u/EnvironmentalTour870

Basically the title, as my government has changed funding based on the type of school. I can’t find a definitive answer.

Hey everyone,

I’m a Canadian student moving to the US for a 4-year professional program. I am not planning on working a job while I'm there, so getting a Social Security Number (SSN) is not a possibility for me.

I’m currently mapping out my US banking situation. Since I already have a lease signed, I have a valid physical US residential address. My plan is to walk into a physical TD Bank branch as soon as I land TD Complete Checking account in person (since I know they stopped letting Canadians open these over the phone/online recently).

Here is where I'm getting massive conflicting information regarding the TD Cash Credit Card (US):

When I called the dedicated TD Cross-Border banking line, the agent told me that once I open the checking account, a physical US branch would absolutely be able to manually pull my Canadian credit history and use my Canadian SIN to process a US credit card application without a US SSN.

However, when I actually called a physical TD branch in the US to confirm this, the branch advisor told me flat out that I cannot get a US credit card without a US SSN. I’m not sure if the branch advisor was just confused by a cross-border scenario, or if the phone agent gave me outdated info.

My questions for anyone who has done this:

1. Has anyone successfully opened a true US-based TD Credit Card without an SSN by leveraging their Canadian credit history at a physical branch?
2. If the branch was right and I can't get a credit card, I know I'll still at least get a US routing number and debit card to pay my rent/tuition. But how do you handle daily living transactions (groceries, food, etc.) without a US credit card if you are trying to avoid a 2.5% foreign exchange fee on Canadian cards? Do you just rely entirely on the US debit card?
3. Are there other US banks/cards who have it better for international students with a US address but no SSN?

Hey everyone,

I’m a Canadian student moving to the US for a 4-year professional program. I am not planning on working a job while I'm there, so getting a Social Security Number (SSN) is not a possibility for me.

I’m currently mapping out my US banking situation. Since I already have a lease signed, I have a valid physical US residential address. My plan is to walk into a physical TD Bank branch as soon as I land TD Complete Checking account in person (since I know they stopped letting Canadians open these over the phone/online recently).

Here is where I'm getting massive conflicting information regarding the TD Cash Credit Card (US):

When I called the dedicated TD Cross-Border banking line, the agent told me that once I open the checking account, a physical US branch would absolutely be able to manually pull my Canadian credit history and use my Canadian SIN to process a US credit card application without a US SSN.

However, when I actually called a physical TD branch in the US to confirm this, the branch advisor told me flat out that I cannot get a US credit card without a US SSN. I’m not sure if the branch advisor was just confused by a cross-border scenario, or if the phone agent gave me outdated info.

My questions for anyone who has done this:

1. Has anyone successfully opened a true US-based TD Credit Card without an SSN by leveraging their Canadian credit history at a physical branch?
2. If the branch was right and I can't get a credit card, I know I'll still at least get a US routing number and debit card to pay my rent/tuition. But how do you handle daily living transactions (groceries, food, etc.) without a US credit card if you are trying to avoid a 2.5% foreign exchange fee on Canadian cards? Do you just rely entirely on the US debit card?
3. Are there other US banks/cards who have it better for international students with a US address but no SSN?

Hey everyone,

I’m a Canadian student moving to the US for a 4-year professional program. I am not planning on working a job while I'm there, so getting a Social Security Number (SSN) is not a possibility for me.

I’m currently mapping out my US banking situation. Since I already have a lease signed, I have a valid physical US residential address. My plan is to walk into a physical TD Bank branch as soon as I land TD Complete Checking account in person (since I know they stopped letting Canadians open these over the phone/online recently).

Here is where I'm getting massive conflicting information regarding the TD Cash Credit Card (US):

When I called the dedicated TD Cross-Border banking line, the agent told me that once I open the checking account, a physical US branch would absolutely be able to manually pull my Canadian credit history and use my Canadian SIN to process a US credit card application without a US SSN.

However, when I actually called a physical TD branch in the US to confirm this, the branch advisor told me flat out that I cannot get a US credit card without a US SSN. I’m not sure if the branch advisor was just confused by a cross-border scenario, or if the phone agent gave me outdated info.

My questions for anyone who has done this:

1. Has anyone successfully opened a true US-based TD Credit Card without an SSN by leveraging their Canadian credit history at a physical branch?
2. If the branch was right and I can't get a credit card, I know I'll still at least get a US routing number and debit card to pay my rent/tuition. But how do you handle daily living transactions (groceries, food, etc.) without a US credit card if you are trying to avoid a 2.5% foreign exchange fee on Canadian cards? Do you just rely entirely on the US debit card?
3. Are there other US banks/cards who have it better for international students with a US address but no SSN?

Hi so I’m moving to the US for school and needed to convert a bunch of CAD to USD. I’ve never done it before other than through the bank, but I’ve been told that the bank will add fees. Even if it’s $0 exchange fee, they’ll add a certain percentage to convert. Like instead of giving me $0.73USD for $1CAD they’ll give me maybe $0.70 and keep the difference. I don’t often go to the US so I’d love to hear options you guys use for converting or if that’s just the standard method. I’ve heard of WISE and would love some opinions :)

Hi so I’m moving to the US for school and needed to convert a bunch of CAD to USD. I’ve never done it before other than through the bank, but I’ve been told that the bank will add fees. Even if it’s $0 exchange fee, they’ll add a certain percentage to convert. Like instead of giving me $0.73USD for $1CAD they’ll give me maybe $0.70 and keep the difference. I don’t often go to the US so I’d love to hear options you guys use for converting or if that’s just the standard method. I’ve heard of WISE and would love some opinions :)