Open an account in Ameritrade

**yppsilence** Mon Jun 27, 2005 4:16 pm

Open an account in Ameritrade
My friend recommendates Ameritrade to me. Is it good?
Just now when I opened account there, I put my status as forign student.
Finally, I was asked to submit W8BEN-Sign form, copy of current passpart, signed letter of US address or US employer address.
It's complex. Does blastinvestor know some other brokers without these
mess? Thank you.

**blast_investor** Mon Jun 27, 2005 5:22 pm

This is standard process.

If you are foreign student living in USA, you should have social security number and you do not need to file W-8BEN. If you do not have social security number, then you need to file W-8BEN. Nowadays because of 911, I suspect many brokers will require similiar stuff for W-8BEN filers.

If you are foreign person mostly living outside USA, then you need to file W-8BEN form, and you do not need a social security number.