Married on ESTA + AOS

[Crazy Cat 41,837]

9 minutes ago, E&G said:

 

How do some people add their gf to their lease?
My apartment says they cannot unless she is a permanent resident or at least has legal right to stay (AOS pending).

Once she files a proper I-485 package, she will be granted authorized stay in the US.  Even with the receipt notice, I'm not sure your apartment will understand.  You might get a personal affidavit from someone which testifies to the fact that she lives there.

[OldUser 6,636]

11 minutes ago, E&G said:

 

How do some people add their gf to their lease?
My apartment says they cannot unless she is a permanent resident or at least has legal right to stay (AOS pending).

In theory, nothing prevents adding her to lease today from legal point of view. I had a lease in my name while on 1 year non-immigrant visa. It's more about convincing your apartment building management she can be added.

 

https://easyrelocated.com/can-i-rent-an-apartment-on-a-tourist-visa-in-the-us/

[E&G 2]

Is it better to open a joint savages account or a join credit card?

 

28 minutes ago, OldUser said:

In theory, nothing prevents adding her to lease today from legal point of view. I had a lease in my name while on 1 year non-immigrant visa. It's more about convincing your apartment building management she can be added.

 

https://easyrelocated.com/can-i-rent-an-apartment-on-a-tourist-visa-in-the-us/

 

What can I email my apartment to convince them? They said without legal residency, she cannot. Even though her ESTA is still valid. 

[Redro 4,611]

36 minutes ago, E&G said:

Is it better to open a joint savages account or a join credit card?

 

 

What can I email my apartment to convince them? They said without legal residency, she cannot. Even though her ESTA is still valid. 

Add her to both. You don’t need an SSN for credit card. Get her a card in her name. Make sure to get her on your bank account before her ESTA expires as it might be more difficult after that. If the bank doesn’t allow her to be added to your current account go to another bank and try to open a new one. 

[E&G 2]

1 minute ago, Redro said:

Add her to both. You don’t need an SSN for credit card. Get her a card in her name. Make sure to get her on your bank account before her ESTA expires as it might be more difficult after that. If the bank doesn’t allow her to be added to your current account go to another bank and try to open a new one. 

 

I don't have a credit card atm. I just use a checkings account.

 

Should I open a joint one with her? Or just a joint credit card? Isn't both too excessive? 

[Crazy Cat 41,837]

18 minutes ago, E&G said:

 

I don't have a credit card atm. I just use a checkings account.

 

Should I open a joint one with her? Or just a joint credit card? Isn't both too excessive? 

In our case, a joint checking account is what we use to pay every-day household expenses.  It provides a good paper trail for our expenses, and it is good evidence of co-mingling finances (which you will need a few times during the immigration journey). 

Edited August 21, 2023 by Crazy Cat

[Redro 4,611]

14 minutes ago, E&G said:

 

I don't have a credit card atm. I just use a checkings account.

 

Should I open a joint one with her? Or just a joint credit card? Isn't both too excessive? 

Well- do what you would ordinarily do if you weren’t doing this for immigration purposes. If you don’t have a credit card and you are only opening a credit card for the immigration benefit don’t open one. 
How do you and your wife want to manage your finances now you live together? Discuss that plan. Put it in motion. Submit evidence of financial commingling with I130. 

[Crazy Cat 41,837]

2 minutes ago, Redro said:

How do you and your wife want to manage your finances now you live together?

Exactly.  Since my wife and I both have income sources, we each have a personal checking account at Bank A, and we have a joint checking account at the same bank.  Each month, we both transfer funds to the joint account which is used for payment of household expenses.  It works well for us, and it provides a good source of financial evidence.  But, as you said, determine how you want to manage your finances, then act. 

[OldUser 6,636]

1 hour ago, E&G said:

Is it better to open a joint savages account or a join credit card?

 

No right or wrong answer here. Whatever fits your financial goals.

Do you plan to save for house downpayment? Maybe emergency fund? Saving for a car or fancy vacation? Then you can open joint savings account.

 

You'd probably need a joint checking account, to pay for bills and rent / mortgage from it.

 

If you search, there's a lot of online banks which don't even charge monthly maintenance fees if that's something you're worried about.

 

Make sure to use those accounts, don't open them just for immigration. It may help tracking expenses and reaching joint financial goals in your family.

 

Good luck!

Edited August 21, 2023 by OldUser

[E&G 2]

On the i-130 it says "If filing for your spouse, provide the last address at which you physically lived together. If you never lived together, type or print, "Never lived together"

 

She is currently living with me now in the US, since we decided to do the AOS.

 

Do I put my current address where we live together? Or does this not count as living together? 

[OldUser 6,636]

5 minutes ago, E&G said:

On the i-130 it says "If filing for your spouse, provide the last address at which you physically lived together. If you never lived together, type or print, "Never lived together"

 

She is currently living with me now in the US, since we decided to do the AOS.

 

Do I put my current address where we live together? Or does this not count as living together? 

Yes, I'd put the current address.

[E&G 2]

3 minutes ago, OldUser said:

Yes, I'd put the current address.

 

Thanks

 

And if I need the additional information page to put my previous addresses and jobs. My question is, what do I put for the item number? Because there are multiple item numbers and if I put for example, 13.a - 13.i, those numbers already exist on the form.