Best way to cash a cheque from HMRC (UK GOV)

[SeanDowney0309 47]

Hi all, 

 

I moved to Chicago on a K1 Visa on March 3rd. One of the first things I did was to fill out the P85 form on the Gov UK website. I have a cheque that was posted to my Chicago address. I wanted a bank transfer but they sent me a cheque and there is no way for me to change this. Has anyone cashed a foreign cheque at a US bank before? Are the charge extortionate? My only other option is to mail the cheque to my UK bank, I feel a little nervous about doing that...

 

Many Thanks

[brainless69 251]

54 minutes ago, SeanDowney0309 said:

Hi all, 

 

I moved to Chicago on a K1 Visa on March 3rd. One of the first things I did was to fill out the P85 form on the Gov UK website. I have a cheque that was posted to my Chicago address. I wanted a bank transfer but they sent me a cheque and there is no way for me to change this. Has anyone cashed a foreign cheque at a US bank before? Are the charge extortionate? My only other option is to mail the cheque to my UK bank, I feel a little nervous about doing that...

 

Many Thanks

what about using the british banking apps and deposit the cheque online?

[Ayrton 965]

1 hour ago, SeanDowney0309 said:

Hi all, 

 

I moved to Chicago on a K1 Visa on March 3rd. One of the first things I did was to fill out the P85 form on the Gov UK website. I have a cheque that was posted to my Chicago address. I wanted a bank transfer but they sent me a cheque and there is no way for me to change this. Has anyone cashed a foreign cheque at a US bank before? Are the charge extortionate? My only other option is to mail the cheque to my UK bank, I feel a little nervous about doing that...

 

Many Thanks

Most US banks will cash a foreign check. They will charge a big fee though.

[SeanDowney0309 47]

1 hour ago, brainless69 said:

what about using the british banking apps and deposit the cheque online?

Thanks for the response, I messaged my UK bank (Nationwide) and unfortunately I can't cash my cheque through the app or online, only by mailing it to them in UK

[Rearviewmirror 397]

2 minutes ago, SeanDowney0309 said:

Thanks for the response, I messaged my UK bank (Nationwide) and unfortunately I can't cash my cheque through the app or online, only by mailing it to them in UK

Mailing it home then transferring using something like Transferwise might be your cheapest option.

[Wuozopo 4,293]

3 hours ago, SeanDowney0309 said:

Hi all, 

 

I moved to Chicago on a K1 Visa on March 3rd. One of the first things I did was to fill out the P85 form on the Gov UK website. I have a cheque that was posted to my Chicago address. I wanted a bank transfer but they sent me a cheque and there is no way for me to change this. Has anyone cashed a foreign cheque at a US bank before? Are the charge extortionate? My only other option is to mail the cheque to my UK bank, I feel a little nervous about doing that...

 

Many Thanks

 I received a five figure check from the UK. For my US bank to cash it was going to be loaded with fees plus an unfavorable exchange rate and a trip to their main branch in the city. It exceeded their $15k limit so extra fees on top of fees.  I mailed it to my UK bank and left it there until I wanted some of it to buy a car. I use Transferwise to move money to the US. 

[SeanDowney0309 47]

15 minutes ago, Wuozopo said:

 I received a five figure check from the UK. For my US bank to cash it was going to be loaded with fees plus an unfavorable exchange rate and a trip to their main branch in the city. It exceeded their $15k limit so extra fees on top of fees.  I mailed it to my UK bank and left it there until I wanted some of it to buy a car. I use Transferwise to move money to the US. 

Thank you for your response, yes I will probably just mail the check to my Nationwide in the UK. They said they will cash it for me if  I send it to their HQ. I just feel nervous about if it goes missing. I guess I could do recorded delivery...

[United940 3]

Luckily for me I had Barclays mobile app and I could cash it. But I guess mailing is the only option for you without paying any fees 

[trudi 1,317]

On 7/24/2020 at 1:52 PM, SeanDowney0309 said:

Hi all, 

 

I moved to Chicago on a K1 Visa on March 3rd. One of the first things I did was to fill out the P85 form on the Gov UK website. I have a cheque that was posted to my Chicago address. I wanted a bank transfer but they sent me a cheque and there is no way for me to change this. Has anyone cashed a foreign cheque at a US bank before? Are the charge extortionate? My only other option is to mail the cheque to my UK bank, I feel a little nervous about doing that...

 

Many Thanks

I mailed mine to a family member in the UK who deposited it in my UK bank, I transferred it at a later date.

 

[yoda one for me 322]

The gov.uk website actually let me specify a third party to send the cheque to, so it went to my mum in her name. She deposited it and transferred me the money. 

 

Not so useful to you, OP, but may be to someone else who hasn't done this yet.

[Wuozopo 4,293]

47 minutes ago, yoda one for me said:

The gov.uk website actually let me specify a third party to send the cheque to, so it went to my mum in her name. She deposited it and transferred me the money. 

 

Not so useful to you, OP, but may be to someone else who hasn't done this yet.

Same for me with my P85 refund check. It went to my UK address,  straight to Mum who had moved back into the bungalow I had been renting from her and she paid it in for me. The big check was from a solicitor to my US address, a totally unexpected inheritance. 

Edited July 26, 2020 by Wuozopo