Are you looking for How to Get/create a Free US Credit Card For Non-Residents? Well, you are at the right place. Whether you’re temporarily moving to the U.S. for school or work, or making a long-term transition, you may be looking to open a new credit card.
This is the good news I have for you, you can now apply for an American Express card using your international credit history from selected countries. This is one reason American Express cards could be a good option. Another is that Amex reports to all three credit bureaus, so you should start building U.S. credit history when you're approved for a card and use it responsibly.
If you prefer dining out or are frequently on the road, the American Express Gold Card has rewards that will align with your usual spending. You’ll earn Membership Rewards points with your purchases, which you can redeem in a variety of ways, such as for cash back, gift cards, or to book travel. The options are usually using your points to book travel through American Express or transferring your points to airline or hotel loyalty programs.
How to apply with international credit history (applies to all Amex cards)
On the American Express application page, you will have the option to click "I don't have credit history in the U.S." In the Social Security Number (SSN) field of the application page. You can then also skip the SSN field. Amex will always check for your U.S credit first, but if they can not find a U.S. credit file they may enable you to transfer your international credit history as part of the application. This is available for newcomers from Canada, the UK, Australia, India or Mexico and many others.
What the card offers?
- 4 points per dollar you spend at US supermarkets on the first $25,000 in purchases each year (then 1x points)
- 4x points on restaurants
- 3x points when you book flights directly with airlines or with American Express Travel
- Up to 12 complimentary months of an Uber Eats Pass subscription when you enroll with your Gold Card.
In addition, you’ll receive $10 in statement credits each month for purchases at select restaurants. The card also doesn't have a foreign transaction fee.
Take note of the following:
- There is a $250 annual fee if you want to have the American Express® Gold Card. There are other travel-focused rewards credit cards that offer a variety of perks with a much lower fee. However, they may be more difficult to qualify for unless you’ve already established credit in the US.
- The statement credits can also be tricky with the American Express® Gold Card. For example, the $10 monthly restaurant credit is only valid at a few chain restaurants and it expires each month (i.e., you can’t save up for one large meal).
Platinum Card from American Express
The Platinum Card from American Express is one of the company’s most popular and well-known cards and it was one of the first premium cards on the market. It still offers a suite of benefits that appeal to frequent travelers who want a more luxurious experience, but it also has a high $695 annual fee.
Check Out What this card offers
- Fitting for a travel-focused card, The Platinum Card® from American Express doesn’t have a foreign transaction fee. You can also earn 10x points on eligible purchases at restaurants worldwide and when you Shop Small in the U.S., on up to $25,000 in combined purchases during the first six months. You can also earn five Membership Rewards points per dollar you spend when you use the card to book flights with the airline or through American Express Travel.
- With this card, you’ll have access to The Centurion Network, which includes 40+ Centurion Lounge and Studio locations worldwide. These benefits can make traveling much more pleasant, amazing and provide a relaxing place to work or unwind before and after flights.
- The card also offers access to Uber VIP status and up to $200 in Uber savings on rides or eats orders in the US annually; $200 in airline-fee statement credits per year; and $25 back on select Equinox memberships every month.
Take note of the following:
- The annual fee is the biggest con to watch out for. Even with the statement credits and perks, you might not get enough value out of the card to justify spending $695 each year.
- As with the American Express Gold Card, the statement credits can sometimes be tricky to use (and if you don’t use them you lose the credit). You’ll also earn Membership Rewards points with the card. There are many options for redeeming points, but it’s best to use your points to book travel or transfer your points to a partner program and book a rewards flight or hotel stay.
Blue Cash Preferred Card
American Express has several cash back credit cards, which you can use to earn cash back on a variety of purchases. In particular, the Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express offers bonus cash back earnings in categories that could appeal to younger adults and families.
What does this card offers?
- Earn a $300 statement credit after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months.
- Buy Now, Pay Later: Enjoy $0 plan fees when you use Plan It® to split up large purchases into monthly installments. Pay $0 plan fees on plans created during the first 12 months after account opening. Plans created after that will have a plan fee up to 1.33% of each purchase amount moved into a plan based on the plan duration, the APR that would otherwise apply to the purchase, and other factors.
- Low intro APR: 0% for 12 months on purchases from the date of account opening, then a variable rate, 13.99% to 23.99%
- Earn 6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in purchases (then 1%) and 6% cash back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions.
- Earn 3% cash back on transit (including taxis / ride share, parking, tolls, trains, buses and more) as well as at at U.S. gas stations, and 1% cash back on other purchases. All cash back is earned in the form reward dollars and can be redeemed for statement credits.
The card offers one of the highest earnings rates at supermarkets, making it a good option for individuals or families who frequently purchase lots of groceries. If you’re amongst the many people who prefer streaming services to traditional cable or satellite TV, the streaming service bonus category also is appealing.
Take note of the following:
- There is a $95 annual fee after the first year, and the annual spending cap that applies to cash back at U.S. supermarkets may be limiting for large families. The card’s 2.7% foreign transaction fee could also be off-putting if you want to use the same card in and outside the U.S.
- Also, be aware of the limitations on what counts as a supermarket. Specialty markets, such as a wine shop or butcher, might not qualify, and superstores (such as Target) or warehouse clubs (like Costco) aren’t part of this category.
Jasper Card
CreditStacks was founded in 2015 and offers just one credit card and rebranded to become the Jasper Card. This credit card is created specifically for professionals who are relocating to the U.S.
The Jasper card offers a baseline cash back rate of 1%, which, for its intended low-credit or no-credit-history applicants, will be a refreshing break from the no-reward cards that often remain the only available options. While this 1% reward makes the card worth a second look, consumers should beware the reality of the chef tool “party”-like offer of “up to 6%” cash back rewards.
With no annual fee and a tiered credit limit system that maxes out at a $5,000 credit limit, the Jasper card may be a worthy alternative to secured cards for many who have little or no credit history. Advertising clear and simple educational resources and an easy-to-use account management mobile app, the card is an answer to the problems with secured cards or cards with loan-shark rates that prey on those without the privilege of great credit.
The card’s multi-level cash back reward system adds an additional 1% cash back reward to the card’s base 1% cash back reward for each friend brought on board, up to 6% total cash back. The catch? The cash back boost only lasts a year—so maxing out that six percent requires making 5 friends into cardholders every year. Only the most affluent social influencers will be able to pull this off. Does this sound eerily similar to a rose-hued beauty product sales pitch you may have heard at a party once? It certainly does to us.
You can learn more about their cash back terms and other fees in their disclosures.
Note: You can’t earn other meaningful rewards with the Jasper Mastercard, which may make it less appealing than other premium credit cards mentioned in this article that could be available to some newcomers. Jasper also only reports your account and payment information to Equifax, and having the card won’t help you build a credit history with TransUnion or Experian.
Deserve Edu Mastercard
Deserve, originally named SelfScore, was founded to help international students get a credit card while in the US The company now offers three different credit cards, including two cards that don’t require a Social Security number or credit history to qualify for.
The Deserve Edu Mastercard for Students could be a good fit for international students studying in the US You don’t need to have a Social Security number or US credit history to qualify (although, if you do, it will be considered). Instead, you can link your bank account during the application process and Deserve will analyze your financial history to determine if you qualify for the card and your credit limit.
Cardholders will be eligible for a variety of perks, such as discounted renters insurance, free cell phone insurance and a lifetime total $59 reimbursement to cover the annual cost of Amazon Prime Student.
The Deserve Edu Mastercard for Students doesn’t have an annual fee or foreign transaction fees that some cards charge on purchases made outside the U.S. or in non-U.S. Dollars. You’ll also earn 1 percent cash back on all your eligible purchases.
Take note:
- The Deserve Edu Mastercard for Students has a high annual percentage rate (APR). The APR can help you understand the annual cost carrying a balance based on your card’s interest rate.
- If you pay your bill in full each month, the interest rate won’t be applied to your balance. However, if you think you may make large purchases and then take several months to pay off the balance, you might wind up paying a lot of interest based on your APR and a different card could be a better fit.
- Deserve will also only report your account and payments to two of the major three US credit bureaus, TransUnion and Experian. Consequently, you won’t establish or build your credit history with Equifax. If you apply for a loan or different credit card in the future and the company wants to review your Equifax credit report and a credit score based on that report, it might not find anything, and you might not be able to get approved.
Discover it Secured Card
Discover doesn’t have as much of an international presence as Visa, Mastercard, or American Express, but most major retailers and online stores will accept it in the U.S. The Discover® it Secured is a secured credit card perfect for new immigrants, a type of card that’s created for people who have a poor or no credit history and want to build or rebuild their credit. Secured cards work just like unsecured cards, but require a refundable security deposit when you open the account.
The Discover it Secured Card is one of the few secured cards that’s part of a rewards program. You can earn 2 percent cash back on your first $1,000 worth of combined purchases at gas stations and restaurants each quarter, and earn 1 percent cash back on all other purchases. Discover will also double your cash back earnings at the end of the first year.
The card doesn’t have an annual fee or foreign transaction fee. Discover also reports your payments to all three major credit bureaus and can send you a free FICO® Score based on your TransUnion credit report with your monthly statement, allowing you to track your credit score over time.
Take Note:
- Just as the case with other secured credit cards, you’ll need to make a refundable security deposit to open your card account. The card’s credit limit will be equal to your security deposit (e.g., a $500 security deposit means your account will have a $500 credit limit). Once you’ve built your credit history in the US, you may qualify for an unsecured credit card for new immigrants. You’ll get your refundable security deposit back when you close this card account (assuming you’ve paid off your credit card bills).
- You’ll also need a bank account and Social Security number to apply. You may be able (and required) to get a Social Security number if you’re eligible to work at your university or off-campus with the school’s approval.
- As with other rewards and secured credit cards, the Discover it Secured Card has a high APR, which can make revolving a balance especially expensive.
Another Alternative: ask your current card issuer or employer
You may have years of credit experience in your home country, or be moving to the U.S. with a high-paying job lined up. Your current financial relationships and employer may be able to help you get approved for a new card in the states.
Several card issuers and banks, including American Express, BNP Paribas, Citi, and HSBC have transfer programs for their relocating customers. Additionally, some employers in the U.S. have relationships with local credit unions or banks. You could ask your company’s human resources department, or whoever is helping you with the relocation, about options.
If you don’t currently have a credit card and there aren’t any employer-based options, consider one of the non-student-specific cards listed above.
Also Check: How to open a Bank Account in the US as a Non-Resident
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Also Check: How to Get Free Virtual Bank Account For PayPal Verification 2021
How to get a credit card without a Social Security number
Many credit card applications will ask you for a Social Security Number (SSN). However, you don’t necessarily need an SSN to complete an application or qualify for a credit card.
Don't have an SSN yet? Several card issuers allow you to apply for a credit card with no Social Security Number. This is a complete guide on how to get credit cards without an SSN.
As you may have already experienced, it’s difficult to take part in the U.S. financial system without a Social Security number. Many financial institutions require an SSN on an application for a new account, but getting yourself a Social Security number (SSN) isn’t always easy. Not having an SSN can make it difficult to get a credit card and build U.S. credit, open a checking or savings account, or get a loan, but there are other options.
However, some credit card issuers open up their applications to residents who don’t have a SSN. The key is knowing where to look and how to apply. Here are some options that you can do.
1.Apply for American Express credit cards with international credit history
If you are a newcomer to the U.S., and international student or another noncitizen, American Express might have you covered: You can apply for all American Express personal credit card online without an SSN if you have credit history in one of the following countries: Australia, Canada, India, Mexico and the UK. Even if you are not from one of these countries, Amex still accepts ITINs as part of their applications.
You do NOT need a Social Security Number to start your U.S. credit history.
Experian and TransUnion will track and attempt to match your name, birth date, and address to your credit history. However, specified personal information like an SSN and ITIN make it easier for credit bureaus to report information accurately.
American Express also reports to all 3 major credit bureaus (Transunion, Experian and Equifax), so you should start building U.S. credit history when approved for a card and using it responsibly.
To choose a card, consider how you want to use the card, your normal purchasing habits, and your lifestyle. As you can see in the above featured picks in the article.
2. Find other card issuers that don’t require an SSN
Some issuers will let you use an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) instead of an SSN on your application. An ITIN allows people who don’t qualify for an SSN to file a tax return in the US. You may qualify for one if you’ve worked in the US (including as a contractor) or receive a taxable scholarship. You can apply for an ITIN when you file a tax return or in-person at IRS-authorized locations.
Once you have an ITIN, you may be able to use it in place of an SSN for some credit card applications. A few issuers will also accept a passport if you apply over the phone or at a branch.
Some credit card issuers, such as Deserve and Jasper (formerly CreditStacks), also offer credit cards specifically for international students or professionals relocating to the US for work. They allow you to apply using other forms of identification, such as your passport and visa information.
3. Submit the application
Once you’ve decided which card you want, you’ll have to submit the official application. Often this can be done online and only takes a few minutes, but many card applications will ask for an SSN. If you have an ITIN, you may be able to put this in place of the SSN and submit your application.
If you have an ITIN, you may be able to put this in place of the SSN and submit your application. If you don’t have an ITIN or SSN, you may be able to apply using other identifying documents, such as your passport.
If you’re unsure of how to apply online, call the card issuer and ask to speak with a representative or visit a local bank branch.
4. Meet the credit card issuer’s requirements
Being able to apply is important, but you’ll also need to qualify for the card. Credit card companies consider a variety of factors when reviewing your creditworthiness, and the best credit cards may require a good credit history and low debt-to-income ratio.
You may be able to get approved for a student card (assuming you’re a student) or for a secured credit card even if you don’t have a credit history in the US and aren’t scoreable by FICO or VantageScore. However, card issuers may still consider your income as they want to know that you can afford to pay the credit card bill.
If you have a good credit history in your home country, some international banks and card issuers may be able to review that credit history when considering your application.
Getting a credit card without an SSN can help you build credit in the U.S.
You can have a credit history and credit scores in the US regardless of whether you have an SSN or are a U.S. citizen because the major credit bureaus — Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion — don’t require an SSN to create and build a U.S. credit history.
Once you open credit cards and loans in the U.S., your payments can be reported to the credit bureaus. The bureaus can then generate credit reports by matching you with your accounts based on identifying information, such as your name and address. Credit scores can also be created based on those credit reports.
If you’re still in the early stages of building credit in the US, you could still benefit by using your credit history from your home country. Nova Credit helps you bring your credit history with you, and creates a Credit Passport that lenders, card issuers, and property managers can use to review your application based on your foreign credit history.
That was just a brief talk on How to apply for a credit card without a Social Security number. Well lets proceed.
Some issuers, such as Deserve and CreditStacks, are very clear about being able to apply without an SSN. As mentioned above, American Express enables it as long as you can apply with international credit history from select countries. Other major card issuers may also let you apply using a non-US passport or another form of government identification to verify your identity.
If you’re not eligible for a SSN, you may be eligible for an Individual Tax Identification Numbers (ITINs). For example, if you received a taxable scholarship you’ll need an ITIN to file your United States tax return. Depending on the card issuer, you may be able to use Individual Tax Identification Numbers (ITIN) rather than a SSN during the application process.
Even if you don’t have a SSN, you can still build credit in the U.S. if you have a credit card, loan, or another credit account that’s reported to the credit bureaus.
The major credit bureaus can use your name, address, and other identifying information to create a credit profile and tie your accounts to your credit reports. Your credit profile can also be tied to your SSN if you get one in the future.
As an alternative to a credit card, you may be able to get a prepaid card and use it like a credit card. However, prepaid card issuers won’t report your account information to the credit bureaus and having a prepaid card won’t help you build your credit history.
Conclusion On How to Get/create a Free US Credit Card For Non-Residents
Reading the above article carefully you will realize that it is not quite complicated to achieve what you want that is getting a free US Credit Card for Non-resident. as mentioned above, they come with lots of benefits as well as you should take note of some certain aspect for instance, getting maybe a Deserve Edu Mastercard for students studying in the US is that good and has lots of benefit but take note of aspects like if you pay your bill in full each month, the interest rate won’t be applied to your balance.
However, if you think you may make large purchases and then take several months to pay off the balance, you might wind up paying a lot of interest based on your APR and a different card could be a better fit. and lot of other aspect too should be aware of as named in the article above.
But if not I assure you that they are the best and I bet you that as you apply for any of them you will greatly enjoy