- 1). Take the check to your bank. The policy for each bank is different with regard to foreign checks, so be sure to ask your teller for an estimate on how long the check will take to clear. For example, Wells Fargo bank, according to Bankrate.com, tells customers that a foreign check can take three to eight weeks to clear.
- 2). Fill out the paperwork necessary with your bank. They will give you a form to fill out which you will need to sign in order that they can begin clearing the check. The purpose of the form is to give permission for them to take longer than usual to clear the check.
- 3). Give the bank the completed form and check. The bank will start the clearing process by sending the check to their international office, who will contact their branch in the country in question, where the check will be cleared. Smaller banks will either contact their sister branch in the country in question to validate the check, or if they have no sister branch, will directly contact the bank which issued the check.
- 4). Contact your bank if you have waited longer than eight weeks as the check may have been lost in transit. If your bank takes a long time and you are inconvenienced, speak to the bank and ask that they pay any fees you incur, such as fees for becoming overdrawn. Explain to them that they have exceeded their pre-arranged period of time. According to BankRate.com, tax blogger Eva Rosenberg became overdrawn on her checks due to her bank, Wells Fargo, taking longer than stated to clear her foreign check. Rosenberg, who blogs as TaxMama, contacted Wells Fargo who agree to reverse her bounced check fees.
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