María, a freelance designer in Bogotá, finally landed her first $10k U.S. contract.
The client’s email was short: “Great—send us your U.S. bank details for payment.”

Her heart sank.

No U.S. bank account. No SSN. No trip to America planned.
Game over? Not if you know the routes insiders use every day.

This guide distills James Baker CPA’s 2025 update—watch the full video here—into a step-by-step playbook so you can collect dollars without borders.​

Traditional U.S. banks are built for citizens: SSN, proof of U.S. address, in-person visit.
Foreign founders? Square peg, round hole—unless you:

1. Know which banks accept passports + foreign proof of address.

2. Present a legal U.S. business entity the bank’s compliance team understands.

3. Offer risk-assurance documents (EIN, Articles of Organization) that tick every KYC box.

Fail one step, and the account dies on the manager’s desk. Nail all three, and you’re funded in weeks, not months.

Land at JFK, passport in hand, head to Chase or Bank of America.
Smile, be patient, show Articles + EIN. Walk out funded.

Pro tip: bring a mobile phone bill or utility statement with your home-country address. Many branches accept it for KYC.

Fintechs like Mercury, Relay, Wise, Highbeam ride on FDIC-insured partner banks.
They accept foreign owners if your country isn’t on their high-risk list.

Step flow

1. Form Wyoming/Delaware LLC → 24 h

2. Apply EIN (Form SS-4) → 4–6 weeks (CPA can cut to 10 days)

3. Upload docs to Mercury → approval in 48 h

Zero flights, zero jet lag—just instant USD ACH & virtual cards.

Appoint a U.S.-based manager who walks into Wells Fargo with a Manager Resolution.
They open the account, add you as ultimate owner, then you remove their signing rights once you can visit.

Only do this with ironclad contracts and someone you’d trust with your life savings.

• Personal account: Passport usually enough if you go in person.

• Business account: EIN is mandatory; ITIN is not required. Banks may ask but it’s optional.

Remember: No bank can legally demand an SSN from a non-resident foreign owner. They can request—you can politely push back.

U.S. clients pay faster, in dollars, when you give them a domestic routing number.
Choose your path—fly in, go fintech, or use a manager—get your U.S. bank account and watch international friction vanish.

Ready to shortcut the red tape?
→ Schedule a free strategy call with our team

Want deeper dives on LLCs, EINs, and taxes?
→ Explore all our guides for non-resident founders

(Full tutorial video for reference & extra tactics: YouTube link)