u/Brando_Yin

Let me give you an update on my Fidelity account situation:

1. Two weeks ago, I opened a brokerage account and a Cash Management Account (CMA).
2. At that time, I called Fidelity's customer service to inform them of my NRA (Non-Resident Alien) status.
3. Following that, I sent an internal message requesting to close the accounts. The next day, customer service replied confirming that both accounts had been closed.
4. However, a week ago, they emailed me asking for my passport information, which I provided. Then, five days ago, I received a notification saying my accounts were ready to use again.

I was still a bit skeptical, so I contacted online support, and they confirmed my accounts are active and normal. When I asked if I could submit my W-8BEN form, they said yes, so I went ahead and submitted it.

I'm still waiting for a notification from the system—either to verify my information or to close the account again. Any other NRAs out there who opened a Fidelity account? I’d love to hear about your experiences and any issues you've run into.

Three days ago, I accessed the Fidelity platform via a VPN and opened a brokerage account and a Cash Management Account (CMA) using my passport and ITIN (which I entered in the SSN field). Shortly after opening them, I realized this might cause issues, as I do not live or work in the U.S., but the system identified me as a U.S. resident, which would subject my accounts to a Form W-9.

I called their customer service, and the representative confirmed that my current situation does not qualify me to open these accounts. However, due to the holidays, I was told I needed to wait for the back-office team to process the case.

Today, I received an email and text message from Fidelity stating that my accounts have been frozen and that I need to wait for further instructions. How should I handle this? Should I just give up and wait for the accounts to be closed, or should I contact customer service to see if there are any specific documents I can provide to keep the accounts active?

Thank God! My new Capital One card works beautifully, and making payments has been incredibly smooth. In just two short weeks, I believe I’ve used it over a hundred times—mostly for small transactions, of course, like buying everyday items or groceries.

I’m planning to request a product change to a no-annual-fee version when I get closer to the one-year mark. I really enjoy using this card, especially since there are no transaction fees. I’m just not quite sure how the exchange rate compares yet.

As for the payments, everything has been hassle-free. Today, Capital One even enabled virtual cards for me, which are incredibly useful. I’ve already linked them to pay my mailbox and PayGo bills—such a great experience.

Another great thing is that I've always used my local IP without relying on a VPN to spoof a US environment, and Capital One has been exceptionally customer-friendly. I really hope this continues.

I’m genuinely considering applying for a Capital One checking account now. I’m a bit worried it might be difficult to get approved, but I’m hoping for the best!

Praise God! Today I finally received my Capital One QuickSilver One card from the U.S. The only slight downside is the $39 annual fee, but everything else has been a blessing. I activated the card via phone and made six small purchases today—all went through smoothly using my local IP address.

Initially, the 'Online Access' feature was locked. I called customer service this afternoon and had a very pleasant conversation. I told the representative I was currently on an 'overseas business trip,' and during our talk, she enabled my access. Now I can log in perfectly on both mobile and PC using my local IP. It’s been an amazing experience. > No VPN, no dedicated static U.S. IP—just being myself, and it worked! It’s been a miraculous day. I also linked my HSBC US checking account for payments; surprisingly, it was verified instantly without extra steps. I can hardly believe how smooth this has been. At least for Capital One, I don’t think I’ll be worrying about IP addresses anymore. If you have any more tips or experiences to share, I’d love to hear them. Thank you!

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I requested the IRS to resend my CP565 notice to my U.S. address. Can this letter be used as Proof of Address (POA) for future credit card or savings account applications? Also, I'm curious if this document serves any other important purposes? I’d appreciate any insights.

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Super excited that I’ll be receiving my Capital One card tomorrow! However, I’m quite nervous about the initial activation and usage. As some of you may know, I’m currently not using a U.S. IP address. I usually have to use a VPN to top up my T-Mobile card or pay for my Anytime Mailbox, but I’m worried that using a VPN IP to log into the Capital One app might trigger their fraud detection right away.

My biggest fear is having the card shut down or restricted immediately after activation. Most of my spending will be in Beijing, linked to my Alipay for QR codes and online payments. I know some people suggest renting a dedicated residential static U.S. IP, but that seems like a lot of hassle and I’d prefer to avoid it.

Has anyone had experience with this? If I use a VPN (U.S. node) to switch my T-Mobile and mailbox payments to this new C1 card, will it go through smoothly? I’d love to hear some advice from fellow 'global' users to avoid a disastrous start.

Praise God! My first package from the U.S. is officially on its way.

A huge thanks to the friend who recommended Pirate Ship. I managed to get a shipping label for less than $30 to send my mail from Oregon all the way to Beijing. For UPS, I’d say this price is incredibly 'wallet-friendly,' wouldn’t you?

I’m also very grateful to my Anytime Mailbox operator. They were kind enough to accept my own shipping label and only charged a $2.00 handling fee for the consolidation. In total, I spent less than $32 to express-mail three letters to my home in China.

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These three letters mean the world to me: one is the IRS CP565 notice sent to my U.S. address, confirming my ITIN—the very first step in building my U.S. credit. The other two are my Capital One credit card and its activation materials.

Are there any other shipping platforms that offer even better value or steeper discounts? Please let me know! Currently, my U.S. forwarding address only accepts UPS, FedEx, DHL, and USPS. Perhaps my options are a bit limited?

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