Documentation for Opening a bank account

[tcrossle 19]

Hello all,

I am trying to open a joint bank account at chase with my wife, but they say we can only open it with her maiden name. Although to do this they say we still need a utility bill with that name on it.

What is the best way to do this?

I currently have socal Edison for electricity and Verizon for my phone bill.

I changed her name for her phone number on the account but I don't think it will show up until next month.

Is there a faster option?

Or rather another good bank in socal that doesn't require a utility bill for form of ID?

 

Thank you!

[Timona 4,208]

Go to Bank of America 

[tcrossle 19]

1 minute ago, Timona said:

Go to Bank of America 

Thank you, so what documents do they require?

[powerpuff 6,745]

~~ Topic moved from K1 forum to Moving to the US & Your New Life in America as the K1 process has finished and now has to do with settling down in the US ~~
 

Highly unlikely a bank will let her open in her married name. They require the SSN card to be in married name in order to do that and consequently, an ID in that name too. When I came as a K1, we opened one in Bank of America and Citi and they both said it will be in my maiden name despite me having my DL in my married name. They all go by what the SSN card says, including health insurance. It wasn’t a big deal, I changed the name on everything when I got my GC. But yes, BoA was the easiest to open an account in, they didn’t need a utility Bill. If I remember correctly all they need is the passport and they will look at the visa. I did bring other stuff like SSN but really need the bare minimum.

Edited October 19, 2022 by powerpuff

[Mike E 11,742]

I not s fan of name changes until after  (and never during) naturalization.  My wife wanted to take my name, and I told that if she did she’s on her own as I don’t need the hassle. I will of course help after she naturalizes when it will be dirt simple.  

[Timona 4,208]

9 hours ago, tcrossle said:

Thank you, so what documents do they require?

 

I was only asked for PP. I didn't even have SSN

[EatBulaga 340]

We did first update the foreign spouse's SSN to the married name using marriage certificate, passport, I-94, and AOS NOA1.

You can check our Timeline to see the steps we followed to update the SSN to her married name.

We were then able to open bank accounts, utility bills, driver's license, etc. in her married name using the marriage certificate, SSN, passport, AOS NOA1, driver's license, etc. all before the I-94 expired.

We are still waiting for the EAD, so we can renew her driver's license.

 

The only extra filing we needed to do was the W-8BEN for the bank, only because she wanted a bank account in her name only.

https://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/790033-w-8ben-for-k1-to-aos-filer/

 

Edited October 19, 2022 by EatBulaga

[TBoneTX 45,778]

The answers above are excellent.  In addition, consider talking with smaller banks, to see whether their protocols are less restrictive.  You can always open an account at Chase later.