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How to apply for US credit card - guide for non-resident

Hello everyone,
[Updated guide: How to Get Your First US Amex Credit Card—No SSN or ITIN Required! - https://www.technofino.in/community...ex-credit-card—no-ssn-or-itin-required.34257/ ]

In this post, I'll tell you about - how to apply for US credit cards without US credit history.
If you are planing to move to USA for educational purposes or any other reason, you may get a credit card this way.
To apply for US credit card, you need-
1. US Address
2. US Bank Account
3. Need Indian Passport
4. US Phone No

5. SSN/ITIN (you can apply for ITIN, if you are ready to pay 300/400$ fees. - SSN/ITIN not required for AMEX credit cards)

Getting US credit cards without US credit history is not that easy, but wait... you can apply for US Amex credit card without US credit history or SSN/ITIN number, using your Indian Credit History.
So... How to apply for US Amex Credit Card Using Indian Credit History?

1. Make sure you have a physical US address & US Mobile no.

Now,
2. Go to this link- Nova Credit [Click Here] (Use This Link & Get $25 Amazon GV After Card Approval)
3. Select India (I recently moved from drop down menu) & Enter your email ID (to receive 50$ amazon GV after card approval, for using our link)

Screenshot 2022-03-17 at 4.42.19 PM.png
4. On the next page, select any Amex credit card you want to apply for & click on "Apply Now"
Screenshot 2022-03-17 at 4.47.34 PM.png
5. On the next page, click on "Got it, take me to American Express"
Screenshot 2022-03-17 at 4.51.51 PM.png
6. You'll be redirected to Amex official website, on that page click on "Apply Now"
Screenshot 2022-03-17 at 4.55.07 PM.png
7. On the next page, enter your details, your income and tick the box- "I don't have a credit history in the US, but have had a credit card or loan in Australia, Brazil, Canada, the Dominican Republic, India, Kenya, Mexico, Nigeria or the United Kingdom. (If you have a Social Security Number, please enter it below.)"
Screenshot 2022-03-17 at 5.00.10 PM.png
8. On the next page, Amex will ask you to provide them access to your home country's credit history.
Select India from the list.
Screenshot 2022-03-17 at 5.10.27 PM.png
9. Enter your details & click on Next
10. Now enter your Indian mobile no and click on Next
Screenshot 2022-03-17 at 5.17.29 PM.png
11. Enter your Indian address and click on Next
12. Now Enter your PAN Card no and click on Next
13. Now Enter your email ID and click on next
14. On the next page, tick both box and click on agree
Screenshot 2022-03-17 at 5.28.43 PM.png
15. You will see a page like this- "Good news! We located a matching record at Transunion CIBIL"
click on Next
Screenshot 2022-03-17 at 5.37.11 PM.png
16. They might ask you some questions, answer them and click on "Transfer my credit history to the U.S."
17. On the next page, Amex will ask you for your ID proof, Select Passport & enter your Indian passport details.
Screenshot 2022-03-17 at 5.44.43 PM.png

Done!
Now Amex might ask you for additional documents or they might approve your application instantly.
If they ask you to call them, you have to call them to review your application.
Good Luck 🤞
 
Last edited:
I guess I'll try it out first with a cheaper card....$695 is making me think twice/thrice 😉
Amex Hilton Honors Card looks like a good option.
No annual fee
No fee on Foreign Transactions.

Also really good signup bonus of 70k hilton points including 1 night reward certificate.
 
no problem, you can pay from your friend's ac, I'll post step by step guide of Aeldra ac opening.
Sir how are people applying? I am trying to understand how AMEX with NOVA credit issues it. Does it mean that they are issuing even without SSN/ITIN entirely ? With just passport details, are they giving the card ? Also if we do get approved without SSN/ITIN, how will a credit score be built and how can we check them without having an ITIN/SSN number ? Just read there are 3 credit bureaus in US.
 
While they may approve for 1 card without SSN/ITIN. How about applying a few months later for a new one? Will we have to follow the same process again to add a second card later?
 
Sir how are people applying? I am trying to understand how AMEX with NOVA credit issues it. Does it mean that they are issuing even without SSN/ITIN entirely ? With just passport details, are they giving the card ? Also if we do get approved without SSN/ITIN, how will a credit score be built and how can we check them without having an ITIN/SSN number ? Just read there are 3 credit bureaus in US.
Yes, they issue card without ssn/itin.
Credit score can be generated without ssn/itin, you have to send physical letter to Credit bureaus to check your credit score without ssn/itin
 
Yes, they issue card without ssn/itin.
Credit score can be generated without ssn/itin, you have to send physical letter to Credit bureaus to check your credit score without ssn/itin
Would you mind explaining this process a bit more 🙏

do we need to send the credit bureaus our address proof of some sorts for them to provide us with our credit reports?
 
I also saw your foreign card video on YouTube. I see you got your card in 2021 but your card carries a member since date of 20? How is that possible through NOVA? As far as I know or have read about it, the membership date from another country is carried over globally only if a global AMEX transfer is done but using NOVA credit is a completely different way. With Nova, even a non-Amex holder can get it. So how did you get a member since date of 20 on your US Platinum card?
 
I also saw your foreign card video on YouTube. I see you got your card in 2021 but your card carries a member since date of 20? How is that possible through NOVA? As far as I know or have read about it, the membership date from another country is carried over globally only if a global AMEX transfer is done but using NOVA credit is a completely different way. With Nova, even a non-Amex holder can get it. So how did you get a member since date of 20 on your US Platinum card?
They also check your amex card history even if you use nova credit.
 
Yes... you have to send a id proof and credit card statement as address proof and you can request 1 free credit report per year.
Oh ok. Does it mean that you have an ID proof in the US 😵
Does it need to be a government issued photo ID with a US address, like driver's licence or a state ID card.
I don't think it's possible to get these without being actually present in the US right?
 
HDGC? You mean HDFC?
You can do this via wire transfer.
or you can contact me to buy USD at just 1% extra fees (Normal Exchange Rate + 1%)
HDFC will charge you Normal Exchange Rate + 3.5%
where in india do u live, i can help you with cash transfer in usa
 
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