Joined bank accounts: how to do it?

[Marion Defoyer 13]

Hi there,

 

I am currently working on paperwork with my husband and i have a question. We are about to open a bank account together since we’re maries now and we want also to use this as a proof of relationship when we send the papers. But i wanted to know: do we have to share ALL of our bank accounts? Will it sound legit for immigration if we don’t share ALL of our money and ALL of our bank accounts? Or is it ok to just open a joined bank account and keep the rest of our money separated?
Is there anything i should know before opening this account? 

 

Thank you so much for your precious help!

[Crazy Cat 41,894]

There is no requirement to share all bank accounts.  My wife and I each have our own money in separate accounts.....and we have a joint bank account from which we pay our household expenses.  Each month, we each make equal contributions to the joint account.  It works well for us.  I sent the statements for only the joint account.

Edited February 24, 2021 by Lucky Cat

[JKLSemicolon 414]

Not sure if this is relevant to you, but if the beneficiary doesn't have a SSN or ITIN, then opening a joint bank account in the US may take some extra time and energy to do. Every bank is different, but just be prepared to be persistent. In our case it took about 2 months of various document requests and lots of phone calls on my part.

[Marion Defoyer 13]

Just now, JKLSemicolon said:

Not sure if this is relevant to you, but if the beneficiary doesn't have a SSN or ITIN, then opening a joint bank account in the US may take some extra time and energy to do. Every bank is different, but just be prepared to be persistent. In our case it took about 2 months of various document requests and lots of phone calls on my part.

we both have SSN

[JFH 12,190]

*~*~*procedural question moved from “progress reports” to “process and procedures”*~*~*
 

It is possible to be approved without any shared finances. My husband and I didn’t have any joint accounts before I moved here. Focus on your strong points. For us, the bulk of our best evidence was my 40+ visits here. For others it may be the financial co-mingling. For others it may be the years they have already lived together overseas. If your husband already has an SSN, did he live in the US in the past? Work or student visa or something? Did he live with you? If so, use that evidence as your strong point. 

[Marion Defoyer 13]

13 minutes ago, JFH said:

*~*~*procedural question moved from “progress reports” to “process and procedures”*~*~*
 

It is possible to be approved without any shared finances. My husband and I didn’t have any joint accounts before I moved here. Focus on your strong points. For us, the bulk of our best evidence was my 40+ visits here. For others it may be the financial co-mingling. For others it may be the years they have already lived together overseas. If your husband already has an SSN, did he live in the US in the past? Work or student visa or something? Did he live with you? If so, use that evidence as your strong point. 

He is american! And i am here on a J1 visa so i have a SSN. We just opened a bank account together!

Edited February 25, 2021 by Marion Defoyer

[JFH 12,190]

5 hours ago, Marion Defoyer said:

He is american! And i am here on a J1 visa so i have a SSN. We just opened a bank account together!

OK so you are applying for adjustment of status, not a CR-1 visa? 
 

And if you are living together here then you already have some solid gold evidence of a bona fide marriage so I wouldn’t worry. 

[JFH 12,190]

5 hours ago, Marion Defoyer said:

 

*~*~*moved from “IR-1/CR-1 spouse visa process and procedures” to “adjustment of status from work/study/tourist visas”*~*~*

Edited February 25, 2021 by JFH

[Marion Defoyer 13]

20 hours ago, JFH said:

OK so you are applying for adjustment of status, not a CR-1 visa? 
 

And if you are living together here then you already have some solid gold evidence of a bona fide marriage so I wouldn’t worry. 

So actually we are getting married in april and we will moved together at the same time!

[Letspaintcookies 2,310]

20 hours ago, Marion Defoyer said:

So actually we are getting married in april and we will moved together at the same time!

Then it's actually kinda weird to have a joint bank account if you're not living together. The reason behind the joint account is to show how you manage your finances together. Salary coming in, rent going out etc. 

If you want to use it as proof of financial co-mingling you have to send in actual statements where USCIS can see the money movements and not just a letter showing that you're both on the account.

 

Edit: just realized April is soon so it's not too weird to start the account now 😁

Edited February 27, 2021 by Letspaintcookies

[Marion Defoyer 13]

1 hour ago, Letspaintcookies said:

Then it's actually kinda weird to have a joint bank account if you're not living together. The reason behind the joint account is to show how you manage your finances together. Salary coming in, rent going out etc. 

If you want to use it as proof of financial co-mingling you have to send in actual statements where USCIS can see the money movements and not just a letter showing that you're both on the account.

 

Edit: just realized April is soon so it's not too weird to start the account now 😁

THANKS FOR THE EDIT lol yeah, we are moving together in 6 weeks so it’s the perfect time to create an account together