How to Properly Screen Foreign Nationals

[Taylor Lacey]

I have been renting out a duplex to foreign national students from China who have been nothing but phenomenal over the past year and a half.  When I originally rented the house to the students, the only screening that I did was check their Visas because I needed the rental income immediately.  The tenants recently notified me that they will be vacating the property at the end of this year and that they have other foreign national friends that are interested from renting from me.  Now that I have the time and reserve funds to properly screen tenants, I am curious what the best approach is for someone that has never lived in the US.  Specific screening requirements that I am wondering about would be credit history, past landlord references, and criminal background check.  In addition, what is the best way to handle proof of income if the tenant is a full time student and has parents that pay the rent?

Again, this is assuming that the potential tenant does not have any previous time spent living in the United States.

All input is appreciated!

Thanks,

Taylor

[Tyler Ansell]

We do this all the time, nothing to worry about. We run them through our normal background and credit check software. Often it comes back blank which is OK. Note that on most background checks it would pop an alert if they were on any watch lists or anything. 

We collect copies of either Visas, I9's, or there is sometimes a school specific international student form that has good info on it. Unless they have a host parent or something to those lines (an American who could co-sign) then we require last 2 months rent up front. 

Yes, it's kind of a shot in the dark but if they pay your deposit and don't pop on any of your other checks then run with it. We have probably 20% international students and only 1 or 2 every year bounce early...never ones from Asian countries though.