How to open a bank account in the US as a non citizen on tourist visa?
Posted by straighteethgay@reddit | expats | View on Reddit | 29 comments
Yes I’ve read that’s it’s “hard” to do so, but haven’t found any profound or substantial answers so I’m asking here For a clear one.
what (documentation) do banks require in order to open an account in the US as a tourist?
thank you
GVDMNL@reddit
If it helps, I created a step-by-step guide from my own experience as a Dutch citizen. Like everybody here already mentioned. It's not easy, but not impossible.
https://non-resident-creditcard.com/
Hope it helps!
Objective-Towel6624@reddit
It's a bit harder nowadays, but you might get lucky if you shop around. Varies by branch and location. Example: you may have a hard time at Chase but Bank of America in a city such as Miami where this is common won't be such a hassle. That was my experience in 2012 when I first opened a few bank accounts as a non-resident / non-citizen and then when helping friends / family open bank accounts as years went on after becoming a permanent resident.
Two forms of ID are mandatory (passport + another government ID such as driver's license), a residential address, a service bill (such as a phone line) may or may not be required and then the purpose or fact that it makes sense for them to open the bank account for you: the kind of business you do, savings you plan to bring in, getting credit cards in the US (first secured by a deposit), etc.
Hope this helps, haven't done this in a couple of years but I believe the US is still a Tax Haven for non-residents / non-citizens ;)
straighteethgay@reddit (OP)
u/Objective-Towel6624 very helpful answe, thank you. Also regarding getting an American phone number, I remember going to t mobile and they said you have to have some sort of non immigrant visa at least in order to get a number. Is there a way to go about getting an americsn phone number as well on a tourist visa? (Not talking about temporary one month SIM card plans)
holacoricia@reddit
You don't need an American phone number. Just an address and a passport for a regular bank account. You can get a phone plan as an immigrant. They shouldn't ask for your paperwork at all as their are lots of people without residency and legal papers who need phone plans. Just need a passport and bank account (and the bank account isn't even necessary).
P.s. there's no such thing as a non immigrant visa. You're either an immigrant, a legal resident or a citizen. Whoever gave you that line clearly didn't know what they were talking about.
0ceans@reddit
There is absolutely such a thing as a non-immigrant visa. It's the formal name for tourist visas intended for people who are just visiting (not immigrating).
Objective-Towel6624@reddit
Let me add, I used one of those temporary SIM card plan for years initially without hassles as it was cheaper and had more benefits than an actual phone line and could get text messages if needed when I was outside of the US if my bank accounts got locked.
straighteethgay@reddit (OP)
u/Objective-Towel6624 but aren’t those expiring after a month or so? How were you able to use them for years
Objective-Towel6624@reddit
Set it on auto-pay every month, I think they are still around $40/month. This is the only way to assure you keep the same phone number and that it doesn't go back into the pool of available numbers.
Other networks may look cheaper, but I've tried them and they were a headache: mint, simple, ultra, etc. There's Google Fi now but I haven't tried them to be honest.
From their website:
T-Mobile Prepaid 10GB
All the nationwide Talk, Text & Data you can handle, with up to 10GB of 5G/4G for only $40/month, giving you high speed access when you need it most. Call or text to anywhere in the U.S. from virtually anywhere in the U.S., anytime. This plan comes with Data Maximizer, which automatically optimizes your data so you get the most bang for your buck. It also sports Music Unlimited so you can jam all day without burning your data on included services on our network. Expand your call and text area to Mexico & Canada for only $5/mo more with Simply Prepaid Mexico & Canada Unlimited. World Class Rates apply for International Roaming, Calling or Messaging.
For example this one in particular I believe will let you receive SMS messages when away from the US. What I used to do is keep an old cheap phone (Iphone 6S for example, turned off at all times) with the sim card in when away.
Also, for 2FA, it depends on the bank but some will allow you to do it by e-mail as to avoid getting locked out.
Objective-Towel6624@reddit
Also, I don't know your budget or how much you need to use your US phone line while away. Nowadays I use the Magenta Max plan from T-Mobile which is amazing for everything international. I've spent stints of 4-6 months away from the US with no issues, using the data for international roaming, making phone calls, etc at a flat fee of $75/month.
Just adding this in case you need a more robust presence in the US while away.
Objective-Towel6624@reddit
Buy a pre-paid SIM card on Amazon for one of the large companies such as T-Mobile and register an account with them online so you get the statement bill. I used to do this for family and friends, not sure it still works 100% to be honest.
An alternative is to go to a small cell-phone shop (not a big official one) and get it setup, this will give you an account you can log-in to on T-Mobile with your phone number and an SMS code.
To be honest, it's a great question as still as a permanent resident I cannot get a personal official account through a corporate location on any of the phone carriers on my own because I'm not a citizen and their systems can't scan my green card.
For the business account I've had no issues, go figure.
DutchieinUS@reddit
I opened an account with Wells Fargo while I was in the US before I moved there. I only needed my passport.
adriagustin@reddit
Were you having a tourist Visa on your passport? if not, that was the reason, you could not living in the US but with any Immigrant Visa, with the passport alone they open your bank account.
DutchieinUS@reddit
No, I didn’t have a visa in my passport. I am from a VWP country. I was not living in the US yet at that time.
Maybe you misread my comment because I had NO issue opening a bank account without living in the US (yet).
adriagustin@reddit
Understood, I didn't misread your message, I'm from a South American country, and I've been actively looking to open a bank account in US, I work remotely for a U.S. company and have a Tourist VISA, and with all that, all banks that I try refuses to open an account on my name as a tourist. All asks a proof of residency in U.S. which I don't have of course.
My employer is sponsoring a EB-2 and H1-B Visas for me, meaning that in any time in the future I'll move to US permanently but my original country is having a U.S. dollar shortage issue and I want to stop sending money there, because I won't be able to send back to US when I move once the process is finished.
I tried in the most well know banks in different sates and cities in Florida, Ohio, NY, visiting in person and by phone. I'm feeling is pointless to continue trying I'm giving up.
DutchieinUS@reddit
I opened my account with Wells Fargo and all I had to show was my Dutch passport and a US address (which was my husband’s). I opened this account in 2018 and went into a branch office to do it.
straighteethgay@reddit (OP)
u/DutchieinUS is that a regular checking accoun? Have you tried in other banks and been denied therefore went there?
DutchieinUS@reddit
Yes, it is a regular checking account. No, I only went to Wells Fargo.
StanMan662288@reddit
Does this checking account with only a passport allow external wire/ACH?
straighteethgay@reddit (OP)
u/DutchieinUS im DMing you if that ok with you
Bitter_Initiative_77@reddit
Why don't you ask your questions publicly so others can benefit in the future? I'm not the person you're responding to, but it annoys me to no end when people here reach out to me via DM instead of letting the questions/answers be public. It's the point of the sub!
Quirky-Camera5124@reddit
you need a social security or a registered tax number. the later is yours for the asking from the irs. or a sponsor who has one. i have opened bank accounts for illegal aliens to receive their pay.
IcyAlbatross4894@reddit
Lol So they are still working as illegal aliens?
someguy984@reddit
The bank will want a ITIN, or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number or Social Security number.
beeboogaloo@reddit
You can't because you need a resident address. As a tourist you can't have one. You also need a SSN or an ITN. Something you also won't be able to get as a tourist.
You probably also need some more things like paystubs etc etc.
Unless you commit fraud, you can't open a bank account.
fjortisar@reddit
No true, you don't need a US address, SSN or ITIN, but this varies COMPLETELY by bank. There is no law or regulation that requires any of this, it's up to the banks discretion.
I helped everyone in my wife's family open a bank account in the US at citi. Requires visiting the bank, needed foreign passport, proof of residence in their country (used utility bill) and filling out w8ben forms, which collects their foreign tax id number and serves as proof to the IRS that they don't need to have taxes withheld.
lowercase00@reddit
Thats helpful, thanks for sharing. Always heard about restrictions related to having an address. Mind sharing which banks you had good experience with?
Objective-Towel6624@reddit
This is not necessarily true in all cases, although I understand where you are coming from since some banks do not want to deal with these kind of customers.
I've set up both business and personal bank accounts in the US without the need of an ITIN or an SSN. They may or may not be needed in a scenario in which you want to open an account from overseas without being physically present for KYC purposes.
For the business account an EIN is definitely needed yet it's incredibly easy to get one from the IRS, same as the ITIN in case it was necessary. Plenty of attorneys on Upwork provide this kind of service, including incorporating LLCs, etc.
The KYC requirements are usually satisfied by showing up and doing it in person with two valid forms of ID, one of them being a passport.
holacoricia@reddit
Bank of America, wells Fargo, SunTrust and other non credit union banks are easy to open accounts with as long as you have a passport. Banks like Chase and credit unions are picky about who they accept. You need to have a lot of money or a good credit score.
freebiscuit2002@reddit
Why are you opening a bank account in the US as a tourist?
The banks are required to safeguard against money laundering and other serious crimes. A tourist opening a bank account looks suspicious.