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J-1 visa holder without SSN/ITIN — seller verification still pending after more than a month
Summary: treasure-888 is facing an issue with eBay's seller verification process as a J-1 visa holder without an SSN or ITIN. They submitted the required W-8BEN form and supporting documents over a month ago but have not received any updates. selforfun advised focusing on getting a status update on the existing verification case and suggested contacting eBay through their help section or social media for clarification on the case status and correct account classification. They also recommended not changing tax information or creating a new account while the review is pending.
Hi everyone,
I’m hoping someone here has experienced a similar seller verification issue and can offer some advice.
I am a Chinese citizen currently staying in the U.S. temporarily as a J-1 Exchange Visitor/visiting scholar. I recently sold an item on eBay, but eBay asked me to provide an SSN or ITIN before I could receive my payout. I do not have either an SSN or ITIN.
I contacted eBay customer service and was told that, as a foreign individual, I could complete the verification process by submitting Form W-8BEN together with supporting documents and a written explanation of my foreign status. I followed their instructions and submitted my W-8BEN, government ID, foreign tax identification information, and an explanation of why I currently have a U.S. address and phone number.
I have contacted eBay customer service several times since then. On July 21, an agent told me that my case had been forwarded to the backend identity verification team on a priority basis and that I should expect an update within about 7–14 days.
It has now been more than a month since that conversation, and my account is still not verified. I have received no further update, and the money from my completed sale is still unavailable for withdrawal.
Has anyone here gone through seller verification as a J-1, F-1, or other non-U.S. visa holder without an SSN/ITIN?
In particular, I would really appreciate any advice on:
How long W-8BEN/manual verification normally takes;
Whether there is a specific eBay department or online contact method for this type of verification;
Whether there is a way to request a manual review or escalation when the stated processing time has already passed; and
What else I can do if regular customer service keeps telling me that the backend team is working on the case.
I would strongly prefer an online/chat-based solution rather than a phone call.
Thank you very much for any advice or similar experiences you can share.
jacbarcollectibles
Mentor1 week agoLooking up a J-1 visa it appears you ae not allowed to earn any income outside of your sponsored employer without express permission from the US government.
selforfun
Mentor1 week agoHi @treasure-888 ,
It sounds like you have already followed the instructions eBay gave you and submitted the requested W-8BEN and supporting documents. Since the case was escalated on July 21 with an estimated 7–14 day review and more than a month has now passed, I would concentrate on getting a status update on that existing verification case rather than submitting different information or starting over.
One thing I would specifically ask eBay to confirm is whether your seller account is classified correctly for your situation: you are temporarily in the U.S. on a J-1 visa, have a U.S. address and phone number, but are using foreign tax documentation. Similar verification problems can occur when the account information causes the system to expect an SSN or ITIN.
Since you prefer an online option, contact eBay through Help and ask the agent to locate the existing escalation, confirm its current status, and verify whether the W-8BEN process you were instructed to use is correct for the way your seller account is registered.
https://www.ebay.com/help/contact_us
eBay seller verification information:
https://www.ebay.com/help/selling/getting-paid/registering-seller?id=4792
If the regular chat continues sending you in circles, you can also privately message eBay through their official Instagram account and provide the date of the escalation and any case/reference number you were given:
https://www.instagram.com/ebay/
I would not change your tax information or create another account while the existing verification case is still under review.