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Building Credit in the US

By Colleens in Canada

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Colleens Rising Star

Colleens   40

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Filed: AOS (apr) Country: Canada
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I have been reading on a lot of posts about issues with getting and building credit in the US. On a shopping trip to the states a few years ago, I applied for a store credit card and got approved. It used my canadian address and info, but since it is an american store will this help me with credit when I move there in the future?

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Otto Grand Master

Otto   83

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Filed: Lift. Cond. (apr) Country: Germany
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In-store (aka revolving) credit cards don't always help build credit (some do, most don't). The best thing to do is obtain a Master Card or Visa. (The credit rating system in the US pretty much sucks - not a fair system at all but what can we do?) :thumbs:

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trailmix Grand Master

trailmix   77

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Filed: IR-1/CR-1 Visa Country: Canada
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I have been reading on a lot of posts about issues with getting and building credit in the US. On a shopping trip to the states a few years ago, I applied for a store credit card and got approved. It used my canadian address and info, but since it is an american store will this help me with credit when I move there in the future?

Yes it will help. Ensure you call them when you get your SSN and have them change out your SIN for your SSN.

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thetreble Experienced

thetreble   19

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Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Canada
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I think we should have a pinned topic at the top of the form that talks about credit.

"...My hair's mostly wind,

My eyes filled with grit

My skin's white then brown

My lips chapped and split

I've lain on the prairie and heard grasses sigh

I've stared at the vast open bowl of the sky

I've seen all the castles and faces in clouds

My home is the prairie and for that I am proud…

If You're not from the Prairie, you can't know my soul

You don't know our blizzards; you've not fought our cold

You can't know my mind, nor ever my heart

Unless deep within you there's somehow a part…

A part of these things that I've said that I know,

The wind, sky and earth, the storms and the snow.

Best say that you have - and then we'll be one,

For we will have shared that same blazing sun." - David Bouchard

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Emancipation Mentor

Emancipation   2

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Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Canada
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I think we should have a pinned topic at the top of the form that talks about credit.

agreed... :)

AOS:

2007-02-22: Sent AOS /EAD

2007-03-06 : NOA1 AOS /EAD

2007-03-28: Transferred to CSC

2007-05-17: EAD Card Production Ordered

2007-05-21: I485 Approved

2007-05-24: EAD Card Received

2007-06-01: Green Card Received!!

Removal of Conditions:

2009-02-27: Sent I-751

2009-03-07: NOA I-751

2009-03-31: Biometrics Appt. Hartford

2009-07-21: Touched (first time since biometrics) Perhaps address change?

2009-07-28: Approved at VSC

2009-08-25: Received card in the mail

Naturalization

2012-08-20: Submitted N-400

2013-01-18: Became Citizen

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Udella&Wiz Mentor

Udella&Wiz   325

Posted
Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Canada
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Posted
I think we should have a pinned topic at the top of the form that talks about credit.

agreed... :)

Agreed 100%

I am going to add this to my signature....

Get a secured credit card in your own name only to build your US credit...period, end of story and if you're lucky in any other way that's just a plus

Wiz(USC) and Udella(Cdn & USC!)

Naturalization

02/22/11 - Filed

02/28/11 - NOA

03/28/11 - FP

06/17/11 - status change - scheduled for interview

06/20?/11 - received physical interview letter

07/13/11 - Interview in Fairfax,VA - easiest 10 minutes of my life

07/19/11 - Oath ceremony in Fairfax, VA

******************

Removal of Conditions

12/1/09 - received at VSC

12/2/09 - NOA's for self and daughter

01/12/10 - Biometrics completed

03/15/10 - 10 Green Card Received - self and daughter

******************

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J&K Community Regular

J&K   0

Posted
Filed: Lift. Cond. (apr) Country: Canada
 Timeline
Posted
I think we should have a pinned topic at the top of the form that talks about credit.

agreed... :)

Agreed 100%

I am going to add this to my signature....

Get a secured credit card in your own name only to build your US credit...period, end of story and if you're lucky in any other way that's just a plus

Agreed also, and EXCELLENT info Udella&Wiz :thumbs:;)

AOS/EAD

04/07/07 - Sent AOS/EAD to Chicago

04/09/07 - Received at Chicago Lockbox

04/16/07 - NOA Date

05/10/07 - Transferred to CSC

05/30/07 - Case Pending at CSC

06/19/07 - Card Production Ordered for AOS

06/22/07 - Approval Notice Sent for AOS

06/23/07 - Welcome to America Letter received!

06/27/07 - Green Card Received

Removing Conditions

06/03/09 - Sent I-751

06/04/09 - Received at VSC

06/05/09 - NOA1

07/01/09 - Biometrics - Alexandria, VA

07/02/09 - the Lonely Touch

10/29/09 - Approved!

11/04/09 - Card Production Ordered

3dflags_usa0001-0001a.gif John 3dflags_can0001-0001a.gifKrystin = 3dflags_usava01-0001a.gif

3D Flags

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thetreble Experienced

thetreble   19

Posted
Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Canada
 Timeline
Posted

Also, getting put on your US husband's/wive's credit cards helps. It helped me!

"...My hair's mostly wind,

My eyes filled with grit

My skin's white then brown

My lips chapped and split

I've lain on the prairie and heard grasses sigh

I've stared at the vast open bowl of the sky

I've seen all the castles and faces in clouds

My home is the prairie and for that I am proud…

If You're not from the Prairie, you can't know my soul

You don't know our blizzards; you've not fought our cold

You can't know my mind, nor ever my heart

Unless deep within you there's somehow a part…

A part of these things that I've said that I know,

The wind, sky and earth, the storms and the snow.

Best say that you have - and then we'll be one,

For we will have shared that same blazing sun." - David Bouchard

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TimandJoyce Proficient

TimandJoyce   1

Posted
Filed: Lift. Cond. (apr) Country: Canada
 Timeline
Posted
Also, getting put on your US husband's/wive's credit cards helps. It helped me!

That's good to know!! :thumbs:

K-1 timeline

Sent I-129f Dec. 29, 2008

Received NOA Jan. 10, 2009

NOA2 email sent April 16, 2009, APPROVED

Interview in Vancouver, June 23, 2009 APPROVED!!!!!!!!!!

Wedding, September 19, 2009, South Carolina!!

AOS

Mailed package to Chicago, Oct. 22, 2009

NOA hard copies Nov. 3, 2009

RFE Nov. 17, 2009

Finally mailed back RFE December 15, 2009

Case transferred to CSC January 7th 2010girlfreuya.gif

EAD and AP Approved, cards sent January 8th, 2010!!

AOS approved February 9th 2010 smiley-happy093.gif

Welcome letter and GC received February 16th, 2010

Done with USCIS until 11/08/11

ROC

Sent 1-751 to Vermont Service Center November 18th 2011

NOA November 23, 2011

Biometrics December 23, 2011

RFE Dated Aug. 17; received Aug. 20th

mailed off RFE end of Oct.

Received Email stating card has been ordered Dec. 4

Received Email stating card should arrive within seven days; Dec 6

GLITTER.jpg

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Brad and Vika Mentor

Brad and Vika   129

Posted
Filed: Lift. Cond. (apr) Country: Ukraine
 Timeline
Posted

Even if your spouse/SO co-signs it will help. Also, store and gas cards do put you on the radar. Not using them or not paying them will both hurt, but having them only helps. The idea is to establish a history of making payments. The Canadian address shouldn't matter as long as you are paying to a US company.

3dflags_ukr0001-0001a.gif3dflags_usa0001-0001a.gif

Travelers - not tourists

Friday.gif

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