Methods of Payment in the U.S.

cooperguy

<Edit> Sorry mods, wrong forum. I thought I was in Youth and Student Travel. Could ye delete this thread, I have reposted in the other forum. Thanks

Im heading on a J1 at the end of the month (like half of this forum:D) and I was wondering what is the best way to access my cash over there.

I have to bring ~$950 with me to prove I can support myself when entering the country. I was thinking of bringing that in cash because I dont like travellers cheques and bank statements wont do. I reckon I should burn through that fairly quickly because ill have deposits on houses and stuff to pay when I get over anyway (after I find a house of coarse). Is there a safer way of bringing that money besides travellers cheques that will satisfy airport security?

Second question is how I pay for my day to day stuff when im over there. ATM has huge charges every time I use it so that will just be for emergencies. I was thinking of using Credit Card preloaded with money but I heard you are charged a percentage when you use a credit card over there. Is that true? I didnt think you were. Has anybody any better ideas fo accessing my money without charges?

oblivious

Are you suer about the ATM rates, AIB cards are compatible with any ATM that accecpts visa abound the world. Ii have ojnly ever paid around 1.50 per transaction.

CreepingDeath

cooperguy wrote: »

I have to bring ~$950 with me to prove I can support myself when entering the country. I was thinking of bringing that in cash...

Second question is how I pay for my day to day stuff when im over there. ATM has huge charges every time I use it so that will just be for emergencies

If your bank ATM card has a chip in it, it probably will work in the States. ( mine has maestro and laser emblems on the bank card )
I had to order a new one with a chip from my Irish bank... so just drop in and confirm that with credit card & bank card both work in US.

I made sure I had set up my e-banking for my credit card and primary bank account so I could pay off the credit card online. Otherwise I'd have a lot of hassle transferring money between them. To avoid trouble I moved my credit card account to the same bank as my main bank account.

ATM charges are usually around the 1.5% mark or so... I'm just scanning through my ATM withdrawals and charges for the last few months.

Withdrew $200... charged $3
Withdrew $300... charged $3.90
Withdrew $400.. charged $5.21

But most people use credit cards for everything... bar tabs, restaurants, grocery shopping, even petrol pumps accept credit cards so no need to go into garage to pay. I don't see any separate charge for use of credit card.
Restaurants & bars even allow you to add your tips on to your bill before signing off on the tab.

I'd recommend leaving your cash in your credit card account and getting a formal printed statement showing your balance. If the immigration ask for proof of funds show them that. I wouldn't carry nearly $1000 in cash... for your own security and if I were in immigration control I'd be more suspicious of that.

Oh yeah... bring your passport with you when drinking.... they don't trust international/foreign driver licenses.
I'm thirty-mumble years old and supermarkets, pubs and even (would you believe) computer game stores demand to see proof of age.

irishpaul70

FYI - I used to live and work in the USA - so even with a US bank account and USA credit cards - in america alot of banks charge for ATM usage - only if you go back to your own bank itself and use the ATM there is there no charge.

So most ATMs are private owned (as money making tools) - a gas(petrol) station may have a ATM there - but it is owned by the Petrol station - which means you will get a 1-2 US Dollar charge by the place, then later you will get a charge from your own bank back in Ireland or even for me - by American bank account.

I still recommend you get some traveller cheques and cash them in whenyou get over there.

Paul

oblivious

irishpaul70 wrote: »

I still recommend you get some traveller cheques and cash them in whenyou get over there.

Paul

AIB aren't doing them any more or at least the local branches aren't and you have to travel into the city to get them

irishpaul70

What about the post office - thought they did them also?
Otherwise ring up America Express in Ireland - they might send you some here or to your destination - very handy to use.

Paul

dave2pvd

I'm not surprised some banks aren't issuing traveler's cheques anymore; they are practically obsolete in many places. Do not bring them to the US, you will have a very hard time cashing them. Bring a few hundred in cash and use your credit card for the balance. Find out what your credit card adds to the exchange rate (%). Some credit cards add more than others. Don't assume that you have to get a credit card from the bank that you usually bank with: shop around a bit. Keep in mind that Visa is the most universally accepted, Amex and Mastercard a little less so.