I'm on the lookout for a UK based online trading account that will offer trading in options in US indices, specifically the Russell 2000 (on which you can trade options via the IWM ticker symbol). Currently all I have found is IG Index that offers options in the S&P500 and Dow Jones (not the Russell 2000), and many US based accounts that allow foreigners to sign up.
I would like to avoid using US accounts if possible, for many reasons, the main ones being the number of agreements that I need to sign, e.g. the US W-8BEN form that requires me to apply for a US SSN (social Security Number) or ITIN (which takes 4 to 6 weeks), not to mention the number of legal agreements. I would like to avoid a web of legal bindings with the US if at all possible!
Thanks.