What’s needed to add foreign spouse to my bank account?

[David Swift 0]

What documentations do i need to add my foreign spouse to my bank and turn it into a joint account?

Would it be better to just open a new joint account at the bank together? I haven’t filed for AOS yet, so does the bank just need to see a passport and valid visa? I want to get this done before visa expires so I can include it in the application for AOS. 
Also is it worth changing last name and address to mine on the drivers license even if it will expire in 1 month so i can include a copy of that with my AOS packet for proof of bona fide marriage?

Edited June 29, 2022 by David Swift

[Crazy Cat 41,985]

1 hour ago, David Swift said:

What documentations do i need to add my foreign spouse to my bank and turn it into a joint account?

Would it be better to just open a new joint account at the bank together? I haven’t filed for AOS yet, so does the bank just need to see a passport and valid visa? I want to get this done before visa expires so I can include it in the application for AOS. 
Also is it worth changing last name and address to mine on the drivers license even if it will expire in 1 month so i can include a copy of that with my AOS packet for proof of bona fide marriage?

Bank requirements differ.  You need to talk to them......But this is how my wife and I handle our bank arrangements.  I had an existing personal bank account.  After my wife arrived, she opened a new separate personal account, and we opened a new joint account at my bank.  Each month, we each contribute (transfer) equal amounts from our personal accounts to the joint account.  We then use the joint account to pay household expenses.  Since we both have sources of income, it works very well for us.  Good luck. 

Driver's licenses with the same address is a good piece of evidence.

Edited June 29, 2022 by Crazy Cat

[Mike E 11,741]

You might find it easier to open a joint bank account depending on the bank. 
 

Also some banks let you add a beneficiary  online. 

[David Swift 0]

She has her own checkings at a local bank

but I didn’t want to join our personal accounts together rather just open a joint checkings at a different bank so we can have multiple accounts. I tried to open a joint account online but it wouldn’t let me do it for a non-US citizen so I think I will just open a checkings and then go to the branch with her in person and ask if I can change my new checkings into a Joint account with her

Edited June 29, 2022 by David Swift

[Crazy Cat 41,985]

39 minutes ago, David Swift said:

She has her own checkings at a local bank

but I didn’t want to join our personal accounts together rather just open a joint checkings at a different bank so we can have multiple accounts. I tried to open a joint account online but it wouldn’t let me do it for a non-US citizen so I think I will just open a checkings and then go to the branch with her in person and ask if I can change my new checkings into a Joint account with her

At a different bank?  Why?  It is very easy to transfer funds between accounts at the same bank if needed.....

[David Swift 0]

50 minutes ago, Crazy Cat said:

At a different bank?  Why?  It is very easy to transfer funds between accounts at the same bank if needed.....

we have the same bank but i figured it would be easier to keep track of both of our funds by opening a joint account, so that way we didnt have to transfer funds into our personal account and get the amounts mixed up with our personal funds. That way it will be easier to keep track of what we contribute to the joint account and just build it together.

[Crazy Cat 41,985]

9 minutes ago, David Swift said:

we have the same bank but i figured it would be easier to keep track of both of our funds by opening a joint account, so that way we didnt have to transfer funds into our personal account and get the amounts mixed up with our personal funds. That way it will be easier to keep track of what we contribute to the joint account and just build it together.

All of our accounts are at the same bank....making it much easier to transfer funds between accounts.......They are totally separate entities...at the same bank.  My wife and I each have our own personal accounts as well as a joint account...at the same bank.

My money

Her money

Our money

Edited June 29, 2022 by Crazy Cat