Originally Posted by crhptic
Originally Posted by lin821
IIRC, a lot of cc companies don't accept P.O Box addresses. They would ask for a physical address in the U.S upfront. So your idea might not work.
This isn't true of all credit cards, however. I have my credit card bills sent to a PO Box. True, I could not use the box address to
obtain the account,....
I should have make myself clear. When I said "upfront", I mean during the application process, i.e. when you obtain/set up the account. That was OP the original inquiry and context, how to sign up or open a cc/bank account in the US.
As to how far away or where you can request your bills be sent to after your account is established, that's a totally different story. Let's not go too far ahead from the OP. If the account never exists or can't be approved, what's the point to have a forwardable (or not) P.O. Box address?
Originally Posted by crhptic
Originally Posted by lin821
As for the online banking part, I don't think nationality matters at all. Anyone who legally resides in US can open an bank account.
Ah, but see, the OP doesn't reside in the US, at all. She may have a US SSN, but doesn't live here.
My personal experience and that of friends is that a SSN isn't necessarily required to open a U.S. bank account. For example, I have friends who are here in the US illegally. ..They have TIN's which they use to file taxes. Those are not a SSN, ... However, a TIN does not allow them to get credit cards and they don't have any of those....
I had chosen my wording very carefully when I posted my response. I deliberately picked "legally resides" because a US address is granted when you reside in the US legally. You should have a physical US address to fulfill the basic requirements when filling out the application. That's also why I advise the OP to check out the application forms and see if she/he would meet all the requirements.
I don't want to get into the muddy water for the banking business for "undocumented workers." I know there are ways, let it be backdoor or bent-the-rule ways, to open a bank account is U.S. For me personally, I think if you want to have any business with any foreign country, say for jobs, schools or whatever, you just simple play by their rules, instead of breaking the law/rules.
Originally Posted by crhptic
However, I have yet to hear of a U.S. bank, online or otherwise, that will let an account be opened by someone without a U.S. address
That's exactly my point! If local address is required, make sure you have one. Some rules are set for a reason.