another epic day
 

so after arriving in the usa on 30/06/2012.

today i received my social security number.:thumbsup:

now i declare my self well and truly landed, just green card to come.

Re: another epic day
 

Congratulations!

But if you want to be considered well and truly landed, you have to write the date like this: 06/30/2012. ;)

Rene

Re: another epic day
 

bugger :rofl::rofl:

must try harder :thumbsup:

Re: another epic day
 

lol

Re: another epic day
 

:rofl::rofl: :thumbsup:

Re: another epic day
 

Congratulations!! How are you and the missus enjoying this be-yooooou-tee-ful MD weather?

Re: another epic day
 

its fantastic. didnt think so on saturday 30th when i arrived with no power anywhere.
:eek:

my mother in law has a apartment at ocean city md so we were there over this last weekend.
it was so warm and a nice breeze blowing in off the atlantic.

think i might go sit round the community pool when it opens at 11:thumbsup:

now wheres that ambre solario:rofl::rofl::rofl:

Re: another epic day
 

just one more thing to help the newbies to usa.

yesterday i applied for and was approved for a green american express card.

its a start for my us credit history.
so another epic day

Re: another epic day
 

It is highly unusual for a new immigrant with no credit history in the USA to get approved for a credit card like AmEx. Did you by any chance have an AmEx in the UK?

Rene

Re: another epic day
 

How did you manage to get a credit card so quickly? Did you happen to use your wifes credit history? I'm only curious because we will have no kind of credit history there and are trying to figure out the best way to start one... I was under the impression that the only chance we had right away was through a secure credit card.

Re: another epic day
 

You are correct...the best (and sometimes only) way is to get a secured credit card first.

If you had AmEx back in the UK, I think there is a way of transferring that credit history to a US AmEx card...that's why I asked if he had the UK AmEx card.

Rene

Re: another epic day
 

hi i was all set to get a secured card but just thought i would try with amex.

i didnt have any credit cards back in the uk.

just filled in application including my nice new ss number and checked email 4 hours later,which said i had been approved.
until card arrives i wont believe it.

Re: another epic day
 

Sounds interesting and worth a shot! Keep us posted on if the card arrives...

My mum (UKC) said when she first married my dad and moved to the USA, she got a VISA credit card right away to build up her credit history. But things have changed in the 30 years since then lol

Re: another epic day
 

I agree, that is pretty unusual.

I received my SSN at the end of April and thought I would just go ahead and apply for Capitol One's Newcomers credit card, since it is supposed to be designed to help those who are new to the U.S. to build credit-- I was denied, I guess it isn't for all newcomers then :rofl:

My wife, a USC who has spent all of her life here and also has zero credit history decided to try and apply for the Chase Slate CC-- we have over 3 years of financial (checking & savings) history with Chase, so figured why not try with a bank that "knows" us-- she was also denied due to "few revolving accounts opened long enough" and "not enough accounts opened long enough to establish history".

I will likely apply for a Target CC, since they are my current employer and also head down the secured credit card route.

Re: another epic day
 

I've been in the US since mid-Jan (K-1) and am still waiting for green card activity, however after reading this thread and the surprise outcome I decided to try and sign up for the American Express (green) credit card online too, since I'd not pursued this yet in the States and know it can be tough for expats to secure one.

(Late edit: I should pop back and say I never had a card in the UK either.)

To my astonishment I too have been approved, according to the e-mail. Has shocked the hell out of me, since although I have money in the bank I have no job, annual income or past credit history here and stated as such.

Like redarmy990 I'll believe it when it comes, but still... cool. Maybe it's because with this card you have to pay it off every single month, and so you accrue far less debt.

On a side note the site was kind of weird - I had to enter my SSN about three times, for whatever reason, but it worked in the end.

Re: another epic day
 

UPDATE ON AMEX

the post came today and i have my amex card right here with me now:thumbsup:

also a i797c welcome noyice and it has my A number on it

is this a standard letter never heard of it before

Re: another epic day
 

Red how did you answer residency questions? (Like how long have you lived at x address) did you apply online or call? Did you have to explain about being a new PR?

Re: another epic day
 

civil
on my amex on line application there wasnt a how long have you lived at your current address question.

i didnt apply for a chase card for that reason.

i also put unemployed as i am at the moment.

Re: another epic day
 

Did you get a second card for the other half? Perhaps her score pulled you up in that regard. Other wise you were just lucky- good for you :p

Re: another epic day
 

This isn't a credit card, it's a charge card, which makes more sense. If you must pay it off every month it's not so much of a risk, and of course they make money out of you in the second year with the $95 annual fee.

Even so I'll be applying for one when I get there, good place to start.

Re: another epic day
 

I don't know if redarmy990 put checking/saving info in or not. Like him, I selected I was unemployed and that I had no annual income (well, I think it's something like $0 - $11,999) so perhaps the bank stuff tipped it over.

And yes, it's a charge card but it still helps with credit score, and personally speaking I don't mind having to pay it within a month. Hopefully I'll get mine soon.

Re: another epic day
 

just put in my our checking account.

other half already has one shes a usc.

and theres an area where you can opt to pay it monthly,but only certain purchases i do believe.

Re: another epic day
 

Absolutly it still helps, but a charge card is far lower risk than a credit card, perhaps why you were accepted. Still, great place it start :)

Re: another epic day
 

yep good place to start.
and in my opinion its better than having to tie up $500-1000 on a secured card.:thumbup:

Re: another epic day
 

Incidentally how are you filling your days being unemployed red?

Re: another epic day
 

a combination of shit tv, doing my nfl fantasy football. and jobs around the apartment.

oh nearly forgot getting sunburned around the pool:p:p

Re: another epic day
 

Before I flew over my (then) fiancée created a bank account for me to deposit my money into (so I had to be really sure I loved her ;)), and then when I came over she added me to it to make a joint account, so yes, I think a combination of listing our joint checking/savings account coupled with the lower risk charge card is probably enough. I presume you have to have some funds (or income), or there seems little point asking the questions. Still, stranger stuff has no doubt happened.