DamageX

Does anyone know of the procedures and fees related to opening a US bank account as a non-US resident? I need this for my daily dealings with clients and sponsors, would make my life a lot easier. If you can also recommend someone who provides the service of setting up an account I would be grateful, thanks.

__________________

the Shemp

the best way is drive down to the nearest USA border town..
the banks there are used to opening accounts for Canadians..

__________________
i use Vacares...so should you
Submit your picture galleries to my site...Outlaw TGP

BRISK

I know a guy who is not a US resident and he got a bank account with this US bank: www.thebancorp.com

__________________
I post on GFY so that when people ask me what I do,
I can tell them that I work with the mentally retarded.

DamageX

Thanks Shemp, that would really be the easiest thing to do, if I were in Canada. However, being in Europe might cause a bit of a problem, when trying to drive to the US.

Anyway, joking aside, yes, I am considering putting my ass on a plane and opening an account, would this be doable hassle free for a European?

__________________

detoxed

Probably tons of hassles due to Patriot Act

pussyluver

Where I kive, it woud be about impossible. Even if you live here, sometimes it's hard to open an account. That's even with cash in your hand!

Found smaller local banks were easier than the big ones.

Wanted to open a bank account for my significant in the same bank as me to make life easier. They wouldn't let her because she did not have enough ID. That's with a drivers license, ATM cards from other banks and me sitting there with three accounts open at the bank.

pussyluver

Yep, they said it was the Patriot Act

I say Bullshit!!! Why did another bank open account for her without question?

DamageX

Yeah, that's what I'm fearing, reason why I'd prefer someone to do it for me, I know there are people who specialize in this kind of service.

Makes you wonder where their sense of business is... Thing is, they tend to be that way when they know you don't have a lot of choice. If this was me, I would've closed all my accounts and moved my business to my wife's bank. I hate doing business with stiff rednecks.

__________________

the Shemp

yes, thats a nasty drive ;)

__________________
i use Vacares...so should you
Submit your picture galleries to my site...Outlaw TGP

BRISK

www.thebancorp.com

My friend opened his account with them over the phone and by sending stuff (photocopies of ID) through the mail. They sent him an ATM and debit card he can use anywhere in the world. He's never even been to the US before.

__________________
I post on GFY so that when people ask me what I do,
I can tell them that I work with the mentally retarded.

Groove

I'm Australian and have had an account with Chase in NY for several years. However I recently had to close the account because Chase now require a minimum $100,000 balance in order to cover the additional record keeping and monitoring expenses required under The Patriot Act.

ZanyCash Larry

Check the internet. Most US banks have a website and
ing.com is an internet bank without any branches.

Some of the banks we use localy are:
wamu.com
wellsfargo.com

__________________

$45 Per Signup - 60/40 RevShare!
5% Webmaster Referral Bonus
Hosted Static Galleries With Recip Link

DamageX

These guys would actually look OK, if it weren't for the $500/day withdrawal limit on the ATM card. This way I'm better off sticking with ePassporte, at least there I can have my daily withdrawal limit raised, at least in theory.

__________________

GTS Mark

That is exactly what I did...

4 hour drive to Michigan to open up a simple chequing account. LOL!

Was worth it though!

DH

DamageX

Yeah, I did check the Internet. I was basically looking for some recommendations here, since I'm kind of challenged when it comes to which US bank to use, was hoping for some more practical feedback.

__________________

the Shemp

for sure..
its legal for a canadian to have an account in the US..
you need to fill out a w-8 form and have some decent ID with you.. just keep the transacations under 10K at a time... ;)

__________________
i use Vacares...so should you
Submit your picture galleries to my site...Outlaw TGP

juice

why keep the transaction below $10k ?

Btw, dont remember signing a w-8 form.. what is it exactly ?

Theo

Brisk,does your friend has a US company?

volante

If you're in the UK, have a word with HSBC - last time I checked, they offered US based business accounts to UK citizens. I think there was a £50 per month service charge though...

BRISK

No, he just has that personal bank account

__________________
I post on GFY so that when people ask me what I do,
I can tell them that I work with the mentally retarded.

{fusion}

try to do it through your on bank, most often they will be able to set it up for you as a business account. be impossible to open a personal due to money laundering acts.

i know HSBC do it if you with them

DamageX

From a legality point of view, I'm pretty sure it's not against the law for anyone to have a bank account in the US. I take it it's the hassle of opening one that differs between say Canadians and Europeans.

__________________

Theo

thanks

the Shemp

if your scottish they cant understand you....

__________________
i use Vacares...so should you
Submit your picture galleries to my site...Outlaw TGP

Dagwolf

lol

__________________
Sleep well, and dream of large women.

DamageX

Yep, I can certainly understand that kind of hassle.

However, I'm not Scottish and thank God my English sounds nothing like that. In fact, if I spoke with you, you'd probably think I was fooling you about not living in the US.

__________________

Warren

Ok a suggestion for You,

Contact these people, http://www.corporate.com

They will act as Your US agent, use Your EU address as your permenant one, they will forward all recieved docs relating to Your new company to You anywhere

Next, once incorporated contact the IRS, and request Form SS4, once You fill this out and fax it back to them, You will be issued a company tax id number

Lastly, get on a plane with all Your paperwork, and hit any main bank in the US and You will have a business account with Your own company Visa card

There is many advantages to incorporating in Delaware, which I am sure You will discover

No offence, but they also have a book on this

http://www.corporate.com/dummies.cfm

DamageX

Yeah, I've heard a lot about the advantages of incorporating in Delaware, the only thing that's stopped me from doing it so far is that I'm still not in the clear about how my revenue will be taxed and where. I'm sure you're aware of the semi-socialist taxation policies of most EU governments. I don't want them to consider me worthy of being stoned to death just because they *think* I'm trying to evade paying taxes.

__________________

xxxdesign-net

Will you need to obey the new 2257 law if you incorporate in the US..?

Theo

of course

DamageX

Did you do a lot of thinking, before asking that question?

__________________

BRISK

__________________
I post on GFY so that when people ask me what I do,
I can tell them that I work with the mentally retarded.

Warren

My answer to that is, where its made is where its paid.

I have held a couple of directorships in the UK, london based companies and know the ins and outs fairly well of the inland revenue system there, so I would leave out the semi and go straight to the socialist taxation You mentioned.

The information I gave earlier is what I had to do to get set up

If You want to talk further my icq is 208603797













and

BarneyRubble

I guess nobody told you that Buffalo was an hour and a half huh?

__________________
SIG TOO BIG! Maximum 120x60 button and no more than 3 text lines of DEFAULT SIZE and COLOR. Unless your sig is for a GFY top banner sponsor, you may use a 624x80 instead of a 120x60. Let me repeat... A 120 x 60 button and no more that 3 lines of DEFAULT SIZE AND COLOR text.