Many immigrants who have no legal status and are residing in the U.S. are
reluctant to open bank accounts, mostly out of fear that the information
on their accounts will be used to deport them. Aside from having a secure
place to save your money, opening a bank account has other benefits. For
example, if you have no financial history because you have never opened
a bank account or held a credit card, services such as phone companies
and utilities may require you to pay a hefty deposit. Check-cashing and
bill payment services also will charge your fees that having a bank account
would help you avoid altogether. Opening a bank account also helps you
access other financial services by building a credit history. For instance,
you typically must have a bank account or some level of financial history
in order to get a home mortgage, get a small business loan, or open a
credit card. You don’t need to be a U.S. citizen in order to open
a bank account at many banks and credit unions. In many cases, a bank
will allow you to open a bank account so long as you have an Individual
Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN). If you don’t already have
an ITIN, you can get one from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). You
typically almost must provide some form of identification in order to
open a bank account. If you live in California and have a driver’s
license through the AB-60 program, you can use your driver’s license
as a form of identification. You also can use an unexpired passport, consular
ID card, or birth certificate. Some larger cities, such as San Francisco,
also issue municipal identification cards that can serve as a form of
identification. Finally, you often must give proof of your address in
order to open a bank account. You can bring in a bill that was sent to
you or otherwise shows your address, such as a utility bill or lease agreement,
in order to satisfy this requirement. Landerholm Immigration, A.P.C.,
knows federal immigration law and has the experience to guide you and
advocate on your behalf throughout any type of deportation proceeding,
no matter what the allegations may be. We are familiar with the wide range
of defenses that are available to individuals facing deportation, and
how to build the strongest defense that is available to you, based on
the evidence relevant to your case. Contact your California deportation
defense lawyers today, and discover what we can do for you.
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