How to Transfer Money from Australia to USA
Australia to USA Guide
Summary
There are no money transfer restrictions when sending money from Australia to the US. There are many reasons for transferring money from Australia to the US; Australians relocating to the US may need to finance the move or send funds to buy a property, or support study abroad. Americans working in Australia may want to repatriate part of their salary or send money to family in the US. The Australian consulate in New York in 2010 estimated the number of Australians in the US at around 200,000, and the number of US nationals in Australia at around 99,000. Australia has the 11th largest population of Americans overseas, while the US is the second most popular destination for Australians after the UK.
Studying in the US
According to a 2014 study by the Brookings Institution, 4,877 Australians have studied at US universities between 2008-12, focusing on business, management ans marketing. In total, the report estimates that they have spent US$114.8m in tuition and US$59.3m in living costs.
Applying for a student visa in the US is relatively straightforward. Once a prospective student is admitted to an accredited institution, the school becomes the sponsoring institution. The school will send an I-20 form with which the prospective student applies for a foreign student visa through the US Embassy or consulate in their home country. A visa is awarded once the US authorities have determined that they do not pose a terrorist, health or criminal risk. Upon her arrival into the US, immigration inspectors verify the paperwork. The sponsoring school is then responsible for confirming that the foreign student is attending classes and must update the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) with any changes in enrollment status, course, or any disciplinary actions.
Finances
If moving to the US, to receive funds in the US, you will need a bank account. One of the most difficult things to deal with when moving to the US is opening a bank account as you will not have a credit history in the US. Opening a bank account before you leave Australia with an American Bank with an Australian branch is one suggestion. Some major banks in America will offer account opening assistance to Australian citizens moving as expats to the US. By contrast, opening a bank account in Australia from overseas is more straightforward and can be done in advance with many banks, even those without a presence in the US. in addition to standard ID requirements when opening bank accounts, US citizens or tax residents will have to provide their Tax Identification Number (TIN) or Social Security number.
Australian banks do not have any significant presence in the US. Several global banks such as HSBC may be the easiest way to set accounts up in both countries and to switch from Australian dollar to US dollar banking.
Obtaining a credit card in the US can be challenging, primarily because you will not have a US credit rating which anyone moving from Australia will not have. If you a fortunate to be sponsored by an Australian employer they may have a relationship with a US bank that will allow you to obtain a small limit credit card to allow you to build up your own credit. Once you have an income and credit in the US, it will put less pressure on any needs to transfer money from Australia to the US to fund your expenses and any purchases.
Importing from the US to Australia
The US and Australia have a very close trade relationship, manifest in the United States-Australia Free Trade Agreement (AUSFTA) which entered into force in January 2005. Under the AUSFTA, trade in goods and services and foreign direct investment have grown considerably, and more than 99%of US exports of consumer and industrial goods are now duty free.Australia’s imports of goods and services for the US reached US$48bn, making the Australia the US’s 13th largest export market, and the US Australia’s largest source of imports. The largest categories of imports were machinery (US$5.5bn), vehicles (US$3.5bn), electrical machinery (US$2.3bn), optic and medical instruments (US$2.2bn), aircraft (US$1.9bn), and agricultural products US$1.3bn.
Importing into Australia is usually straightforward as there is no general licence required for importing. Customs will still need to clear your goods on import, however, and it is worth speaking with an established logistics service to better understand any issues surrounding import permits, quarantine permits, safety or information standards and tax issues.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are the money transfer companies shown above safe to use?
Yes, all the companies are safe and fully-regulated money transfer services.
Each are authorised and regulated by the relevant authority such as the Financial
Conduct Authority(FCA) in the UK, FinCEN in the US, FinTRAC in Canada or ASIC in Australia.
How long does an international money transfer take?
The speed of delivery will depend on where the money is being from and to and how
you are sending and receiving the money. Transfers sent using bank to bank transfers
can depend take anywhere from minutes to days and you should check the time estimates
from the relevant provider. Debit and credit card payments sometimes allow for faster
transfers for smaller amounts.
How do I use FXcompared?
First review the comparison results (such as for a table above) for a given amount
of money sending from Australia to USA. Then select a provider based on
factors such as price, speed, their rating and click the green button to be taken to
their website. From there, you can register and sign up for an account. Once you have
done that and the provider has verified your identity to ensure the money can be send
safely, you will be ready to transfer money.
What payments methods can I use to send money overseas?
The results shown above are typically for bank to bank transfers. It is possible
via some providers to pay in your funds for the transfer via cash, debit or credit
cards as well but this is usually reserved for smaller amounts. Some providers also
give you different options for how the money will be received - to a bank account
(most common), to a debit card, to cash or to a digital or mobile wallet.
What if the price shown above isn’t exactly what I am offered when I try to transfer money?
There can be a number of reasons why the final price you are offered may be different
to that shown in the table above. Exchange rates between two currencies change all
the time and is the most common reason. Additionally, some providers offer different
pricing depending what method you are using to send funds or how the funds will be
received. Others may offer you a premium service for faster payments. In some cases
FXcompared has a special rate with a provider and this is reserved for first time
customers who sign up to the provider starting from FXcompared’s website.
As prices do change often, be sure to confirm the total cost with the provider
before transferring money.
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