouse was to unexpectedly pass away, you wouldn’t legally be able to access the account, even with a PoA, as that is only valid while someone is alive, so without your name being on financial accounts, you’d be up the creek without a paddle.  It has nothing to do with occupation either. 

[Paul & Mallory 1,398]

12 minutes ago, Cryssiekins said:

That’s all fine and well, but do know if you’re not on the accounts, and god forbid, your spouse was to unexpectedly pass away, you wouldn’t legally be able to access the account, even with a PoA, as that is only valid while someone is alive, so without your name being on financial accounts, you’d be up the creek without a paddle.  It has nothing to do with occupation either. 

(I work in finance so I'm being nitpicky here on a not entirely relative topic). ^^ THIS. Not to mention, from a security and (God forbid) fraud standpoint - you cannot use your husband's information, including a debit card in his name, to handle any fraud that may occur, or any other security breach. No bank will speak to you without you being listed on anything. Not only if the husband were to pass away, but if he were to become incapable of accessing the account himself (falls ill, stuck out of town, etc.). You should at the very LEAST be listed as a POA, in case of severe emergency. You can also be listed as POD (Pay on Death), as POA becomes null and void once the primary becomes deceased. POD grants you access to those funds should the primary pass away, without giving you such access while they are still living, if it's necessary to keep accounts separate in independent names.

And being listed as POA or POD on financial accounts and assets can be used as evidence, as well. The account statement will show both.

 

Not saying this to be judgmental - I've just seen a lot of horror stories between spouses because those sort of things weren't taken into consideration until they were needed, and at which point was a much more stressful matter.

[Mrsjackson 300]

33 minutes ago, Cyberfx1024 said:

My wife is a house wife as well. But her name is still on the joint checking account, on my credit card as a authorized user. 

Yes, as I need to be. We haven’t got around to it but need to. I was pointing out that not having done that does not equal financial abuse in a marriage (ie: no access to funds). 

[Mrsjackson 300]

23 minutes ago, Cryssiekins said:

That’s all fine and well, but do know if you’re not on the accounts, and god forbid, your spouse was to unexpectedly pass away, you wouldn’t legally be able to access the account, even with a PoA, as that is only valid while someone is alive, so without your name being on financial accounts, you’d be up the creek without a paddle.  It has nothing to do with occupation either. 

Oh no no no sorry my post was unclear. The OP as well as myself need to get on our spouse’s accounts. For a variety of reasons. I was saying that not being on the account does not mean the OP does not have access to funds. 

[Cryssiekins 976]

Just now, Mrsjackson said:

Yes, as I need to be. We haven’t got around to it but need to. I was pointing out that not having done that does not equal financial abuse in a marriage (ie: no access to funds). 

Definitely doesn’t mean financial abuse, and I don’t think anyone insinuated that.  Whatever works for a couple is their business.  I think the point everyone is trying to make is there are reasons this is necessary outside of immigration purposes.  

[Mrsjackson 300]

3 minutes ago, Cryssiekins said:

Definitely doesn’t mean financial abuse, and I don’t think anyone insinuated that.  Whatever works for a couple is their business.  I think the point everyone is trying to make is there are reasons this is necessary outside of immigration purposes.  

I agree with that point. Some of the comments read as insinuations to me, such as concern about the OP not having access to funds. It’s not a big deal though. This is a little off topic now.