UK spouse an US bank account?

We have an account with Citibank and my (non-citizen, non-green-card) UK spouse is a joint account holder.

Did you already have the account when you left the US? 

Hi,

There are some ways to get a USA bank account when in the UK via some institutions offering accounts like that. You'll need to look around to see what might suit you.

If you are wanting mainly to have a direct US account, then the next time you go to the USA you can open up an account within 20 minutes. I'm a UK citizen and that's what I did on my last USA visit - opened 3 accounts, Bank of America, Wells Fargo & Chase. At each branch, it took around 30 minutes or so. This will give you a total USA based bank account. I vaguely recall that they do/did make a note of me being a UK citizen and had the right note on the account as well as giving me one that was easier to manage and be eligible for (I think the BoA account is an online one that best suits people like myself and others)

It's much more difficult to open a direct USA bank account when you are abroad, there's various places 'promising' to open one for you in this way and I looked into them for a short while. When I booked a visit, I just thought I'd try whilst in the USA first and easily opened the accounts in branch, so I have no idea if those places offering to open one up whilst out of the USA are good or not.

Cheers, DtM! West London & Slough UK!

Hi,

There are some ways to get a USA bank account when in the UK via some institutions offering accounts like that. You'll need to look around to see what might suit you.

If you are wanting mainly to have a direct US account, then the next time you go to the USA you can open up an account within 20 minutes. I'm a UK citizen and that's what I did on my last USA visit - opened 3 accounts, Bank of America, Wells Fargo & Chase. At each branch, it took around 30 minutes or so. This will give you a total USA based bank account. I vaguely recall that they do/did make a note of me being a UK citizen and had the right note on the account as well as giving me one that was easier to manage and be eligible for (I think the BoA account is an online one that best suits people like myself and others)

It's much more difficult to open a direct USA bank account when you are abroad, there's various places 'promising' to open one for you in this way and I looked into them for a short while. When I booked a visit, I just thought I'd try whilst in the USA first and easily opened the accounts in branch, so I have no idea if those places offering to open one up whilst out of the USA are good or not.

Cheers, DtM! West London & Slough UK!

Thanks.  We'll be over in August.  I use my sister's address on my account so hub can do the same.

Something else to consider to muddy the waters.

If your husband is on a US account and interest is earned, then he has "US source income". If your US filing status is "married filing separately", this will mean you are not entitled to take an exemption for him. Depending on your situation, that may mean a US tax liability that you might not otherwise have.

Just a thought; I'm all for joint accounts in most cases, but were I in your situation I wouldn't consider it.

Something else to consider to muddy the waters.

If your husband is on a US account and interest is earned, then he has "US source income". If your US filing status is "married filing separately", this will mean you are not entitled to take an exemption for him. Depending on your situation, that may mean a US tax liability that you might not otherwise have.

Just a thought; I'm all for joint accounts in most cases, but were I in your situation I wouldn't consider it.

I do married filing separately.  The only income on the US tax return is a small state pension and interest income.  If SS was enough to pay tax on it would be to the UK.    Same for dh.

Did you already have the account when you left the US? 

No, we opened it first as a UK dual currency account, then opened the US one.