Open bank account

[Tokenfreak 223]

Now that my fiancee' has her SSN she should be able to open up a bank account right?  I tried to create a new bank account with her and I as both joint owners and it tells me she must be a U.S. citizen, U.S. resident alien to open up a discover bank account.  We have just applied for the AOS so we don't have a green card yet.  So what can we do? I'm confused as I thought people were saying once we have a SSN we could open a bank account, but this doesn't seem to be the case.

[Boiler 45,411]

Did you get a SSN?

[geowrian 22,337]

Did you go in person or just apply online? Many banks won't let a non-citizen apply online.

The K-1 visa holder is permitted to have a bank account (individual or joint) just fine. Specific bank policies may differ, though.

Worst case, look around.

[Just Paul 4,595]

If you are married she is not your fiancee'  anymore.   

 

You should be able to add her to your bank account but it might be an issue with the bank.   I had my wife added to an account while she still lived in the Philippines  before she even had her visa at a  bank and credit union.   Chase wouldn't let me.

Edited December 2, 2018 by Paul & Mary

[K & R 343]

My fiance (now husband) was able to join into my bank account before he even received his SSN. This was at Bank of America so maybe try there?

[Tokenfreak 223]

42 minutes ago, Boiler said:

Did you get a SSN?

Yes, she has a SSN already.

41 minutes ago, geowrian said:

Did you go in person or just apply online? Many banks won't let a non-citizen apply online.

The K-1 visa holder is permitted to have a bank account (individual or joint) just fine. Specific bank policies may differ, though.

Worst case, look around.

We tried to apply online as Discover is an online bank only. There are no physical locations that I am aware of.

40 minutes ago, Paul & Mary said:

If you are married she is not your fiancee'  anymore.   

 

You should be able to add her to your bank account but it might be an issue with the bank.   I had my wife added to an account while she still lived in the Philippines  before she even had her visa at a  bank and credit union.   Chase wouldn't let me.

Yes, I meant to say my wife who is here on a k-1 visa.  I guess I will try a different place.

19 minutes ago, K & R said:

My fiance (now husband) was able to join into my bank account before he even received his SSN. This was at Bank of America so maybe try there?

I will try Bank of America and see what happens thanks.

[Oritneye 48]

I applied online with capital one. Had no issues.

[CEE53147 559]

Different banks have varying policies.

 

Please note that after many years of experience (I am older than dirt😀) i suggest that you keep your current account in your name only and open 2 new accounts - a joint one and one in her name only.  When she transfers her savings to the US, put it in her account,  Make it easy to transfer funds between accounts.  I also recommend that not all accounts be in the same bank as they have been known to close. While the FDIC is quite efficient, you do not want to have all of your funds tied up even for a day.  Banks are also known to freeze an account on the death of one joint owner.

 

Credit unions are also a good source for your banking activity.  Many now offer home loans as well as the usual banking services.  My "best" bank is a credit union I deal with exclusively online.  Their savings deposit rates are much better than the banks.   Credit unions are generally more flexible than banks in dealing with their "members".  As a member you are part owner of the institution.

[Gibus 202]

I was able to open a bank account with a debit card without a SSN at Wells Fargo.

[Tokenfreak 223]

15 hours ago, Oritneye said:

I applied online with capital one. Had no issues.

Ok thanks good to know!

13 hours ago, CEE53147 said:

Different banks have varying policies.

 

Please note that after many years of experience (I am older than dirt😀) i suggest that you keep your current account in your name only and open 2 new accounts - a joint one and one in her name only.  When she transfers her savings to the US, put it in her account,  Make it easy to transfer funds between accounts.  I also recommend that not all accounts be in the same bank as they have been known to close. While the FDIC is quite efficient, you do not want to have all of your funds tied up even for a day.  Banks are also known to freeze an account on the death of one joint owner.

 

Credit unions are also a good source for your banking activity.  Many now offer home loans as well as the usual banking services.  My "best" bank is a credit union I deal with exclusively online.  Their savings deposit rates are much better than the banks.   Credit unions are generally more flexible than banks in dealing with their "members".  As a member you are part owner of the institution.

Yes this is exactly what I planned on doing.  I want to open a joint account and one account just for her.  Thanks.

 

27 minutes ago, Gibus said:

I was able to open a bank account with a debit card without a SSN at Wells Fargo.

Did you do this online or at a branch?

[The_Empyrean 733]

24 minutes ago, Tokenfreak said:

Ok thanks good to know!

Yes this is exactly what I planned on doing.  I want to open a joint account and one account just for her.  Thanks.

 

Did you do this online or at a branch?

Depends on state and bank rules.
in NJ they ask for 2 proof's (depending on the FIANCE/WIFE COUNTRY OF ORIGIN). Passport is one, other SSC OR previous debit,credit card in her name from home country, (they didn;t consider European union ID card, nor drivers' licence as a valid ID in USA to ADD her to my account).
You should be able to get a bank account in Wells Fargo definitely. Passport + Social will definitely work.
By the way, how long did it take for you guys to get the Social Sec card from application?

[Gibus 202]

@Tokenfreak I did it at the local branch, went with my wife and they said without a SSN, they could only open a checking account with a debit card, which suits me well for now

[K1visaHopeful 2,803]

1 hour ago, Tokenfreak said:

 

 

Did you do this online or at a branch?

At Wells Fargo they will take your info as the foreign spouse online or over the phone but you still will have to bring your documents into the branch.

[True_South 10]

If they mention "resident alien", I think a foreign national with an address in the US is a resident alien, so not sure how your wife doesn't qualify. I don't remember what Discover requires for a checking account, I got one with them about half a year ago, but I don't think they'd make it more difficult than a credit card. I got a "Discover It" credit card 3 years before we even applied for AOS. To be fair, by then I've been in the States on a work visa for a couple of years, and already had some history, including a car loan, a leased car, an apartment lease, a bank account, a few cards, and a job. So it doesn't look like you have to be a citizen or a legal permanent resident.

 

Discover has decent phone support, I'd recommend calling them and asking what's up:

Quote

If you have any questions during the opening process, please call our U.S.-based Banking Specialists 24/7 at 1-800-347-7000.

 

My first bank account in the US was with a regional bank and I had to put my office address as the billing address (I hadn't locked down an apartment yet), so I agree with recommendations to start with a local bank/credit union, and go from there.

Edited December 3, 2018 by True_South

[.yana 597]

Discover = credit card account. Presumably she has no credit history? Discover, as well as most banks, will not issue a credit card to her. She needs to start building her credit history first. 

 

Some banks have programs called 'Path tp Credit' that help individuals with no previous credit history start building up their credit. For example, Capital One opened a credit card account for me that had a $200 limit (plus I believe I had to prepay certain amount, ~$50 - can't remember exactly). The key is to use it as much as possible and pay it off right away. In a few months she should be able to open an account with a smaller credit line elsewhere.

 

As per bank account/debit card - you should have no issues opening one for her in person an adding her to your existing one.