ukmancoll

Hi guys,

I know this has probably been done to death, but I just wanted to check something with you all really quick:

I wanted to apply for a secured credit card from my bank, Bank of America, but they said they can't give me one until I am a permenant resident?

I came here on a K1, and am now in the middle of AOS. I have a Social Security number. I also have a good amount of money in both checking and savings account with them.

Does this sound right to anyone, or is it just my bank? I would really like to start building credit now (and not wait the year or so it will take for my AOS to be completed).

Any advice?

evoal2003

The bank in question gave me an un-secured one when I opened an account with them. I had been in the US for 3 months at that time. Prior to this I got the wife to put me on all her accounts.

My credit was pulled yesterday at 689-707.

you'll find endless info here

neil

Try a different company. I didn't go the route of a secured card personally (lucky to have a USC girlfriend, now wife, that I was living with who had me named as a cardholder), but my own bank said some are more strict than others, and advised me to try somewhere like Chase, and that's where I got my own first card.

ukmancoll

How did you get credit so quickly? (I'll check the link, thank you).

Which accounts to you mean?

We have joint accounts with BOA which I opened when I arrived, and Harris Bank which she has had for about a million years. I am also officially on our apartment lease.

We have bills (like car loan, etc) - would you suggest being added to those?

BigDavyG

Neil
I guess that I'm in a similar situation now to the one you were in when you first arrived. If I get my girlfriend to add me as a named card holder to one of her accounts will that improve my credit score, and if so how long before i can go it alone.

Cheers

Celsius

Why are you going down the secured credit card route when you have an American spouse? Does your spouse have good credit?

If so, you should become an additional user on her credit card(s). By doing so (if you've given your SSN too), you'll be piggybacking and gaining her credit history.

On the other hand, if your spouse has a bad credit history, you're doing the right thing by getting a secured credit card.

As for BoA's policy about Permanent Residents being eligible for secured credit cards, it's probably on their website. Have you checked? If that's true, just look at other secured credit card providers. There's been threads on this, I'm sure.

Celsius

Credit = loans and borrowing of some sort. Therefore, simply having a bank account is not going to impact on your credit history in anyway.

Chorlton

Get on your wife's bank account and get a card with it, like the other guys told you.
Wait a little while and get some easy cards like Lowes, buy something and pay it off.
Get your name on some utility bills too - it won't do any harm.
After 3 years I'm 20 points behind my wife on the credit scores

ukmancoll

I appreciate all the advice, thank you.

I will try and do all of the recommendations.

Matt

ukmancoll

She doesn't have a credit card, just a debit linked to checking (we have been trying to avoid them) - but it might have to be something we look at now.

evoal2003

Tell her to get a few, then add you to them as joint. I got added to my now wifes discover, amex, sears card keep the balances low and your away.

alan

BritGuyTN

BOA have 2 secured cards

1 - semi-secured ($100 in $500 to spend)
2 - fully secured ($500 in $500 to spend)

the semi is not given to those who don't have a green card
the fully secured is

getting on your spouses credit (and only your spouses credit) as an authorised user will do jack shit.

you need at LEAST ONE credit line in either your own name or jointly held (not an authorised user)

Bob

I'd hold off on BoA untill Jan2 because of the merger, basically a lot of policies are being changed, and most of them are utterly w@nk by the sound of things....plus BoA has a shite record for identity theft and even worse record for helping you out afterwards.

Shahlax

I am also trying to build credit. I am additional cardholder on my husband's rbs mastercard. However that doesn't get me any credit. They don't do joint accounts for credit cards. They also suggested Chase.

ukmancoll

Not too encouraged by Chase so far... I can't find anything on their site about a Secured Credit Card. When I call the number, it connects me to somewhere in India where they immediately begin reading off a script (I hung up), and you can't send them an email unless you are a customer already (need account number).

I'll keep looking.