UK citizen about to move to the US. Can I open a bank account before I get there?

Kumquats

I'm a UK citizen moving to New Jersey at the end of August. I'd like to open a "checking" account with Bank of America (they have a branch in the town I'll be living in, and I think it'll be free, since I'll be depositing more than $250 per month). Can I open the account while I'm in the UK so that it's all set up for when I want to move? How do I go about this?

Voyager2002

Kumquats wrote: »

I'm a UK citizen moving to New Jersey at the end of August. I'd like to open a "checking" account with Bank of America (they have a branch in the town I'll be living in, and I think it'll be free, since I'll be depositing more than $250 per month). Can I open the account while I'm in the UK so that it's all set up for when I want to move? How do I go about this?

Not easy... I suggest you find a branch of BoA in this country and ask if they can help.

My only experience was with Citibank: I opened UK accounts with them, then explained why I needed a US-based account, and they did their best to open it for me. The process was not easy (the forms ask for a US Social Security number and details of addresses in the USA) and it was only possible for me because a dedicated staff member steered my application through the bureaucracy.