Thread: UK/US Banking
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Old 14th December 2007, 10:38 AM
Pebble Pebble is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Bevdeforges View Post
Pebble,
It isn't all that much more difficult for a US citizen to open an account in the UK as for anyone to open a bank account in the US. What you do need is the proper i.d - usually your passport, though as a foreigner they may need to see your visa or residence permit.

Or, you could open a foreign account and then convert it to a resident account after you've got the visa and residence permit sorted out. There are a few restrictions (usually) on a non-resident account (probably not so easy to get loans and you may need a bit more cash to open the account in the first place) but it will establish you as a "customer" of the bank.
Thank You for the information. Yes the Visa or residence permit was the bit that I had anticipated needing to open up a residence account with. However, I was unclear about whether I could open a foreign account first, and then being able to convert later to a resident account. Thank you for clarifying that I could do this. Even with a few restrictions, at least it does, as you say, establish me as a "customer" of the bank.
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