How do you get a credit card with no salary?

[magicant 11]

Not sure if this is the right forum for this.

 

I am the USC and my (now) wife came over on a K-1.  We have filed for AOS, etc. and are now waiting.

 

I Added her to my bank accounts and to my credit card (as an authorized user).  But I want to get her a credit card of her own (like from a retail store) so she can start building credit. 

 

The online applications ask for salary, which she doesn't have.  I was instructed by the store to use my salary since I am her husband.  But I am afraid this could cause issues since she is not allowed to work yet.  And they don't seem to have an option for me to be a co-signer or sponsor.

 

I don't want to choose $0 for her salary as I assume she will not be approved for a card.

 

Just wondering how people here have handled getting a credit card before having a salary.

 

Thank you.

[Ontarkie 14,534]

~~Moved to Moving Here and Your New Life, form AOS Family - as the topic comes up often here.~~

[Ontarkie 14,534]

Does it ask for her salary only? I think the forms normally say household annual income. 

 

The easiest way to help her is to get her added as an authorized user on your CC which you did. They should ask for her social. She then waits it out and gets your credit score in roughly 6 months. 

Edited June 11, 2019 by Ontarkie

[pinkitmake 63]

My husband opened a secured credit card with our bank to help him build his credit.

[magicant 11]

I tried 2 stores.  They don't ask for household income.  They ask for the usual information (name, address, SS#, etc.)

 

One says Annual Gross Income, the other says Total Annual Net Income.

 

To me these seem like asking for her salary.  Not a household salary.  Maybe other stores / credit card applications might have household.  Not sure.

 

I didn't realize she will get any credit score for just being an authorized user on my card.

 

I guess I have to look around to see if i found one with household income, or just wait for her to get a job before she applies on her own.

 

Thank you very much.

[magicant 11]

I didn't know about secured credit cards.  Just looked into it.  Seems like you have to make a cash deposit equal to the credit limit, and also seems they have a yearly fee.  If that is the only option I may just wait until she gets a job, and for now keep her as an authorized user on my card.  Not really looking to spend any money for a credit card (pretty tight on cash).  But I appreciate the information for that option.

 

Thank you.

[thatguyuknow 147]

I signed up for a Discover secured card. 1% cash back on purchases and 2% on gas. Those both double to 2 and 4% at the end of the year. Oh and also no annual fee. 

[George & Roth 1,485]

I’ve got my wife a couple credit cards in her own name, she’s a homemaker for our two kids so no disposable income. No issue getting them

 

main point is to build her credit 

[magicant 11]

So you mean you put $0 for her income and she had no trouble getting a credit card with available credit?

 

Thanks.