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<\/a><\/p>\n1. Using the American Express Global Transfer program<\/h3>\n
When I arrived in the United States, one of the first solutions I explored for obtaining a credit card was the American Express Global Transfer<\/strong> program. This service allows American Express cardholders in their home country (from France<\/a> for exemple) to apply for a card in the U.S., without a local credit history. Please visit this link<\/a> for more information.<\/p>\n How does it work?<\/strong><\/p>\n Program benefits<\/strong><\/p>\n A few points to note<\/strong><\/p>\n In my case, this program enabled me to get my first card in the U.S. and start building my credit history quickly. If you’re already an American Express customer, I strongly recommend you look into this option before exploring other alternatives. It’s how I got my first\u00a0 US Credit Card guys !<\/p>\n When I first came to the U.S., another solution that helped me establish my credit history was a secured credit card<\/strong>. It’s an ideal option for those just starting out or who don’t yet have a credit history – in other words, all new immigrants!<\/p>\n What is a secured credit card?<\/strong><\/p>\n A secured credit card works like a traditional credit card, but with one major difference: you must pay a security deposit. This deposit, often equal to your credit limit, serves as security for the card issuer.<\/p>\n Steps to obtaining a secured card :<\/strong><\/p>\n Secured card benefits:<\/strong><\/p>\n My experience with a secured card :<\/strong><\/p>\n I used a secured card for my first purchases in the US, such as shopping and online payments where I couldn’t use Amex (which is very very rare). I asked Discover for a $500 secured card<\/a>. It was an excellent solution for proving my reliability to credit issuers while keeping control of my spending.<\/p>\n If you’re looking for an affordable and efficient solution, I highly recommend this option. It can be your springboard to a conventional credit card with more attractive benefits.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n When I started building my credit history in the United States, I quickly realized that it was essential to regularly monitor my credit score. Apps like Credit Karma<\/strong> or Experian<\/strong> are dedicated tools for monitoring your credit and understanding what influences your score.<\/p>\n Why use a credit monitoring application?<\/strong><\/p>\n Focus on Credit Karma:<\/strong><\/p>\n Using Credit Karma, I’ve been able to monitor my progress month after month. It’s a user-friendly app that helped me better understand the factors that influence my score, such as the length of my credit history or my utilization rate.<\/p>\n Other applications to consider :<\/strong><\/p>\n Installing an application dedicated to monitoring your credit is a key step towards staying informed and making the right financial decisions.<\/p>\n You’ll start building your credit history quickly (in less than 6 months). Just be patient, keep making your payments on time, and then consider applying for an unsecured credit card with your bank to take the next step. (Just my advice!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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2. Getting a secured credit card<\/h3>\n
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3. Install Credit Karma or an application dedicated to tracking your credit<\/h3>\n
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Conclusion<\/h2>\n