Bank Account Queries

[SL2024 69]

On 11/9/2024 at 6:38 PM, ScarletWitch6x said:

For proof of address:

• Is your fiance planning to add you to car insurance? There's a proof of address there  
• I already added my fiance to one utility and will be adding/transferring another to him.
• Once you have your SSN you can be added to your USC fiance's credit card as an authorized user (please make sure this is the best option for you before pursuing it). Credit card statements will come with both names on and depending on the statement layout can be used for proof of address. 
• Once married is your fiance adding you to their health insurance? They should mail you your medical card - proof of address!
• Some states will allow you to have the USC spouse execute an affidavit swearing that you live at the address with them, this can help you get a state-issued ID or driver's license. Then you have more proof of address. I would contact your state's BMV for guidance as its so much easier that trying to piece together policy by yourself. 
• As someone else mentioned - the letter SSA sends you with your SSC is proof of address as well. 
• If your non-US bank allows you to use a foreign (US) address, them generating a statement with that address is now proof of address. *please please please make sure you will not be penalized for this. Some banks will allow this and others will not. 

 

In the US banks are governed by federal regulations but depending on their risk profile may have stricter rules around non-citizens opening accounts. I would recommend calling the bank your fiance uses and starting there. They can tell you what you may need in order to open an account there. That way you have a checklist to work off of when you go in.

 

Smaller banks typically have stricter policies as they are low-risk. Bigger banks may be more well-versed in immigration matters and will be willing to take (what they see) as a risk as they will understand your documentation. Not a hard and fast rule but something to keep in mind. Some smaller credit unions are willing to be more helpful than big banks because they don't always have the corporate overhead that chains do. 

Great advice as well @ScarletWitch6x! Thank you!

[TBoneTX 45,394]

16 hours ago, SL2024 said:

So I think what will do is [...]

Great that you're taking proactive steps.  You'll get it done!

[SL2024 69]

Hi all, 

 

Not sure if I need to start another post regarding this but I just wanted to ask what you did after travelling but before your bank account was opened in terms of spending money for expenses? 

 

Did your fiance/fiancee cover all expenses? Did you take some cash or use a travel card with some money uploaded onto it to pay for things?

 

As there will be a period after travelling where I will need to get my SSN, California Driving License or California ID card and then open the bank account. So although my fiancée is financially responsible for me I still want to contribute where I can while out of work. I have been approved as an authorised user on her credit card but I will need my SSN to begin building my credit score.

 

I am still keeping my UK account open as well.

Hope you can help!

 

[appleblossom 2,596]

7 hours ago, SL2024 said:

Hi all, 

 

Not sure if I need to start another post regarding this but I just wanted to ask what you did after travelling but before your bank account was opened in terms of spending money for expenses? 

 

Did your fiance/fiancee cover all expenses? Did you take some cash or use a travel card with some money uploaded onto it to pay for things?

 

As there will be a period after travelling where I will need to get my SSN, California Driving License or California ID card and then open the bank account. So although my fiancée is financially responsible for me I still want to contribute where I can while out of work. I have been approved as an authorised user on her credit card but I will need my SSN to begin building my credit score.

 

I am still keeping my UK account open as well.

Hope you can help!

 

 

I just used my UK bank cards/credit card until I had a US account. 

[top_secret 2,425]

17 hours ago, SL2024 said:

Did your fiance/fiancee cover all expenses? Did you take some cash or use a travel card with some money uploaded onto it to pay for things?

 

As there will be a period after travelling where I will need to get my SSN, California Driving License or California ID card and then open the bank account. So although my fiancée is financially responsible for me I still want to contribute where I can while out of work. I have been approved as an authorised user on her credit card but I will need my SSN to begin building my credit score.

 

Just being an authorized user DOES create a credit score and immediately starts building credit so it is definitely a good thing (so long as it is authorized user on a good account).  My wife had a 750+ credit score before she ever arrived or even had a Social Security number.  Where it becomes more important is getting that new Social Security number imputed into one's credit file so a good score can be put to use.  Once you have a credit score and it is good you need some creditor to input the Social Security number into the file for it to be of much use.  We found Capital One does that if you input an Social Security number and upgrade an authorized user to "account administrator".  Discover 'might'.  Not sure. 

[SL2024 69]

2 hours ago, top_secret said:

 

Just being an authorized user DOES create a credit score and immediately starts building credit so it is definitely a good thing (so long as it is authorized user on a good account).  My wife had a 750+ credit score before she ever arrived or even had a Social Security number.  Where it becomes more important is getting that new Social Security number imputed into one's credit file so a good score can be put to use.  Once you have a credit score and it is good you need some creditor to input the Social Security number into the file for it to be of much use.  We found Capital One does that if you input an Social Security number and upgrade an authorized user to "account administrator".  Discover 'might'.  Not sure. 

 

Sorry I am aware of that already as I have another post on the forum regarding credit cards with my progress and info regarding that. My fiancée spoke to the credit agency about it.

[SL2024 69]

12 hours ago, appleblossom said:

 

I just used my UK bank cards/credit card until I had a US account. 

I have a debit card but unfortunately my bank charges a percentage of the transaction for each purchase whether in pounds or in another currency. So I would like to avoid any extra fees if I can so it doesn’t affect my savings.

 

I was considering maybe getting a Revolut card and uploading some currency on there but I will need to look into it a bit more 

Edited November 20 by SL2024

[appleblossom 2,596]

4 hours ago, SL2024 said:

I have a debit card but unfortunately my bank charges a percentage of the transaction for each purchase whether in pounds or in another currency. So I would like to avoid any extra fees if I can so it doesn’t affect my savings.

 

I was considering maybe getting a Revolut card and uploading some currency on there but I will need to look into it a bit more 

 

Oh that's a pain. My UK bank doesn't charge anything for foreign transactions. Do you have UK credit card? You could use that if so. 

[SL2024 69]

17 hours ago, appleblossom said:

 

Oh that's a pain. My UK bank doesn't charge anything for foreign transactions. Do you have UK credit card? You could use that if so. 

 

I don't unfortunately. I haven't had a credit card before.

[ScarletWitch6x 66]

How are you planning to transfer funds over? I know my fiance is planning to use Wise (sp?) and he got a debit card that goes with it. I know for wedding expenses he and I have sent money back and forth through Paypal as well. That would help you avoid fees while helping cover expenses. 

[SL2024 69]

3 hours ago, ScarletWitch6x said:

How are you planning to transfer funds over? I know my fiance is planning to use Wise (sp?) and he got a debit card that goes with it. I know for wedding expenses he and I have sent money back and forth through Paypal as well. That would help you avoid fees while helping cover expenses. 

 

I'm not too sure which provider I will be using yet. Some people have mentioned some like Wise, Atlantic Money and TorFX. Is he using Wise for his bank account savings to transfer over? For wedding expenses I used PayPal to send over to my fiancee.

 

I just had a look at Wise site and is this the card your fiance has? https://wise.com/gb/card/

[ScarletWitch6x 66]

On 11/22/2024 at 12:22 AM, SL2024 said:

Is he using Wise for his bank account savings to transfer over?

This was the plan! Let me ask what his card looks like and I will let you know!

[SL2024 69]

12 hours ago, ScarletWitch6x said:

This was the plan! Let me ask what his card looks like and I will let you know!

That would be great - thank you!

[SL2024 69]

On 11/24/2024 at 8:08 PM, ScarletWitch6x said:

This was the plan! Let me ask what his card looks like and I will let you know!

 

I just had a look online and it seems that they aren't issuing physical debit cards in the US for Wise at the moment but also it says that if you move to the US from the UK then the debit card won't work due to card licenses being specific for different countries and regions?

[ScarletWitch6x 66]

10 hours ago, SL2024 said:

 

I just had a look online and it seems that they aren't issuing physical debit cards in the US for Wise at the moment but also it says that if you move to the US from the UK then the debit card won't work due to card licenses being specific for different countries and regions?

I have no clue about that tbh - but that is the card he has!

 

He's not planning to use/need the debit card. He really just needed it to transfer money between our US and UK accounts.