Bob

It's part of it, but no one cares about the score itself until they can see some history, because it is easy to get a score.

Score is only really useful when going for mortgages, after you've got a couple years of history behind it.

sherbert

Can't recommend enough that those who can get put on a spouse's card as an authorised user asap. After finally getting an SSN (so long H4 non-person status), I trotted off to my credit union and asked for a credit card expecting them to give me a secured one as I do not yet have a job. Turns out that I had a credit score even though I had no SSN. And because the credit line on my OH's card (which is not even from the same bank) is quite large, they gave a non-secured card with a $1000 limit. Happy Days! I applied for Chase and Discover online and was rejected for 'not enough credit history' so I think it helps to explain the situation in person.

Maste

I got a Capital One basic credit card and one through my bank too, to get me started. Not the best credit cards, but they've allowed me to start building my credit history!

TexanScot

My first credit card a few years back was $200.

I think my second was an awesome increase to a whole $500.

markonline1

MorsePacific

I would definitely talk to your bank to start with.

I've had issues with 'missing credit scores'; I bank with HSBC and when signing up to CreditKarma, I had an Equifax score but no TransUnion score. A year later, still no TransUnion score. I guess HSBC just don't report to that credit bureau. Either way, I setup with Intuit Mint for budgeting recently and they offer to add your credit information to the site. Intuit seems to only query TransUnion .. and so they just come back saying "Yeah we can't find any information on you."

It could be that whoever OP is applying for only checks a credit bureau his current bank doesn't report to.

samills610

Can't help but think I have had it much easier than most, despite expecting it to be difficult after reading this and many other forum topics on the challenges of building credit when arriving in the country. Fortunately having a relationship for the past few years with both Amex and HSBC really paid off...

I still don't have a credit score (I dont think) as not all my accounts have had my SSN on them for very long, but I have been here for 4 months now and I now have 3 x amex cards with $10k credit limit on each, and a HSBC premier credit card for $5.5k. I use one of these cards for every single bit of spending and always pay off as soon as possible. Obviously I don't plan to use anywhere near the total credit limit at any time, but after paying for our wedding recently the sign up bonuses that came with each card have been really helpful.

I'm assuming, that other than having a few hard searches on my account in a short period of time, this should set me up quite well for building credit in the longer term? Other than co-paying rent and our electricity bill, I don't (think I) have any other ways to build credit as I don't want/need any other loans or finance products, or require any other utilities in my name.

civilservant

You need an installment loan to get anything approaching a 750+ score, credit cards alone will not do it since you are also scored on your 'credit mix'

Even if you borrow a small amount over a 12 month period, the presence of that loan will give you at least another 20-30 points and those points will increase as it is paid down.

TexanScot

Average age of your accounts is the other big one.

I have a flawless payment record, a good mix of accounts and some decent limits but it's the average age that's stopping me from getting a higher score at this point.

tht