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parker24 said:
If only the other banks around here had nice people haha this is the third bank account I've opened. They are really nice. Royal Bank and BMO can kiss my backside :P They were RUDE as ever, so was TD bank (had to go there for my job a few times in the past) Ugh. My husband and I had issues with paying for his car loan, and Scotiabank helped us figure it out so we really like them. We'll hang in there for now and already plan on stick with SC for the long haul :)

LOL, see this is why I told my husband to leave it be when Scotiabank wouldn't add me to his account. I have been with them here in Jamaica for more than a decade, and while it takes forever to get service in person where I live in Kingston, they do provide a high level of service when they get around to you. Their online and telephone service are unmatched for friendliness and professionalism added to the service, so I am willing to wait around until I am actually there to be a customer.
 
I tried as well to add my wife to my accounts as an additional proof of relationship. CIBC told me that she needs to be present in the country and Scotia might allow, but I have to do some more digging. I spoke with the branch manager and she told me that I need to create a brand new Moneymaster account (this is an account which can only be opened on line at Scotia), to put some money there and then I could add her but the money would be blocked in that account untill she enters Canada. She has her interview scheduled in June, so I am thinking at that option as well, to have a bank paper showing a joint account with both our names. I tried on line and they require a SIN number (which I know it is not mandatory to provide to the banks) so could not open it, so I have to go to the branch and try there.
But as a genberal rule, to add somebody to a bank account in Canada, that person has to be present in the country, show a form of residence status and passport.
Hope this helps.
 
My husband called BMO today and they said it wouldn't be an issue as long as I have two forms of idea and mail sent to our address in Canada. If I was opening up a new account, it would be much more difficult according to what they told me.... but he can add anyone he wants to to his account. I will be present if that helps. I'll also be getting an anticipated acceptance letter from a school there very soon.
 
If you will be present here, then there is absolutely no problem for him adding you to his accounts.
 
Marty11 said:
If you will be present here, then there is absolutely no problem for him adding you to his accounts.

I am so sorry that I didn't clarify! I'm going to be going to Montreal to stay with him while we white for our application to be processed. We are going to put all bills that we possibly can in both of our names and such to show proof of our relationship,... and since my plan is just to empty out my bank account in the USA, We'd just put all of my money into his (our) account and give me access to it. I'll probably end up applying for Extended Stay but from what I've read that won't be a problem.
 
Hnhkrk said:
I'm going to go down to Montreal in July and stay as long as I can while we wait for my PR to be approved. We were wondering if it was possible for me to be added to my Husband's bank account?He uses BMO.

That's exactly what we did with BMO! No problem at all! The only thing is that they asked for two pieces of ID, but I had only my passport, so I had to convince them to use my visitor's visa as a second ID (even though it doesn't have a photo). I am sure it is possible and shouldn't be problematic. Good luck!
 
liza-laziza said:
That's exactly what we did with BMO! No problem at all! The only thing is that they asked for two pieces of ID, but I had only my passport, so I had to convince them to use my visitor's visa as a second ID (even though it doesn't have a photo). I am sure it is possible and shouldn't be problematic. Good luck!

Thanks! That's what I thought. I'll have my passport & my US driver's license so I think I'll be good.
 
Is it the case that some banks might agree to add the partner to the account, without them actually being present in Canada?
I am asking this, since my hubby can't visit Canada: he isn't from a visa exempt country, therefore we don't have a joint account together, and frankly this worries me, since it is one of the documents that CIC is asking in the checklist. If this is true, then I will try to add him to my account this week.

Thanks :)
 
i didn't got any visa at that time,just my passport and marriage certificate,bec.I was out of status at that time while waiting for my PR and they allowed me to open an account and even a joint account with my husband...
 
My common law partner has been here more than two years on visitor status from the U.S. It took a while before I could put him on the bank account.

We tried CIBC (where I've had an account for over 40 years) and they said not without a PR. We tried ScotiaBank (where they coerced me to open a new account, but I didn't deposit any money in it). No luck.

I think I might have asked at the Royal Bank, but maybe I asked the wrong question. Once I determined that their website said we just needed two pieces of government ID, we went there together and they added him onto my account (making it now a joint account) with no problem. I don't think they even required proof of address, but we were both there in person with his U.S. passport and Florida driver's license.

(Slightly off-topic, I tried to get him a spousal membership at Costco a couple of weeks ago, but he had no government ID card with his Canadian address, so it was "no go" there. We're going to try again with a bank statement that has our address. They need proof that we live at the same address.)