Money
Opening a US bank account without an SSN yet
Which banks let J-1 au pairs open an account before the SSN arrives, and what to bring.
# Opening a bank account
Most au pairs use one of these:
- **Chase** — bring passport, DS-2019, I-94, host family address proof.
- **Bank of America** — same documents, plus a second ID.
- **SoFi / Wise** — good for sending money home.
Apply for your **SSN in person at the Social Security office** as soon as you arrive; without it you cannot get a full credit history but you can still open a checking account with your visa documents.