Joint bank account

[Edddie&Beatrice 64]

Is it possible to open a joint bank account when one spouse is living abroad or add your spouse to your bank account when she is abroad? If it's possible how? 

[Eva_AJ 80]

7 minutes ago, Edddie&Beatrice said:

Is it possible to open a joint bank account when one spouse is living abroad or add your spouse to your bank account when she is abroad? If it's possible how? 

They usually ask for passport or some kind of ID. Some banks require SSN as well from both. The only bank I was able to get account without SSN was Wells Fargo but for joint they wanted both of our IDs

[Crazy Cat 41,848]

34 minutes ago, Edddie&Beatrice said:

Is it possible to open a joint bank account when one spouse is living abroad or add your spouse to your bank account when she is abroad? If it's possible how? 

I do not recall anyone having success in opening a new joint account while the foreign spouse was outside the US.  It is not really expected before the spouse arrives in the US.

[JeanneAdil 6,504]

this is how i did it by looking up the federal banking laws and reading ,  yes reading all the way thru this issue

BTW when you find the section that allows the following to happen,  print it out and take to bank

 

you fill out IRS tax returns claiming the non resident alien spouse 

 

https://www.irs.gov/individuals/international-taxpayers/nonresident-alien-spouse

can only be done in the spring when filing tax returns

 

you will get a ITIN (individual taxpayer ID number)

with that number and a POA (in both native language if applies and English translation),  you take these to the bank and you are allowed to add the person

Bank will not allow a debit card till the person is in the USA (and then you need to change the ITIN to the new SS #)

The bank will also inform you that now the spouse has the ability to access the account in  several ways so you need to be fully aware

 

some banks don't like this because of the "money laundering issues" they have to deal with 

but they must allow even a foreigner working here a bank account (EIN #)

 

And to those of you who wonder is a person on a work visa can pay into and collect SS benefits upon moving back to their country and retiring,  yes,  they can

My English daughter-in-law's father is collecting in England for his work in the USA

[Edddie&Beatrice 64]

Thank you all, I will consider this options. 

[Ryan H 3,812]

Moved from IR-1/CR-1 Progress Reports to Tax & Finances During US Immigration forum.

[Nitas_man 3,100]

On 10/2/2019 at 8:11 AM, Edddie&Beatrice said:

Is it possible to open a joint bank account when one spouse is living abroad or add your spouse to your bank account when she is abroad? If it's possible how? 

Its possible but why?

[Edddie&Beatrice 64]

42 minutes ago, Nitas_man said:

Its possible but why?

We are considering getting one 

[Nitas_man 3,100]

1 hour ago, Edddie&Beatrice said:

We are considering getting one 

It’s rare unless you are adjusting status in the US