Renting Catch-22 Help!

I'm going to be moving to NYC in mid-June. I'm planning to go there for a few days in the beginning of June to check out some apartments. I'm sure someone here has had experience with this and would appreciate any help possible!

1. In the beginning of June, I will be going to the States as a visitor as I don't yet have my TN Visa, unless I get all the paper work before then, but I will be leaving the USA after a few days before I return to in mid-June, would that be okay?

2. Assuming that I do not yet have my TN Visa/US address, I don't think I will be able to open a US bank account without any American documentation. If I don't have a bank account, how will I be able to pay for rent (or even have the landlord consider me as a possible tenant) so that I can have an address?

3. Not related to rentals, but... I will not have medical coverage from my new job until July 1, 2010. So can/should I buy travel insurance until that time?

TIA!

Typically, you will need your SSN before getting bank account (you could try to set one up with a major chain at locla branch just south of the border -- they will sometimes deal more favourably with Cdns without SSN.

Your SSN will only come after you've got your TN and submitted SSN form and wited 3-4 weeks. You will have started work already. So if the bank doesn't wnat to give you an account before you get your SSN, getting your TN early or not will not assist you in getting an account.

As to dealing with landlord, you'll simply have to explain yourself. Typically, a new hire, especially one brought from another country, gets a relocation package, which includes several weeks of temporary housing provided by the company, moving expenses, etc. Did you not negociate this, as a professional?

Typically, a new hire, especially one brought from another country, gets a relocation package, which includes several weeks of temporary housing provided by the company, moving expenses, etc. Did you not negociate this, as a professional?

I tried and they were unwilling to offer one. This is a great opportunity for me so I was willing to take it without a package. It is unfortunate that they didn't offer one, but that is a fact.

Thanks for the info about the bank... and I hope the landlord will accept a bank draft from my Cdn bank.

Be warned that it is not only checks that are difficult in US. ALL landlords will runs a credit check on you -- which you will automatically fail because you have no credit history.

Same for phone, utilities, etc.

We found our place online before heading to the US - most apartments had extra forms to fill out if you're from overseas without any credit in the US - the place we chose didn't have extra forms - just a w8 I think it's called that's basically declaring you don't have a SSN. I just sent them a copy of my Canadian bank account balance with the application and the job offer letter stating my income.
I opened a bank account a couple days after arriving - again filling out a w8 form and didn't give them my SSN until I was having problems doing online bill payment as they needed it to give me access to those functions.
So definitely possible..

Yes and to add to that, I have some folk over in NY who were able to secure a place when asked for recent pay stubs. One friend is on an "O" visa and the other is on a TN. Both were able to get a place within a month of moving there. I know some landlords do credit checks for security reasons but for the most part many of them are content with knowing you are employed full-time.

Here I go again biting the dust..

Thanks guys, for the info!

And to anyone who is interested, I went over to RBC today and opened an RBC Centura account, which I believe is the US equivalent of RBC. I'm going to be mailed a US debit card as well as cheques (checks ). I know there aren't any RBC Centura branches in NY, but I can do 2 free withdrawls from any bank a month, and now at least I can write cheques if needed.

Nub4life: Just wanted to say Congrats on being so resourceful! As I love to say, moving to the US isn't for the faint of heart, but you're already on the right track. So many move and expect to be treated the same as back home in Canada and when you dont have a SSN and US credit history, it ain't exactly the way it goes at first

However, you're well on your way to figuring things out and making it work. It's nice to see that.

Best of luck to you, something tells me you will do just fine

I just was in the same boat... The US bank account really only requires US address (I used an inviting company address), no SSN was required. I had no problem opening bank account at Bank of America.

I just rented a place and they ran credit check on me and were able to pull my Canadian score with no problems. All I had to add is my most recent paystub. As far as for payments, then they didn't even need a bank account, but cashier cheque, which can be done by bringing the cash into any branch.

Good luck!