ok, cashing checks 101 lol...
if a check is drawn on a certain bank (can see their name up top right before check #s)... if u bring the check to that bank, they have to cash it for u because it's drawn on them... however, there are certain conditions, i.e. the amount summing up to more than $2,500 for some banks, if the person who wrote the check is brokeass, or the check is a fake after they checked the sigs... also, bank of america... they now charge anyone who cashes a check with them $6 if you don't have an account with them, even if the check is drawn on them! scum bags lol
if the check is from an unknown bank, non domestic banks, foreign banks (sometimes they reject it overall)... u can't cash it if u don't have an account from them...because what happens is they take that amount of money u cash out and place a hold in ur account for that amount. so lets say ur check is bad, they'd just take it from your account. this is why tellers ask, do u have enough money in ur account? or tell u sorry, i can't cash the check because u don't have enough money to cover the check... u have to deposit or just take whatever amount u have in ur account.
so what the # guy said is correct, ask someone in ur family that has an account to deposit it into their account... wait for it to clear... some are just 1 day, some can take 2-3 days depending on bank. or u can go to some mini mart that cashes checks for u for a small fee lol.