Details
After 9/11 the US government passed a new law named the Patriot Act, one impact this had was to make it almost impossible for a non US resident to get a US bank account. There is, however, still one method for obtaining an account that is almost identical to a current account and that is by opening a brokerage account with etrade.com.
This account is primarilly intended to be used for share trading however there is nothing to stop it being used simply as a standard bank account. You cannot apply for this account online, you have to fill in 2 forms and post them.
Instructions
Download and fill in the following two documents.
EtradeApplication.pdf - main application form
TaxWitholding.pdf - form to prevent you having to pay US tax
Print, then Sign them wherever appropriate, then COURIER them along with copies of your Passport for your address to:
E*TRADE Securities LLC
671 N. Glebe Road, 11th Floor
Arlington, VA 22203
USA
or by regular mail to
E*TRADE Securities LLC
P.O. Box. 1542
Merrifield, VA 22116-1542
USA
Give them a few days to process your application then email them at [email protected] to see if your application has been processed alright. Once they have confirmed your account has been created you can call them at 916-636-2510 to request your account login and password, however this will be mailed to you and included in the Welcome Kit.
Once active you must make a deposit into the account as this is part of the agreement, the recommended thing to do is to transfer your paypal balance into it.
100% legal
After 9/11 the US government passed a new law named the Patriot Act, one impact this had was to make it almost impossible for a non US resident to get a US bank account. There is, however, still one method for obtaining an account that is almost identical to a current account and that is by opening a brokerage account with etrade.com.
This account is primarilly intended to be used for share trading however there is nothing to stop it being used simply as a standard bank account. You cannot apply for this account online, you have to fill in 2 forms and post them.
Instructions
Download and fill in the following two documents.
EtradeApplication.pdf - main application form
TaxWitholding.pdf - form to prevent you having to pay US tax
Print, then Sign them wherever appropriate, then COURIER them along with copies of your Passport for your address to:
E*TRADE Securities LLC
671 N. Glebe Road, 11th Floor
Arlington, VA 22203
USA
or by regular mail to
E*TRADE Securities LLC
P.O. Box. 1542
Merrifield, VA 22116-1542
USA
Give them a few days to process your application then email them at [email protected] to see if your application has been processed alright. Once they have confirmed your account has been created you can call them at 916-636-2510 to request your account login and password, however this will be mailed to you and included in the Welcome Kit.
Once active you must make a deposit into the account as this is part of the agreement, the recommended thing to do is to transfer your paypal balance into it.
100% legal
