Opening a US bank account while applying to K1

[Andres TG 2]

Hi everyone,

 

My fiancee and I are waiting for the consulates in Mexico to reopen to continue with the K1 visa process. As of now our case is stuck in the NVC, they are waiting for the consulate to reopen to forward our case.

 

In the mean time I (the foreign fiancee) want to open a savings account while I'm still in living in Mexico and currently visiting my fiancee in the US on a B1/B2 visa for 3 months. I mainly want to open a savings account in the US to protect my savings from the mexican peso devaluation.

 

Is this move something that could have a negative impact in our visa approval? or even with my current B1/B2 visa?

 

Thanks for the help!

Edited September 14, 2020 by Andres TG

[SalishSea 17,922]

3 minutes ago, Andres TG said:

Hi everyone,

 

My fiancee and I are waiting for the consulates in Mexico to reopen to continue with the K1 visa process. As of now our case is stuck in the NVC, they are waiting for the consulate to reopen to forward our case.

 

In the mean time I (the foreign fiancee) want to open a savings account while I'm still in living in Mexico and currently visiting my fiancee in the US on a B1/B2 visa for 3 months. I mainly want to open a savings account in the US to protect my savings from the mexican peso devaluation.

 

Is this move something that could have a negative impact in our visa approval? or even with my current B1/B2 visa?

 

Thanks for the help!

No, but good luck finding a bank that will do that.  Because of the Patriot Act, the US banking system is subject to extra steps when it comes to foreign-owned bank accounts.

 

My husband came on a K-1, and we couldn't open our joint credit union account until he had his SSN.

[HRQX 4,145]

6 minutes ago, Andres TG said:

I mainly want to open a savings account in the US to protect my savings from the mexican peso devaluation.

You'll have to find a bank that is willing to open an account using W-8BEN form.

[Chancy 6,241]

38 minutes ago, Andres TG said:

In the mean time I (the foreign fiancee) want to open a savings account while I'm still in living in Mexico and currently visiting my fiancee in the US on a B1/B2 visa for 3 months. I mainly want to open a savings account in the US to protect my savings from the mexican peso devaluation.

 

Do you have a US SSN?

 

[Andres TG 2]

1 hour ago, Jorgedig said:

No, but good luck finding a bank that will do that.  Because of the Patriot Act, the US banking system is subject to extra steps when it comes to foreign-owned bank accounts.

 

My husband came on a K-1, and we couldn't open our joint credit union account until he had his SSN.

I found a bank that told me its possible, they just need an address where I get mail, so I'm providing my fiancee's address. Hopefully it works out....

1 hour ago, HRQX said:

You'll have to find a bank that is willing to open an account using W-8BEN form.

Thanks! Knowing the existence of the form will be very helpful

[Andres TG 2]

1 hour ago, Chancy said:

 

Do you have a US SSN?

 

No, I don't, but apparently there are ways around it...

[JEulian 2]

Yes, you can... If you have any issues just get a ITIN and must of the banks will accept it to issue you a bank account. 

 

 

[Ontarkie 14,275]

~~Moved to Moving Here and Your New Life, from K1 P&P - the topic is about opening a bank account~~

[Dalila Gonzalez 49]

There are some banks that allow you to open an account with an ITIN number

[Andres TG 2]

2 hours ago, Ontarkie said:

~~Moved to Moving Here and Your New Life, from K1 P&P - the topic is about opening a bank account~~

I still don't live in the US

[Ontarkie 14,275]

7 hours ago, Andres TG said:

I still don't live in the US

Yes, but this is not a visa processing question. We try to keep visa processing questions in the K1 section.

[Cilllah 482]

My bank let me join my husband's (fiance at the time) bank account and we opened a new savings one too. With no SSN or anything.

[Chancy 6,241]

27 minutes ago, Cilllah said:

My bank let me join my husband's (fiance at the time) bank account and we opened a new savings one too. With no SSN or anything.

 

Were you added as an account holder or authorized user?  Banks need a tax number for account holders because interest earned is taxable.

 

[Cilllah 482]

2 minutes ago, Chancy said:

 

Were you added as an account holder or authorized user?  Banks need a tax number for account holders because interest earned is taxable.

 

Tbh I am not sure. Maybe a user? I was just happy to be on the account with him and have my own card.

[Chancy 6,241]

6 minutes ago, Cilllah said:

Tbh I am not sure. Maybe a user? I was just happy to be on the account with him and have my own card.

 

For evidence of financial commingling, either is fine, actually.  But the OP mentioned wanting to protect his savings, so I'm not sure if being an authorized user will satisfy his intentions.

 

An account holder is an owner of the account and can not be removed by the other joint account holder(s) without consent.  An account holder does not need an authorized user's consent to remove the user from the account.