Not existing is getting old.... A vent.

[Hanxa 9]

First up. Yes, I am impatient. Nothing works. 

 

I have my SSN but I don't have a US phone number yet. I tried opening a Chime account to get me started but they won't accept the temporary green card in my passport (yey!). I can't apply for a secured credit card to start building credit history because, nothing can find me. I don't exist. I want to open a phone line but... Hey ho, credit check. I don't even know if it will be accepted rn. 

 

I'm feeling super isolated. I'm applying for summer work to get me started, but without a US account, who knows how that will go. I'm out here in the middle of nowhere with no transportation, a UK phone number and I can't even do the few things I had hoped to while hubs is at work. 

 

I'm super frustrated rn... How do you even get started when the whole system seems to be against you? I'm hopefully heading to T-mobile today about a phone. I will take the car and go alone if I have to... I will want an account eventually. I have a Wise US account so hopefully that can tide me over for now. 

[JeanneAdil 6,405]

i have cell phone and a plan

and just added my MIL to it while she visits (for 3 months)

your spouse has not added u to one?

 

that's the 1st thing i did to make my husband feel at home in the US

 

or get a SIMS card from any convenience store and pay for minutes

[Hanxa 9]

Just now, JeanneAdil said:

i have cell phone and a plan

and just added my MIL to it while she visits (for 3 months)

your spouse has not added u to one?

 

that's the 1st thing i did to make my husband feel at home in the US

 

or get a SIMS card from any convenience store and pay for minutes

Hubs is still on a family plan under his ex's name with their kid. He pays for it but I'd rather not be attached to her myself. If I can't get a plan, my plan is to get prepaid instead. I just need a damn phone 😂

 

I don't understand why I don't exist anywhere on anything yet. Nothing seems to speak to anything else. It's really not made to be easy. 

[JeanneAdil 6,405]

4 minutes ago, Hanxa said:

Hubs is still on a family plan under his ex's name with their kid. He pays for it but I'd rather not be attached to her myself. If I can't get a plan, my plan is to get prepaid instead. I just need a damn phone 😂

 

I don't understand why I don't exist anywhere on anything yet. Nothing seems to speak to anything else. It's really not made to be easy. 

do u have a UK phone?

remove that SIMS card and use one from US

i do this when i travel 

[Family 3,934]

Husband can call in to one of his credit cards , add you as authorized user and you get instant credit existence. Within a couple of months you will get credit offers in your name only. 
 

Pre paid T-Mobile is an excellent choice to have your own line .

 

Good luck with job search, you will have no problem with your I-551 stamp as proof of LPR existence. 
 

[Lil bear 4,118]

Other alternative is to use viber (VOIP). It needs wifi/internet but its better than nothing. Your husband can surely buy you a handset and prepaid SIM in his name. Put it under your details when you can. We had prepaid ATT numbers for over a decade when we were just visiting , before immigrating.  
 

I’m down in SW Missouri near Springfield.. if i was closer i would come visit you !! PM me anytime!  ..

Edited August 1, 2022 by Lil bear

[Verrou 1,957]

1. credit card, ask ur husband to add you as autorized user. or u can try bank of america for secure card ( if u dont want ur husband to add u) , $500 limit for 3-6 months ( they locked ur money in the bank ), and in 3 -6 months, they will release ur money, and it become normal credit card + credit limit increase to $1,500.  i can even open the credit card with passport only. no GC no EAD, no SS

 

2. sim card, pre paid at&t or t-mobile. passport only. after few months, i have friends, they added me on their family/ friends plan. cheaper. or ur husband to open a new account  ( post paid) for u under his name or ur name doesnt matter. its very easy and doable. 

 

Edited August 1, 2022 by Misscloud

[Lil bear 4,118]

18 minutes ago, Hanxa said:

Hubs is still on a family plan under his ex's name with their kid. He pays for it but I'd rather not be attached to her myself. If I can't get a plan, my plan is to get prepaid instead. I just need a damn phone 😂

 

I don't understand why I don't exist anywhere on anything yet. Nothing seems to speak to anything else. It's really not made to be easy. 

You will find many many processes here in the US are way more complicated than they are in most other Western countries .. UK/Australia/western Europe .. it drives me crazy and we've bern dealing with it for years now.  I mentally have a “screaming place” where I throw a solo mini tantrum after many encounters with health/medical/insurance/utilities.. doesn't change them or the process but sure gets out my stress  ! 

[Crazy Cat 41,459]

43 minutes ago, Hanxa said:

First up. Yes, I am impatient. Nothing works. 

 

I have my SSN but I don't have a US phone number yet. I tried opening a Chime account to get me started but they won't accept the temporary green card in my passport (yey!). I can't apply for a secured credit card to start building credit history because, nothing can find me. I don't exist. I want to open a phone line but... Hey ho, credit check. I don't even know if it will be accepted rn. 

 

I'm feeling super isolated. I'm applying for summer work to get me started, but without a US account, who knows how that will go. I'm out here in the middle of nowhere with no transportation, a UK phone number and I can't even do the few things I had hoped to while hubs is at work. 

 

I'm super frustrated rn... How do you even get started when the whole system seems to be against you? I'm hopefully heading to T-mobile today about a phone. I will take the car and go alone if I have to... I will want an account eventually. I have a Wise US account so hopefully that can tide me over for now. 

If you have a SSN, you can get a phone line.  If you have a SSN and a immigrant visa in your passport, you can get a bank account.  I suggest your spouse get off his rear end and do his share as a spouse and help you!!!!!!!

Edited August 1, 2022 by Crazy Cat

[Hanxa 9]

Thanks guys. Hubs very much has a laissez-faire attitude to many things (especially this apparently) and he doesn't see the need for me to be this bothered since I fly home (back to the UK) at the end of the month to work my notice. But I know that. I'm still trying to build my life here and having a head start for December will make everything else so much.... Easier. I hope. 

 

I'll ask him about adding me as an authorised user to start building my credit, but will see. He's currently rebuilding his credit so I don't know if that's an option. 

 

I'm used to phone contracts. I've not had payg since I was a kid and it bothers me that it isn't straightforward. But I'll get something sorted. 

 

I've not even started looking into healthcare... I need to get my prescription transferred over somehow and that's my biggest worry - access to my meds. I know I have time, but sitting around with no car isn't helping. I'm just stuck. I hate it and I want to go home to where the world makes sense. 😂 

[Crazy Cat 41,459]

Just now, Hanxa said:

Hubs very much has a laissez-faire attitude to many things (especially this apparently) and he doesn't see the need for me to be this bothered since I fly home (back to the UK) at the end of the month to work my notice.

US immigration requires a great deal of knowledge, planning, time, patience, and money......and action!!!  Good luck.

[Verrou 1,957]

i will go ballistic if my husband didnt want to help me / offer his help for simple matter like this. 

tell him that this is very important for u 

good luck ! 

Edited August 1, 2022 by Misscloud

[Hanxa 9]

Just now, Misscloud said:

i will go ballistic if my husband didnt want to help me / offer his help for simple matter like this. 

good luck ! 

It isn't that he doesn't want to. He does. He just doesn't understand my need to get things moving as soon as I can. 

[top_secret 2,347]

49 minutes ago, Hanxa said:

I have my SSN but I don't have a US phone number yet. I tried opening a Chime account to get me started but they won't accept the temporary green card in my passport (yey!).

My wife absolutely positively DID open a Chime account with the temporary green card in her passport.  They did take a week to review her documents but they did open the account.  Maybe you got a misinformed employee or something.  She likes and uses the Chime account for banking and we do think the "Credit Builder" card was beneficial towards establishing her credit.

 

Another similar fintech banking company that is good for establishing a financial identity is https://cred.ai/ .  Their product essentially functions more or less like a prepaid debit card but reports to the credit agencies as a credit card with a $1500 limit.   it is an excellent option for building a credit record.  They also took a week to review my wife's documents but opened the account with the temporary  green card.

 

As others have said get your husband to add you as an authorize3d user on his cards.  This will make a HUGE difference in your credit score.

 

There are allot of really good prepaid phone service options.  My wife uses https://www.mintmobile.com/ which is the cheapest we found and requires nothing but a payment to have a SIM card sent.

 

 

[Hanxa 9]

4 minutes ago, Crazy Cat said:

US immigration requires a great deal of knowledge, planning, time, patience, and money......and action!!!  Good luck.

Yep. He was fine with that. But I'm here now and other things take priority