International Money Transfer to the USA: Clear Routes, Real Costs & On-Time USD Credits

Quick answer

To send money to the United States without stress, decide the currency your recipient actually needs, use a straightforward bank route, and keep the payment reference short and exact. Your true price is the visible transfer fee plus the exchange-rate difference. Morning submissions, clean beneficiary details and a concise reference help credits post sooner.

Why the US corridor feels different (plain English)

Inbound payments arrive to a US bank via SWIFT. A US account is identified by an ABA routing number and an account number (there is no IBAN). Inside the US, urgent domestic moves typically use Wire/Fedwire, while non-urgent batch payments use ACH. You do not need to master the rails—just collect clean details and agree the net USD figure expected on account.

Pick the right currency and route

When the recipient spends in USD, send USD. That avoids mid-route FX and makes totals predictable for payroll, rent or supplier bills. When the recipient wants to keep foreign currency (for example, EUR receipts on a multi-currency account), send that currency and let them convert later, on their own schedule. The “right” route is the one that delivers a known net amount without extra detours.

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Top-5 ways to cut fees and land USD faster

1) USD end-to-end for USD invoices. Ask for the bank’s SWIFT/BIC, the ABA routing number and the account number. Use a short reference that mirrors the invoice (for example, “Invoice 7842”). A clean, short line posts faster than a long narrative.

2) Convert before you send when your base currency isn’t USD. If you fund in EUR/GBP/other, pre-convert at a transparent rate and wire USD. This gives the recipient a predictable figure on arrival and removes “we need a top-up” emails.

3) Keep funds in the currency they want to hold. Some US businesses maintain foreign-currency sub-accounts. If they ask for EUR/other, send that currency and avoid costly double conversions.

4) One inbound → many local payouts. Fund a single US account internationally; the recipient forwards USD domestically the same day by wire or ACH. Fewer cross-border wires mean lower fees and cleaner reconciliation.

5) Time-critical sends. Submit in the morning and align with US business days. Share standard proof immediately after submission; keeping the same email thread as the invoice speeds posting on their side.

What details to collect from your recipient (kept simple)

Legal name as on the bank account; bank name; SWIFT/BIC for the international leg; ABA routing number and account number for the US bank; preferred currency to receive; and the exact short payment reference they expect. Copy spelling and digits precisely—small typos trigger manual review or returns.

Costs that actually matter

Your real cost is not just the transfer fee shown by the bank. It is fee plus the difference between the market FX and the applied rate. For USD→USD transfers, the fee dominates. When you convert (EUR/GBP→USD), the rate is the main lever. Always confirm two numbers in writing before you send: the net amount the beneficiary should see and the rate used.

Speed & predictability (without jargon)

Arrival time depends on bank cut-offs, routine screening and how clear the payment looks. Early-day sends tend to post sooner than late-day attempts, especially near US holidays. Keep subjects and wording consistent (“Payment — Invoice 7842”) so finance teams can match your proof quickly. If the recipient must pay vendors the same day, align your international send with their domestic payout windows.

Scenarios you can copy (use what fits)

US supplier invoiced in USD. Wire USD. Reference the invoice ID only. Email the receipt in the same thread. Morning send = faster posting.

Subscriptions/SaaS priced in USD. Pay in USD and keep the same reference pattern every month so reconciliation stays simple.

Contractor or agency payouts. Hold a USD balance; convert in two to four tranches monthly if your base currency differs, then pay on fixed days for predictable cash-flow.

Family support. If expenses are in USD, land USD cleanly with a short purpose line. If they plan to save in EUR/other, send the currency they prefer to hold.

Common mistakes — and easy fixes

Confusing ABA with SWIFT. You need both for international wires to the US. Validate the bank’s SWIFT/BIC and the correct ABA routing number.

Focusing only on fees. Compare the all-in price (fee + FX), not fee alone.

Long references. Keep it short and consistent with the paperwork; long stories slow posting.

Late submissions. Avoid end-of-day and pre-holiday timing when a deadline matters.

Mid-route conversion surprises. Decide where conversion happens and write down the expected net USD amount.

One-page checklist

1) Choose currency and route. 2) Confirm fees + net amount. 3) Validate SWIFT, ABA and account numbers. 4) Send early; share proof in the same thread. 5) Keep confirmations for audit.

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How we support you

VelesClub Int., together with our partner UNIBROKER, helps you pick a clear USD route, keep pricing transparent and align timing so transfers to US accounts land cleanly and on schedule.