Does Credit History follow You?

[joe_robin66 6]

Hello, I am immigrating to the USA from Canada and are wondering if your Credit History follows you or do you have to start from scratch? I am getting different responses when I research online. Thank you.

[Dan J 277]

Hello, I am immigrating to the USA from Canada and are wondering if your Credit History follows you or do you have to start from scratch? I am getting different responses when I research online. Thank you.

It will generally start from scratch. Although in a few cases, like with American Express, you can use your history with them in one country to jump start your credit history in another.

[Brother Hesekiel 2,236]

+1.

When I moved to the US, my American Express card, which is fairly worthless in the US, was transferred into a US one. Most people still start out with a secured card, and from there it gets easier and easier.

[Ali G. 37]

Hello, I am immigrating to the USA from Canada and are wondering if your Credit History follows you or do you have to start from scratch? I am getting different responses when I research online. Thank you.

No, it does not. However, if the bank you use operates in the US as well, you may use it to kick-start your credit here.

Canada has quite strict federal privacy laws, prohibiting companies from selling or distributing your information on; definitely a great thing for the Canadian consumer's privacy.

[Wyatt's Torch 45]

Yup...like the others have said, it's a conditional "no". But I've just recently opened up an account with the Royal Bank in Canada that crosses over into the U.S., with an American Check Card etc., and there is indeed interplay between the credit agencies there and here. My excellent credit in Canada will help my credit in the U.S. when I apply for an RBC Visa down there.