Frequently Asked Questions About Remittance

It is common for immigrants to send money home to family. In fact, it is so common, that it even has a name. That name is remittance. If you are an immigrant working in the United States, and you want to send your money home to your family in a different country, you may have many questions. Here are a few of the frequently asked questions pertaining to remittance and the answers to these questions.

What Is Remittance?

Remittance is money that is sent from one country to another country, typically from one party to a family in another country. Remittance comes from the word remit, which means to send back. In many cultures, as children grow into adults, they are expected to help their parents or elderly family members. If a child moves out of the country, they may not be able to physically care for those family members, but they can send payments to them to help provide for them. Remittance payments typically involve international money transfers or money wiring.

Why Do People Send Remittance to Their Families?

In its most simplistic form, remittance is a way for people to send money to their loved ones in another country. Oftentimes, this money is sent from a wealthier country to a poorer country. While remittance can be a gift, in most cases, it is actually vital to the family. Remittance payments may help them to afford housing, food, electricity and/or schooling. There are no rules that dictate how these types of payments have to be spent. The recipient can spend the money however they see fit to spend the money.

How Do You Send Remittance Payments?

There are many different ways that remittance payments are sent. The most common way is by sending money via international transfer or wire companies. This is a fast and easy way to send money to your loved ones in different countries. However, remittance payments are becoming more and more common, and in 2021, it is estimated that over 605 billion dollars were sent in remittance payments. As such, many banks and other institutions are seeing how many payments are being sent, so they are setting up some of their accounts to help make these payments easier to make for those who wish to make them. There are also apps that are popping up that are designed for sending money internationally.

Are There Limits to How Much You Send to Family?

In a general sense, there are not any limits to how much money you can send to your family in other countries for remittance payments. However, the platforms that complete these transfers do typically place a limit on how much you can send at any given time. Additionally, the United States government may place limits on your bank account if they have concerns about where the money is being sent and how the money is being used. This is to help decrease the chances of terrorist groups being funded through these types of payments. Your bank or a local accountant can help you if you have any questions about remittance payments or international transfers.

In the United States, you can make a lot of money compared to many third-world countries or poorer countries. In fact, just a few dollars can go a long way in these types of countries. As such, if you are working in the U.S., you may wish to send money home to your family to help them afford a better life. And fortunately, transferring or sending money internationally is easier than ever thanks to companies that wire or transfer money. Look for a company that specializes in remittance to safely and easily send money back home to your loved ones.