How do I get my security deposit back after I leave the US?

Question

Accepted Answer

Give your landlord a written forwarding address and ask exactly how they will refund the deposit before you move out. Keep your US bank account open until it arrives, because many landlords only send checks or domestic transfers. Take dated photos at move-out and return keys in a way you can prove. Deposit refunds are hard to collect from abroad. A US check mailed overseas can take weeks and be difficult or expensive to deposit, so plan the refund before you leave. A month before move-out, email the landlord your leaving date and ask how the refund will be paid. Ask for a move-out inspection while you are still there, and fix anything small they point out. Photograph and video every room after cleaning, with the date visible. Return keys in person or in a way that leaves a record, and get a written confirmation. Give a forwarding address in writing. A trusted friend's US address often works better than one abroad. Many states require landlords to return the deposit, or send an itemized list of deductions, within a set number of days after you move out. The deadline varies by state, so look up yours and put the date in your calendar. If it passes, send a polite written reminder. Keep your US bank account and US phone number open until the money is in. Closing them the day you fly is the most common reason international renters lose track of their deposits. More move-out tips are in moving in and out.

Short answer