Ok I just wanted to share this as I know there's lots of Canadians who worry about vanishing credit or credit that doesn't transfer once they move over to the US.

I got a Target Visa quite some time ago. I used my canadian SIN, driver's licence and my cdn credit card. I applied at a Target store and had the temporary card (looks like a receipt) within 5 minutes. I got the actual card in the mail at my cdn address a few weeks later and have been using the card ever since in the US when I visit my husband.

I just got off the phone with the nice lady at the 1 800 number. I told her that within a year I would be immigrating to the US and thus getting a social security number. I asked if when I get the new SS if I could just notify them and they could replace my cdn SIN with the US SS and if my credit that I've been building with them thus far would follow onto my SS and she said YES! All I have to do is call and notify them of my new US address and new US SS and voila! I already have some credit established.

So that's a nice easy way to do it I highly recommend their card as the interest rates aren't through the roof and they've been great when I had 2 cases of 'fraud' that happened with my card. Only catch is the maximum limit you'll get is $500 at least for the first year. Oh and you also earn Target points when you use it and for every 1000 you get 10% off of one item.

Happy shopping!

and since I'm feeling lazy, here's to copy-and-paste =)

I got a Macy's credit card last year... I gave them my SIN card, Citizenship card and Canadian credit card to make an application in a store where I was buying some clothes..

I even get my bills sent to my Canada address..

That's a really good suggestion - my Mom has a Penney's card, same idea.

Anyhoo, 2 cases of fraud on your card, that seems excessive and horrible!?

Nah. Basically I ordered something from a company and they never sent it nor responded to my phone calls. So that was one. Another one was some $10 charge that showed up for something and I think someone typed in the wrong credit card number and it just happened to be mine.

Thanks so much for that info...you just helped us ALL out

Ah, ok, that's completely understandable

Darn I wish I'd thought of that when I was still in Canada lol.

Just checked, there's a Target in Watertown! I'm going!
I tried online, but you have to have an American address to apply online.

would do it tomorrow, but I have a PHONE CALL to make

Ya you definately can not apply online. You have to actually go into a store. Glad I was helpful

Not credit related, but account related (didn't want to start a new post so hope this is okay?).

Anyway, when you do end up getting a U.S. "check card" and want to use it with your Paypal account... no can do. The Canadian accounts ONLY accept cards where the billing address is in Canada. You'll need to start a NEW U.S. account with them or close your Canadian account and start a new U.S. one.

Good to know! thanks

I can confirm the Macy's situation - I have done this. They will take CDN, UK etc no problem. So just have your SIN and passporte/DL available in store and you're set. It works!

I'm wandering over to Watertown today. I thought I'd see about the Target and the JC Penny credit cards, I will let you know how it went.

I hope Kristy doesn't see this thread. She'll want to go on a Macy's and Target shopping spree. We have both in our mall. Once upon a time I worked at Target, and we could sign up Canadians for the credit card.

I worked in the electronics area, and I also had a way for Canadians to get DirecTV before it was available over in Canada. They just needed to open a PO Box, first, and register that "address" with DirecTV.

Target? Oh hell, you just opened a can of worms...

...but luckily there isn't one near Vancouver, or that would've been messy.

Okay, I'll whisper this so no one catches it

Walked into both Target and JC Penny. I asked if they gave credit cards to Canadians. YES, show your drivers license and give them your SSN..sign and walk away....omg.

Just bought a couple things my daughter needed for school anyway, made the payment on the card right away and it was DONE!

Great!!!

What about Sears? I hate their CC rates, but my fiance is in Thunder Bay and doesn't have a lot of the large chain stores that offer Credit cards. He has AMAZING credit in Canada right now and could probably get approved for just about anything.

I also remember reading that American Express does something similar when moving from Canada to US. Can anyone verify?

I asked Walmart about that. I asked if I got a card up here, once I move, will they just change it over. I was told NO, you have to re-apply down there. Sears probably works the same way. No harm in asking.

Man, you know, these companies are forked. The issue is, you gave them your SIN, and they will report to the credit bureaus like that SIN was an SSN.

I hope your SIN doesnt map to the SSN of some litigious credit savy American.

My wifes mapped to a dead person. So no harm done I guess.

I just noticed I put SSN number....cmartyn is right, it was my SIN.
Woman at Target didn't seem to care there was a difference *sigh*, got me worried on that one now. JC Penny did ask specifically for my SIN number.

Hmm, American Express may have something to offer, I'm not sure. They are very international, and they issue their own cards, so it's not like Mastercard or Visa where a bank issues them. It might not hurt to dig around their website.

Sure there is Nini, in the Bellis Fair Mall in Bellingham

Sears is that way.. I checked

The info about transferring your American Express Card is here:

http://www.americanexpress.com/globaltrans...ansfer_en.shtml

I might give them a call today and get details, will let you know what I find out.

Ok so I called them. Basically when you are ready to transfer your card you just call them at 1-800-453-2639 (North America) and give them your card number, they transfer you to the department that handles global transfers and voila, they transfer it for you.

you are my new hero!!!! I love my costco amex!!!!! THANKS

I still have an Ontario licence and my parents still live at the address where I was before moving down here, so I took the chance and applied at Macy's a couple of weekends ago and was approved! It felt good to actually have something, knowing that they used my good credit up there, instead of getting the 7-10 DENIAL letter which sucks big time.

Since I started working this week, I've needed to get some new clothes, and thank goodness I read this forum, because I have fallen in love with JC Penney. I did the same thing with them tonight and was approved for $1500. Hubby gets jealous because his credit isn't that great, and can't get any prime CLs.
I pretty much outfitted myself completely tonight...not to mention, got the 10% off

Most of the time, if you live in not so urban areas where they don't get a lot of Canucks, they may not know they can process a credit app. for you...just be persistant. The lady at JCP, had to phone her manager and they said they didn't think they could, but they could try. On the application where you sign it actually states (SIN for Canadian Residents) haha. Both at Macy's and JCP they had to call credit services to get me to confirm some info, but all has worked out well

At least it's a start. I highly recommend that if you can before you come down, say on a visit, to try and get these cards that are available to Canadians. And if you're down here already, if you have the opportunity to still have mail delivered to a Canadian address to take advantage of it to start your credit history with these store cards. Believe me, credit down here is like a drug, and people don't know how to use it. A lot of SUBPrime cards, and too many people with Collection accounts. My husband included.

I refuse to lower myself to these subprime cards and will wait to get a Visa with my bank down here. Heck, I've already had Cap1 send me their subprime 'preapproval'!
If you don't want this junkmail to appear, go to https://www.optoutprescreen.com and fill out the info there.

Hope this has been helpful!

My husband (CDN) has recently applied for the AMEX card also. We were told the same thing - that it would just transfer. It's great to see things confirmed on this thread.

Excellent post!!!


Let me ask this question though...

I don't have my PEI license any more - they took it at the DMV.. I do have a CDN credit card but it's now in my married name not my maiden name.. and I do have a passport & an address I could send it to (as well as my SIN card)..

how would I do the above now?

Emacipation, you could call the stores about their cards. Won't hurt.

I can't believe I've done something right *thud* I'll wait till I get down there and transfer them before I actually believe it.

Posted this in the other thread, I'm getting too confused again

I called Capital One, and they will not transfer cards across the border, but I can still use my Canadian card and pay 2.9% service charge on top of the exchange rate Told them to close my account.

My CIBC VISA is the same way.. they tack on a Service Charge everytime i use it in the US

Well I am still really confused about that credit thing..

RIght now I am using my canadian Visa whenever I need something and then I pay it back online from my Canadian bank account ( that's how I use my EI) I also used cash withdrawal at the ATM with my canadian Bank card and it worked.


But back on the credit thing, I still have my canadian license, and my last address is my mom's house. So what you guys are saying is that I can have a (for example) JCpenney credit card on my canadian informations, my mom would receive the bills and all ??? And then when do you do the switch for the US SSN, license, etc? When has it been long enough to say we got credit. And how do you pay it ? Does it have to be from american or canadian money.. ?


Kinda confused

Go to a JC Penny store, tell them your Canadian and want a card. They'll take your Canadian license (hopefully with your mother's addy )and ask your SIN number. You'll get a temp card with 10% off, buy something, anything and put it on the card, then make a payment right away for the full amount on the card.

They will mail the card to the Canadian address. Once you get the card, (have your mother send it to you) you can call them and update your US address and your SSN.

Sounds too easy doesn't it?

I know you won't be able to do Target, they require a licence. I have an update on my application with them, which I'll post after.

I'm not sure about JCPenney, but you could try with your passport, and if you have a bill with your old address on it in your name you might be able to get it.

Macy's was able to use my passport. Try for Macy's if you have one near you, or if you're travelling to somewhere there is one. I live in VA and got my Macy's card in DE! I was there for a hockey tourney and was killing time in the mall.

Even if you get one card, at least it's a start!

Any ideas for someone like me? I do NOT want to try and use my Canadian credit (it sucks... bad). I have an SSN card here now and will be getting a State ID card soon so I'm going to try getting a Target card (a state DL or ID is required). I can't build credit off my husband's credit (from his credit card) since there's that FICO thingy saying they're not doing that anymore. I have a regular chequing account here and a joint chequing account.

Ok, so my Target story.

I had applied for a Target card back in June, as I had heard they were an easy card to get. Got the 7-10 day notice, and subsequent denial...and yet hubby got a card approved in the store with a Fico score of 504! I was peeved haha.

So I tried again yesterday, we were in Frederick, MD and I used my Canadian stuff. I figured with the approvals I had gotten with Macy's and JC Penney this would be easy. Nope, I got the 'Requires Further Processing" again. I guessed that they needed to verify information, much like the other two did. I guess Target doesn't have anything pop up like that to have the associate verify in the store.

So I phoned the credit services number that the girl gave me (and that was a pain to even get a live person).
I was transferred to their new accounts, and was told that I would be receiving a letter stating they needed me to send a copy of my licence (front and back) a copy of my SIN and a copy of a utility bill. I thought...Ok...I guess I'll just do that then.

I then got a little uncomfortable...why do they need all of this? I called back and asked to speak to a supervisor. I was told that they weren't able to confirm my SIN with the credit bureau, so I asked which one they pulled, and it was Equifax.

I still wasn't happy...so I went and paid the $15 for my Canadian Equifax report and it turns out, that she was right! Equifax isn't showing my SIN...not one number. And they don't have my postal code!

Oh well, I guess if I send in the stuff to Target and they can verify it's me, then perhaps I'll get the card. That's what I'm thinking. I'll just black out the first 5 numbers of my SIN and any other personal info.

I'll keep you all updated on what happens!

As I stated in my above post, I tried for a Target card with my VA Licence and SSN and got the denial. They pull Equifax here.
If your hubby can get a Target card, or already has one, see if you can be a Joint account holder. As far as I know, Fico won't be considering Authorized users, not joint account holders, which is completely different.

Joint account holder means you are responsible for the debt, whereas authorized users are not.

I can get on my hubby's Target card, but it only has a $200 limit. If I get the Target card with my Cdn credit I'll probably have a significantly larger limit than him. If I get denied for the card then I'll get him to add me as a joint user. It's the only card he has that I would be able to do that since his credit is in it's repair stage...my new hobby

Good luck!

Ah! Okay thanks. I'll try and set up a joint thingy with him.

Stupid credit ratings here. Yeah, I cannot use my Canadian credit in any way, shape or form... I suck!

I GOT A CREDIT CARD TODAY!!

Wee hooo...

I got a letter on the weekend from Navy Federal (who I Have an account with).. they had an acceptance number on it and the lady said they were very "good" at extending credit to people who had no credit history..
Sure enough they gave me a 1K limit at a decent % rate..

wee hoo!!!

Congrats!!

Maybe I should get my hubby to get a card from them...he's Ex Navy and still has an account open with them. I've heard that they are very generous when it comes to giving out credit to those without much credit, or lower scores.

Anyways, now you've got a start!

It is true.. the lady on the phone did say that they were generous.. when she told me I was approved she said "there now, that wasn't so hard was it"?? tee hee. I guess i sounded a little frazzled

Hmmm....Better get Hubby on the phone!
He needs all of the good credit he can get!

I just got that funky target card in the mail. They have little "canada" stickers for the address....lol

Read through the thread but I still have a couple of questions:

1. I don't get down to the States very often: are there any "regular" U.S. bank credit cards I can apply for from here in Canada to use/pay off?

2. If I get the Target card next time I go down (March), can I use it to shop online at Target? I make three trips a year, and it doesn't seem to be a very practical way of building a credit score if I'm not down there every two weeks.

Actually, let me expand on that.

3. Is the "Target Credit Card" that everyone is talking about the Target VISA, or the Target-only card? The Target site says you will be considered first for a VISA and then for a Target Card. And yes, I know you have to apply in-store, but I was just seeing what you could do with their card online.

4. The AmEx credit card is worthless for building an overall rating, as it transfers "internally" and does not affect your overall U.S. credit score, yes?

The card I have is the Target Visa card. Yes you can use it online. I have mine set up where my billing address is my current home in Canada and I have my husband's home address in the US as an alternate shipping address.

The only 'obstacle' I've found is to pay the visa bill you have to either mail in a payment or pay it in person. I always do it in person just because I think the mail would result in late payments.

As for the 'bank/credit' card question I haven't a clue. I'm joint on my husband's account so I have a 'visa check card' which is equivalent to 1. a canadian debit card 2. a visa card in the sense that I sign like a credit card but it comes out of our account like a debit Though I'm not building credit with this card as I don't have a social security number to attach to it. It just gives me access to our account.

Hope this helps.

That is helpful! Especially squaring away the Target Visa vs. In-Store card question.

I've just made a few phone calls, and a nice woman at Transunion confirmed that U.S. and Canadian credit ratings really are two distinct files, BUT she said that any interested party can order a copy of your Canadian file from any Equifax or Transunion office, not much more expensive than ordering a U.S. credit report.

She also had the rather good idea of just ordering your own copy of your credit report to carry around with you and show people.

I tried to do this yesterday in Inglewood, California. They were perplexed and I am supposed to call back today after they talk to some stores by the US/Canadian borders. What store did you get your card at?
Thanks,
Carslo

ps

My friend from Canada also has a Dress Barn credit card with her Cdn info.