Supporting evidence for AOS following K1 marriage?

[smilingstone 227]

4 minutes ago, OldUser said:

However, for multiple reasons, including those outside immigration, I recommend planning to find a place of your own sooner rather than later.

 

Yes, that is our next big milestone to reach after marriage  

[MalloryCat 245]

6 minutes ago, smilingstone said:

If anything, I feel like 90 days (although more like 30 days) isn't a lot of time to gather stuff that evidences a married life.

 

that's why evidence of married life isn't a requirement for AOS from K-1, because it is hard to get really anything in such a short time frame. we can't get my husband a bank account until he has a state id/drivers license, and we cant get that until we have at the very least an NOA1 from the AOS.

 

but I also agree, the notarized letter from FIL about your living situation would be good

 

also encourage just getting your own place together. depending on the landlord, whether its one person or a company, they should only need one person to meet whatever financial stuff they require. they didn't even need an SSN for my husband when I added him to the lease.

[Edward and Jaycel 544]

5 minutes ago, MalloryCat said:

we can't get my husband a bank account until he has a state id/drivers license

 

We were able to get Jaycel added as a joint account holder on my bank account with her Philippine Passport and SSN

[MalloryCat 245]

4 minutes ago, Edward and Jaycel said:

 

We were able to get Jaycel added as a joint account holder on my bank account with her Philippine Passport and SSN

hmm might have to try that!

[SL2024 101]

13 minutes ago, MalloryCat said:

 

that's why evidence of married life isn't a requirement for AOS from K-1, because it is hard to get really anything in such a short time frame. we can't get my husband a bank account until he has a state id/drivers license, and we cant get that until we have at the very least an NOA1 from the AOS.

 

but I also agree, the notarized letter from FIL about your living situation would be good

 

also encourage just getting your own place together. depending on the landlord, whether its one person or a company, they should only need one person to meet whatever financial stuff they require. they didn't even need an SSN for my husband when I added him to the lease.

 

That's the situation I have in terms of getting a bank account and joint bank account with the bank my fiancee uses at the moment as I need a Driving License or State ID but they said that while my passport was ok they couldn't accept my Visa or I-94 as they had less than 60 days on them until they expire so looking at the REAL ID checklist for the California DMV the only option that can get me this is the EAD card. 

 

I have seen some states that do allow you to apply for one if you have the NOA1 for the AOS though.

[mam521 2,208]

3 hours ago, EatBulaga said:

Marriage certificate is the official record from the county clerk for the marriage. If you have a name change, you can use the marriage certificate to change your name at the Social Security office, driver's license office, etc.

Depending on what state your in, an endorsed marriage license from the officiant and county clerk IS your marriage certificate.  In Texas, once it's signed by both, embossed and recorded by the county, it's your official record, no matter which one you call it. I think the key is you have to have the paperwork that proves the marriage was registered in the county you married in.  

 

22 minutes ago, smilingstone said:

One of our concerns is that our living situation isn't the most conventional. We live on my fiancé's father's land and don't pay rent/mortgage. We only pay for the utilities, which goes directly to him. There's nothing formal in writing confirming as such, but I'm wondering if a notorized letter from the FIL would help?

 

Have your FIL write up a formal lease agreement with utility amounts included that you and your partner sign.  It could be a month to month lease, 3mo lease, it could be a year long lease.  It just has to be done in a fashion that is legally binding.  

[OldUser 7,539]

17 minutes ago, Edward and Jaycel said:

 

We were able to get Jaycel added as a joint account holder on my bank account with her Philippine Passport and SSN

Maybe it's state dependent? Which state are you in @MalloryCat?

 

Also, it may be due to incompetence of bank staff. They're maybe used to seeing DLs and IDs but not foreign passports. If that's the case, try speaking to other assstants, other branches or even other banks. There's so many online banks now out there too - Capital One, Discover, Amex, many more allowing you to open accounts / joint accounts without seeing a person.

Edited January 23 by OldUser

[MalloryCat 245]

1 minute ago, OldUser said:

Maybe it's state dependent? Which state are you in @MalloryCat ?

 

Also, it may be due to incompetence of bank staff. They're maybe used to seeing DLs and IDs but not foreign passports. If that's the case, try speaking to other assstants, other branches or even other banks. There's so many online banks now out there too - Capital One, Discover, Amex, many more allowing you to open accounts without seeing a person.

it could be. We are in michigan. I know for getting a state id/drivers license the NOA1 is enough. plus a bunch of other stuff

it could also be because I personally bank with a credit union, that could make a difference

[Edward and Jaycel 544]

2 minutes ago, OldUser said:

Maybe it's state dependent? Which state are you in @MalloryCat?

 

Also, it may be due to incompetence of bank staff. They're maybe used to seeing DLs and IDs but not foreign passports. If that's the case, try speaking to other assstants, other branches or even other banks. There's so many online banks now out there too - Capital One, Discover, Amex, many more allowing you to open accounts / joint accounts without seeing a person.

 

We use USAA Bank which is used to seeing foreign passports of wives, fiancees, etc., so that may have made the difference. For those that don't know, USAA is for military members and their families.

[SL2024 101]

6 minutes ago, OldUser said:

Maybe it's state dependent? Which state are you in @MalloryCat?

 

Also, it may be due to incompetence of bank staff. They're maybe used to seeing DLs and IDs but not foreign passports. If that's the case, try speaking to other assstants, other branches or even other banks. There's so many online banks now out there too - Capital One, Discover, Amex, many more allowing you to open accounts / joint accounts without seeing a person.

 

It might be worth looking at getting an account with a local credit union as sometimes they can have better rates, better service, etc. than some of the more mainstream banks. Those are some of the reasons why my fiancee is with her current provider. Her provider also doesn't require a monthly fee for the account either.

 

Definitely worth looking around and enquiring into all the options - what their requirements are to set up a new account, what they can offer and see which one is best for your needs.

[SL2024 101]

7 minutes ago, MalloryCat said:

it could be. We are in michigan. I know for getting a state id/drivers license the NOA1 is enough. plus a bunch of other stuff

it could also be because I personally bank with a credit union, that could make a difference

 

Apologies - I didn't see this until after commenting above haha

[OldUser 7,539]

Just now, SL2024 said:

 

It might be worth looking at getting an account with a local credit union as sometimes they can have better rates, better service, etc. than some of the more mainstream banks.

Yes, though getting opening first account is probably easier with a larger bank. Nobody is limited to having one account only.

 

Rates are subjective, I don't have any debts other than mortgage. Most credit cards are paid to 0 every month. Those not paid fully have promotional 0% APR for 12-15-18-24 months and will be paid fully before interest charges kick in. As to savings rates, I haven't seen many that offer better than HYSA accounts from big players.

 

Big online banks have 0 monthly fees without any requirements. Sure, service is a different thing. I personally have several of these accounts, never had issues. But my use case is limited: I don't deposit checks or cash, I don't withdraw money from ATM that often. If those used a lot, a more tranditional credit union / bank is preferred for sure.

 

Anyways, don't want to deviate from original question.

 

Based on this page, non residents can open bank accounts in Michigan - https://www.stateregstoday.com/living/opening-a-personal-checking-account-in-michigan

 

[SL2024 101]

9 minutes ago, OldUser said:

Yes, though getting opening first account is probably easier with a larger bank. Nobody is limited to having one account only.

 

Rates are subjective, I don't have any debts other than mortgage. Most credit cards are paid to 0 every month. Those not paid fully have promotional 0% APR for 12-15-18-24 months and will be paid fully before interest charges kick in. As to savings rates, I haven't seen many that offer better than HYSA accounts from big players.

 

Big online banks have 0 monthly fees without any requirements. Sure, service is a different thing. I personally have several of these accounts, never had issues. But my use case is limited: I don't deposit checks or cash, I don't withdraw money from ATM that often. If those used a lot, a more tranditional credit union / bank is preferred for sure.

 

Anyways, don't want to deviate from original question.

 

Based on this page, non residents can open bank accounts in Michigan - https://www.stateregstoday.com/living/opening-a-personal-checking-account-in-michigan

 

 

I never said there was a limit to having just one account

 

 

[CharlieAndCece1 4]

I tried to open a joint bank account with my wife and was not blocked because of her passport, but her lack of social security number or proof of residence.  Any mail I brought showing she lived at my house was not good enough.  They wanted a utility bill or phone bill which she couldn't get on because she didn't have a social security number!  We are stuck in a circle.  Now that she has her social security card we are going to try to open a joint account again.

[Edward and Jaycel 544]

1 hour ago, CharlieAndCece1 said:

I tried to open a joint bank account with my wife and was not blocked because of her passport, but her lack of social security number or proof of residence.  Any mail I brought showing she lived at my house was not good enough.  They wanted a utility bill or phone bill which she couldn't get on because she didn't have a social security number!  We are stuck in a circle.  Now that she has her social security card we are going to try to open a joint account again.

 

Yeah... we didn't even try to open anything in Jaycel's name until she had her SSN