Mortgage before Green Card arrives
#1
Just Joined
Thread Starter
Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 12
Mortgage before Green Card arrives
We are moving to the US in 3 weeks. Husband is a UK citizen who has an IR-1 Visa; I am a US citizen who has been living in UK 19 years.
We were pre-approved for a mortgage by HSBC about a month ago, I went to the States 2 weeks ago and found a house to purchase. We have started the mortgage process and last night we were informed by HSBC that they won't release the funds until the actual Green Card arrives - which could take months. The documentation from the US government states that the Visa in the passport is endorsed at the POE and acts as a temporary I-551 Green Card until his plastic Green Card arrives.
We have sent an email to HSBC advising them of this, but are panicking a bit at the moment because if they won't accept this then plans for the house will fall through.
Anybody else been through this and have advice? We are not adverse to using another lender. We went with HSBC because we have been Premier customers for years, have our current mortgage with them and they have been great for all of our UK needs.
Many thanks in advance for advice. I need to pop out for a bit so won't be able to respond to anything for a few hours.
We were pre-approved for a mortgage by HSBC about a month ago, I went to the States 2 weeks ago and found a house to purchase. We have started the mortgage process and last night we were informed by HSBC that they won't release the funds until the actual Green Card arrives - which could take months. The documentation from the US government states that the Visa in the passport is endorsed at the POE and acts as a temporary I-551 Green Card until his plastic Green Card arrives.
We have sent an email to HSBC advising them of this, but are panicking a bit at the moment because if they won't accept this then plans for the house will fall through.
Anybody else been through this and have advice? We are not adverse to using another lender. We went with HSBC because we have been Premier customers for years, have our current mortgage with them and they have been great for all of our UK needs.
Many thanks in advance for advice. I need to pop out for a bit so won't be able to respond to anything for a few hours.
#2
Re: Mortgage before Green Card arrives
HSBC service in the US sucks, big time! They also got fined a HUGE amount of money for, among other things, not properly identifying and documenting the identity of their customers, so getting them to budge on the lack-of-a-green-card issue might be very difficult.
If you have jobs and a decent downpayment you might do better to look elsewhere. There have been a number of reports here on BE of recent, sometimes very recent, immigrants having good success getting a mortgage from Wells Fargo.
If you have jobs and a decent downpayment you might do better to look elsewhere. There have been a number of reports here on BE of recent, sometimes very recent, immigrants having good success getting a mortgage from Wells Fargo.
Last edited by Pulaski; Jun 23rd 2016 at 3:13 pm.
#3
Re: Mortgage before Green Card arrives
The I-551 endorsement carries exactly the same as the plastic I-551. Whether HSBC can be convinced or not, I don't know.
Rene
Rene
#4
Re: Mortgage before Green Card arrives
Wells Fargo have an international department that can approve a mortgage based on your non US financial situation. I used them and so have others on this forum and I certainly got a good mortgage deal.
I'll pm you.
I'll pm you.
#5
Forum Regular
Joined: Nov 2015
Location: Pittsburgh
Posts: 110
Re: Mortgage before Green Card arrives
My wife arrived on L1 End Feb, I followed on L2 end of March. We got approved for a Mortgage with Advancial Credit Union. We completed on our house yesterday :
#6
Re: Mortgage before Green Card arrives
Look for a decent broker who has experience in getting mortgages for Ex-Pats. I don't believe I had to present a copy of my green card to get a mortgage here.
#7
Just Joined
Thread Starter
Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 12
Re: Mortgage before Green Card arrives
Thank you for all of your responses and thank you petitefrancaise for the name of number of the Wells Fargo guy who I am going to ring today.
The whole immigration process has gone so smoothly and I wondered where the hiccups would come.
The whole immigration process has gone so smoothly and I wondered where the hiccups would come.
#8
Forum Regular
Joined: May 2004
Location: Bradenton,FL
Posts: 51
Re: Mortgage before Green Card arrives
I was impressed that Wells Fargo would even talk to me before I moved, unfortunately didn't get past the first phone call because I'm working on a contract basis.
#9
Forum Regular
Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 32
Re: Mortgage before Green Card arrives
We are in talks with them to, Petitefrancaise gentleman is great.
#10
Just Joined
Thread Starter
Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 12
Re: Mortgage before Green Card arrives
Just to update, we have been in touch with petitefrancaise's gentlemen at Wells Fargo who appears to have saved the day, and has saved us a fair amount of money as well! After today's seismic shift in the economy, we are thrilled!
This website is fab! Thanks for your help everyone!
This website is fab! Thanks for your help everyone!
#11
Re: Mortgage before Green Card arrives
Just to update, we have been in touch with petitefrancaise's gentlemen at Wells Fargo who appears to have saved the day, and has saved us a fair amount of money as well! After today's seismic shift in the economy, we are thrilled!
This website is fab! Thanks for your help everyone!
This website is fab! Thanks for your help everyone!
#12
Just Joined
Joined: Jul 2016
Posts: 2
Re: Mortgage before Green Card arrives
This post is very informative, we have also been dealing with HSBC and have a pre-approval but were not informed of a requirement to hold a green card before any funds are issued. I will call HSBC tomorrow as we would like to place an offer on a house in the next couple of days.
I would be very grateful if karenbuk or petitefrancaise would be able to pm me with the contact details of the Wells Fargo gentleman that has been so helpful.
Thank you!
I would be very grateful if karenbuk or petitefrancaise would be able to pm me with the contact details of the Wells Fargo gentleman that has been so helpful.
Thank you!
#13
Re: Mortgage before Green Card arrives
Please note it is against the BE site rules to post just to get PM privileges.
I will alert PF to your request.
Last edited by Pulaski; Jul 18th 2016 at 2:09 am.
#14
Re: Mortgage before Green Card arrives
This post is very informative, we have also been dealing with HSBC and have a pre-approval but were not informed of a requirement to hold a green card before any funds are issued. I will call HSBC tomorrow as we would like to place an offer on a house in the next couple of days.
I would be very grateful if karenbuk or petitefrancaise would be able to pm me with the contact details of the Wells Fargo gentleman that has been so helpful.
Thank you!
I would be very grateful if karenbuk or petitefrancaise would be able to pm me with the contact details of the Wells Fargo gentleman that has been so helpful.
Thank you!
Welcome to BE!
#15
Forum Regular
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 84
Re: Mortgage before Green Card arrives
FWIW we got a mortgage from a local bank. There are a lot of Europeans here, and the bank was completely on board with people having 'strange' credit histories.