Do I need State ID to open the checking account?

[achinnac 1]

Hi All,

I am just migrated to LA from oversea, I have permanent resident card via Diversity program. I am not sure how to go about opening my first checking account here. I am in the process of searching for the housing and that I am staying on temporary address as of now. My intention is to transfer all of my money to the local bank here and that money will be used for renting house, buying car, and etc...

1) When opening the bank account (Checking account) do the bank require State ID? I do not have driver license yet. Could anyone share if you have similar experience and how did you manage it?

2) Could you recommend what bank should I use?

Appreciate all of your sharing and advice.

Regards,

A.t.

[Harmonia 211]

You can use your passport. No state ID required. They may ask for 2 forms of ID, and you could use your passport and visa.

Edited February 11, 2016 by Harmonia

[ryna 132]

Hi All,

I am just migrated to LA from oversea, I have permanent resident card via Diversity program. I am not sure how to go about opening my first checking account here. I am in the process of searching for the housing and that I am staying on temporary address as of now. My intention is to transfer all of my money to the local bank here and that money will be used for renting house, buying car, and etc...

1) When opening the bank account (Checking account) do the bank require State ID? I do not have driver license yet. Could anyone share if you have similar experience and how did you manage it?

2) Could you recommend what bank should I use?

Appreciate all of your sharing and advice.

Regards,

A.t.

If you have your physical Green Card in hand, that should be enough. If not, your foreign passport with the I-551(?) stamp. That said, they will almost certainly want your SSN so you will probably need to get that done first. Also, if you don't have a driver's license because you can't drive, you can always get a state ID card which is the non-driver's equivalent of a driver's license.

Best of luck!

Edited February 11, 2016 by ryna

[Brandon and Sugar 8]

I don't have a state ID when I opened an account and was added to my husband's account. I still don't have state ID til' now and I've been here 3 years. I only used my passport and greencard when we opened a bank accounts and did my school stuff.

[firebird00 66]

Some banks will not accept your passport with visa, they need either a green card or state ID (Driving License). When I first came to the US I wanted to open a bank account with my passport and visa on it and they refused. They said they need what I mentioned above.

[rutabaga 209]

It depends on the bank. Branches near/on university campuses might be more likely to accept passports as they're generally more likely to deal with foreigners on a regular basis (just an idea, no guarantee).

[achinnac 1]

Thank you very much everyone for the sharing these gets me some idea. I am going down to one of the credit union bank tomorrow and see this can be done, so that I can focus on something else next.