- Discussion board

I'm an international student in a Ph.D. program in CA. I make just under $20,000 a year... I rent, and have been in the country for about 7 years. BUT, I don't have a credit card because all cards I've come up with say one must be a "us citizen or permanent resident." HELP! How does an international student who is here for a while get a credit card?? Also, some cards say, "must have permanent residence in the US". Does that mean, a permanent address (which is fine) or is that again a reference to the immigration status?

I mostly need a card to establish credit history, not for any great purchases. thank you.

If it says that you must have Perm residence, I believe it is refering to the immigration status. Having a Perm house or residence in the USA wouldnt count towards that.

I am also an immigrant, I am a Temp. resident, I have Perm. residence pending due to marrying a citizen. However I have never run into the same prob. I have applied to credit cards and turned down due to lack of credit history, but never because of my immigration status.

That leads me to believe that they actually go by what is marked on your social security number. Mine states that my social is valid with a work permit, I dont have any indication of having to leave the country, or only be here on a Temp . basis. When I went to get my social it looked like if you were a student, and were here for schooling only it lists that on the SS# you get, youre not going to be living here forever. If a credit card company took that risk, you could rack up a high balance and then leave the country, go home, and they would never see that money again. That how I view it anyway, that is a big risk because if your going back to your home country, why care about paying what you owe?

If you could spare the extra money, maybe you could try for a secured credit card? esp if its only for credit building purposes. I dont know what kind of residency requirements they have, but that way the company isnt making the same risk. If you leave without paying the balance they have the money already set aside. Maybe the credit experts know if some credit card companies that will accept diff immigration status's?

I cant be sure on all of this, the credit card experts should answer, its just my thoughts and 2 cents.

It doesn´t matter about your immigrations status.

You only need a SS# and US address with a tel number. Also a Dr License would help.

Apply for Students cards or Secured cards like Capital One, First Consumer National Bank or Providian.

Also you could ask for a Secured Loan in a Bank. Ask about these kind of loans.

Also you will have to lie about your income. They usually don´t verify employment. I suggest 60k or higher

Vika,

unlike Geo10, i don't recommend lying about your income - especially since you don't need to: $20K ought to be enough to get you SOME sort of credit card. try student cards, since you are a student.

also, don't fall for that immigration status crap - credit card companies really do NOT care whether you're from the US or from another country or from Mars. As long as you have an address here, you ARE a permanent resident, and that's what you should put on the application form.

Just like with the IRS - there are two meanings to the word "permanent resident" - one is "green card holder", the other one is "a person meeting the substantial presence test", in other words, somebody who spends > 180 days in the U.S. You are such a person, so don't worry about your F1/J1/whatever status.

uspehov