try TRADE KING . Got many brokers.. Seek Uncle Google for many help,
make good decision making and judgement. E Trade is also good.. Depending on what you want to trade?

You may use local/intl bank to wire transfer .. Fill up the application form, W8BEN, photocopy of passport
and use registered mail (Pejabat Pos ) cost less than rm10 to send it out, OR online Scan docs to them ..

What US stocks are in your mind? Technology/Nasdaq ? Health Care? Consumer Product?

An investor or a trader?  Got good Patience and Holding Power? Got finance/mgmt accounting knowledge? Why USA Stock? And
why not HK / SG markets?

Multiple skills trading in stocks, Forex, commodities, option ..etc..etc  How to FOCUS and gain good ROI ?

1. Dividends(some qrtrly/half yearly) payout will be bank-in into broker trading trust account in that country currency value..
In the future, if u buy share, it will deduct the purchase from the trust trading account.. If the trust trading acct is insufficient $$,
you cannot buy shares(cost) more than your trading account .. You wire transfer (TT) into the trust trading acct. In forex, use leverage ratio.

2. Depending on the user-friendly function of the platform, cost/fees charge, alert/notification/timer by email, smartphone apps,
    investors breaking news/recommendation/guide/advice given .. MANY ppls want cheapest cost/fees like TRADE KING usd 4.95 per transaction, right.
     For me, i like great alert/notification/timer when the stock  reaches/touch certain overbought/overvalue/margin of safety .. For investor, cost fee is not the important matter, as investor seek for long-term holding..Hardly use many put/call (for trader ) and occurred many transaction fees..

Are you a good patience person and got the ability to have long-term holding power? What USA stocks are in your /colleague's mind now that you want to share with all forumers here??   e.g
J&J, MCD, KO, LVS, MGM, BAC, BZH, AA, XL, MPEL, LYG, AAPL, KEY, LSI, NOK, TXN ..etc..etc

You lucky bard... profits and greed are good. 

Hmm.. didn't you get your answers already? 

I use TDA, MBTrade, ScottTradeOption and OptionExpress..

Which one are you using? (my turn to ask). 

I'm an active trader.  I play long and short. Sometime one account long, the other short. 
Also, some may offer better tools than others too.
Anyway, guys, tonight, I want everyone to pay attention to the news from Washington and look at the volatility coming out from the market.
Get your cash ready!! 

"bagus" is relative. My "bagus" is not the same as yours.
Ask yourself.. what's important to you?

Price? Customer support? Safety? Ease of use? Don't forget, how's your Internet speed like to US backbone?

Go ahead and list out your criterias.. then others can also help and give their experience or preference on their platforms and brokers.

No worry. Either the market will collapse and you loose your money first before the brokers take away your money.
Look up and read on SIPC. You will know why.

I can tell you that two of my accounts been there over 10 years. One of them have been taken over by two diff brokers. No issue.