kitaromagali

Does anyone know how I can get credit(credit card) in the US. I've had a few rejections and I need it to live here

nathan barley

Sears, Target, companies that offer secured/deposit credit cards.

jaytee

You don't have to have a credit card to make card purchases. You can use a check card that works exactly the same as a credit card, but only draws money from your bank account. There are no requirements for this: you just put money into your bank account and get your free check card.

Pulaski

A oft asked question, and there is no easy answer.

One you get settled, and utilities in your own name then you'll soon start to build a credit history, and then you can easily get credit cards.

In the short term get yourself one secured credit card, and use it cautiously - do NOT try to over-draw it. Also DO NOT keep applying for regular credit cards as the rejections show up on your credit history and make it even harder for you to be accepted for credit.

NC Penguin

I suppose you know why you've been rejected for credit cards. It's because you have a poor credit card history.

The topic of how to establish a credit history in the US has been discussed many times on the forums. Please search in this forum.



NC Penguin

Jan Alaska

Its taken just about 15months for me to be offered a credit card without being asked for a security deposit. I did apply for one when I'd been here a year and was told I didnt have enough credit history. Hang in there, once you start getting pre-approved or invitations from cc companies you'll be inundated.

Jan

Manc

The American way, lets all live in debt.

Lived here 3 years and don't owe anyone a bean apart from my house and car.

just get a debit card through your checking account.

NC Penguin

May I ask how long you have been in employment? One major reason I was turned down for a credit card is that I didn't yet have a job.

Credit card providers are looking for people who are working and have been in (the same?) employment for a period of time (I don't know how long is long enough. It may depend on the cc provider).

Watch out for those "pre-approved" credit card offers in the mail. They're not really pre-approved because in order to really qualify, they'll check your credit history (you'll see that in the small print.



NC Penguin

Jan Alaska

I worked at the farm for 5 months, the first card I got thru didnt even want to know my employers name or household income and that was from National City Bank. And YES of course they check credit history (mine btw has been impeccable for the last 15 years +) I have a mortgage here and my name on some of our utility bills which also helps.

excpomea

I think no credit history is his problem.

Time, time,time and time....

It took me about 12 months before I could get a US credit card. Now the buggers wont leave me alone, seems like everyday someone is trying to give me another card.
Beware of those cards that are offered to you with no credit history ect.
Some have very high interest rates plus lots of other scams like anual fees and other surcharges.
Have you tried a credit union? They can be more accomadating.

ArsNo2

I took out store cards first - right from the word go - surprised me that they accepted and approved 'cos I was on H4 - not working - hubby was the only one with job. He was turned down for some of the store cards whereas I was approved straight away.

For anyone reading this posting who has not yet left England, apply in the UK for an American Express Credit Card, it is the only one that is transferrable to the US once you have arrived. Hubby was told about that, did it and it worked. To be honest we didn't use credit much when we first arrived here, but were told it is handy to have at least one - sometimes people just want to run your card through as proof/collateral etc.

Once you are able to get a credit card - go for one that is attached to an airline - therefore giving you miles for every dollar you spend. We have a Bank One/British Airways Visa, use it for everything - usually pay it off monthly (must admit don't like running credit - very english of me) - but by using just the one card we accrue enough miles for at least one award trip home per year - just pay airport taxes for that one...

Joining in on this post from jolly old England - where it has just started pissing it down outside, mind you, first rain i've seen in 10 days here !!! Everyone keeps saying that I must be feeling the cold - nope - a blessed relief from the Texas summer....

tony_2003

Beat me to it. You start of at zero credit history when you come here and have to build it up. I got a couple of small cards (good rates surprisingly) though and my credit is perfect, however they look at length of time as well and most big card companies don't wanna risk on someone new...even walmart cards are difficult to get.

Yorkieabroad

15 months!!! They started throwing those "you have been specially pre-selected for a platinum card with a 50k credit limit" letters at us as we came off the plane!! Of course, when we applied, they came back and said "No way Jose". So much for preselection eh?

Fortunately we had some from my wifes previous banks, so we didn't need them. But having lived here a year, with no problems (no missed payments, cards paid off every month etc etc) I thought I'd apply for a couple and see what happened. I got one, and not the other. I was surprised to get the one, as I don't have a job (!) but they approved on the basis of combined household income. I managed to get Sears, Target etc from virtually day one, also without a job.

smiler125

With the target and Sears card I assume that these build up your credit history as well as any other card??

Thanks

ArsNo2

If you're going to take out a Sears/Target/any other store card - don't forget to check and see if you get discount with first purchase/use of card etc. That's the only reason we usually took out store cards when we first came over - had to buy costly things so took out card to get money off, e.g. Target gave 10 percent discount so used it to buy vacuum cleaner etc.

Another good one is Kohls (if you have one near you - they're great for clearance sales etc.) we got 15 percent off when we took out a card each - in fact rather than having two people on same card - take out a separate one each - twice the savings...

Make MVC status at Kohls - spend 600 a year and they send you lots of money off coupons in the mail - e.g. 15 percent off everything for the whole day.... Add it to money off sale day and it really saves.