Hello allwehereisradio,
Thank you for your question.
You will not have a credit history in the United States. This doesn't
make too much sense, since the main credit reporting agency in the UK,
Experian, is also one of the top credit bureaus in the US. However,
credit history in the United States is tied to a social security
number, and you do not have one, so you have no American credit
history. You will be similar to a student who has never had a credit
card in that regard. This could cause definite problems as far as
American banks lending to you at first, but you should be able to do
it by building credit slowly.
If you will be either an employee or conducting your business in the
US, you will start to build a credit history. You can get joint
credit cards and loans with your spouse and build credit for both of
you.
British Computer Society
Google Cache:
http://72.14.209.104/search?q=cache:agetOKxG_XEJ:www.bcs.org/server.php%3Fshow%3DConWebDoc.2870+immigrant+uk+us+banks+credit+history&hl=en&gl=us&ct=clnk&cd=5&client=firefox-a
"You have no credit history in the US even if you have savings or have
owned a house in the UK and had very good credit there. This can work
to your advantage if your credit is less than brilliant in the UK as
you have a clean slate in the US.
It takes time and patience to build a credit history. You can help the
process by getting joint credit cards with your spouse and a joint
auto loan. Employment also really helps to start getting credit card
offers coming in. They won't initially be the best of terms but you
need at least four revolving accounts of good standing to start to
build a good credit score.
Other financial activities over here, such as setting up a bank
account, car insurance, etc is much the same as in the UK."
How can you establish credit when you have none?
US Financial Information
http://www.workpermit.com/us/relocation/financial_information.htm
"To establish credit, you first will have to open a bank account. This
is necessary in order to obtain a credit card. You can even take a
loan of $500 out against your own $500 in the bank, then pay it right
back. It may sound silly, but this helps you establish credit."
You can also apply for a credit card with an international company
like American Express. More than US or UK banks, American Express is
equipped for clients relocating internationally and your UK credit
card would be able to be transferred to the US quite simply. So,
apply for an AMEX as soon as possible and keep it after you move.
International banks, such as HSBC, could be very helpful in
establishing credit as well. Some UK banks have collaborations with
US banks which may help you in getting a US bank account. Inquire at
your bank and find out if this is the case with it, and if not, find
out what banks have collaborations and set up an account with one of
those. For example, a few years ago Bank of America and the Royal
Bank of Scotland had a tie-in that helped some colleagues of mine who
were moving from the US to the UK.
If you don't want your credit history from the UK to follow you to the
US, you have no problem as it will not unless you purposely try to
help it along with an American Express card and the like.
Sources:
Ask Metafilter
"international credit history"
http://ask.metafilter.com/mefi/44255
Search terms:
immigrant uk us banks credit history
move uk us "no credit history"
If you need any additional clarification, let me know and I'll be glad
to assist you.
--keystroke-ga |
