Immigrant Credit 101: How To Get a Credit Card Without a Social Security Number

Credit is an essential part of modern life. Loans, credit cards, mortgages—most people can’t get ahead without credit at some stage. But what if you’ve emigrated from another country and don’t have a Social Security number yet? If you’re wondering how to get a credit card without a Social Security number, you’re in the right place.

We’ll begin this guide with an overview of some of the issues immigrants face when they try to get credit. After that, we’ll teach you how to get on the credit wagon, so that you can thrive here in the U.S. Also remember to engage your immigration attorney to understand all your options.

Being New is Tough

Immigrants to the U.S. face a large number of obstacles, some of which are expensive and some that are just plain inconvenient. Take getting a credit card, for instance. Most Americans new to credit have a tough time—but they do at least have SSNs. Some immigrants don’t—at least not at first.

First of all, if you’re an immigrant, you’re definitely not alone. The U.S. has a proportionally bigger—and more diverse—immigrant population than any other country in the world. In fact, every year, an average of more than a million immigrants arrive in America. Nearly 14% of the U.S. population is foreign born, and that portion will probably grow in the coming years.

About 77% of immigrants in America are here legally, but that doesn’t mean things are easy for them. Unless they’ve arrived with a specific type of visa in hand, they’re not automatically entitled to get a Social Security number. They’re also not entitled to work without a work permit.

Most immigrants eventually make it through the wilderness, get work permits and apply for—and receive—Social Security numbers. Until they do, though, they often find it very hard to get credit. So how can you build credit without a credit card? If you’re in no man’s land, some of the tips below might help.

Use Your Passport

Some banks and card issuers accept passports in lieu of SSNs. International students and U.S. newcomers alike can apply for credit via one of the following financial institutions:

• American Express. During the American Express application process, you’ll use The Credit Passport® to help you apply for a personal card (instead of your SSN). 
• Capital One. You can apply for various Capital One cards, including the Platinum, the Quicksilver, the Journey student rewards and the secured card, using your passport number. 
• CreditStacks. This Mastercard is ideal for foreign professionals who work in the U.S. You can apply and be approved without an SSN after about 60 days in the country. 
• Deserve Edu. You don’t need an SSN to apply for a Deserve Edu Mastercard, but you do need to prove that you attend a university in the U.S.

Can You Apply for a Credit Card With ITIN? 

Other lenders will accept an applicant with an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) instead of an SSN. We’ll cover how to get a handy nine-digit ITIN below, but for now, these companies are:

• American Express. You can apply for an American Express card using your ITIN.
• Capital One. If you own a business but don’t have an SSN, you can still apply for a Capital One Spark Classic for Business reward card using your ITIN.
• Chase Ink. This one does require that you have good, established credit—but you don’t need an SSN to apply for a Business Cash or Business Preferred Ink card. Instead, use your ITIN or your Employer Identification Number (EIN).
• Chase Freedom. Students in the U.S. with an ITIN can apply for a Chase Freedom card and earn 1% cash back on purchases.

How Can I Get an ITIN?

There are lots of reasons to get an ITIN. For a start, an ITIN allows you to pay taxes and keep up with tax return filing requirements. Later, when you get a Social Security number, the earnings you reported via your ITIN will count for things like retirement and disability benefits. Thankfully, getting an ITIN isn’t too difficult:

1. Fill out an IRS Form W-7. You’ll need to provide one form of ID to prove your identity—your passport, government-issued ID or driver’s license from your home country, the Alien Registration Number from your Permanent Resident, your student ID or your work visa, for instance. 
2. Mail your W-7 or submit your completed form at an IRS Taxpayer Assistance Center (TAC).
3. Wait about seven weeks to receive your ITIN. 
4. ITIN in hand, catch up on any tax filing requirements and apply for credit cards from the lenders above.

Use the American Express Credit Passport

Until recently, U.S. newcomers with credit histories in select countries found themselves back at square one when they arrived in the United States. Immigrants with good credit found this incredibly frustrating. Unfortunately, they didn’t have a choice—they just had to start from scratch.

In 2019 American Express launched its Credit Passport service for newcomers. This groundbreaking product is a partnership between AMEX and Nova Credit, and it’s essentially a credit history passport. When you sign up for Credit Passport, American Express uses your international credit history to make a lending decision on the spot. Some applicants are even eligible for an instant AMEX number, which they can use to make purchases on the spot.

Credit Passport provides U.S. newcomers with a straightforward path into the American credit system. If they get approved for personal AMEX cards, they’re able to build credit histories. After a few months, other card and loan opportunities begin to emerge and before they know it, newcomers don’t feel so new.

How to Build a Credit History in the US

Credit is a tricky business. If you’re not eligible for the American Express Credit Passport, you might need to build credit the “old fashioned” way. In that case:

• Get a work permit. If your visa allows it, apply for a work permit. Applying for an employment authorization document (EAD) is pretty simple—you just fill out Form I-765and submit it to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
• Apply for a Social Security number. With an EAD in hand, you can apply for a Social Security number. Apply at your local SSA officeand allow up to four weeksto receive your new card in the mail.
• Get a secured credit card. If you have an ITIN, you can use it to get a secured credit card. Some card issuers also accept passport numbers. Both of these options will help you boost your U.S. credit profile.
• Patience is key. Getting a great credit score takes time. Make sure you don’t borrow more than 30% of your available credit, pay your bills on time and wait. You’ll have an American credit presence sooner than you think.

You Have Options

It isn’t easy being an immigrant—and the visa process is hard enough in itself. Once you’re here, you’ll also need to build a United States credit profile from scratch, which can be maddening if you have a great credit history in selected countries.

Thankfully, products like American Express Credit Passport can help you get on the credit ladder. If you’re approved, you can start building credit history and get a U.S. AMEX card right away. 

Some card issuers also accept ITIN or passport numbers instead of SSNs. American Express, Capital One and Chase are three financial institutions with more flexible application profiles.

If you can’t get American Express Credit Passport, you can use the tips in the credit building section to get started. With a little responsible borrowing and a smattering of patience, you’ll quickly gain a U.S. credit score.

You Might Also Like