Yeah, the “scavenger hunt” analogy is spot on. I’ve bought a few properties while juggling a work visa myself, and honestly, it’s a whole different ballgame compared to my citizen friends. Here’s what I’ve noticed:
- Paperwork mountain: If you think regular mortgage docs are bad, try adding foreign bank statements and visa renewals to the pile. I swear, one lender asked for a letter from my employer *and* a copy of the HR rep’s ID. Like, what?
- Underwriters aren’t just being difficult (most of the time). They’re basically terrified of missing something compliance-wise. The random requests usually make sense if you dig into federal lending rules... but man, it feels arbitrary in the moment.
- Prepping ahead helps, but sometimes you just can’t predict what curveball they’ll throw. Last year, I got tripped up because my overseas account statements weren’t translated—never even crossed my mind that would be an issue until they flagged it.
- Credit unions do seem more flexible on the surface, but they’re still tied up in red tape. I had better luck with a local CU once, but mostly because their loan officer was willing to walk me through every step and explain what they needed (and why).
I do wonder sometimes if there’s room for lenders to streamline this process for H1B folks. Feels like there should be a checklist or something—like, “here’s your non-citizen mortgage starter pack.” Instead it’s more like, “Surprise! We need your kindergarten report card and a blood sample.”
Anyway, I guess my main takeaway is: expect weird requests, keep your docs organized, and don’t panic when they ask for something that sounds nuts. It’s annoying but not impossible... just takes patience (and maybe a sense of humor).
“Surprise! We need your kindergarten report card and a blood sample.”
That line cracked me up because it’s honestly not that far off. I remember being asked for a “proof of continued employment” letter... while I was literally on vacation, with my boss out of office too. The hoops are real, but yeah, keeping your sense of humor (and maybe a portable scanner) helps. I do wish lenders would just admit half the stuff is CYA paperwork rather than pretending it’s all necessary.
That “proof of continued employment” thing is wild. I’ve had buyers get tripped up by that exact request—one guy was literally at his sister’s wedding overseas, and the lender wanted a fresh letter on company letterhead, signed, within 48 hours. It’s like they’re testing your ability to jump through flaming hoops while blindfolded.
I get why lenders are cautious, but sometimes it feels like they’re just covering their bases in case anything goes sideways. The paperwork stack gets ridiculous, especially for H1B folks. I’ve seen requests for visa renewal receipts, pay stubs from three jobs ago, even a letter explaining a $200 deposit from six months back. It’s not always logical.
Honestly, I tell people to expect a scavenger hunt and keep digital copies of everything. It’s not fun, but it beats scrambling last minute. Still, I wish there was a bit more transparency about what’s actually required versus what’s just “because we said so.”
Proof of employment requests can get downright bizarre. Had a client last year—H1B, super organized, had every document you could imagine. We were cruising along until the underwriter wanted a letter from his manager confirming he’d still be employed after closing... but the manager was on paternity leave in another country. The poor guy spent two days tracking down HR, then the HR person needed “manager approval” to issue the letter. It was like a sitcom.
I get that lenders want to minimize risk, especially with non-citizen borrowers, but sometimes it really does feel like they’re just making you prove you exist over and over. The kicker is, half the time, no one can explain why they need a specific document—they just say it’s “required for compliance.” I always tell folks: if you think you might need it, save it. Screenshot your paystubs, download everything, keep a folder ready. It’s not perfect, but it saves a lot of headaches later. Still, I wish the process made more sense... or at least came with a checklist that didn’t change every week.
