Originally Posted by petitefrancaise

Going back to the banking...
they (HSBC) help overcome a lot of the problems faced when newly arrived
1. you can open the account before you leave home country
2. They will send you your US debit card before you leave home country
3. They will get you an unsecured credit card for immediate use in the USA
4.Transferring money between foreign and domestic HSBC accounts is real time.

I don't know about anyone else, but I've been using internet banking with first direct since they first opened (20+ years ago) and I have an online CU account in the USA now.

So, in balance, I think that if you are newly arrived and are in the least bit used to online banking, it's probably not a bad way to go.

On the other hand, if you want a fee free local checking account that is opened the same day but don't need a credit card immediately, then I'd probably recommend WF. And that never, ever goes down well here on BE either.

Originally Posted by Pulaski

That's not true - I was put on the payroll by my employer, a large multinational corporation, before I got my SSN.

Originally Posted by Rete

On the SS number front, it is not advisable to go to the local SS Office asa you get here. Your status will not be in the SAVE system and your social security number/card can be held up by 2 or more months if they have to manually verify your status.

The general rule of thumb is to wait 7 to 10 working days before heading to the social security office.

You can be placed on the payroll and healthcare plan by HR's use of a dummy social security number, i.e. 123-45-6789 and when you get the card it can be updated.

Originally Posted by Pulaski

That's not true - I was put on the payroll by my employer, a large multinational corporation, before I got my SSN.

Originally Posted by jackcharles

My work HR has advised me to go to get an SSN ASAP was per jammiie's experience, stating categorically that they cannot pay me until I have a social security number. So now, it sounds like that's my first priority alongside opening up a bank account without SSN if possible.

Is having a US checking account absolutely critical to pay for security deposit / rent on an apartment tenancy?

Thanks again for the advice, all.

Originally Posted by jackcharles

My work HR has advised me to go to get an SSN ASAP was per jammiie's experience, stating categorically that they cannot pay me until I have a social security number. So now, it sounds like that's my first priority alongside opening up a bank account without SSN if possible.

Is having a US checking account absolutely critical to pay for security deposit / rent on an apartment tenancy?

Thanks again for the advice, all.

Originally Posted by jackcharles

Is having a US checking account absolutely critical to pay for security deposit / rent on an apartment tenancy?

Thanks again for the advice, all.

Originally Posted by petitefrancaise

This is very company dependant.

However, the good news is the the I94s seem to be showing up fairly quickly.
Go to https://i94.cbp.dhs.gov/I94/#/home and "get most recent i94" if it is showing up here, print out a copy and you can go immediately to the SS office with it.
My last client had it show up the day after arrival, we went to the office two days later and he had his card in the mail within 4 days.

Originally Posted by Pulaski

You don't need an SSN to open a non-interest bearing account, but as with your experience with your employer, not all banks/branch staff know that. It should be possible to open a basic checking account using your passport and the passport number to meet the "government issued ID number" requirement of the USA PATRIOT Act.

Originally Posted by petitefrancaise

If you can get a "certified check" or "money order" then that is usally ok too. Obviously all must be in US$

Also, apartment complexes will accept a foreign debit /credit card - Private landlords won't.

Why don't you just go straight to WF and open an account though? Takes 60 minutes and you can open it with $25 then get money transferred in.

Originally Posted by jackcharles

Thanks, I saw the social security office would either want my i-94 or stamped passport. Hopefully the i-94 updates pretty sharply after my arrival.






I'll get an appointment and go to a bank before Thanksgiving if I can and hopefully my passport should be enough to get a basic checking account.

Thanks!