My husband (USC) has a terrible credit and outstanding bills with almost anything prior to the marriage, dating 6 years back that he owes money for utility companies, 4 years of taxes with IRS and state taxes, department of motor vehicle, and almost anything you can imagine. When I tried to add his name to my existing bills, the companies didn't accept it because he has to pay in full or his name can't be added or provided a new service. Applying for leasing a home was the same, so we decided that he would move into my apartment after the wedding, so that our applications elsewhere couldn't be denied.

The bottom line is that everything has to be only in my name and because of this situation there aren't joint accounts. How can I prove that we live together and this is a valid marriage.

I didn't and don't want to open joint accounts with him because he spends compulsively and his checks bounces all the time. I can't get a joint loan to help him pay all bills accumulated prior to our wedding because he defaults in everything and does not keep any job for more than a couple of months, so he can seriously deteriorate my credit and we wouldn't be able to lease anything if we both have bad credits.

Here're the proofs that we have:
1. Photos - wedding, our outings on the weekends just the two of us, with friends or his family.
2. Taxes - 1 year married filing separate
3. Retirement account - I (the foreigner) have one and put his name as a beneficiary. He doesn't have one.

Any suggestions that I could do in supporting documentation for our upcoming interview?

Thanks

When he moved into your apartment, did you notify the landlord? Usually they want to know who is there, even if you are the only one responsible for the rent. That would be one way to show the length of your relationship. Also, you have the marriage license. I would hope these would be enough proof. I hope you can help him manage his money better - sounds like you have a difficult road ahead! I wish you luck and hope things work out.

You should also get some letters from friends / co-workers / maybe even neighbors... in which they say they are witness of you relation-ship, that you are living together and since when you are doing it. im not sure how does INS call this letter... but if you explain them why you dont have join accts as you did in your posted message.. i dont think they wont be able to belive you.. i mean, they can check his credit if they want to.

Out there you can find companies who provides credit card without credit check... go forward!

Now.. you do CAN open a join acct (like checking acct) that kind on which you need BOTH of your signatures to get/use the money ! Im not sure what you call them up here, we call them "mancomunadas" down in mexico.. hehe, sorry
Now.. if you CANT fin this type of checking acct you can also get the regular one.. join acct.. and DONT GIVE HIM ANY CHECK !

Let him know you dont want to turn into Lorena Bobbit.. but you will if he use those checks/acct

Good Luck

You can ask your landlord to add your husband's name in the list by a Rider to the Lease. You can open a Checking Account as trust for your husband and he will not be signatory to operate the Account but his name will appear on the Account with you. You will have to have Affidavits from friends, family and neibours to the fact that they have personal knowledge that you both are married. You can get some affidavits from people who had attended your marriage and thereafter visited your home or both of you visited them. You can have an additional Credit Card in his name, in this way his name will also appear on the Credit Card Bill. Keep all photographs of functions and parties you both have attented. These all you have to too. In this way, you will proof needed by the INS.
Good luck and God bless you.

Hi,
I got married 3 months ago and haven't changed my SSN to change to my new family name yet. My SSN says that I am only authorized to work with the iNS permit. We have just received receipts from the INS for the adjustment of visa form I-485 and application for temporary work permit. However, I have been out of status on my H1-B visa for 8 months now - was laid off and haven't work since.
My question is if I apply to change my name with the Social Security Adminisration, would it raise a flag that I am out of status and result in any complication as far as deportation or INS that hasn't yet processed our papers?
Has anyone been through this situation? Can you advise me?

It would be better for you to wait for a couple of months till you receive your EAD. Then go to the SSA office and ask them to change your name. You will have to fill application again.
Good luck.

Sounds like you have bigger problems than just immigration

To US Citizen:
She knows she has problems but those are domestic problems not immigration problems. She can get all those proofs easily for her interview. When they are living together as husband and wife, there is nothing to worry about. Please donot scare her.
Good luck.

here is what you can do, apply for a credit card under your name, and then when you receive your card, go online, and add him to your credit card, they don't ask for social security, I have done it before where I add my wife without her social security, and she received her card under her name with the same account number.
Also, the INS wants to make sure that both of you live together,just have pictures of small weeding if you had one, signed letters from neighbors, coworkers, landlord, your family, his family, and open a bank account which I'm sure you won't have any problem since they only check if you owe them the money "to that same bank" not the other banks.
Up to now, that's not a problem, but you need to find a way to clear up his tax problem in the future, b/c that is the only problem the IRS won't settle until they get him, and he won't be able to get his citizenship until he pays it in full, or have an arrangement. good luck

I recently got married and i have a little problem see about 4 months ago i had to leave town for a family emergency and left some money with a "friend" to put into my bank account so i would have it if i needed it while i was gone. feeling confident that she did i used my checks when i returned i found that she didn't and to this day im paying off the bad checks. will this little problem affect me getting my husband his green card? please if anyone can answer my question thanks ~M~

Shouldn't be a problem, you didn't write a fraudulent check (which is a crime) but they were only bounced right?

I assume you are a USC petitioning for your spouse. AS long as you meet the povertyguidelines and have no other (major) felonies, I wouldn't be too worried.



I am not a lawyer nor do I claim to be one so please double-check any information given by me or anyone else for that matter with a certified (immigration)lawyer before you take any further action.

to no problem:
The problem with your suggestion is that the spouse would not b a joint holder of the credit card--just an authorized user. I.E., the bill won't have both the husband's and the wife's names.

Thanks all for your help and suggestions.

A question to "No Problem" - do you mean that my USC husband who owes 4 years of taxes prior to our marriage and has no financial condition to pay it in full over the next year, will prevent me from receiving a green card or citizenship? I mean, my credit is great as I have worked legally and paid all my taxes, bills, credit cards, loans, etc.

My next steps are:

1. I will have his name added to my apartment lease as soon as he have any source of income (unemployed again), as the landlord asked for 2 paystubs from him.

Utilities are included in the rent, so there are no bills. I tried to add his name to my pgone bill but he also owes a lot a money for the telephone company from 4 years ago, and the phone company won't allow it until his balance is paid in full.

2. I have fear on giving a credit card to him on my name because he is compulsive. I forgot to mention that he is diagnosed manic depressive which makes one a compulsive spender, so he might use the credit card when he has a mental chemical unbalance and gets out of control. The same fear I have with bank accounts. Do you guys suggest anything else that might not hurt my credit?

Thanks!

You may want to double check this, but I believe that any bills that accrue after your marriage are considered to be both of yours. You had better help him with his problem or you may find yourself responsible for his errors, and this could effect your credit. Therefore, if he is not uner some form of control, your credit may have problems just by being married to him.

Does your husband have any mail that regularly comes to your address, like bills? That might help. I have a close family member who is bipolar, and there are times when the imbalance is severe and he is compulsive, so I understand your problem with the credit card. You could put his name on the credit card account, but cut his card up and not allow him access to the account number. Maybe you could receive that bill in the mail at your office and keep copies of receipts and bills at work, too. Please don't think I'm judging your relationship - it is obvious to me that you are in pain and I'm sorry for that - but I hope you have thought very seriously about staying with this guy. Until or unless he gets serious help, you will have one hard, hard road ahead. For your sake, too, dear, I hope he is on some form of medication or sees a therapist, and some financial counseling couldn't hurt. I can feel the pain and worry in your posts and am sorry for your situation. I genuinely wish you luck and hope he comes around.

Best Of Luck Concerned, We are praying for you and I'm sure God will work things out. You seem so very concerned and what you are telling is nothing but the truth. FOR ANYONE outthere, and Concerned, I don't understand the timing of the interview. Can you explain at what point of the marriage that they require this interview? Do they interview both of you? I am assuming you are both married in usa and have been. But don't understand this interview process of time.
Thanks and God Bless you all. Best of Luck Concerned. Gracy

Guest,
Thank you very much for understanding the issues of credit card and bipolar. I am afreaid that even if I get a credit card in his name and tear it up, isn't he able to request another credit card to the credit card company or charge things on online purchases only with the numbner? I am afraid to give a credit card to a compulsive person...


Gracy,
The interview will come in a few months. We have married a few months ago and applied for AOS and a EAD card. The EAD card comes first, but the INS requires an interview to prove that we are in a real marriage, rather than tricking to use for visa purposes, in order to grant the adjustment of status to a conditional green card. Well, that's what I know...

Thank you all for your prayers and kind suggestions. Please do feel free to keep recommending and suggesting ways for me to get more evidence to prove our marriage despite our problems. Yes, it's been hard to live with a bipolar and having visa issues. I thought with myself several times before getting into the marriage. I do love him and I know he has a good heart - even though his illness speaks louder at times, and in practical life is not helpful. I am trying to help him and support him in non-financial ways to cope with his condition but I don't want to hurt my credit that took many years to build a good one. I already gave him some financila help but the experience has proven me not to offer to pay for his debt, as he really can't manage cash b/c of compulsive behavior. I am also thankful that by being a USC he is able to sponsor me a visa. Well, the rest is just time that will tell. Thanks again for all your kindness!

I know your marriage is for real! If you were marrying only for a GC, you would not have married him with all his financial problems.
Good Luck to you both and BLESSINGS!