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The short answer
Most F-1 students can open a US account without an SSN. Federal rules let a bank use your passport number and country for a non-US person. Banks typically ask for your Nigerian passport, F-1 visa, I-20, I-94 and a US address, often your campus housing. You can only get an SSN if you have work authorisation such as an on-campus job, and an ITIN is for tax filing, not banking.
What banks ask F-1 students for
The federal customer identification rule (31 CFR 1020.220) sets the minimum: name, date of birth, residential street address and an ID number. For a non-US person the ID number can be a passport number with country of issue. On top of that, banks near campuses usually ask for:
| Document | Why |
|---|---|
| Nigerian passport | Primary ID and ID number. |
| F-1 visa and I-94 | Show your status and entry. |
| Form I-20 | Shows your school and programme; some banks also ask for a student ID. |
| US address | Campus housing letter, lease or school letter; a PO box will not do. |
| Opening deposit | Varies by account. |
If a branch insists on an SSN, ask whether it is policy or just that staff member, and ask the international student office which banks students use. Many schools keep a list.
Do F-1 students need an SSN?
Not to bank, in most cases. The SSA says it generally issues SSNs only to noncitizens with DHS work authorisation. F-1 students qualify when they have a job, such as approved on-campus work, and must bring the I-20 or a letter from the school's designated school official (DSO) along with the passport and I-94. The card is free. Without work authorisation there is no SSN, and the bank uses your passport number. See when F-1 students qualify for an SSN.
ITIN is not a banking number
The IRS describes the ITIN as a nine-digit number for federal tax purposes, for people who need a taxpayer number but cannot get an SSN. It does not authorise work and is not ID outside the tax system. You apply on Form W-7, normally attached to a tax return, and processing takes about 7 weeks, or 9 to 11 weeks in peak season or from abroad. Apply only if you have a tax reason, such as a scholarship that needs reporting.
Bringing tuition and living money from Nigeria
Your visa was issued on evidence of funding. The State Department's rules for F-1 visas (9 FAM 402.5) ask for readily available funds for all first-year expenses, and note that consular officers should consider transfer restrictions on funds held abroad. In practice:
- Have a parent or sponsor wire tuition straight to the school, using its international payment instructions, where possible.
- Send living money to your own US account by wire from a Nigerian domiciliary account, and keep the confirmation.
- Avoid carrying large sums in cash. More than $10,000 in currency or monetary instruments in total must be declared on entry.
- Keep a simple record of who sent what, and when. Your school may ask for proof of continued funding.
Your tax position as a student
IRS Publication 519 treats F-1 students as "exempt individuals" for the substantial presence test, so their days usually do not count towards US tax residency. That stops once they have been exempt as students for any part of more than five calendar years, unless they can show they do not intend to live in the US permanently. Exempt students file Form 8843, due by the Form 1040-NR due date. Tell your bank you are a nonresident for tax so its records match. This is information, not tax advice; check with your school's tax resource.
Choosing the account
Student checking accounts often waive monthly fees while you are enrolled. Ask how long that lasts and what happens when you graduate or move to OPT. Check whether there is a branch or fee-free ATM on campus, whether you can receive an international wire and what it costs, and whether the debit card charges a foreign transaction fee when you travel home. If you plan to work on campus, set up direct deposit as soon as you have your SSN.
Getting started on credit
A student account does not build credit. A secured card, often with a deposit of about $50 to $300 according to the CFPB, is the usual first step, paid in full every month. Health insurance is another early cost. See health insurance for F-1 students.
Before you graduate, update the bank if your status changes to OPT, H-1B or another visa, and give it any new SSN or address. Accounts with out-of-date documents are more likely to be reviewed or restricted.
Where Pryme fits
Parents can manage the Nigerian side of school costs from a Pryme multicurrency account, which holds naira and dollars with local account details for each, and convert with Swap, which shows the rate and fee before they approve. Students can open a Personal Account from the US as well. Pryme is not a US bank, so keep a local checking account for campus life.
Questions people ask
Can I open a bank account in the US on an F-1 visa without an SSN?
Usually yes. Federal rules let banks use your passport number for a non-US person, and many banks near campuses open student accounts with a passport, I-20, I-94 and a US address.
When can an F-1 student get an SSN?
When you have work authorisation, such as an approved on-campus job. Bring your passport, I-94 and I-20 or a DSO letter to the SSA. The card is free.
Should F-1 students apply for an ITIN to open a bank account?
No. An ITIN is for federal tax filing only. Apply on Form W-7 only if you have a tax reason.
How should my parents send tuition from Nigeria?
Ideally by wire straight to the school using its international payment instructions. Send living costs by wire to your own US account and keep the records.
Sources
- eCFR: 31 CFR 1020.220, Customer identification programs for banks · accessed Oct 2026
- SSA: Social Security numbers for noncitizens (Publication 05-10096, Feb 2026) · accessed Oct 2026
- IRS: Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) · accessed Oct 2026
- US Department of State: 9 FAM 402.5, Students and exchange visitors · accessed Oct 2026
- IRS: Publication 519, US tax guide for aliens · accessed Oct 2026
- CFPB: Checklist for building credit when credit invisible (Dec 2016) · accessed Oct 2026
- FinCEN: Form 105, Report of international transportation of currency or monetary instruments (rev. Jul 2017) · accessed Oct 2026
This article is general information, not financial, legal or tax advice. Products described are provided under the terms on this site and are subject to regulation and eligibility.