OPENING A BANK ACCOUNT
You may wish to open a bank account before entering the United States in order to avoid
carrying large amounts of cash to New York. Check with a bank in your home country about the
easiest way to transfer sums of money in U.S. dollars to a U.S. bank. Bank drafts from home to pay
for large expenses may take several days to clear U.S. banks.
There are several banks near the NYU campus. Students often open an account at one of the banks
near the
Office for International Students and
Scholars office, after completing their mandatory OISS check-in. A social security number is
not required for an F-I or J-I student to open a bank account, but you will need proof of
identification and immigration status in the U.S. (passport, I-94, and I-20 or DS-2019). You will
also need to provide your NYU ID card and any identification documents issued by your
government.
