Couldn’t have said it better. The brand name on the sign means next to nothing if the loan officer on the other side of the desk hasn’t seen an H1B before. I’ve watched deals fall apart because someone in underwriting got spooked by a visa, or just plain didn’t understand the paperwork. And yeah, sometimes the “big guys” are just as clueless as the little shops—maybe even more so, because you get lost in the shuffle.
Honestly, I think people underestimate how much power you have as a borrower. You can (and should) grill your lender. Ask them if they’ve closed loans for H1B holders. Ask for specifics. If they hesitate or give you some vague answer, that’s your red flag right there. I’ve seen buyers get so frustrated bouncing between banks, just because nobody on the team knew how to handle the visa side of things. It’s not rocket science, but you need someone who’s actually done it.
One thing I will say, though—sometimes the smaller, local lenders can surprise you. I’ve worked with a few who really knew their stuff, probably because they’re used to working with a diverse client base. They don’t have the same rigid playbook as the national banks, so they’re more flexible. But again, it all comes down to the individual, not the logo.
Don’t let anyone make you feel like you’re asking for too much by wanting someone experienced. You’re about to take on a massive financial commitment. You deserve someone who’s not learning on the job with your file. Trust your gut. If something feels off, move on. There are lenders out there who know how to get it done—just gotta find the right one.
I get what you’re saying about the smaller lenders sometimes being more flexible, but honestly, that’s where I get a little nervous. I’ve heard stories where local lenders seemed super confident at first, but then got tripped up when it came to actually dealing with the visa paperwork. Like, they wanted to help, but didn’t really have a process for it, and it ended up dragging out for weeks. I guess I just worry that with a smaller shop, there’s less oversight if things go sideways.
I know the big banks can be a pain and you can get lost in the shuffle, but at least there’s usually a set process for “non-traditional” situations, even if it’s slow. Maybe it’s just my risk-averse brain, but I’d rather have someone who’s done it a hundred times, even if the experience is less personal. The idea of being the “test case” for a lender makes me break out in a cold sweat, honestly.
I totally agree about asking a million questions, though. If they can’t give you a straight answer, that’s a dealbreaker for me too.
I totally get where you’re coming from. That “test case” feeling is so real—nobody wants to be the guinea pig, especially when it comes to something as big as a mortgage. It’s weird, though, because sometimes those smaller lenders are the only ones even willing to try with H1B paperwork, but then you’re stuck crossing your fingers that they actually know what they’re doing.
Have you ever tried asking up front how many H1B cases they’ve handled? I feel like a lot of lenders will say “oh yeah, we do that,” but then when you press for details, they get all vague about it. I’ve found that if they can’t rattle off exactly what documents they need or how long it’ll take, that’s usually a red flag.
I’m curious if anyone’s found a lender (big or small) that actually has a checklist for visa holders? It seems like every time I talk to someone new, there’s some random extra thing I need to dig up. Makes me wonder if any of them have a real process or if it’s just winging it every time...
It seems like every time I talk to someone new, there’s some random extra thing I need to dig up. Makes me wonder if any of them have a real process or if it’s just winging it every time...
You nailed it with that one. I swear, the first time I tried to get a mortgage on H1B, I felt like I was on some weird scavenger hunt—“Find your original I-94, three years of pay stubs, and a lock of hair from your first boss.” Half the time, the loan officer would act like they’d never even heard of a visa before.
I do think you’re onto something with pressing them for specifics. If they can’t give you a straight answer, it’s probably because they’re Googling it as you talk. I had better luck with a credit union, oddly enough. They had a checklist (not perfect, but at least it existed), and they didn’t treat me like an alien from Mars.
Hang in there. It’s a pain, but once you find someone who actually knows what they’re doing, it gets way less stressful. And hey, at least you’ll have a killer file folder system by the end of it...
Honestly, I get where you’re coming from, but I actually had a smoother time with a big-name lender than with my local credit union. Maybe it’s just luck of the draw, but the bigger place had a dedicated “foreign national” team and seemed to know the drill. The checklist was long, sure, but at least they didn’t act surprised by my visa. I do wonder if it’s more about the individual loan officer than the institution sometimes... Some folks just seem more on top of it, you know?
