Yeah, I’ve run into this a few times myself. Even though FHA technically allows non-permanent residents with valid work visas, the reality is a lot of lenders just don’t want to deal with the extra paperwork or perceived risk. It’s not always about your credit score or down payment—sometimes it’s just about how much hassle the underwriter wants. I’ve seen solid buyers get turned away for no good reason. If you’re set on FHA, be ready to shop around and maybe even nudge your loan officer to actually read their own guidelines... some of them honestly haven’t.
Yeah, that’s been my experience too. I thought as long as you had the right visa and paperwork, it’d be straightforward, but turns out it’s way more about the lender’s mood or how much extra work they want to do. It’s honestly kind of frustrating. Did you ever find a lender who actually followed the FHA rules, or did you end up switching to a different loan type? I’m still hoping persistence pays off...
I thought as long as you had the right visa and paperwork, it’d be straightforward, but turns out it’s way more about the lender’s mood or how much extra work they want to do.
That’s interesting, because I’ve actually seen some lenders stick pretty closely to FHA guidelines, even when it means a bit more paperwork for them. Are you sure it’s just about their “mood,” or could it be their internal risk policies? Sometimes, even if FHA says yes, the lender’s own overlays make things trickier. Did you try a credit union or a smaller local bank? In my experience, they’re sometimes more flexible than the big national guys.
Also, did you run into any issues with the employment verification part? I’ve noticed that’s where a lot of non-permanent residents get tripped up, even if their visa is totally fine. Just curious if that was a sticking point for you too, or if it was something else. I wonder if persistence really does pay off, or if it’s more about finding the right lender who actually wants your business.
Honestly, I see this all the time—FHA says “go for it,” but then the lender’s internal rules (those overlays you mentioned) throw a wrench in things. It’s less about someone having a bad day, more about them being super cautious or just not wanting to deal with extra steps. Some banks just aren’t interested in the paperwork, especially if your situation isn’t cookie-cutter.
- Credit unions and smaller banks? Yeah, sometimes they’ll bend over backwards, but it really depends who you get on the phone. I’ve seen both ends: one CU that was all-in for a client with a work visa, another that flat-out said “no” before even looking at docs.
- Employment verification is a beast. Even with perfect paperwork, HR departments can be slow or weird about confirming stuff. Had one case where it took three weeks just to get a basic letter. That can make lenders itchy.
Persistence helps, but honestly, finding that lender who’s actually motivated to work with you makes all the difference. Not always easy, but totally worth shopping around...
Persistence helps, but honestly, finding that lender who’s actually motivated to work with you makes all the difference. Not always easy, but totally worth shopping around...
That’s what I keep hearing—shop around, but it’s honestly kind of exhausting when you’re already juggling paperwork and trying to keep your credit in check. I get why lenders want to be careful, but sometimes it feels like they’re just looking for a reason to say no if your situation isn’t 100% standard.
I’m curious if anyone’s actually had luck with online lenders for this? I’ve seen some people say they’re more flexible, but then others warn they can be even pickier about documentation. I’m on a tight budget, so I don’t want to waste time (or money) chasing dead ends.
Also, about the employment verification thing—has anyone tried using those third-party services that verify employment instantly? Do lenders even accept those, or do they still insist on talking to HR directly? I had a friend who got stuck in limbo for weeks because her HR department was short-staffed and just kept “losing” the request. Not sure if that’s common or just bad luck.
It’s wild how much depends on who picks up the phone or which underwriter you get. Makes me wonder if there’s any way to know ahead of time which lenders are actually open to working with non-permanent residents, or if it’s just trial and error every time.
