How to show proof of financial interdependence?

[mikeymyke]

I send money to my wife by going to a few video shops around the city, giving the cash, they write me a receipt, then they make a phone call to an agent in my wife's country, and they send the money to her. This method of money transfer is very popular in Southeast Asia because of low fees and they get their money in cash.

I only have receipts of this type of money transfer, but I can't seem to create a joint bank account or add my wife's name to my existing account in Canada, because they all say either she has to be in Canada to sign some forms, or that two people from two different nationalities cannot create a joint bank account. So how do so many people here create joint accounts?

 

[taffy7]

I was able to add my spouse to my credit card as an additional card holder with T.D. I was not able to set up an account until he came to visit. At first they said i could, but then when i tried to do it they needed identification from him and him to sign .

 

[Ponga]

I can confirm that it's possible for a foreign national to be added to an existing bank account in Canada. However, your wife would have to be in Canada to be added to your account.

 

[mikeymyke]

I guess the joint bank account thing is mostly for common law couples, because there's no way for an outland spouse to be added if they can't even come to the country, TRV's are pretty much out of the question.

 

[Rob_TO]

I was able to add my spouse to my credit card as an additional card holder with T.D. I was not able to set up an account until he came to visit. At first they said i could, but then when i tried to do it they needed identification from him and him to sign .

This is one of the easiest to do. Most credit card companies don't care who the supplementary card holder is. They just ask for a name and that's it, and then you have 1 credit card bill that will show names of both spouses.

Also could do:
- either buy term life insurance on each other, or add spouse to employer life insurance as beneficiary
- change marital status with CRA to married, and print out the page from CRA website that shows this. Or if married a while, you previous years taxes should already have married status.

 

[SenoritaBella]

If the joint account is not possible, submit purchase receipts in both or either of your names, emails where you make financial decisions together, add your spouse as beneficiary on your RRSP and/TFSA accounts, change your marital status at work, add spouse to your employee benefits plan. I haven't added my spouse to my benefits plan b/c they can't use it right now.