Many points and miles enthusiasts ultimately want to get into U.S. credit cards, and that means having a local U.S. bank account. Among the many banks, JPMorgan Chase, one of the leaders in U.S. credit cards, is a solid option. When I opened my account, a friend came along. That friend had just received an SSN (Social Security number), so we also took the opportunity to ask a Chase customer-service representative about it. We learned that after receiving an SSN, Chase pays closer attention to your relationship with the bank when you apply for your first Chase credit card, including how long you have held your accounts and how much money you keep in them. Opening an account early and building a relationship with Chase is therefore a sensible move. In this article, I will walk through the full Chase account-opening process from the perspective of someone visiting on a tourist visa.

Preparation

Before going to the bank, prepare a document that can prove your U.S. address. Examples include a recent bank statement (note: for many people who already have their first U.S. credit card, Chase does not accept a credit-card statement as proof of address), a mobile-phone bill, or a utility bill. For those of us who are “cloud residents,” providing a bank statement is relatively easy, and most people with their first U.S. credit card can provide one. It is also best to bring at least $1,500 so that you can deposit it into the account right away.

If you want to learn how to open your first U.S. credit card, see this article.

Next, bring a document that proves your identity. A passport is sufficient.

Opening the account

Go to any Chase branch and say that you would like to open an account. The bank will arrange for a banker to help you. I recommend choosing a somewhat larger branch in a Chinese neighbourhood, as bankers in those areas generally have experience with this type of application. Give the banker your proof of address and proof of identity, and they will ask a few simple questions. I recommend opening both Checking and Savings. You can move extra U.S. dollars into Savings later to earn interest, and it can also make later tax filing and ITIN applications easier.

The banker will ask you to choose a Chase debit-card design. Chase has many Disney co-branded designs, so feel free to choose one if you like them.

Chase debit-card design selection

I chose the most basic Chase card. After the application is complete, the Checking account needs to maintain $1,500 and the Savings account needs to maintain $300 in order to avoid monthly fees.

Chase Checking and Savings account funding requirements

After the account is opened, the banker will give you the information needed for online banking. Once you register, you can add the debit card to Apple Wallet and use it. One thing to note: if you provide a Canadian phone number, you will not be able to receive the verification code sent by Chase. You will need to wait until the physical card is mailed to your U.S. address, enter the card number and CVV manually, and then choose email verification to complete the setup.

At this point, you have successfully opened a Chase account. The next step is to build your relationship with Chase over time, then apply for one of its credit cards after getting an SSN or ITIN.

Chase online banking setup

Further reading