JuniorJ194

Hotscot

3 - 6 months for a decent score. But you need a trail

'I’m lost as to why I can’t apply for a basic credit card'
Which banks have you discussed a secured credit card with?

Haven't you been here for over a year? I'm unclear...
Does your wife have a credit card?
Are you working?
Buying things?
Doing normal life type things? And if so..do you operate on cash only? I'd be surprised...

JuniorJ194

robUK81

I was in the same boat when I arrived. My wife added me to her Wells Fargo account as you have mentioned. They had no problem giving me a credit card with a $1500 limit straight away with no credit history. I used it as a gas (petrol) card for about 9-12 months and was then able to take out a mortgage.

tom169

Your insurance and utilities probably won't report anything to your credit report unless you miss a payment.

Hotscot

You haven't asked your bank yet
Assuming you have direct deposit of your paycheck to WF then that would seem the most obvious approach.
In my opinion of course.

(But which card do you use for purchases?)

JuniorJ194

Hotscot

But you do have an account history with them.
They'll give you one no problem.They'll want their hooks into you.
You're a prime target.

Pulaski

From a bank's perspective, a checking ("current") account is already a credit product, so you're already one step towards getting a credit card. If your salary is going into your checking account, that's a second step, so you should indeed be a prime target for your bank - I'm a little surprised that the bank hasn't sent you an unsolicited offer yet, but certainly go and talk with someone at the branch, as I think there's a good chance you will qualify for a regular (non-secured) credit card.

I am somewhat mystified with your choice of words, that you were told that your credit history "didn't exist", as it usually "exists" after a few months, and therefore I wonder if there is a problem with your social security number, as the only reason I can imagine that the record "doesn't exist" is if you either don't have an SSN, or for some other reason no activity has been logged against it.

MidAtlantic

Check here for more information on credit scores. https://www.selflender.com/learn/wha...s-credit-score

Jamackabi

I got a Secured Discover Card when I moved here last year. It's one of those ones where you deposit X amount of money which essentially becomes your Credit Limit. I put forward $500 and used the card carefully, spending no more than $100 of the total Credit Limit. After 6 months of regular payments, Discover wrote to me to advise that they would be sending a check with my $500 back, and they are giving me a $5000 Credit Limit as I have proven my Creditworthiness. I'd highly recommend going this route if you have zero Credit Score. I have been in the U.S a year this week and have a Score which hovers around the 790 mark which I'm more than happy with.

Bob

https://britishexpats.com/wiki/Fatbr...it_and_Finance

alt92

Have to agree with this approach. I have been in the US for a month and a half - my initial approach was to get added as an authorized user on my wife's credit card (make sure this is being used appropriately, ideally usage under 30% of credit limit) and then also applied for a secured credit card with $1500 limit (whatever is doable for yourself). I did not have a job at the time and therefore no regular income. I have used my own card for all purchases, regularly paying it off, and got my first credit score of 730 this week.

Edit: All this was via Bank of America. I think there are better options, the discover card jamackabi mentioned seems to crop up a lot. I simply went with BoA as with already had account with them.

Bob

Thing is, your credit score is irrelevant. It's the history that matters, for the first couple of years at least.

alt92

Thanks for the clarification - thought the history was considered as part of the credit score.