Originally Posted by
User Name
My quote that you posted was me saying that it was none of an employer's business, but I'll agree with your assumption that I think it's none of Barclays' business either.
Your comment about debt enforcement/skipping the country would apply to a US citizen too.
It is surprising because no other company I have encountered does this, contrary to your assumption that they might. As stated, I have been a customer of many different US financial institutions, and as my surprise mirrors that of many other posters on this thread so I think you can take this point as being relevant.
My immigration status is between me and the federal government (and certain of its agencies) - no-one else.
Sorry if I misread your comment. You have a point that skipping the country applies to a citizen as well, but I'm talking about risk management. The bank may feel it's more likely that someone permanently leaves the country if they're a noncitizen, therefore there is more risk to them, like it or not. Insurance companies also evaluate risk in various ways that seem unfair from the customer's point of view.
And even if a bank doesn't ask certain questions outright, they always have a clause that the application is being considered at their sole discretion. So yes your status IS also between you and the bank if they so choose, because if you don't like it they are not forced to do with business with you. Racial discrimination legally cannot be used to reject you, but lack of citizenship can. I'm not trying to defend a bank's position, just saying that this should be expected. (P.S. My partner had a green card for several years, and I'm in no way taking some kind of anti-immigrantion position.)