KoruVest · U.S. money rules, explained for global lives
U.S. Money & Investing
for Newcomers and Global Investors
Practical, source-checked guides for visa holders, international students, non-U.S. citizens, and global investors navigating U.S. brokerage accounts, taxes, retirement plans, credit, and investing decisions.
Explore Cross-Border Guides →Visa status, tax residency, and where you live can change the answer. We explain where those differences matter.
Start with your situation
U.S. financial rules are not always the same for citizens, visa holders, students, and people living outside the United States. Choose the situation closest to yours.
I’m not a U.S. citizen
Understand brokerage eligibility, tax residency, and the documents that may matter before opening an account.
I’m an F-1 student
See how passive investing differs from employment and why tax residency still matters.
I’m leaving the U.S.
Learn what can happen to a 401(k), what choices remain, and where tax consequences can change after departure.
I received U.S. investment income
Understand W-8BEN, default withholding, and why treaty eligibility can affect the amount withheld.
I have accounts outside the U.S.
Check when FBAR can apply and how the $10,000 aggregate threshold actually works.
I’m new to the U.S. credit system
Learn how a U.S. credit file starts, what SSN or ITIN changes, and which early steps may matter most.
Free interactive tool · About 1 minute
Which brokerage account requirements match your situation?
An F-1 student with an ITIN, an H-1B worker with an SSN, and someone living outside the U.S. may need different account-opening routes. Answer six questions to see which official broker requirements to verify before applying.
- Compare U.S.-resident and international application pathways.
- Identify missing documents and questions to ask the broker.
- Get a printable checklist backed by broker-published sources.
Start the free brokerage readiness check →
Private, browser-based guidance. No SSN, ITIN number, passport number, address or name collected. Not an account-approval determination or personalized financial advice.
KoruVest documented research · Checked November 5, 2026
Broker rules change with your documents—not just your nationality
Robinhood requires an SSN. Webull explicitly lists an ITIN route and accepted visas including F-1. Firstrade lists South Korea for international applications. Our research desk shows six brokers’ published terms, the source for each statement, and the questions to confirm before applying.
Based on official published eligibility documents; not a claim of account approval or first-hand application testing. Policies may change.
Why KoruVest focuses on cross-border decisions
A rule that looks simple can produce a different result when citizenship, visa status, tax residency, or a move across borders enters the picture.
Status changes the answer
We separate immigration status, tax residency, brokerage policy, and account rules instead of treating “non-U.S. citizen” as one category.
Primary sources first
For tax, regulatory, and account rules, we prioritize sources such as the IRS, SEC, FINRA, FDIC, U.S. Treasury, SSA, and official financial-institution documents.
From rule to decision
We use examples, comparisons, and decision points to show what a rule can mean in practice—and where professional advice may still be needed.
Core cross-border guides
Start with the rules most likely to affect international investors, visa holders, and newcomers.
Free evidence-checking tool · Six questions · IRS references
Treasury interest or bank CD income? Check the evidence before assuming a tax rate.
For a global investor, U.S. federal tax residency, the type of interest payment, effectively connected income, and documents held by the payer can change what needs verification. Our six-question tool creates a practical checklist and points you to relevant IRS sources. It does not calculate your final tax or guarantee an exemption.
Educational guidance only. No name, tax ID, passport number, or account number requested. Confirm individual circumstances with the payer or a qualified tax professional.