How to open bank account -- Wife has SSN but no card.

[Letspaintcookies 2,310]

20 minutes ago, NikLR said:

Navy federal asked to see my card. 

Same here

[Matrix13 131]

17 hours ago, MFRittman said:

She received her social security number at the office, but her card was lost in the mail.  

The document they gave her at the social security office would probably be accepted in lieu of a card. Maybe not at every bank, but there would have to be at least one local bank that would accept that. After all, it's an official SSA document with your wife's name and SSN on it.

[Cathi 5,747]

I lost my SS card when I was a teenager and I've never replaced it. Never once have I been asked by a bank, or anyone else, in my life to see it. Find another bank.

[Verrou 1,962]

18 hours ago, MFRittman said:

Do you specifically know of any bank that has different policies than the mainstream, or is this just a neglectful comment?

i second @Luckycuds all bank are not the same. i can manage to open BOFA just using passport at that time. No SSN yet at that time, and some bank just required the SSN without the card

Edited October 3, 2020 by Misscloud

[Verrou 1,962]

16 hours ago, Ayrton said:

She can't use W8ben because she's already a resident alien by the IRS definition of resident alien.

im a resident alien at that moment ( not based on marriage) i have SSN and EAD yet when my husband tried to put my name in his bank account  so it will be joint account USAA asked me to fill W8ben form. 

[Ayrton 965]

1 hour ago, Misscloud said:

im a resident alien at that moment ( not based on marriage) i have SSN and EAD yet when my husband tried to put my name in his bank account  so it will be joint account USAA asked me to fill W8ben form. 

I've seen other people commenting that USAA, Navy Federal have been asking people to fill out this form. If you read the form, the first thing on it says that if you're a US Person (resident alien) you should not fill out that form. 

 

These banks are probably not familiar with immigrants. You shouldn't have filled out the form. If you signed it, you're basically saying you're not a resident alien and you're still leaving abroad. But if you file taxes as a resident alien, and then IRS audit you, they will see two different things and it can have tax consequences.

Edited October 3, 2020 by Ayrton

[mizzem 144]

20 hours ago, MFRittman said:

My wife applied for a social security card when she came to the United States last December.  She received her social security number at the office, but her card was lost in the mail.  Because the social security offices are closed, she was told to send in her original passport, birth certificate, and other documents to receive a new card.  She does not feel comfortable doing that.  The banks I do business with require my wife to produce her social security card to open an account.  Legally, she isn't required to do so, but the banks policies that I know of require it.  Anyone have any suggestions for her to open a bank account?

I am USC and my husband is a Canadian citizen waiting for his interview, we both live in Canada. We opened bank accounts in the US at PNC bank, not sure if there are any around you. I supplied my SSN and he has a Social Insurance Number here in Canada, same as our SSN. They accepted his SIN no problem and know we will be relocating to the US at some point. He will supply his SSN to them when he gets one.

[sunshinedaisies 4]

i too don't have a SSN as i am in the process of AOS from a b1/b2 visa. my husband (usc) and i opened a joint bank account with wells fargo, with him as the primary account holder and me as the secondary. we didn't have any problem opening a joint account, we just had to explain to the officer the situation. we just have to update my details once i have a SSN.

[Verrou 1,962]

1 hour ago, Ayrton said:

I've seen other people commenting that USAA, Navy Federal have been asking people to fill out this form. If you read the form, the first thing on it says that if you're a US Person (resident alien) you should not fill out that form. 

 

These banks are probably not familiar with immigrants. You shouldn't have filled out the form. If you signed it, you're basically saying you're not a resident alien and you're still leaving abroad. But if you file taxes as a resident alien, and then IRS audit you, they will see two different things and it can have tax consequences.

Totally agree, I know it’s wrong....but my husband wants to use USAA so we just have to bite the bullet.... I will find a way to make it right when I file the tax next year.... I already worked and filed as single for 3 years, just got married 3 months ago with USC, and he did my tax 2 years in a row. I will let him deal with it LOL but I doubt it it’s gonna matter much 

Edited October 3, 2020 by Misscloud

[kemm360 144]

Open it online! If you want to walk in then go to the SSA and ask for a print out of Social Security Number confirmation or something like that, i once had to do that like 2 years ago and Wells Fargo and PayPal accepted it from me.

Edited October 3, 2020 by kemm360

[XenophiliusPDX 50]

I agree. Open an account online. I'm a USC, but I just opened up an account at Alliant Credit Union, which doesn't have any branches, it's completely online. They never asked me to submit anything. I provided my number, but did not need to provide evidence. Whether at Alliant or a different bank or credit union, it's probably easier to accomplish what you are trying to do by opening an account online. 

[Major 24]

On 10/2/2020 at 7:24 PM, MFRittman said:

OK, thanks.  I've contacted six banks and have been told they need her card.  I can try a few more I guess.

Did you try Bank of America? I just opened an account with them via online not long after i arrived, they didn't ask me for the picture of my SSC or any other ID but i think i read somewhere on their platform that you've to qualify to be able to open account  online. I think this should apply to persons who've had one or two issues with either their credit or SSN but if your wife just only misplaced her SSC, I don't think that would apply to her. Tell to try opening an account with them, let see if she qualifies.