Living in the US on a work visa does not automatically exclude you from investing in stocks and ETFs. However, brokerage eligibility depends on your actual residence, identity documents, tax information and the firm’s policies. Opening an investment account is a separate question from immigration permission to work.
Comparing the three brokers
- Fidelity — Starting point: Investigate a US brokerage account if you live in the US. What to confirm before applying: Ask what documentation it requires for your citizenship, US residence and tax status, and whether your intended account supports that status. Its overseas-resident policies impose separate restrictions.
- Charles Schwab — Starting point: Use the application appropriate to your country of residence. What to confirm before applying: Confirm US-resident onboarding requirements. Schwab also has an international route for residents of qualifying countries, with different documentation and conditions.
- Robinhood — Starting point: Its US eligibility page explicitly includes people with a valid US visa. What to confirm before applying: It requires age 18+, a valid SSN rather than an ITIN, and an eligible legal US residential address. Additional verification and jurisdiction restrictions can apply.
Do not use a relative’s US address to appear eligible. A mailing address is not necessarily an acceptable residential address. If an application fails automated verification, contact the broker through its official support channel rather than repeatedly changing truthful information.
Prepare an application folder
Keep your passport, requested visa or status documents, US address evidence, tax ID and a bank statement available. The broker may also ask about employment, income, investment experience, source of funds and tax residence outside the US. Provide consistent legal names across records.
Ask about account minimums, trading charges, fund expenses, transfer-out charges and access to customer support. A zero commission on some trades does not mean every investment or account service is free. Margin, options and securities lending involve additional risks and agreements; they are not necessary to start a basic investment plan.
Get tax certification right
Immigration status and income-tax residence are different systems. A work-visa holder may become a US tax resident under the substantial-presence rules. Certain students have special day-counting rules. US persons generally certify with Form W-9; eligible foreign persons generally use Form W-8BEN or the appropriate alternative. Do not choose a form solely because you hold a passport issued in India.
Keep dividend, interest, sale and cost-basis records. Treaty treatment, withholding and reporting depend on your facts. An SSN does not by itself determine tax residence. Ask a qualified adviser if you have an arrival-year, departure-year or dual-residence issue.
Build a plan before placing trades
Separate emergency cash and upcoming tuition, rent or relocation money from long-term investments. Stock prices can fall substantially when you need the funds. Broad diversification can reduce concentration risk, but an ETF can still lose value; read its holdings, objective and expense ratio.
For example, someone who needs $8,000 for a move next spring should evaluate that near-term obligation separately from money intended for retirement decades away. This is a planning example, not a recommended allocation.
SIPC protection concerns missing customer assets when a member brokerage fails, subject to its rules and limits. It does not reimburse market losses or make an investment safe.
Plan for a return to India
Before moving, ask each broker whether you may retain the account, purchase additional investments, hold mutual funds, use an adviser and update your tax certification from India. Permission to keep an existing account does not necessarily include permission to keep buying every product. Save written answers and plan any eligible transfer before your address changes.
Frequently asked questions
Can an H-1B holder use Robinhood? Its published requirements allow valid US visa holders who meet its other conditions; approval remains subject to verification.
Does investing allow me to earn money from a side business? A brokerage account does not grant employment authorization. Obtain immigration advice before providing paid services or operating a business.
Sources and further reading
- Robinhood US requirements
- Fidelity overseas-resident policies
- Schwab account options
- Schwab international application guide
- IRS tax guide for aliens
- What SIPC protects
Reviewed October 12, 2026. This guide is educational; provider terms and applicable rules can change.