| View previous topic :: View next topic |
| Author |
Message |
creditmix
U POSTER
Joined: 07 Feb 2008
Posts: 55
|
 Posted: Fri Mar 07, 2008 3:44 pm Post subject: No credit History, International student! |
 |
|
Hi everyone,
One of my friend arrived in US about three months ago with a student Visa. He doesn't have any credit history and he wishes to establish credit history as soon as possible.
I have heard that secured credit cards are the best option, but I came to the conclusion that these cards either have an annual fee or do not report to the 3 major Credit Bureaus.
Does anybody know any secured credit cards which has no annual fee but also reports to the Credit Bureaus?
Is there any other way for him to build up credit history other than secured credit cards? |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
Claudia
U POSTER
Joined: 11 Feb 2008
Posts: 39
|
| Posted: Mon Mar 10, 2008 11:00 am Post subject: |
|
|
| can you apply for a credit card without a ss#? i mean i don't know if your friend has it or not, i'm just wondering myself how it is done. i thought you had to be an american to have a ssn. my friend doesn't even have a bank account cause he's come here to stay with his friends for a few months or so. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
cardexpert
Joined: 04 Feb 2008
Posts: 21
|
| Posted: Mon Mar 10, 2008 9:26 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Quote: |
| can you apply for a credit card without a ss#? i mean i don't know if your friend has it or not, i'm just wondering myself how it is done. i thought you had to be an american to have a ssn. my friend doesn't even have a bank account cause he's come here to stay with his friends for a few months or so. |
In the US, banks and the institutions backing department store credit cards require Social Security numbers; this is the only way to reference previous credit history (this may not apply to Canadian citizens).
As for a secured credit card, an institution may issue it as long as the collateral (the cash to secure it) matches the amount that is desired for the credit card.
Internationally speaking, depending upon what country you are from, they may use other standards for issuing a credit card.
We hope this information is helpful! |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Claudia
U POSTER
Joined: 11 Feb 2008
Posts: 39
|
| Posted: Wed Mar 12, 2008 12:42 am Post subject: |
|
|
| yes, thanks for quoting the wiki. that clears out the subject completely. i went and looked up this information right after i made my last post here. so, my friend can't get a credit card here. although we still don't know whether creditmix's friend has a ssn. it just can happen that for international students it may be a completely different case, especially if they have a way of applying for ssn. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
creditmix
U POSTER
Joined: 07 Feb 2008
Posts: 55
|
| Posted: Wed Mar 12, 2008 2:24 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Quote: |
| although we still don't know whether creditmix's friend has a ssn. it just can happen that for international students it may be a completely different case, especially if they have a way of applying for ssn. |
Thanks for your help guys!
Me and my friend got more information due to credit history establishment.
Well, it seems like he has to recieve SSN# first anyways, not only for unsecured credit card but also for secured one!
I read couple topics about secured credit cards and it seems like it is theonly way to start credit history for him.
Can anybody give an advice what secured credit card is better? |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
Search
Register
Profile
Check private messages
Log in
