Credit card application without employment.
#31
Re: Credit card application without employment.
If your wife has a job then she could apply for a credit card and put you on as an authorised user. You'd be piggybacking on her credit and depending on the card and the credit agency, building your own credit history at the same time. Of course, this would be beneficial to you only if you and your wife use the credit card wisely and pay it off.
#32
Re: Credit card application without employment.
This is what I did with my husband. I added him to my Amex card and my JC Penney card and within 6 months he had a great credit score and history.
#33
Re: Credit card application without employment.
How 'authorized user' status can help build US credit
Use creditkarma or similar to keep track of your credit score to see if being a named user is making any difference.
#34
Forum Regular
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 87
Re: Credit card application without employment.
So what now? For me it sounds from some of you as if you don't inherit the credit history if you get added as an authorized user.
My husband added me on 2 of his credit card accounts as an authorized user two years ago, after we got married and a month later Credit Karma already showed a 14 yr credit history with 100% on time payment in my account (and obviously boosted my credit score up quiet a bit). For only being in the states for a total of 5 years now, having a 14 yr credit history comes in very handy.
OP: If you don't have that luxury, I, without being married, only being here temporarily as an intern, signed with capital one for a journey card. The journey card is even advertised as a credit history starter. My limit was not high ($800), but I only used small amounts and paid them off every month. After 8 month they upped my credit limit to $1800 without me even asking (that's not 2 1/2 years ago).
Yesterday I sent a request to up the limit again based on our household income (which is pretty healthy), so I hope I get a positive response for that soon.
Anyways, long story short and main points: Yes, you are allowed to list the household (wife and you) income on the credit card application. Capital one (for me) was the right choice back then. Good customer service, easy application approval.
Good luck!
My husband added me on 2 of his credit card accounts as an authorized user two years ago, after we got married and a month later Credit Karma already showed a 14 yr credit history with 100% on time payment in my account (and obviously boosted my credit score up quiet a bit). For only being in the states for a total of 5 years now, having a 14 yr credit history comes in very handy.
OP: If you don't have that luxury, I, without being married, only being here temporarily as an intern, signed with capital one for a journey card. The journey card is even advertised as a credit history starter. My limit was not high ($800), but I only used small amounts and paid them off every month. After 8 month they upped my credit limit to $1800 without me even asking (that's not 2 1/2 years ago).
Yesterday I sent a request to up the limit again based on our household income (which is pretty healthy), so I hope I get a positive response for that soon.
Anyways, long story short and main points: Yes, you are allowed to list the household (wife and you) income on the credit card application. Capital one (for me) was the right choice back then. Good customer service, easy application approval.
Good luck!
#35
Forum Regular
Joined: Nov 2010
Location: Santa Cruz CA
Posts: 281
Re: Credit card application without employment.
The first card I got (first application was rejected) I declared what savings I had on the application and this seemed to get me past the issue of not having a job. I was then offered the lowest credit card available and had to stump up 300 dollars for collateral for a 300 limit. After a year and some months of working I was eligible for a better credit card with a bigger limit.
#36
BE Enthusiast
Thread Starter
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 473
Re: Credit card application without employment.
Thank you all
#37
Forum Regular
Joined: Aug 2010
Location: Wake Forest, NC
Posts: 288
Re: Credit card application without employment.
+1 - This is what I did. You secure a card with your own money, so they have no risk (hence secured) - but after a certain time limit they give you back your money, and have that as your unsecured limit. Still goes to your credit score.
#38
Banned
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 5,154
Re: Credit card application without employment.
I was accepted for two Bank of America cards within a week of having a bank account with them. Both with $2.5k limits. I also received another credit union credit card with a limit of $5k.
#39
Re: Credit card application without employment.
Does anyone know if you have a pre approved credit card offer on whether the card company runs a hard credit check on you?
#41
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jul 2016
Posts: 10,005
Re: Credit card application without employment.
You can apply for as many as you want to, presumably the US system works the similarly to the UK one in that every application turned down makes it more likely that the next will be as well.
I've been employed six months, not yet tried my bank, but was recently refused a Home Depot credit card
I've been employed six months, not yet tried my bank, but was recently refused a Home Depot credit card
I don't know all the ranking credit cards use, but besides income, length of time living in one place counts- so I know people if they rent a flat when they arrive say on temporary basis, when they move to permanent place just get mail forwarded so they have 12 months in their first residence- some think that makes a difference.
#42
Just Joined
Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 10
Re: Credit card application without employment.
The trick is start with a gas station or department store first. Most stores and gas chains that do business near the Canadian border. Do have accounts for "foreigners", mainly geared for Canadians, but for the most part they treat a Brit the same. The second trick when you pick a bank. Pick one that is nationwide in the US and has a large presence near the Canadian border. Its why Wells Fargo treat foreign account holders better when it comes to credit.
#43
Forum Regular
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 84
Re: Credit card application without employment.
Same here. After about 3 months with a secured card we started getting 'you're pre-approved' spam. Just don't go nuts opening those new accounts, because each one dints your credit for a bit.