Need to open HSBC account, how should I go about it?

I'm (hopefully) moving to England on a fiance visa next month. My fiance doesn't have a flat right now (we'll be staying with his mom until we can find a flat) so I don't know how long it'll be before I can get any kind of utility bill with my name on it or anything. He banks with HSBC so I figure it's the best option for me. I don't know exactly how to go about getting a new bank account though... currently I use Bank of America.

First of all, how do I go about closing the US BoA account and moving all of that money into a UK HSBC account? I've had pretty much the same account all my life, except when I opened a new checking account with BoA, so I have no idea how the process would work.

Secondly, I think i have 3 options for my new account:
1) Pay the $200 to get the UK HSBC account before I get to the UK.
2) Get the Passport account. Has anyone done this before? I've read the website but I'd like to hear a personal account of it. **Edit: Never mind, I found the thread about it! It sounds okay but I like option #3 better...
3) Add my name to my fiance's account to make it into a joint account.

We prefer option 3, but is it even possible? Has anyone here done this before?

I went option 1 and paid the fee. At the time I did not add my wife (who was not my wfie at that time). When we got to the UK (she was my wife at that time) we added her name. We did not have a UK address at that point and they did not ask to see a marriage license. I would guess your fiancee could just add you.

I did a wire transfer from my US account to the UK account. There are a number of options each with different fees. Which is best depends on the quantitiy you are transfering and how much time you want to put into the research.

You may not want to close your BoA account, if you can keep it open with a small balance without it costing you money. A US account would allow you to pay US bills, give gifts, get cash gifts, etc in an easy manner.

Probably just easiest to add your name to your fiance's account once you get there, if you're cool with having a joint account.

I also kept my US bank account open (well, I kind of had to because I still have to make payments on US student loans and a credit card.)  I don't plan on closing my US account though even when the loans are paid off because it's quite handy for buying stuff in dollars occasionally on the internet, etc.

Oh, good point about keeping the US account open! Plus it would be nice to have some savings that I really can't touch unless it's an emergency. I didn't know it would be so easy to make a joint account... does anyone know what I'd need to do that? I suppose passport for proof of identity, and maybe bank statements from my old account. Anything else?

I don't know if it was just us but when my husband & I were engaged we had a really hard time adding me to his HSBC account to the point that they basically denied me to be added as I had no proof of address.  This really peeved us off as my husband works for the bank & the bank staff knew both of us, but their hands were tied on needing to meet their legal obligation.  I don't know if this has laxed or if maybe if you go option 1 & they know you're starting out without an address et al adding additional members could be easier that way...?

It was also a bit hard to add me to his accounts to create a joint account after we got married as again they needed proof of address.  We ended up getting me added onto the account by them doing a home visit (mind you we were adding me on and also applying for a mortgage at the same time).   


Personally I keep US accounts open and listed at my D ;Dad's.  Most of my statements and such I receive electronically, its just cards etc that he fields for me.  I have both a Credit Union account and an account with US bank (you can opt to have your mail directed to somone else & have the mail essentially sent to them c/o in their name - this has been useful with my Dad as he'll open it, see if its anything important & let me know instead of just seeing my name & thinking its junk).   US accounts are also good for PayPal.  I have both US & UK Paypal accounts.  Much easier to pay for items this way at times rather than doing the exchange rates. 

Just my 2 cents.

so, if i were to wait to be added to an account after arriving in england, or to open my own once i got there, how would i then go about getting my money from my us account into my new account?  would i just call bank of america from the uk to discuss it? 

is there a way i can be added to my fiance's account before arriving, or do i physically need to be present?

so, if i were to wait to be added to an account after arriving in england, or to open my own once i got there, how would i then go about getting my money from my us account into my new account?  would i just call bank of america from the uk to discuss it? 

You should be able to do a wire transfer between accounts (although you will have to pay a fee for this). One of my friends is a PhD student here in the UK, but is enrolled with a US university (due to her funding coming from a US source) and so she gets her funding paid into her US bank account and then every month she wire transfers that money into her UK account (although it costs her about £40 each time she does it).

is there a way i can be added to my fiance's account before arriving, or do i physically need to be present?

Usually you need to be physically present because the bank will likely want to see your passport and proof of UK address.

I don't know if it was just us but when my husband & I were engaged we had a really hard time adding me to his HSBC account to the point that they basically denied me to be added as I had no proof of address.  This really peeved us off as my husband works for the bank & the bank staff knew both of us, but their hands were tied on needing to meet their legal obligation.  I don't know if this has laxed or if maybe if you go option 1 & they know you're starting out without an address et al adding additional members could be easier that way...?

Thanks for your input! That kind of sucks, but I guess until I get proof of address I can just keep my BoA account and use Barclay's ATMs. I'll miss debit though

This may be helpful from the BBA (British Bankers Association) for acceptable prof of address.