I've been asked by a PH-friend from Zim about setting up a bank account for funds transfer in the US. I know this is easy with a social security or tax ID number, but does anybody know how this works for a non-resident, in today's climate? Any of you guys from SA or Tanz go through this already? Thanks for any help! Bill

I do not know the answer to your question.

BUT BUT BUT BUT, www.ikobo.com handles international money transfers in compliance with the Patriot Act. Your friend can sign up with Ikobo and Americans can pay their deposits through Ikobo without upsetting the guys at the Treasury Department.

Bill,

I know a couple of Zim PH's who have established bank accounts in the States without any hassle. I guess each bank will have its own policy, but in the cases I know of, the banks only required a copy of their passports, in addition to the standard paperwork.

500 Grains,

I believe the problem is not how to handle deposits or getting paid by clients. Its establishing an account into which one can deposit hard currency for safekeeping.

Gentlemen



Last visit in USA there was no problem with social security number, banks, hunting tags, or hunter course.



If it's not possible to open in USA there are plenty of places were no questions are asked. Zim is not the place were I would like to bank



I guess you still can't deposit or withdraw more than 10.000$ without internal revenue service gets a notice?



Cheers

/ JOHAN

Bill,
Check your e-mails.
Russell

Bill C,



As a foreigner in the US, it was a simple experience. I had to get a social security card and for foreigners there is an SS card which does not allow you to work in the US unless you get a work visa, which takes all of 15 minutes. After that it was off to the bank where they took a copy of the passport with the visa page and a copy of the SS card and opened the account. As long as you have these things in order it is no problem at all and most banks are very helpful.



This is the world's financial capital and the banks are very good to do business with - your friends would have no problem at all in dealing with them.

Its not quite that simple if you live in a foriegn country and try to bank in the USA, You must have a sponsor to sign for you and you must then keep enough money in the bank to cover all charges or the sponsor will have it subtracted from his account...

I got burned real bad one time doing this and am real careful about who I stand up for these days...I got my money but it took a trip to Africa to get it, so I lost about $2000 on the deal...My advise is don't do it...I really trusted that guy and he let me down, and also things can go to hell in a hurry over there and you may take a big hit and the PH has no control over it...

There are a LOT of PHs wanting US Citizens to open bank accounts for them and I mean a LOT of them....I get hit on all the time to do that...

I would for Pierre van Tonder, as he is like my own son, but he has an account, his wife is an international lawyer and she takes care of that sort of stuff for him.