Best credit cards for immigrants.
From your first month in the US.
If you've just arrived in the US, you have no US credit history, even if you had excellent credit in your home country. That's not a problem. It's just where you start.
Why your home-country credit doesn't transfer
The three US credit bureaus, Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion, only track US accounts. Your credit record from Mexico, India, the UK, Brazil, Canada, or anywhere else is not visible to US lenders by default. This isn't a reflection of your financial responsibility. It's a data gap caused by the fact that credit reporting in different countries uses incompatible systems.
The single exception is Nova Credit, a service that translates international credit reports into a US-readable format. Nova Credit currently supports several countries (more on this below) and is partnered with American Express in the US. If your home country is supported, this is one of the fastest paths to skipping the “starting from zero” phase.
Otherwise, the path forward is the same as any other no-history applicant: a secured card or a newcomer-friendly card from an issuer that performs alternative underwriting.
Your three options to start
Pick the option that matches your situation.
Secured credit card
Refundable deposit, near-guaranteed approval, the fastest reliable path. Recommended for most newcomers.
Best if: You have an SSN or ITIN and can fund a $200 deposit.
ITIN-accepting card
Major-issuer cards that explicitly accept ITIN documentation. Capital One, Discover, American Express. May or may not require deposit.
Best if: You have an ITIN and want a major-issuer card.
Newcomer / international card
Cards built for newcomers and international students. Firstcard, Zolve, Deserve EDU. Accept passport plus visa, often no SSN or ITIN required.
Best if: You don't yet have an SSN or ITIN.
What identification you need
What each issuer accepts.
| Issuer | SSN | ITIN | Passport-only | F-1 / J-1 visa |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Capital One | Yes | Yes | No | With ITIN |
| Discover | Yes | Yes | No | With ITIN |
| American Express | Yes | Yes | No | With Nova Credit |
| Firstcard | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Zolve | Optional | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Deserve EDU | Optional | Limited | Yes | Yes |
Top card categories for immigrants
Categorical guidance only. Verify all current terms on the issuer's site or the CFPB credit-card agreement database before applying.
Capital One Quicksilver Secured
ITIN accepted. Tiered minimum deposit (as low as $49 for qualifying applicants). Cash back during the secured phase. The most flexible major-issuer secured card for ITIN holders.
Discover it Secured
ITIN accepted. $200 minimum deposit. 5% rotating cash-back categories. Discover Match doubles your first-year cash back. Strong English-language customer service.
Firstcard Secured
Built for newcomers. Accepts passport-only. No credit check at any stage. $0 minimum deposit on the standard plan. The most newcomer-friendly card on the market for applicants without an SSN or ITIN.
Zolve Classic
Built for international students and immigrants from India and other supported countries. No SSN required. No US credit-history required. Uses alternative underwriting (income, education, employer). Cash back available.
Deserve EDU Mastercard
Built for international students on F-1 and J-1 visas. SSN not required. Passport plus visa documentation accepted. Designed for the campus-life spending profile (groceries, restaurants, streaming).
American Express via Nova Credit
If you're from a Nova Credit-supported country (India, Mexico, Canada, UK, Australia, and others), you can apply for select American Express cards using your home-country credit report. Skips the “starting from zero” phase entirely if approved.
Building US credit as an immigrant: the timeline
What to expect at each milestone, assuming on-time payments and utilisation under 30%.
Month 1
Apply and get approved
Choose the option that matches your documentation. Set up autopay the day the card arrives.
Month 6
First FICO score
Your file is now thick enough for FICO to generate a score. Typically 620–660 with perfect history.
Month 12
Mainstream eligibility
Most users at 660–700. Mainstream rewards cards become approval candidates. ITIN-accepting major-issuer unsecured cards open up.
Month 18
Good credit
Score reaches 700+. Apartment-rental approvals become straightforward. Auto-loan rates improve substantially. Some prime cards (Chase Freedom, Citi Custom Cash) become accessible.
Month 24
Established credit
Score 720+. Most cards in the market are realistic options. Mortgage applications become viable with sufficient down payment and income.
Nova Credit, transferring your international credit
Nova Credit is a service that translates credit reports from supported countries into a US-readable format. If you have a strong credit file in a supported country, this can dramatically accelerate your US credit-building timeline by letting you skip the “starting from zero” phase.
Currently supported source countries: India, Mexico, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, Brazil, Nigeria, Kenya, Dominican Republic, and several others. The list expands periodically.
Main US partner: American Express. When you apply for select American Express cards as a newcomer, you can choose to use Nova Credit to provide your home-country credit report. American Express then evaluates your application using that report alongside US-side underwriting.
The service is free for the consumer. It's worth checking even if you only had a few accounts in your home country, because any positive credit history is better than none.
Frequently asked questions
Can I get a US credit card on a visa?
Yes. Several major issuers accept applications from visa holders. The specific requirements vary by issuer and visa type, but the most accessible options for visa holders are: Capital One (accepts ITIN), Discover (accepts ITIN, has international student products), American Express (accepts ITIN, has Nova Credit partnership for global credit history), Firstcard (accepts passport-only for newcomers), Zolve (built specifically for visa holders), and Deserve EDU (built for F-1 and J-1 visa international students).
Approval generally requires verifiable US address, documented income, and identity verification through SSN, ITIN, or passport plus visa documentation depending on the issuer. The process is the same as for citizens for cards that accept your particular documentation.
What is an ITIN and how do I get one?
An Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) is a nine-digit IRS-issued number that functions as a tax ID for individuals who are not eligible for a Social Security Number. It's used for federal tax purposes and is widely accepted by US banks and credit-card issuers as a substitute for SSN.
To get an ITIN, file IRS Form W-7 along with original or certified copies of identity documents (passport is the simplest) and a valid federal tax return. The process takes six to eleven weeks and is free. ITINs don't expire as long as you use them on a tax return at least once every three years. Once issued, your ITIN is permanent and can be used for credit-card applications, bank accounts, and most other financial purposes.
How long does it take for an immigrant to build a good credit score in the US?
With a secured credit card and consistent on-time payments, you'll have a FICO score after six months and reach “good” (above 670) within twelve to eighteen months. The exact pace depends on payment history (the largest factor), utilisation (the second-largest factor), and account-mix diversity (a smaller factor that benefits from adding installment loans like a Self credit-builder loan).
Two years is a reasonable expectation for reaching a credit score above 720, which opens up most mainstream rewards cards and meaningfully better auto-loan and apartment-rental terms. Three years of consistent positive history puts most people in the 740+ range.
Can international students get credit cards?
Yes. Several cards are specifically built for international students on F-1 and J-1 visas. Deserve EDU Mastercard accepts students without an SSN, with passport and visa documentation. Zolve Classic is built for international students and immigrants and uses alternative underwriting that doesn't require US credit history. Firstcard Secured accepts passport-only documentation.
Several mainstream issuers (Capital One, Discover) also approve international students with an ITIN, and Discover's student cards have generous underwriting for visa holders. Nova Credit, partnered with American Express, can translate your home-country credit history (for India, Mexico, Canada, UK, and several other countries) into a US-readable format that may help with Amex applications.
Does my credit score from my home country count in the US?
Generally no. US credit bureaus (Experian, Equifax, TransUnion) only have visibility into US credit accounts. Your home-country credit history is invisible to US lenders by default, regardless of how strong it was.
The exception is Nova Credit, a service that translates international credit reports into a US-format file for use in lending decisions. Nova Credit currently supports India, Mexico, Canada, UK, Australia, Brazil, Nigeria, Kenya, and several other countries. American Express is the largest US partner that accepts Nova Credit reports for credit-card applications. If your home country is supported and you've had credit there, applying through American Express via Nova Credit can dramatically accelerate your US credit-building timeline.