How Do International Buyers Move Money Into the United States?
By JC Pacific Corp Published 2026-09-01 Last professionally reviewed: September 2026
International buyers should arrange lawful funds transfers with their banks, lender, escrow provider, tax advisers, and legal professionals before contract deadlines become urgent.
What should be confirmed?
- Sending bank requirements
- Receiving bank requirements
- Transfer limits
- Currency conversion
- Fees
- Processing time
- Source-of-funds documentation
- Beneficial ownership
- Tax reporting
- Sanctions screening
- Escrow acceptance
- Wire verification
Why can international transfers be delayed?
Banks may review:
- Large or unusual transfers
- Account ownership
- Source of wealth
- Source of funds
- Intermediary banks
- Transaction purpose
- Country-specific rules
- Name differences
- Entity or trust involvement
Frequently Asked Questions
Should transfers be divided into smaller amounts?
Never divide or structure transfers to avoid reporting or compliance review.
Can cryptocurrency be used?
Acceptance, conversion, documentation, tax, volatility, and compliance issues require specialized review.
Should funds be sent before escrow confirms instructions?
No.
Educational information
This article does not advise how to evade currency, tax, banking, sanctions, or reporting laws.
Create a written, compliant transfer timeline with both banks and escrow before removing financing or deposit protections.
Wire-fraud warning
Always verify wire instructions by telephone using a known, independently confirmed number. Never rely on email instructions alone. If you suspect fraud, contact your bank, escrow, your agent and law enforcement immediately.
Read our wire-fraud protection guideRelated guides
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The next step is a conversation with a local agent.
JC Pacific Corp is an Irvine-based Southern California brokerage helping buyers navigate offers, escrow, and financing. Tell us what you are looking for and we will point you to current options across the region.
A note on legal advice: These guides provide general, educational information about California real estate practice. They are not legal advice and do not create an attorney-client relationship. Mortgage information is general education, not individualized lending, tax or legal guidance. For advice about your specific offer, contract, closing or financing, consult a qualified California real estate attorney and a qualified mortgage professional.
A note on these international-buyer guides: These articles provide general, educational information about buying California real estate as an international buyer. They are not legal, immigration, tax, lending, banking, currency, or financial advice. Property ownership, citizenship, immigration status, tax residency, financing, and physical occupancy are separate concepts and should be planned with the appropriate professionals. No article guarantees financing, an ITIN, a bank account, a funds transfer, a closing, tax treatment, or reporting compliance, and none should be read as advice to divide, disguise, or structure transactions to avoid lawful reporting or review. Verify current IRS, California Franchise Tax Board, FinCEN, OFAC, and CFIUS rules with qualified advisers for the transaction date. Buyers purchasing remotely or from outside the United States can request brokerage assistance in English, Simplified Chinese, and Traditional Chinese.