Bank Account w/o Green Card

[scott76 22]

Has anyone had success with getting a bank account in their spouses name without having the Green Card? My wife has her EAD card but we are trying to open a separate banking account for her so she can direct deposit her checks. I'd like to find a bank that will let her open an account. Maybe Wells Fargo or someone else?

(my bank won't let me add her until she has the GC, so I am trying to find something for her in the meantime)

Edited December 6, 2012 by scott76

[Enigma11561 336]

Many banks only require a valid passport and some type of bill ( a utility bill for example) for proof of residence to open an account. Try another bank. I use TD Bank but I do not think they have branches in CO.

[yasser989 0]

Yes you can use bank of america online site to open an account. I haven't tried in the branch but most banks refused my wife except bank of america. Good Luck and please reply here when you do or don not get the account opened in case someone has a similar questions. Good Luck!

[TexasMojo66 3]

Hi Scott! I read on here some time ago that Wells Fargo only requires valid passport, SSN and maybe a couple of other things but not a GC. You might give your nearest branch a call and see what their requirements are. Hope all is well with you!!

[VanessaTony 3,567]

Has anyone had success with getting a bank account in their spouses name without having the Green Card? My wife has her EAD card but we are trying to open a separate banking account for her so she can direct deposit her checks. I'd like to find a bank that will let her open an account. Maybe Wells Fargo or someone else?

(my bank won't let me add her until she has the GC, so I am trying to find something for her in the meantime)

I did mine at a Wells Fargo before I got an EAD or GC. Does your spouse have a SSN? They asked me for it when I opened it but I didn't have one yet, she was able to open it for me anyway.

Edited December 6, 2012 by Vanessa&Tony

[C-ma'am 684]

**Moved from AOS from family based visas to Moving Here and Your New Life in America.

[Xanax 349]

For mine all we needed was a ssn, my passport and a bill with my address on it.

[Brother Hesekiel 2,236]

Any tourist can open a bank account. Banking has nothing to do with immigration. The problem is a bank drone dumber as a piece of coal. Solution: go to another bank.

[Xanax 349]

Any tourist can open a bank account. Banking has nothing to do with immigration. The problem is a bank drone dumber as a piece of coal. Solution: go to another bank.

I was told a ssn was required (by the bank manager when I queried the floor staff). I was not able to open one as a "tourist".

[kate&javi 26]

My husband got one with his passport and SSN.

I agree with others, inquire at other banks what their requirements are.

[Caryh 5,206]

That is the bank requesting the SSN, its not a law. My bank tried to say the same thing when I added my wife to our accounts, before she had her SSN. The clerk was determined she was right, while I felt correct also, and kept insisting she check with management. She finally did, and my wife was added to our account. I did drop that bank a few months later, because of more issues with their employees insisting they were always right and everyone else was wrong. Years ago they were a "we can find a way bank", unfortunately they turned into a "we're right and you're wrong bank, and if you find proof we're wrong, go back to the first part of this statement" type bank. Sometimes you need to bring your business elsewhere when they no longer can serve your interests.

I was told a ssn was required (by the bank manager when I queried the floor staff). I was not able to open one as a "tourist".

[Xanax 349]

Wasn't a deal for us, waited for the ssn. Manager and floor staff said they needed it and there was /is no point in arguing and frustrating myself and or them

[Caryh 5,206]

It was a deal with me, particularly when I had previously talked with the bank manager to know exactly what documents they would require to add my wife when she got here. My final straw with that bank was when they couldn't fix a direct deposit problem. My wife's pay checks were being rejected. The phone customer service person just kept repeating that her employer must be sending them to the wrong account. Her employer actually showed me a transaction logs, which showed the correct account number. The same phone service person had no access to even see what was happening, and I wasn't allowed to talk with anyone who did. The banks retail fronts said they could do nothing, and I had to call the call center service people. I've been guessing they're the same tier 1 customer support USCIC uses Since the problem was on the bank side, this left us with no way to fix it, or even get a message to someone who could. We knew of one other person having the same issue with that bank and stuck in the same situation of not being able to talk with anyone who could fix the problem. I used to get upset with situations like this, well I still get upset, but now I just say thank you and look for a company that actually still has good customer service.

Wasn't a deal for us, waited for the ssn. Manager and floor staff said they needed it and there was /is no point in arguing and frustrating myself and or them

[velrich 50]

Bank of America added me to my husband's account when I entered as a tourist. They only needed a valid government issued identification from me. No problem at all.

[Teddy B 17,252]

Any tourist can open a bank account. Banking has nothing to do with immigration. The problem is a bank drone dumber as a piece of coal. Solution: go to another bank.

This is correct! Most bank employees are ignorant to the law because they only know one way to do things. To open an account all you need is a passport.

Edited December 7, 2012 by Teddy B