Easiest way to send money

[Gigzapper 0]

After dealing with Western Union and MoneyGram I found they are way too expensive. Go to WalMart (or go online even) and get a WalMart Green Dot card. Get 2 cards - One in the US citizens name (so it's easy to put money on the card (only $3) and one in the foreign Fiancee name. The Finacee can use the ATM (extra $3 per use though) use it like a credit / debit card, pay for Visa fees, medical exam fees and do everything without any fuss. You can get a daily SMS or e-mail with the balance. Once the card arrives in e-mail send to fiance, put money on it by just stopping by WalMart. I found this is a lot cheaper (for the 6 or so months while we're working though the Visa process) and more convenient than using WU or MG.

Hope this helps!

(Just finished medical exam and interview on Oct 8th! Woohoo - almost here!)

Chuck and Rhean

[Rosie and David 1]

Sounds interesting ... I use me Visa card as a way to do money transactions. As long as I call my Visa office to tell them it is being used overseas .. everything goes well ... otherwise they think it has been misused.

I didn't think Walmart card would be good worldwide.

VERY VERY INTERESTING

Rosie and David

[bigcasino75 0]

After dealing with Western Union and MoneyGram I found they are way too expensive. Go to WalMart (or go online even) and get a WalMart Green Dot card. Get 2 cards - One in the US citizens name (so it's easy to put money on the card (only $3) and one in the foreign Fiancee name. The Finacee can use the ATM (extra $3 per use though) use it like a credit / debit card, pay for Visa fees, medical exam fees and do everything without any fuss. You can get a daily SMS or e-mail with the balance. Once the card arrives in e-mail send to fiance, put money on it by just stopping by WalMart. I found this is a lot cheaper (for the 6 or so months while we're working though the Visa process) and more convenient than using WU or MG.

Hope this helps!

(Just finished medical exam and interview on Oct 8th! Woohoo - almost here!)

Chuck and Rhean

I did the same thing with a bank ATM card. I opened a a different account at my bank and mailed my fience the atm card. now i can transfer money to her account online and she just goes to any Atm to take it out there is a fee for using a out of network TM but it is cheep compaird to WU

[ChuckandRhean 0]

After dealing with Western Union and MoneyGram I found they are way too expensive. Go to WalMart (or go online even) and get a WalMart Green Dot card. Get 2 cards - One in the US citizens name (so it's easy to put money on the card (only $3) and one in the foreign Fiancee name. The Finacee can use the ATM (extra $3 per use though) use it like a credit / debit card, pay for Visa fees, medical exam fees and do everything without any fuss. You can get a daily SMS or e-mail with the balance. Once the card arrives in e-mail send to fiance, put money on it by just stopping by WalMart. I found this is a lot cheaper (for the 6 or so months while we're working though the Visa process) and more convenient than using WU or MG.

Hope this helps!

(Just finished medical exam and interview on Oct 8th! Woohoo - almost here!)

Chuck and Rhean

100% worry -free using my WalmartMoney card. I dont have to carry with me large amount of cash paying my hotel accommodation. I have an easy access encashing the amount needed for my medical exam as well as on my application fee paid at Banco de Oro. Indeed,Saved me the trouble of running to the Western Union office going over long lines or afraid it might fall on a holiday ,worse if its stormy for few days . Besides I am able to check how much money I used,how much is left thru the email balance Walmart sends. My fiance is able to check how i handle money, so do i. To those couples out there, I highly recommend Walmart money Card.

[baron555 934]

I use iKobo. Works like a champ.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

I use iKobo. Works like a champ.

I had heard they folded? Are they still in business? I looked into them at one time and it seemed interesting BUT

We send money ebery month to our son in Moscow and my MIL in Ukraine. But when I checked on these, and seems like Walmart is kind of the same, the fees were running $6-10 on both ends combined for each transfer. Right now we pay $10 per transfer with MoneyGram (MUCH cheaper than WU, WU can kiss my @ss!!) And it didn't seem like it would save alot, especially if Sergey decides to take his monthly allowance in $10 increments or something! So I have stayed with the MoneyGram so far. It takes more than a savings of $4 to lure ME into Walmart, besides we are Walmart Poor in Vermont (only ONE in the state) so I would spend more in gas.

The ATM worked for me for a time until my bank shut it down when they found out my fiancee was using it and she was not on the account, they were none too happy about that and if I had not been a longtime customer they probably would have launched me right out of there!!!!!!! So be careful if you are usingt an ATM for this. This technique is highly suspicious to US authorities and banks do NOT want to be involved with this. I am not saying you are a bad guy or something, but lots of bad guys do this to transfer money. Banks tend not to like it.

[venusfire503 54]

I use iKobo. Works like a champ.

I had heard they folded? Are they still in business? I looked into them at one time and it seemed interesting BUT

We send money ebery month to our son in Moscow and my MIL in Ukraine. But when I checked on these, and seems like Walmart is kind of the same, the fees were running $6-10 on both ends combined for each transfer. Right now we pay $10 per transfer with MoneyGram (MUCH cheaper than WU, WU can kiss my @ss!!) And it didn't seem like it would save alot, especially if Sergey decides to take his monthly allowance in $10 increments or something! So I have stayed with the MoneyGram so far. It takes more than a savings of $4 to lure ME into Walmart, besides we are Walmart Poor in Vermont (only ONE in the state) so I would spend more in gas.

The ATM worked for me for a time until my bank shut it down when they found out my fiancee was using it and she was not on the account, they were none too happy about that and if I had not been a longtime customer they probably would have launched me right out of there!!!!!!! So be careful if you are usingt an ATM for this. This technique is highly suspicious to US authorities and banks do NOT want to be involved with this. I am not saying you are a bad guy or something, but lots of bad guys do this to transfer money. Banks tend not to like it.

Wow - never thought of it looking suspicious! We use USAA bank, and they had no problems with it. I even told them what I was doing. I was able to add his name to the account using his passport number even while he was still in Morocco. After he got here, he opened an account to send money to his family - their names aren't on it, he just sent a card. Maybe USAA is more flexible because more of their members are overseas and there are also more international relationships?

venusfire

[Jamaican JNR 2]

After dealing with Western Union and MoneyGram I found they are way too expensive. Go to WalMart (or go online even) and get a WalMart Green Dot card. Get 2 cards - One in the US citizens name (so it's easy to put money on the card (only $3) and one in the foreign Fiancee name. The Finacee can use the ATM (extra $3 per use though) use it like a credit / debit card, pay for Visa fees, medical exam fees and do everything without any fuss. You can get a daily SMS or e-mail with the balance. Once the card arrives in e-mail send to fiance, put money on it by just stopping by WalMart. I found this is a lot cheaper (for the 6 or so months while we're working though the Visa process) and more convenient than using WU or MG.

Hope this helps!

(Just finished medical exam and interview on Oct 8th! Woohoo - almost here!)

Chuck and Rhean

Thanks for that info.

[ChuckandRhean 0]

GREETINGS!!!

In reply to the foregoing statements,I quote...

" The ATM worked for me for a time until my bank shut it down when they found out my fiancee was using it and she was not on the account, they were none too happy about that and if I had not been a longtime customer they probably would have launched me right out of there!!!!!!! "....

Bullseye! US authorities and banks will surely be suspicious . Why? Because ur fiancee is NOT a legitimate co-owner of your account. Thus proper banking procedures were taken into effect.

As with my fiance and I, we both have our own ATM card with our respective name on it. And for the record, were not encountering any problem in connection with any banks nor US authorities as of presstime. Hence, I would say it works best for us! Modesty aside, my fiance works in a Federal government , so dragging his name into doing crappy stuff is a NO NO.

His post is a useful helpline to those couples who are exploring their options sending money to their loved ones local and overseas. I do hope couples and families who have availed WALMART MONEYCARD enjoys the benefits of its service.

Hope I gave justice to my fiance's sincere intention to be of help to others!

Thank you

I use iKobo. Works like a champ.

I had heard they folded? Are they still in business? I looked into them at one time and it seemed interesting BUT

We send money ebery month to our son in Moscow and my MIL in Ukraine. But when I checked on these, and seems like Walmart is kind of the same, the fees were running $6-10 on both ends combined for each transfer. Right now we pay $10 per transfer with MoneyGram (MUCH cheaper than WU, WU can kiss my @ss!!) And it didn't seem like it would save alot, especially if Sergey decides to take his monthly allowance in $10 increments or something! So I have stayed with the MoneyGram so far. It takes more than a savings of $4 to lure ME into Walmart, besides we are Walmart Poor in Vermont (only ONE in the state) so I would spend more in gas.

The ATM worked for me for a time until my bank shut it down when they found out my fiancee was using it and she was not on the account, they were none too happy about that and if I had not been a longtime customer they probably would have launched me right out of there!!!!!!! So be careful if you are usingt an ATM for this. This technique is highly suspicious to US authorities and banks do NOT want to be involved with this. I am not saying you are a bad guy or something, but lots of bad guys do this to transfer money. Banks tend not to like it.

[Deputy Purple 1,294]

Add your wife/fiancée to the account and have an ATM Card issued for her.

Any bank or credit union will do it for you. When you talk to them just explain that she isn't a Citizen or Resident yet and tell them you will need a W-8BEN form, they'll know what to do.

BTW, many online banks (mine is State Farm Bank) will rebate all ATM fees as they don't have brick-n-mortar locations.

I posted this information earlier this year in it's own thread.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

I use iKobo. Works like a champ.

I had heard they folded? Are they still in business? I looked into them at one time and it seemed interesting BUT

We send money ebery month to our son in Moscow and my MIL in Ukraine. But when I checked on these, and seems like Walmart is kind of the same, the fees were running $6-10 on both ends combined for each transfer. Right now we pay $10 per transfer with MoneyGram (MUCH cheaper than WU, WU can kiss my @ss!!) And it didn't seem like it would save alot, especially if Sergey decides to take his monthly allowance in $10 increments or something! So I have stayed with the MoneyGram so far. It takes more than a savings of $4 to lure ME into Walmart, besides we are Walmart Poor in Vermont (only ONE in the state) so I would spend more in gas.

The ATM worked for me for a time until my bank shut it down when they found out my fiancee was using it and she was not on the account, they were none too happy about that and if I had not been a longtime customer they probably would have launched me right out of there!!!!!!! So be careful if you are usingt an ATM for this. This technique is highly suspicious to US authorities and banks do NOT want to be involved with this. I am not saying you are a bad guy or something, but lots of bad guys do this to transfer money. Banks tend not to like it.

Wow - never thought of it looking suspicious! We use USAA bank, and they had no problems with it. I even told them what I was doing. I was able to add his name to the account using his passport number even while he was still in Morocco. After he got here, he opened an account to send money to his family - their names aren't on it, he just sent a card. Maybe USAA is more flexible because more of their members are overseas and there are also more international relationships?

venusfire

There is no law against someone suing your ATM card with your permission (There IS a law against them adding someont to an account with them appearing personally and precenting photo ID< WOW I am nit sure how you did that) But many banks have had to endure expensive and time consuming audits and simply do not allow people to do this. This summer Alla was in Russia and Ukraine for nearly two months and we notified the bank she would be there with her debit card. All was OK and then halfway through the vacation they shut down her card and we had to call and get it re-activated, it was some sort of automatic safety, I guess some banks watch that more closely. If you can do it, gret, it is the cheapest and easiest by far

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

Add your wife/fiancée to the account and have an ATM Card issued for her.

Any bank or credit union will do it for you. When you talk to them just explain that she isn't a Citizen or Resident yet and tell them you will need a W-8BEN form, they'll know what to do.

BTW, many online banks (mine is State Farm Bank) will rebate all ATM fees as they don't have brick-n-mortar locations.

I posted this information earlier this year in it's own thread.

well, we are passed that now but thanks for the information. I was not aware of this form you mention and my bank flatly said NO WAY unless she appears with her passport to add her to my account before she was here. They even showed me the Patriot Act clause (but probably not the part bout the W88 or whatever that is) Good information, thanks

PS there is NO WAY I am adding our son to our account she HE can have a debit card.

[SuperDuper! 230]

I'm going to give you the best way to send weekly money to mahal bar none. PAYPAL.COM ATM DEBIT CARD. Can't be beat. Just try it.

Peace Out!

Edited October 4, 2009 by itzallgood

[pushbrk 12,898]

After dealing with Western Union and MoneyGram I found they are way too expensive. Go to WalMart (or go online even) and get a WalMart Green Dot card. Get 2 cards - One in the US citizens name (so it's easy to put money on the card (only $3) and one in the foreign Fiancee name. The Finacee can use the ATM (extra $3 per use though) use it like a credit / debit card, pay for Visa fees, medical exam fees and do everything without any fuss. You can get a daily SMS or e-mail with the balance. Once the card arrives in e-mail send to fiance, put money on it by just stopping by WalMart. I found this is a lot cheaper (for the 6 or so months while we're working though the Visa process) and more convenient than using WU or MG.

Hope this helps!

(Just finished medical exam and interview on Oct 8th! Woohoo - almost here!)

Chuck and Rhean

100% worry -free using my WalmartMoney card. I dont have to carry with me large amount of cash paying my hotel accommodation. I have an easy access encashing the amount needed for my medical exam as well as on my application fee paid at Banco de Oro. Indeed,Saved me the trouble of running to the Western Union office going over long lines or afraid it might fall on a holiday ,worse if its stormy for few days . Besides I am able to check how much money I used,how much is left thru the email balance Walmart sends. My fiance is able to check how i handle money, so do i. To those couples out there, I highly recommend Walmart money Card.

What kind of limits apply to the dollar amounts both on the card and per withdrawal?

[adventure509 0]

I have been using the wal-mart green dot system for close to a year. Have had no problem on either end. easy to use easy to withdraw. Just $3 dollars to load. Was using Western Union which was alot more expensive. For me anyways the debit card is the way to go unless you perfer to spend more money. Start up cost is 6 dollars for the cards then you logg on to the wal mart site instruct on the names and pin to be used on the cards. 5 to 10 days to get sent to you then pass on to your better half. There is a $3 dollar a month service charge on the card as well. Still cheaper than sending over and over again Western. Easy to add amounts with a stop by any wal-mart. To me is easy win win.