The best way to build good credit is to use the credit you have wisely.
But if you’re an international student or a new immigrant to the country, qualifying for a credit card can be a challenge. This is because many card issuers require a Social Security number (SSN) on the application. If you don’t have one, you won’t qualify for those cards.
There is hope, however. Keep reading to find out how you might be able to get a card without that number.
Is a Social Security number necessary to get a credit card?
The short answer is no.
Some credit card issuers will accept visa or passport information from applicants. Other card issuers will allow people to apply for a credit card with what is known as an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN), which can be used to file income taxes. You can get an ITIN without an SSN.
Social Security number vs. Individual Taxpayer Identification Number
SSNs are issued by the Social Security Administration to people born in the U.S. or are authorized to work in the country. New arrivals to the U.S. can apply for an SSN if they are approved to work in the country.
An ITIN is issued by the IRS and is used when people need to file their taxes. The number is given to nonresident and resident aliens and their spouses and dependents who can’t obtain an SSN but must still pay U.S. taxes. Nonresident aliens, for instance, might need an ITIN if they are engaged in trade or business transactions in the U.S. throughout the year since they need to file taxes on this income each year.
Using an ITIN as a workaround
If you are an international student studying in the U.S., you can apply for an ITIN even if you are ineligible for an SSN. You’d do this if you are in the country on an F-1 visa (students in traditional academic programs) or an M-1 visa (students in vocational programs).
To get an ITIN, you must first complete IRS Form W-7, also known as the IRS Application for Individual Taxpayer Identification Number. You’ll need to provide documents that prove your foreign or alien status and true identity. You can submit this information by mail or in person at an IRS Taxpayer Assistance Center.
Issuers that don’t require a Social Security number
What you need to apply for a credit card depends on the issuer:
- American Express will accept applications from people with an ITIN or passport information.
- Bank of America will accept applications from people with an ITIN or passport information.
- Capital One will accept applications from borrowers with an ITIN.
- Chase allows applicants to use an ITIN in place of an SSN.
- Citi accepts applications from consumers with an ITIN.
- Discover requires applicants to submit an SSN.
Newcomers to the country or international students who get an SSN or ITIN may still struggle to qualify for a traditional credit card. Without a credit history in the U.S., international students and new immigrants are starting from scratch. And unfortunately, your credit history in a different country doesn’t automatically transfer to the U.S.
Building credit with a secured card
Galina “Allie” Petrova, an attorney in Greensboro, North Carolina, says newcomers to the U.S. and international students without a credit history here should consider secured credit cards as a way to help build credit.
A secured card works much like a traditional unsecured credit card, with one notable difference. When you take out a secured credit card, you must provide a deposit to the bank or financial institution issuing your card. That deposit acts as your card’s credit limit. If you stop making your payments, the bank behind your card can pay itself back by drawing on this deposit.
“That really is the best option for newcomers to the country to build credit,” Petrova said. “A secured card is limited. Your credit limit will usually be smaller. But it is a good way to slowly build your credit.”
start building credit. They usually don’t require long credit history, so it’s easier to get approved.