How to obtain a USA bank account as a non-resident?

Before now - it has NOT been possible. Starting with the events of Sept 11th 2001 (and with the Patriot Act) it is basically impossible to open a US bank account if you are not a resident with a Social Security Number (SSN). There are very few banks that will allow you to open a bank account if you are a resident of a foreign country.

But first let us look at the reasons why having a USA checking account is useful:Reasons that make having a USA bank account in a foreign country useful.

If you participate in affiliate programs on the internet, you know that it is not always easy to receive commissions in a simple way. Many programs pay with US checks only - and everyone who ever submitted a foreign check to their domestic bank knows the bank fees for depositing the check can be quite high. Besides that, it can take a long time to clear the check because the bank now sends it back to the USA bank first - who again will mail it back to the domestic bank with the clearing confirmation (though we are living in a time of digital networks!).

If you need to use Stormpay, then you know that the only way to withdraw funds for a non-resident is either to receive a check or spend money for certification and then use wire transfer to a domestic bank which incurs high fees. Unless you have a USA bank account.

Besides your domestic bank account, you can add a USA bank account in Paypal and withdraw your funds free of charge via direct deposit (ACH).

There are many more reasons but those surely are the most common.There are lots of websites that offer USA bank accounts (so called agencies) and they charge you up to $600! Please do not fall for this!