I transferred my Amex, and it still didn't help us much in the history department.

You're in for a tough time - getting a mortgage here is no easy task, especially when its something a little out of the ordinary.

I just moved to the US from Canada (lived there for 5 years) and have flawless credit history in both UK and Canada. Its taken me three months to get pre-approval - thats with 30% deposit and using a Canadian owned bank (Harris who are owned by Bank of Montreal) who are the only ones prepared to even bother to look at Canadian credit history. They certainly won't look at UK credit history. No other lenders would touch us...

Even then the only way I've managed to get the approval forced though is by putting pressure on via my employer (Our company banks with Harris and I head up the finance department so they really didn't want to piss me off). And we're still getting screwed on the rate - 5.15% when market is down near 4.5%.....

Just be prepared to get shafted...

I have worked on credit approval process and systems for few years and tell you what - most of the banks (99%) use a 'scorecard' concept of approval. There is a pass score and if that is met then they approve. The scorecard also provides for a very minimal 'manual referrals' that get reviewed by actual person. Remember though, this again is a rule and only when that is hit, it will send the app for manual review.

Of course brokers know this and they find ways to get around it but by and large, majority of decisions are automated.

Post GFC they have tightened the rules/pass score even further. Fact is, there is no way banks can process every application in the back office. That would take ages (and given the current SLA on approvals!!!)

So we can say it's a computer that makes the decision based of set of rules defined and maintained by the business.

Your going to love the US banking system.

Sorry to hijack a bit, but explain to me this credit gurus. I just pulled a copy of my OH's Equifax credit report tonight. For "Length of Credit History" it says he has almost 14 years...but he's only been living in the US since 2004. How's that possible then? I have a credit history a bit longer than that, so when I added him to my accounts after marriage, did it falsely give him same history I did?

I almost don't trust a damn thing on these credit reports anymore.

Yep, works out nice doesn't it.

I got turned down for a secured card with BAO for $300


But the letter says "thank you for applying for a "power rewards visa" unfortunately ......blah blah

Idiots. No number to call.

Might try a credit union next time im in US.