can an asian open a US bank account?

[indiandomain]

guys im from asia and i need to open a bank account in USA.
i have never been to USA before.

i am expecting some cash from an american client via wire transfer.
i have my sister in USA.

any advice?

[bcolflesh]

Have the money sent to your sister's account, then she can have them do a bank transfer to yours.

[indiandomain]

cant.
the company can only wire the funds into an account bearing my name.
:(

[bcolflesh]

Have your sister add your name to her account.

[Nick_W]

Wire transfers can be made all over the world using the SWIFT system. every major bank is part of it and funds coming into asia via SWIFT will go through your central bank and end up in your account within a week in most countries...

Nick

[Brad]

This might be tricky. New provisions of the Patriot Act went into effect as of October 1st. I was told at my local bank I now needed to present personal identification and ID that also had my Social Security Number or Tax ID in order to open a new account. Just telling them the number was no longer enough.

[vibgyor79]

Almost all the big banks (Citibank, ICICI, HDFC etc) support wire transfer. Call up your bank and ask for their swift code. You might also need other details like Bank branch, address etc.

Else, ask your client to send the payment through Western Union (max. transfer amount is $2500 per transaction).

[Nick_W]

>>You might also need other details like Bank branch, address etc

Good point. Technically you don't need and are not required to give any of those details to make a swift transaction - just the swift code, account no and account name but some places like to make it tricky ;)

In Denmark they want your damn shoe size if you dare to be sending money out of the country...

Nick

[Macro]

Go to SBI or BOI. Most Indian banks will allow you to open a dollar account for a business. You don't have to be an NRI. Then get the client to wire it to the Indian Dollar account.

If you're talking a one-off payment of $100 don't bother. It'll be cheaper to tell the client that you've waived your charges, have a nice day :-)

Sorry to be the bearer of bad tidings but there is NO way a US bank will open an account for you. The first time I went to the US as an Indian citizen on a study visa they made me jump through all kinds of hoops, wouldn't even accept a temporary social security number. I had to wait till I got a proper SS number before they would talk to me. And that was in person and before tightening up of the financial systems.

[plumsauce]

If you are a non-resident, when you open the
account, explain that to the bank. At that
point, they will not ask for a tax id number.
Instead, you will be asked to fill in a
W-8, which is a declaration of non-residency.

Another type of institution which is more familiar
with international accounts is brokerage firms.
Many of them offer charge card and checking
account services in conjunction with their
main account. Just don't trade. They are
very familiar with the W-8. They even have
them as downloads in .pdf format on their
sites. The account forms are also on their
sites, so it is even possible for you and your
sister to open a joint account. They do not
care where the form gets mailed from.

++++

[whizkiddo]

quite a similar problem is faced by paypal users. Since paypal does not have India in their list to which they send payments, it becomes necessary to open A/c in american bank. Any getting around this one?

[Fox_Dale]

You can also check [usa-bank-account.com...] we can help you open an US bank account even if you are not US citizen or US resident. A mastercard and US checks are included with the account.

[robertito62]

indiandomain... some good news.

If your only point is to have an account in a US Bank, yes you can do this. But you may have to be here in person or perhaps your sister can open one for her and at a later date, when you are here, you can add yourself.

It is a common practice to have a non-US resident included as a foreigner in an american bank account, even after the Patriot Act. But you must be here in person to provide the clerk with proper documentation like your passport. You may also need to sign a W8BN for tax purposes, as a proof of foreign status.

Then, you can have access to checkings, savings, ATM worlwide and wire transfers to India. Some Banks may require doing transfers in person, like Wamu -your sister may assist you on this- while other Banks such as Union Planters will require just a fax from you wherever you are.

Another Bank where you can open an account as a foreigner is BofA, and there are probaly many more. But be ready to sign a lot of documents. Like other things in the US, all this is relatively hassle-free and once accomplished, it works like a clock.