Credit Cards for Immigrants
Building credit in the US can feel impossible when you're just arriving. These cards are designed for people with no US credit history.
Discover it® Secured
Best for building credit — no SSN required
- No Social Security Number required to apply (ITIN accepted)
- Earn 2% cash back at gas stations and restaurants, 1% everywhere else
- Discover matches all cash back earned in your first year — automatically
- Automatic reviews for upgrade to unsecured card after 7 months
Security deposit as low as $200. No annual fee.
Learn More →Capital One Platinum Secured
Low deposit, automatic upgrade reviews
- Security deposit as low as $49, $99, or $200 depending on creditworthiness
- Automatic credit line reviews starting at 6 months
- Reports to all three major credit bureaus monthly
- Access to Capital One's CreditWise tool to track your score
No annual fee. No foreign transaction fees.
Learn More →OpenSky® Secured Visa®
No credit check — approval for almost everyone
- No credit check required — just a bank account and ID
- Helps establish or rebuild credit with three bureau reporting
- Credit limit equals your deposit ($200–$3,000)
- Accepted by any Visa merchant worldwide
Annual fee of $35. Good option when other cards decline.
Learn More →Self Credit Builder Account + Visa®
Build credit while saving money
- Combines a credit-builder loan with a secured Visa card
- Monthly payments build savings and your credit score simultaneously
- No hard credit pull to open the Credit Builder Account
- Receive your savings at the end (minus fees and interest)
Monthly fee from $25. Not a traditional credit card — more of a savings + credit tool.
Learn More →Tips for Building Credit as a New Immigrant
Start with a secured card
A secured card is the fastest way to start building a credit history. Use it for one or two small monthly purchases and pay it off in full.
Pay on time, every time
Payment history is the single biggest factor in your credit score — about 35%. Set up autopay for at least the minimum payment.
Keep utilization below 30%
If your credit limit is $500, try not to carry a balance above $150. Low utilization signals responsible credit use.
Don't close old accounts
The length of your credit history matters. Once you open a card and build a history, keep it open even if you don't use it much.