opening bank account in US
Oct 26th 2003, 11:07 pm
#16
Pagan Sex God
Joined: May 2002
Location: Living in Oblivion
Posts: 3,668
Re: opening bank account in US
Originally posted by ray6
Maybe so in NC... But I have been with 2 tourists to open bank accounts in 2 different banks in the last month..with no problem whatsover...
Maybe so in NC... But I have been with 2 tourists to open bank accounts in 2 different banks in the last month..with no problem whatsover...
OK, you took my comments out of context. I was following up pulaskis post as I was about to post the same. You can physically walk into a bank with a drivers license or passport and open one BUT IN REPLY TO THE ORIGINAL POST - you cannot open a bank account from abroad without a SSN.
Apology accepted
Patrick
Oct 26th 2003, 11:09 pm
#17
Pagan Sex God
Joined: May 2002
Location: Living in Oblivion
Posts: 3,668
Re: opening bank account in US
Originally posted by lairdside
I respectfully disagree. You can open a bank account as a foreign national resident abroad as long as you have a U.S. Mailing address in my experience.
If the account is interest bearing you must fillout a W8-BEN for the IRS. Even if it is a non-interest bearing account banks will often have you fill one out.
Try Citibank, they provided this service for foreign nationals on-line the last time I looked.
I respectfully disagree. You can open a bank account as a foreign national resident abroad as long as you have a U.S. Mailing address in my experience.
If the account is interest bearing you must fillout a W8-BEN for the IRS. Even if it is a non-interest bearing account banks will often have you fill one out.
Try Citibank, they provided this service for foreign nationals on-line the last time I looked.
Patrick
Oct 26th 2003, 11:19 pm
#18
Joined: Dec 2001
Location: Dixie, ex UK
Posts: 52,599
Re: opening bank account in US
Originally posted by lairdside
I respectfully disagree. You can open a bank account as a foreign national resident abroad as long as you have a U.S. Mailing address in my experience. .....
I respectfully disagree. You can open a bank account as a foreign national resident abroad as long as you have a U.S. Mailing address in my experience. .....
.... Except that there is no legal requirement to even have a US address (though banks may have a different internal policy on this point.)
Oct 27th 2003, 12:01 am
#19
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 68,280
Originally posted by buzzz
I apologise for appearing thick but I am only in learning about all this. ( Hubby's company applying for L1) I don't understand a lot of the abreviations. Could someone enlighten me what is EAD and maybe any others that I may come accross. Thanks.
I apologise for appearing thick but I am only in learning about all this. ( Hubby's company applying for L1) I don't understand a lot of the abreviations. Could someone enlighten me what is EAD and maybe any others that I may come accross. Thanks.
List the others you don't know
Oct 27th 2003, 2:56 am
#20
Howling at the Moon
Joined: Oct 2002
Location: Incline Village, NV
Posts: 3,742
Re: opening bank account in US
Originally posted by Pulaski
Which is exactly what I said myself, if you had taken the trouble to read that, instead of trying to pick an argument with Patrick! .... Except that there is no legal requirement to even have a US address (though banks may have a different internal policy on this point.)
Which is exactly what I said myself, if you had taken the trouble to read that, instead of trying to pick an argument with Patrick!
.... Except that there is no legal requirement to even have a US address (though banks may have a different internal policy on this point.)
They usually like a U.S. Mailing address to "send your stuff too" but as far as I know you are correct and it's not a legal requirement just a convention, I'm sure that Citibank does not require you to appear in person.
I believe it's commonly known as "Offshore Banking"...
Oct 27th 2003, 2:57 am
#21
Howling at the Moon
Joined: Oct 2002
Location: Incline Village, NV
Posts: 3,742
Re: opening bank account in US
Originally posted by Pulaski
Which is exactly what I said myself, if you had taken the trouble to read that, instead of trying to pick an argument with Patrick! .... Except that there is no legal requirement to even have a US address (though banks may have a different internal policy on this point.)
Which is exactly what I said myself, if you had taken the trouble to read that, instead of trying to pick an argument with Patrick!
.... Except that there is no legal requirement to even have a US address (though banks may have a different internal policy on this point.)
Just because I read something after midnight does NOT mean that it registered with my brain
Oct 27th 2003, 4:04 am
#22
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 68,280
Re: opening bank account in US
Originally posted by Patrick
You can only do it in person though, you cannot open a bank account from abroad so be as respectful as you wish
Patrick
You can only do it in person though, you cannot open a bank account from abroad so be as respectful as you wish
Patrick
and you get a nice bunch of cheque books with a nice Park Avenue NY address... just as Lairdside said...
Oct 27th 2003, 5:20 am
#23
Forum Regular
Joined: May 2003
Location: Long Island, NY
Posts: 176
For what it's worth, when I tried to open an account in New York it was mandatory to have an SSN - that was about 2 years ago.
Chase/BOA/Citibank/Fleet/North Fork - all wanted an SSN.....
Chase/BOA/Citibank/Fleet/North Fork - all wanted an SSN.....
Oct 27th 2003, 5:28 pm
#24
Howling at the Moon
Joined: Oct 2002
Location: Incline Village, NV
Posts: 3,742
Originally posted by Jxab12
For what it's worth, when I tried to open an account in New York it was mandatory to have an SSN - that was about 2 years ago.
Chase/BOA/Citibank/Fleet/North Fork - all wanted an SSN.....
For what it's worth, when I tried to open an account in New York it was mandatory to have an SSN - that was about 2 years ago.
Chase/BOA/Citibank/Fleet/North Fork - all wanted an SSN.....
It doesn't necessarily mean that that is the policy of the bank itself.Just as with the USCIS...the IIO's aren't immigration attorneys. Well, the tellers and even the branch managers aren't International Banking Specialists (Yes, such people do exist).
Oct 31st 2003, 11:10 am
#25
Banned
Joined: Oct 2003
Location: Yeeha, US
Posts: 739
Re: opening bank account in US
with the sept 11 events it is now harder to open up a bank account. just tried it in the states on a B1 visa. couldnt without a SSN or mailing address. They now have 2 system checks (cant remember the names). Any way, i managed to open an account with a credit union. Thank God!
They agreed on the basis of my employment offer letter. Used the banks address and now i have my checks and cards ready for use even before I get to the US.
Credit unions will also offer auto loans, after u get SSN. not the best deals. will be lucky if you get 6% on new car.
all this compared to when i came to UK b4 9/11. walk into bank. open account. no questions asked.
They agreed on the basis of my employment offer letter. Used the banks address and now i have my checks and cards ready for use even before I get to the US.
Credit unions will also offer auto loans, after u get SSN. not the best deals. will be lucky if you get 6% on new car.
all this compared to when i came to UK b4 9/11. walk into bank. open account. no questions asked.
