Getting your first U.S. credit card can feel backwards.
You need a U.S. credit history to qualify for some cards. But to build a U.S. credit history, you need a credit account that reports your activity.
Your credit history from your home country usually does not simply transfer to the U.S. So even if you had an excellent credit score before moving, you may arrive without a U.S. credit file that lenders can use.
The good news is that you do not have to wait years to get started. There are several ways to begin building U.S. credit, and some newcomers may even be able to use their existing credit history from home.
You may not need an SSN to get started
An SSN makes the process easier with many financial institutions, but it is not always an absolute requirement for getting a credit card.
Some card issuers may accept an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) or other identification, such as a passport or visa, depending on the issuer and product.
If you are eligible for an SSN, however, it is worth getting the process started early. The Social Security Administration recommends waiting about 10 days after arriving in the U.S. before applying, so your arrival information can be available in the relevant systems.
Once an issuer has everything it needs and approves your application, the physical card usually arrives within 7 to 10 business days.
Can you use the credit history you built back home?
This is one option worth checking before you start from scratch.
American Express works with Nova Credit, which can translate eligible credit information from certain countries into a format a U.S. lender can use when evaluating an application.
Supported countries have included:
- India
- United Kingdom
- Canada
- Mexico
- Australia
- Brazil
- Nigeria
The supported-country list and available products can change, so check the current eligibility requirements before applying.
If your country and credit history qualify, this can give the issuer information about your previous credit history instead of treating your application as if you have no history at all.
It does not guarantee approval, and it is not available for every card or every applicant. But for an eligible newcomer, it can be a much easier starting point than building a U.S. credit file from zero.
What if you have no U.S. history and cannot import your old one?
You have three common ways to start building a U.S. credit file.
You do not necessarily need all three. For many newcomers, one properly managed reporting account is enough to get the clock started.
1. Get a secured credit card
A secured credit card is designed for people who have limited or damaged credit history.
You provide a refundable security deposit, often a few hundred dollars, and that deposit generally determines your credit limit.
You then use the card and pay the bill just as you would with a regular credit card.
There is one question you should ask before applying:
Does the issuer report the account to the three major credit bureaus?
If the account does not report your payment activity, it will not help build your credit history with those bureaus.
2. Become an authorized user
If your spouse, partner, or another family member has a U.S. credit card in good standing, they may be able to add you as an authorized user.
The account can then appear on your credit report, depending on the issuer’s reporting practices.
This works best when the primary cardholder:
- Pays the bill on time
- Keeps the balance relatively low
- Has an established account in good standing
Not every issuer reports authorized users to all three major credit bureaus, so check before relying on this strategy.
3. Consider a credit-builder loan
Some banks and credit unions offer credit-builder loans specifically for people trying to establish or rebuild credit.
Instead of receiving the loan money immediately, the lender generally places the amount in a secured account while you make payments, often over 6 to 24 months.
Your payments can be reported to the credit bureaus. Once the loan is paid off, you receive the money that was held for you, subject to the product’s terms and fees.
This can build credit while also helping you establish some savings.
What actually determines your credit score?
Once you have a U.S. credit account, your goal is not complicated.
For a FICO score, payment history accounts for 35% and amounts owed accounts for 30%. Length of credit history is 15%, new credit is 10%, and credit mix is 10%.
That means the two biggest things you can control are simple:
Pay every bill on time and avoid using too much of your available credit.
For example, if your card has a $1,000 limit, regularly carrying a $900 balance can make your credit utilization look high even if you never miss a payment.
You do not need to carry a balance or pay interest to build credit. Using a card and paying the balance on time is enough to establish a payment history.
How long does it take to get a credit score?
Do not expect a FICO score immediately after opening your first account.
A FICO score generally requires at least one account that has been open for six months or more and has reported to a credit bureau recently.
You do not need several credit cards to reach that point. A single qualifying account can be enough.
That is why starting early matters more than opening lots of accounts. If you open a reporting account soon after arriving and manage it properly, you can begin building the history that lenders will eventually see.
One thing to avoid: credit repair scams
Be careful with companies that promise to “fix” or “boost” your credit for a fee.
The Federal Trade Commission points out that anything a credit repair company can legally do for you, you can generally do yourself for little or no cost. Accurate negative information cannot simply be removed because you paid someone to remove it.
If there is a genuine error on your credit report, you can dispute it yourself with the relevant credit bureau.
You do not need to pay a company just to tell a credit bureau that incorrect information is wrong.
The options at a glance
| Option | How it works | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Nova Credit / Amex | Uses eligible home-country credit history when applying for certain products | Whether your country and application are currently supported |
| Secured card | Refundable deposit generally determines your credit limit | Whether the issuer reports to the major credit bureaus |
| Authorized user | You are added to another person’s existing card | Primary cardholder’s payment history and issuer reporting |
| Credit-builder loan | Payments are made over 6 to 24 months while funds are held | Reporting to credit bureaus and total fees |
| First FICO score | Generally requires about 6 months of qualifying credit history | At least one account open for 6+ months and recently reported |
| Main FICO factors | Payment history 35%, amounts owed 30% | Pay on time and keep utilization under control |
What should you do first?
If you have just moved to the U.S., a sensible order is:
- Get your SSN moving if you are eligible for one.
- Check whether your existing home-country credit history can be used through a service such as Nova Credit.
- If that is not available, look for a secured card or another account that reports to the major credit bureaus.
- Use the account lightly and pay every bill on time.
- Give your credit history time to build.
You do not need a perfect strategy or five different credit cards.
For most newcomers, the important thing is simply to get one reporting account started and manage it well. After roughly six months, you may have enough history for a FICO score, and from there your U.S. credit profile can start building on itself.
