Newcomers usually get a credit score 3 to 6 months after their card starts reporting, in November 2026. With no SSN or ITIN, start with a passport-only card such as Zolve or Deserve EDU. An ITIN takes 7 to 11 weeks to arrive and unlocks cards like Chase Freedom Rise. Use the estimator below to see your timeline.
By Orafyn Editorial Team · Last verified: November 2026
—
—
Most US banks ask for a Social Security Number or an ITIN, but a small set of issuers accept a passport instead. The table below is the full list this estimator uses — it is also the list the calculator checks your answers against. Rules change, so treat every row as "last verified November 2026" and confirm with the issuer before you apply.
| Issuer / card | What it accepts | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Zolve Zolve card |
Passport + visa + I-20 | No SSN or ITIN needed; built for international students. |
| Deserve EDU Deserve EDU Mastercard |
Passport | No SSN needed at application; for students. |
| Firstcard Firstcard |
Passport | Credit-builder card; no SSN needed. |
| Chase Freedom Rise Chase Freedom Rise |
ITIN | Designed for no credit history; ITIN accepted. Nova Credit now works with Chase only (2026). |
| Capital One (secured) Capital One Platinum Secured |
SSN or ITIN | ITIN accepted on some cards — verify before applying. |
| Discover it Secured Discover it Secured |
SSN or ITIN | Reports to all three bureaus; cash back on purchases. |
| Bank of America (student) Bank of America student card |
Passport + I-20, in person | Apply in branch with passport and I-20; SSN or ITIN may be requested. |
Source: issuer pages and comparison guides (NerdWallet, updated 13 October 2026; Firstcard; Zolve). Last verified November 2026. Amex × Nova Credit ended in 2025; Nova Credit now works with Chase only. Verify with the issuer before applying — acceptance rules change without notice.
An ITIN (Individual Taxpayer Identification Number) is issued by the IRS on Form W-7 and usually takes 7 to 11 weeks to process. You can apply by mail, at an IRS Taxpayer Assistance Center, or through a Certifying Acceptance Agent. An ITIN is for tax purposes only: it is not a work permit, it does not change your immigration status, and it does not by itself give you a credit score.
What an ITIN does unlock is a wider set of cards: Chase Freedom Rise, Capital One secured cards and Discover it Secured all accept an ITIN where a passport alone is not enough. If you already have an ITIN, the estimator above skips this step. If you do not, apply for the ITIN in week 1 and use a passport-only card in the meantime, so your credit history starts as early as possible.
Two different scores, two different clocks. A VantageScore can appear after 1 to 2 months of card reporting. A FICO score — the one most lenders actually use — usually needs 6 months of history on at least one account, plus at least one account reported in the last 6 months. Both clocks start when your first card reports to the bureaus, not when you arrive in the US and not when you get an SSN or ITIN.
That is why the order matters: open a passport-only card first, then apply for an ITIN while it reports. Waiting for the ITIN before opening any card delays your first score by the same 7 to 11 weeks.
A secured card works like a normal credit card, except your refundable deposit becomes your credit limit — a $300 deposit means a $300 limit. The issuer reports your payments to all three credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian and TransUnion) exactly like an unsecured card. Pay on time and keep your balance low, and after 6 to 12 months many issuers graduate you to an unsecured card and return the deposit.
The number that matters most after on-time payment is utilisation: the share of your limit you use. Under 30% is the usual guidance, under 10% is better. On a $300 limit, $200 of spending is 67% utilisation — too high. Pay twice a month, or raise your deposit, to keep the reported balance low.
For a passport-only card: a valid passport, your visa, and for students the I-20 (F-1) or DS-2019 (J-1), plus a US mailing address. For an ITIN card: the ITIN letter from the IRS, plus a passport. For an SSN card: the Social Security card or number, plus a government photo ID. Every issuer also asks for income — for a student, that can be a stipend, assistantship pay or verifiable support; do not list income you cannot document.
Ana is an F-1 student in Texas with no SSN and no ITIN. She opens a Zolve card with a $300 deposit and spends $200 a month, paid in full. Her utilisation is 67% — too high — so she pays twice a month to stay under 30%. She applies for an ITIN in week 1 on Form W-7; it arrives in 7 to 11 weeks, and she adds a Chase Freedom Rise. A VantageScore may appear after 1 to 2 months of reporting; her first FICO score usually appears after 6 months, around month 7.
Method. Cards are grouped by the lowest ID they accept: passport only, ITIN, or SSN. The timeline assumes your first card starts reporting in month 1: a VantageScore after 1 to 2 months of reporting, a FICO score after 6 months. The ITIN step adds 7 to 11 weeks when you do not have one yet. Utilisation = monthly spend ÷ deposit; the 30% line is the standard guidance.
Sources. IRS Form W-7 processing time, 7 to 11 weeks. Nova Credit: the American Express partnership ended in 2025; Nova now works with Chase only (2026). NerdWallet, "Credit Cards You Can Get Without a Social Security Number", updated 13 October 2026. Issuer pages for Zolve, Deserve EDU, Chase Freedom Rise, Capital One and Discover. Last verified November 2026 — verify with the issuer before applying.
Last verified: November 2026
More tools: Gig True-Pay & Cover Calculator — true hourly pay after gas, tax and insurance · Final-Expense Cost Calculator — premium by age, sex and state · All free finance calculators · Read the blog