If you’re in the U.S. and your spouse is living abroad, you might wonder if you need a joint bank account, especially if you’re getting married outside the U.S. The good news is, you don’t necessarily need one. The USCIS understands that for someone to be added to a bank account in the U.S., they need to be present to sign. This makes it challenging for a spouse living abroad to join your account.

However, if you want to demonstrate a genuine marriage, consider adding your spouse as a Payable on Death (P.O.D.) beneficiary. This means that in the event of your death, the funds in the account will go to your spouse.