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F-1 / J-1 students

First credit card for international students

Two or three years of on-time payments while you study can mean a real credit score by the time you sign your first lease or car loan after graduation. Here is how students usually start.

How students usually start

  1. Open a checking account at a big bank with your passport, I-20 and school address — many have branches near campus.
  2. With an SSN (on-campus job, CPT or OPT): apply for a student card, or the starter card at your own bank.
  3. No SSN: look at the options below that state they accept an ITIN or need no SSN, or ask a family member with US credit to add you as an authorized user.
  4. Autopay the full balance every month and keep usage low. By graduation you will have one to two years of history.

1Your situation

Social Security number (SSN)
ITIN (IRS tax ID)
US credit history
Credit history in another country
Income you can show

“Some” = stipend, scholarship, part-time or regular family support.

College student
US checking account

2Paths that fit, in order

Most US cards need an SSN or ITIN. If you are authorized to work, apply for an SSN; if not and you have a tax filing reason, an ITIN (IRS Form W-7) opens more options.

No SSN: ITIN, passport or international credit history

Try first

A small number of issuers state that they accept an ITIN instead of an SSN, or can use a credit report from another country. Check the country list — not every country is covered.

  • Without an SSN or ITIN, only a few products say they accept applicants — usually by using your passport and visa, or your credit history from abroad.
Zolve Credit Card (Mastercard) · The Continental Bank (per Zolve's cardholder agreement); program by Zolve
$0 annual feeNo SSN needed

To apply: Zolve says you can apply with a passport, SSN, or ITIN, and that no US credit history is required. Eligible countries are not stated.

A fintech card for newcomers, mostly students, offering up to 1% cash back and a credit limit of up to $15,000.

Checked 2026-10-31 · source

How to graduate: Once you get an SSN, tell the issuer so your account reports under it, then apply for mainstream cards.

Authorized user on someone else’s card

Also consider

A spouse, partner or relative with good US credit adds you to their account. You get a card in your name; they stay responsible for the bill.

  • A spouse or relative with good US credit can add you to their card. Many issuers report the account on your report too — confirm with the issuer.

How to graduate: Treat it as a boost, not a replacement — open your own card as soon as you can.

Student card

Later

Unsecured cards for enrolled college students with little or no credit history. Usually low limits and no annual fee.

  • Student cards are designed for people with no credit history who are enrolled in college.

The examples we list for this path ask for an SSN (or don’t say they accept an ITIN).

How to graduate: After graduation and a year or two of on-time payments, ask to switch to the issuer’s regular card or apply for a better one.

Starter card / bank relationship

Later

Unsecured cards marketed to people with limited or no credit. An existing checking account at the same bank often helps.

  • An existing checking account with the same bank can help a no-history application.

The examples we list for this path ask for an SSN (or don’t say they accept an ITIN).

How to graduate: Ask for a credit limit increase after 6–12 months of on-time payments; product-change to a rewards card later.

Secured card

Later

You pay a refundable security deposit that usually equals your credit limit. It reports to the credit bureaus like any card — the most reliable first step when nothing else is approved.

  • You put down a refundable deposit, which usually becomes your credit limit. Approval is easier because the deposit protects the bank.
  • Use it like a normal card for 6–12 months; many issuers review you for an upgrade and a deposit refund.

The examples we list for this path ask for an SSN (or don’t say they accept an ITIN).

How to graduate: Many issuers review secured accounts for an upgrade to unsecured with the deposit returned; close it only after you graduate.

Credit-builder account or card

Later

Fintech products that report your on-time payments without a traditional credit check, often tied to a checking or savings account with them.

  • Credit-builder products report on-time payments to the credit bureaus without a traditional credit check.

The examples we list for this path ask for an SSN (or don’t say they accept an ITIN).

How to graduate: Use it alongside a first credit card; once you have a score, a regular card is usually the better long-term tool.

Build credit in 12 months: checklist

  1. Month 0Open one first card. Set autopay for the statement balance. Put one small recurring bill on it (e.g. your phone plan).
  2. Months 1–3Keep the balance reported on each statement low — many guides suggest under 30% of the limit, lower is better. Never miss a payment.
  3. Month 3Check your free credit reports from Equifax, Experian and TransUnion at AnnualCreditReport.com; make sure the card shows up and your name and address are right.
  4. Month 6myFICO says a file needs an account at least 6 months old (and one updated in the last 6 months) to get a FICO score. Do not open several new cards at once.
  5. Months 6–9Ask for a credit limit increase, or for a secured card upgrade, if the issuer offers it.
  6. Months 9–12Consider a second, no-annual-fee card from a mainstream issuer. Keep your oldest card open — length of history counts.

What not to do

  • Don’t pay late — payment history is the largest part of a FICO score (35%).
  • Don’t max out the card, even if you pay in full later; the statement balance is what gets reported.
  • Don’t apply for many cards in a few weeks — each application can mean a hard inquiry.
  • Don’t pay for “credit repair” or buy “tradelines”; and never share your SSN with someone promising a fast score.
  • Don’t close your first card after you upgrade; an old account helps the length of your history.

FAQ

What can a student list as income?

Issuers ask for income you can reasonably access. Applicants 21 or older may include income they have a reasonable expectation of access to; under 21, the rules require independent income or a co-signer. Scholarships, stipends and on-campus wages typically count. Report honestly — the application is a legal statement.

Do F-1 students need an SSN for a student card?

Most student cards ask for an SSN, which F-1 students usually get only with an on-campus job, CPT or OPT. Without one, look at the no-SSN and ITIN options and at secured cards from issuers that state they accept an ITIN.

Does my credit history from China transfer to the US?

No — US credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, TransUnion) do not import Chinese credit reports, so you start with no US file. A few issuers can look at credit reports from certain other countries through a cross-border service; check whether your country is on their list.

What happens to my card when I graduate or leave the US?

Your card keeps working as long as you pay. If you stay (OPT, H-1B), keep the oldest card open. If you leave, update your address with the issuer, pay off the balance, and decide whether to keep a no-fee card open for future trips.

How does a US credit score work?

FICO scores run from 300 to 850. FICO weights payment history 35%, amounts owed 30%, length of credit history 15%, credit mix 10% and new credit 10%. Paying every bill on time and keeping balances low matter most.

More guides

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Official references