Problems with joint bank account

[DavenRoxy 1,073]

Still doesn't matter..any Non us citizen can open an american bank account. Plenty of people on here have done it. Quite a few people in the Canada forum opened accounts with just their passport when they were down to visit their us fiance. Maybe it was just your branch, as i did a search and Chase does offer Non us citizens bank accounts on their website.

Heck my bank still has my canadian address on it as i have been lazy in going in with my green card to change it lol.

But if a person tries to open an account without a SSN, they are required by law to fill out W8BEN for tax purposes. Just a fact of American life. I had to do that for my fiancée to add her to my existing bank account.

[ryna 132]

I know this is a bit dated now but something similar happened with me and my wife. She has her AOS pending and her SSN, so I added her to my existing individual accounts which I have had open for 15 years (converted them to joint accounts.) The person who helped us at the bank said everything was fine, to use our U.S. address but that she had to list her former address in Colombia as she isn't yet an LPR. Fine.

Two weeks later, we receive a letter from HQ saying that if she doesn't comply with changing the principal address on the account to her address in Bogota (within 15 days), the accounts would be closed without warning and all access to our money denied. So, I went and closed it on them without warning. I was going to anyhow and only kept it open because the branch is within walking distance of the house and my wife doesn't drive yet. I know that's the law, but they should have known that when we were making the change (I wouldn't have done it yet) and I was a bit upset that they treated me like an out-of-status alien after 15 years with them instead of presenting the option to convert them bank to individual accounts in my name only.

They suck anyhow so it was a good excuse to pull the plug on them.

[Snickerz 0]

i have this same problem with Chase bank just today...two weeks later after opening our joint bank account, i received a letter from bank stating my 'reason for US address' form is not valid, under "other" as K-1 visa holder.

They have our marriage certificate, passport, visa, SSN, etc...geeezzz, what else do they need, so annoying...i guess we'll pull the plug as well lol

[daredra 2]

Snickerz, our bank is Chase too. I finally sent back the other form for the residents which they sent with their letter. My card still didn't work afterwards, so we went back to the bank and they said everything was fine with the account, just needed a new card. I have no problems since then.