Yes, this is one of the official ways to get an ITIN. For a deeper information, you can look here How do I apply for an ITIN? | Internal Revenue Service and consequently here Acceptance Agent Program | Internal Revenue Service.
Do you mean an account with a neobank/an EMI or with a brick-and-mortar bank? If the former, then yes ”“ on condition that you qualify in general. If the latter, then very probably no ”“ the vast majority (if not all) of brick-and-mortar bank requires a personal visit to onboard a non-resident. TBMK.
No, SSN does not matter, AFAIK. What matters is your residency status and US address.
Does it mean that you did not need your ITIN or SSN??
I would prefer a solid Chase or Bank of America. But even an EMI would be OK (as long as they don't disappear).
I am not much oriented re: personal US EMI accounts, sorry. However you can take a look at the discussions here US neo-banks List [For Non-Residents LLCs] and here Mercury, TryNovel, or something else?. It concerns accounts for LLCs but possibly (at least some of) these EMIs offer personal accounts, too.
? So what?
Honestly, I have no current experience with BofA. But from I have heard recently, if they agree to onboard you remotely as a non-resident (what I would not expect but good luck!) then they probably will not ask for more. Of course compliance generally can ask for anything; but in BofA they were not used to mimic the monkeys e.g. in european banks.
Do you have any personal experience with this, or have you witnessed it? If so, would you mind sharing some details?
W8-BEN is, actually, unrelated to the problem discussed. This form can be, under some circumstances, filled in without having a SSN/ an ITIN (check here About Form W-8 BEN, Certificate of Foreign Status of Beneficial Owner for United States Tax Withholding and Reporting (Individuals) | Internal Revenue Service).
Yes, I agree. (Perhaps not with all and not in any branch, IMO ”“ but it's just a detail...)
Well, yes. Thanks for sharing.
I recommend using an address in the US as you will have more options. Truist, Capital One, Bank of America, Chase, Citi may all work. Just try using their website it app.
