(a) What are the specific rules/guidelines for setting up a Roth IRA?

(b) Must the Roth IRA be opened with an US institution?
Or can it be a non-US institution in a foreign country, provided that it meets all of the conditions as specified in (a)?

I'm interested in finding out as I am a US citizen working overseas, and I would like to invest in an IRA that is available here in the country where I work.

Thanks for your input.

Sam

Why not just ask the institution that you're considering investing with whether they offer Roth IRA accounts? There are requirements for IRA custodians that require filings with the IRS (and perhaps other US institutions such as the SEC) - so it's a business decision of the institution whether they want to offer IRA acounts or not.

If the foreign institution cannot offer you the Roth IRA, you can open an account using wire transfer, fax and email at Charles Schwab for sure and probably the other brokerage houses as well.

A Roth IRA must be a trust created or organized in the U.S.