Bank accounts

[Bridges 0]

Hi there, I have my interview on the 23rd of September, super excited.

 

Was wondering if anyone had advice for banking once I move? When do I get a SSN? I am currently with Barclays and have read they they have a presence in the USA, would you recommend that avenue or going with a big American bank? Also would a joint account with my wife slow down me getting a good credit score?

 

Any advice would be appreciated

[Wuozopo 4,285]

It would be helpful if you will fill out your profile and timeline...Visa type. Guessing spouse since you said wife. Married when? That helps know if you get a 2-year or 10-yr greencard and if you have to remove conditions.

 

I have read of all sorts of ways people do things. There's a forum section about finances and taxes you might want to plow through. And there have been some creative ideas in this forum as well that may come back and explain.

 

For me, I kept it pretty simple. I got added as a joint owner of my wife's bank account. And she added me as an authorized user of 3-4 major credit cards.  That started me getting my own credit rating by just being on her cards. (And because we had to apply for adjustment of status and two years later removing conditions, it made good evidence for USCIS of co-mingled finances.) 

 

Some people are in a hurry to get their own bank account and own credit card. I wasn't bothered. We just shared and still do. I started getting all those "pre-approved" credit card offers in the mail so eventually called in to see if I could get one...yes in 5 minutes, with $8,000 limit on a major name Visa card. So being added to my wife's cards did the magic.

 

You should be able to get your SSN shortly after arrival. If it's spouse visa that you said to send one automatically, sometimes it comes and sometimes faster to just go to an office in person and apply. Fiances can go apply immediately before marriage or applying for AOS. 

 

 

[ConnorS 85]

Like @Wuozopo I just added myself to my wife's accounts, if you had large sums to transfer across from pounds to dollars, I would suggest using transferwise they offer the actual market exchange rates for a small fee at the back end, much cheaper than going through any major bank.

 

If anything having a joint account with your wife should help bring up your own credit score faster.  As for SSN, I applied for mine after 1 week of being in the country and received my card through 2 and a bit weeks later, just needed my passport/visa and a print out of my i-94 when going to the social security office