Yes—you can seek a U.S. brokerage account without signing a W-9 while you are a tax nonresident; Interactive Brokers describes a W-8 route for F-1 students, but your actual days here determine whether you need its alternative documentation process.

All non-US persons and entities are required to complete an IRS Form W-8 to certify your country of tax residence and to establish whether you qualify for a reduced rate of withholding when opening an account.

If you are a student in the US who is not a US Citizen or green card holder on an F-1 Visa even though you are considered a US Resident.

Who Must Provide Form W-8BEN

You must give Form W-8BEN to the withholding agent or payer if you are a nonresident alien who is the beneficial owner of an amount subject to withholding, or if you are an account holder of an FFI documenting yourself as a nonresident alien.

Purpose of Form

Use Form W-9 only if you are a U.S. person (including a resident alien), to provide your correct TIN.

Part III

For broker transactions or barter exchanges, the beneficial owner is an exempt foreign person as defined in the instructions.

(g)(1)(i)

For purposes of this paragraph (g)(1)(i), a broker that is required to obtain, or chooses to obtain, a beneficial owner withholding certificate described in § 1.1441-1(e)(2)(i) from an individual may rely on the withholding certificate only to the extent the certificate includes a certification that the beneficial owner has not been, and at the time the certificate is furnished, reasonably expects not to be present in the United States for a period aggregating 183 days or more during each calendar year to which the certificate pertains.

(g)(1)(i)

The certification is not required if a broker receives documentary evidence under § 1.6049-5(c)(1) or (4) .

A flat tax of 30 percent (or lower treaty) rate is imposed on U.S. source capital gains in the hands of nonresident individuals present in the U.S. for 183 days or more during the taxable year. This 183-day rule bears no relation to the 183-day rule under the substantial presence test of Internal Revenue Code (IRC) 7701(b)(3).

Line 5

If you have a social security number (SSN), enter it here.

Line 3

If you do not have a tax residence in any country, your permanent residence is where you normally reside.

Change in circumstances

You must notify the withholding agent, payer, or FFI within 30 days of becoming a U.S. citizen or resident alien.

You will not be an exempt individual as a student if you have been exempt as a teacher, trainee, student, Exchange Visitor, or Cultural Exchange Visitor on an "F, " "J, " "M, " or "Q " visa for any part of more than 5 calendar years, unless you establish to the satisfaction of the IRS that you do not intend to reside permanently in the United States, and you have substantially complied with the requirements of your nonimmigrant status.