Icamarn

Introduction
Seeing how building a credit score is one of the biggest hurdles for an immigrant to tackle, and every now and then you see a topic pop up with a question about things like credit cards, buying a car and so on, I thought it would be a good idea to have a single topic to gather all tips and tricks in a single thread.
In time, maybe we can incorporate this info into one of VJ's Guides...
What is Credit Score
The US Credit Score is a number between 300 and 850, which reflects your ability to handle credit. The official score is often referred to as FICO (Fair, Isaac & Company)
There are 5 items that contribute to your score, each with a different weight:
Payment History (35%): Any history of bankruptcy, liens, judgments, settlements, charge offs, repossessions, foreclosures, and late payments drops your score. Revolving Debt (30%): The amount borrowed versus available credit. Think Credit Cards. Length of Credit History (15%): Both the average time of accounts, as well as the age of the oldest account. These must be ACTIVE accounts. Types of Credit (10%): installment, revolving, consumer finance, mortgage. If you handle more than 1 type of credit, this is good. Inquiries and New Debt (10%): When making an inquiry for credit, such as credit card applications, shopping for a loan etc, your rating goes down. Why is this good or bad as a new immigrant
As an immigrant you do not have a history in the US. This means you DO NOT HAVE a US credit rating when you arrive.
The positive thing is that you also do not have any BAD payment history.
The bad thing is, credit is a catch-22 problem in the US: You can't get credit without a good credit score, and you can't get a good credit score without having and using credit.
Any cards, accounts or history you have or had abroad do not count. (One known exception, see below)
What credit score ranges are there
Excellent credit score: 720 and Up Good credit score: 680 to 719 Average credit score: 620 to 679 Poor credit score: 580 to 619 Bad credit score: 500 to 579 Miserable credit score: Less than 500 How to get credit so you have items reporting into your credit score
A lot depends on your personal situation. Are you married, employed, do you have cash to open an account, and so on.
Typically, you will need to find a bank or credit union first, so ask around.
Once you have found a suitable financial institution, ask for a "Secured Credit Card". This is a card with a certain spending limit, which amount you secure through the financial institution by depositing the cash equivalent on a locked account.
You can then use the assigned credit, and after the first month's statement is due, you will have items reporting into your credit score. You now have payment history, length of credit and revolving debt.
Usually, your bank will replace the secured credit card with a regular credit card, increasing the limit on the card. Expect this after a few months, if you pay your statements on time.
People coming in through a work visa can often get a company credit card, which makes life a lot easier!
If your spouse has a good credit rating, the financial institution might also allow him/her to co-sign the credit card application. Check with the financial institution on the requirements they have. In theory any person (in the US) with good credit can co-sign, so a family friend, parents etc are fine too.
How to get from decent to excellent credit
OK, now that we have some things reporting into our credit score, how can we boost that score up?
1. The number one rule: PAY EVERYTHING ON TIME, IN FULL
2. Specifically to credit cards, the use of credit is important, more specifically, how much do you charge to your card:
Per account, avoid exceeding 33% of assigned credit. Some people say it's best to have a utilization of 12-20% (Some say between 1 and 20%) The utilization is based on the amount due on the reporting date. If you buy a 900$ television on a 1000$ credit, but deposit 700$ before the reporting date, your utilization is only 200$, or 20% (Can anyone confirm?) Do not leave credit cards unused (When not using credit, this hurts your score). If you have a 500$ secured card, you could for instance use it to put fuel in your car every week or so. Do not close old credit cards, this hurts your account age! 3. Diversify. Get at least one credit card and one installment loan. You can get a secured installment loan through your financial institution. If you want to buy a TV for 1000$, but that 1000$ in a secured account at the bank, and have them give you a loan over 12 months against that deposit.
Another option, typically when buying a car, is to get a car from a dealer who gives credit to "anyone". But ALWAYS ask if they report to the credit agencies (CRAs). Then pay the remainder of the loan after at least SIX months. The intrest rate will be ridiculous (over 20% in most cases).
According to Equifax, having at least 4 (different) lines of credit are required to get a really good score (Credit Card, Mortgage, Car Payment, Student Loans, Personal Loans, Home Equity Loan for Credit, ...)
My credit union actually suggested the following:
a) Get a "personal secured loan" to buy a car. (basically: Put the money you would pay as a cash downpayment on a car, into a secured loan for yourself)
b) After 90d of employment, you qualify for a "first time borrower" loan. Bring in the title to the car, and you can use the title to borrow against. You'd get a mediocre intrest rate (C-level credit).
This would give you 3 lines of credit after about 4 months, which is pretty good !
Age of Credit Accounts
Even if you have a decent credit score after a few months, when the time comes you want to buy your first car, you might get rejected quite a bit on your loan, due to "no sufficient credit history". Although the average age of accounts only counts for 15% of the credit score algorithm, financial institutions will count this as one of the major factors for credit decisions. The solution is to get a large downpayment, and preferably work with the financial institution directly, not through a dealer.
Credit Reporting Agencies
There are 3 major CRAs in the US:
TransUnion (http://www.transunion.com) Equifax (http://www.equifax.com) Experian (http://www.experian.com) They all have minor differences in how they calculate your credit score. By law, they are (each) required to give you one free credit report per year.
What can affect your score negatively?
(From TransUnion) Wondering when judgments and bankruptcies will no longer appear on your credit reports? Check the dates on records in your credit report. Generally, here's how long judgments and bankruptcies remain on a credit report: Bankruptcy Generally, Chapter 7, 11 and 13 bankruptcies appear as public record items on your credit report for up to 10 years after filing. Chapter 13 bankruptcy records are sometimes taken off sooner, 7 years after filing, depending on the credit reporting company’s policy. When you receive an Order of Discharge in bankruptcy, your creditors should mark those accounts that were discharged as "Included in Bankruptcy" and they will stay on your report for up to 7 years. Charge-off accounts Generally, if a delinquent account is charged-off, the charge-off record appears on your credit report for up to 7 years. Closed accounts Generally, negative or derogatory information about delinquent accounts remain on your credit reports for up to 7 years. Positive closed accounts (without late payments or other delinquencies) may appear for longer than 7 years. Collection accounts Generally, accounts sent to collections will be listed on your credit report for up to 7 years, beginning 181 days from the most recent delinquent period before the collection activity. A collection account’s status should change to "paid collection" once you've paid off the entire amount. If you settle with the collection agency for less, your credit report may list the account as "settled for less than full balance." Inquiries When a creditor or lender checks your credit in connection with an application, you'll usually see a "hard inquiry" on your credit report. Generally, these stay on your report for as long as two years, and may lower your credit score slightly. When a creditor reviews the credit report of an existing customer, or when you access your own data online, a "soft inquiry" typically shows up on your credit report. Soft inquiries don't lower your credit score or appear to businesses checking your credit. Judgments Generally, most court judgments, including small claims, civil and child support, stay on your credit reports for up to 7 years from the date they were filed. Late payments Generally, if you make a payment late, the delinquency could appear on your credit report for up to 7 years. Tax liens Under federal law, city, county, state and federal tax liens could stay on your report indefinitely. Generally, after the lien is paid, the record of it stays on your credit reports for up to 7 years from the payment date. One of the most important of these are the inquiries. If you want to get store credit or a new credit card, DO NOT JUST APPLY for one. Every time you apply for credit, your score will drop a few points, and the inquiry itself (Often referred to as "hard inquiry) stays on your report. Lenders who see systematic hard inquiries on a report see this as negative.
However, when shopping for a car (and thus car loans), all hard inquiries within 14 days are reported as one. When buying a house and a mortgage, they are grouped into one for 30 days.
Major Tip:
VISA and MasterCard are basically payment PLATFORMS, where local financial institutions issue the credit through the platform. Your credit history and account reside with that financial institution.
American Express (AMEX) however, issues the credit itself (Sometimes through local companies, but the credit file is shared with Amex --> This appears NOT to be the case: If cards in your country are not issued by American Express directly (Global Network Cards), they cannot be transferred.).
If you have an Amex abroad, and have had it for more than 12 months, you can (in most cases) request a US Amex card to replace your foreign card. The advantage is, with a good foreign history, chances of approval are very high, plus, the age of your account goes back to the first issuance of your Amex card abroad !
https://www.americanexpress.com/global-card-transfers/united-states.html
Transferring Funds to the USA:
Another point to remember is that transferring your foreign money to your new US account (for instance, to get your secured loan or secured credit card) can be a costly affair. Banks have 2 areas to make money off you:
Transfer fee: Usually a flat fee or a fixed percentage. This is the fee that is generally quite visible. Exchange Rate: The exchange rate your bank will use is quite different from the real exchange rate on the market. For example, the exchange rate between the EURO and the US DOLLAR might be 1.330 on the market, but your bank might only offer you 1.290. That is a 3% difference you might not see ! After doing some research, I settled on TransferWise. (https://transferwise.com/u/b6f15). This seems to be the best platform so far for people in Europe (incl. the UK) to send money to the US. (Or from UK -> EU and vice versa).
It takes a few days longer than most bank transfers, but other than that, I have found it faultless and easy to use. The people behind TransferWise are those that built Skype.
Little disclaimer: The URL provided (https://transferwise.com/u/b6f15) is linked to my account and will allow me to accumulate friend referral benefits.
There are other platforms that outperform high-street banks and Paypal, please feel free to comment below to add your experiences (and from where to where you sent the money). I would find it useful to add information on how to send money from Non-EU countries, and also how to send money to the foreign spouse / fiancee.
Reading Tips:
http://www.myfico.com/CreditEducation/articles/
http://www.freescore.com/good-bad-credit-score-range.aspx

Okay, good! I'm having a job interview soon and I'm hoping It gets here if they hire me otherwise I can't work!

Mine took 7 days😊

Green card in hand!!!! 🎉🎉🎉🎉💃🏾💃🏾💃🏾 
 
This is my timeline: 
Filing date for AOS from K1: March 8
Interview: May 22
Case approved: May 29
Card mailed: June 3
Card picked up by the USPS: June 4
Green Card delivered: June 6
 
Best of luck to everyone in this process🍀🍀🍀

I've called 3 times since my interview (before I had my EAD approval) and that didn't speed anything up with my Green Card. I would say it's a coincidence that you got your update the same day lol. I will try calling them tomorrow to see what they say though. It certainly cannot hurt! 

Just coming back to this thread to share that my husband and I were married on May 24th, after his arrival to the U.S. on May 17th. It's such a relief to be together!!! I hope everyone else is doing well also.

I called USCIS 7 days after my interview because my status didn’t even change to your case is being reviewed and later that day I got updates and case approved. I don’t know if my call helped but if I were you I would try to give them a call and tell them you don’t have any updates online if it’s something wrong with it... 🤷🏽‍♀️ 

Green card in hand!!!! 🎉🎉🎉🎉💃🏾💃🏾💃🏾 
 
This is my timeline: 
Filing date for AOS from K1: March 8
Interview: May 22
Case approved: May 29
Card mailed: June 3
Card picked up by the USPS: June 4
Green Card delivered: June 6
 
Best of luck to everyone in this process🍀🍀🍀

CASE UPDATED!!!!! NEW CARD BEING PRODUCED!!!!!!! WOHOOOO IM SCREAMINGGGGGG

Green card in hand!!!! 🎉🎉🎉🎉💃🏾💃🏾💃🏾 
 
This is my timeline: 
Filing date for AOS from K1: March 8
Interview: May 22
Case approved: May 29
Card mailed: June 3
Card picked up by the USPS: June 4
Green Card delivered: June 6
 
Best of luck to everyone in this process🍀🍀🍀

Green card in hand!!!! 🎉🎉🎉🎉💃🏾💃🏾💃🏾 
 
This is my timeline: 
Filing date for AOS from K1: March 8
Interview: May 22
Case approved: May 29
Card mailed: June 3
Card picked up by the USPS: June 4
Green Card delivered: June 6
 
Best of luck to everyone in this process🍀🍀🍀

Green card in hand!!!! 🎉🎉🎉🎉💃🏾💃🏾💃🏾 
 
This is my timeline: 
Filing date for AOS from K1: March 8
Interview: May 22
Case approved: May 29
Card mailed: June 3
Card picked up by the USPS: June 4
Green Card delivered: June 6
 
Best of luck to everyone in this process🍀🍀🍀

Green card in hand!!!! 🎉🎉🎉🎉💃🏾💃🏾💃🏾 
 
This is my timeline: 
Filing date for AOS from K1: March 8
Interview: May 22
Case approved: May 29
Card mailed: June 3
Card picked up by the USPS: June 4
Green Card delivered: June 6
 
Best of luck to everyone in this process🍀🍀🍀

Green card in hand!!!! 🎉🎉🎉🎉💃🏾💃🏾💃🏾 
 
This is my timeline: 
Filing date for AOS from K1: March 8
Interview: May 22
Case approved: May 29
Card mailed: June 3
Card picked up by the USPS: June 4
Green Card delivered: June 6
 
Best of luck to everyone in this process🍀🍀🍀

Green card in hand!!!! 🎉🎉🎉🎉💃🏾💃🏾💃🏾 
 
This is my timeline: 
Filing date for AOS from K1: March 8
Interview: May 22
Case approved: May 29
Card mailed: June 3
Card picked up by the USPS: June 4
Green Card delivered: June 6
 
Best of luck to everyone in this process🍀🍀🍀

Green card in hand!!!! 🎉🎉🎉🎉💃🏾💃🏾💃🏾 
 
This is my timeline: 
Filing date for AOS from K1: March 8
Interview: May 22
Case approved: May 29
Card mailed: June 3
Card picked up by the USPS: June 4
Green Card delivered: June 6
 
Best of luck to everyone in this process🍀🍀🍀

Green card in hand!!!! 🎉🎉🎉🎉💃🏾💃🏾💃🏾 
 
This is my timeline: 
Filing date for AOS from K1: March 8
Interview: May 22
Case approved: May 29
Card mailed: June 3
Card picked up by the USPS: June 4
Green Card delivered: June 6
 
Best of luck to everyone in this process🍀🍀🍀

Oh my god, my interview was so random haha. We prepared so much and the man said to my husband that they only need me because they only need to ‘ajudicate the greencard’  So I was like okay cool. So he interviewed me and asked me all these random questions about when my husbands birthday was and how many times I’ve been to the US. He also asked if I was planning to commit crime, espionage,  or terrorism and I said no and then he asked why? And I said wait, is that a serious question? He’s like yeah, and I’m like because I’m not a criminal and he said that’s a fair enough answer 😂😂😂. He was so intense but didn’t ask me for anything in the folders I’ve prepared. He just asked for my passport and then said I just need to get the chicken pox vaccination so I’ve got an RFE for that but I’m going to a civil surgeon walk in clinic now to get it done. There was another guy in the room and he was taking notes. I think he was training him. At the end of the interview I told him he was really intense and they just chuckled. It was a good interview even though I was nervous as hell. 

Yes! Received it Monday (less than a week after the interview)! Sorry, I should have updated!

Have you received your card yet? @NYC-AB my card was picked up today by the USPS and I wonder how long it takes to actually receive it. 😅

I don’t think so. I think you are actually bringing too much lol I did as well, but I wasnt asked for any of those immigration documents, taxes,birth certificate,etc. I was just asked for the proof of bona fide marriage (pictures, bills insurance).
So I think you got this, good luck. 🍀 ☺️

I commend your ability, kindness and patience to write this book. Its thoughtful 😂 thank you and congratulations. 

Hey all, 
 
Congrats again on the approvals today! Finally sat at my laptop and can write a bit about our interview today. As others have said above, they begin with confirming info on your AOS applications and checking id's, and going through the 'yes' or 'no' questions. Our interview was supposed to be at 10:30 and we were called in at about 10:20 and finished the interview at 10:40. I had made a pack showing joint accounts, bills, phone lease, apartment lease, vacation booking for later on in the year, etc. At the front of this pack, I listed these things and made a front cover type thing so she knew what was in there and whether each thing was an original or copy. She seemed to be taking notes on this. She didn't ask for the photo album I had made. Questions seemed to be mostly directed at me. Husband is the USC. He answered maybe one or two things with me but that was it. Also, she asked if all my vaccines were already done in the UK, I said yes (I'm adjusting from K1). 
 
Couple of hours later, status changed to card being produced. Don't know if this will be of any help to others in the future but I guess my point is, if you come prepared and ready, you should be okay (coming from someone who worries a lot). 
 
I hope others hear something back very soon about AP/EAD and GC interviews. I realize we've been fortunate with the early interview so I'm really rooting for you all to get news soon. 

I just wanted to give you guys my interview experience! 
So my husbands interview was scheduled for 10:30am. We didn’t get there early because parking was a nightmare and my heels set off the metal detector 🤦🏻‍♀️
We walked in at 10:30am. We gave a lady our interview notice and we sat down for maybe 10 minutes. Then the same lady called us to a window and took my husbands picture and fingerprints. She then told us to sit down and wait to be called. 
We waited like maybe 20 minutes before the officer called our name (she called us from the door behind us so we were confused 😂) 
we walked into her office and she introduced herself. She took my husbands passport and my drivers license. She asked if he had a social security number or employment card and we explained that we hadn’t gotten those yet. She said that’s been happening a lot lately and not to worry because if we’re approved the green card will replace everything. 
She then asked him almost all the yes or no questions. Had him confirm his info and my info. She asked when we got married. Then she just asked about us. It really was just like a conversation. She asked how we met and when we decided to get married. Then she asked if I had anything I wanted to show her. I had over prepared (this is not out of character for me 😂). We mostly confirmed that she had the documents I had so that we wouldn’t be contacted for more documents. Then we showed her some pictures and our wedding book which she liked seeing. I showed her some bills in both our names and things like that. 
Then we talked about living in Cleveland and the metro parks and stuff. Honestly it was just a normal conversation! 
Then she said “I see nothing wrong with your case, I’m recommending you to be approved.” 
Then she gave us a sheet confirming this and we talked about  how people always think the interview is going to be scary. 
So there you have it! It was a great experience. 

After a long trip back home. I am posting how mine went. Bottom line, it was kind of strange interview but it was successful. 
 
Ours was at 8:50AM at the Louisville Field Office, by 8:00AM we were already in the front of the building sitting in the steps until 8:30AM that we got in. We got quickly checked our items through metal detectors before getting into the main part of the building. It seem like is not an office dedicated for USCIS but rather a government building for many different parts of the govt. the USCIS office was in the 3rd floor. When we got in, I showed my interview letter to one of the old lady, she took my fingerprints and a photo. And told me to sit and wait until my name is called. There were other people there, none seemed to be marriage based from what I could tell. About 3-4min my name was called before anyone else who was already waiting in there. Me and my wife got where we were being called, it was our interviewer USCIS officer. It was a female and Hispanic accent and looking, I assume maybe because they thought I would speak Spanish. She was very friendly nevertheless. 
 
She asked us to raise our hand and sworn that we're going to say the truth. The interview was only directed to me (applicant), not a single question was asked to my Wife (US Citizen) which was right beside me. The questions were basic questions that are already in the form. My name? Date of birth? Parents name? Wife name? her date of birth? what did I do at my home country? ect. Answers that you already answered on the form, she marked the questions as she went through it. There were a couple of questions that were outside of it. Like more details of the job I did in my home country and how did I learn English? she complimented my level of English to be very good. She then went to the last part of the form that are Yes or No question, I don't think she asked every single one of them but there were many. She then asked me to sign the last part of the form. And asked me if I have any bonafide marriage evidence.
 
Here is where things get strange, my wife hasn't spoken or being asked anything at this point. I started explaining that my inability to get a SSN number before my i-94 expired (SSA office told me I need a GC or EAD to get a SSN), I have been unable to get added to most of my wife bills and bank account. Before I was finishing, she briefly interrupted and asked me but you have bonafide evidence? I answered, "Yes I do but I am pretty lacking on that regard..." she then again briefly started explaining that by US law is a requirement that I MUST have bills or deeds in both of our name, insurance, bank account, etc.  She continued saying that, "is nice that you both live together, but the US law require you have those documents, that by nature a married couple usually have these kind of documentation and if you (me0 don't have it you're probably not going to get accepted" (something along the lines), my wife seemed to start panicking. I presume that maybe she thought my explanation was just an excuse to not show anything of those evidence. I then told her that I do have some evidence (In my case, some correspondence on both our names, a receipt for some repairs in our home, photos of us and a sworn affidavit of people that know us. That is all about we could get). As I turned to get those documents, my wife asked "What happened if I (me) get denied?" She said, "You will get a response in the mail about your case" (something along the lines). As the officer continued talking about those MUST have documents. Again, putting emphasis on how the US Law requires Bills, Insurance, Rent, etc in both our names to qualify. My wife said, "but we went to the bank together and they wouldn't add him (me) unless he had a SSN", in a panicked tone. The officer argued that some banks allow to do so just with the passport. And my wife was like "Well, evidently ours didn't". I then show our evidence, she notices the letter of support and made a comment about the signatures looking equally hand writing (Lol). My wife then said. "Ummm... yeah, the pen might be the same but the're all different". The officer then asked if I have an ID of any of the person in them. My wife had the DL of my sister in law, which was one of the person in the letters of support. And then the officer said "Okay, give me all what you've got with you about relationship evidence, I am going to make a copy of this ID real quick, you guys can wait in the lobby and I'll return the card to you". At that point, I was not panicked or scared, but rather confused and a few things seemed off compared to what I know and have learned. The officer finally said, "I will work with these documents and I am going  to apply the US law, you will hear a decision on the mail" (something a long the lines). We then walked outside of the office, I was still confused. I wasn't given anything, no paper or anything I was not even told whether the interview was over. I even asked if she needed my passport of something. On the way out as we walked to their lobby. I asked, while looking at the officer "Just to be clear, the interview is over right?" Lol and she said yeah, you will hear a decision in the mail in the next weeks, she then moments later returned us the ID.
 
When we left the building, my wife was panicking. She assumed and was pretty sure that based on what the officer said, we were denied. I told her to not worry, we will likely receive an RFE but a denial is really very unlikely. Even though our bonafide evidence was weak (photos of us, mail correspondence, a few bills and letter of support from people that know us) we still provided qualifying evidence, and they will work with that. Is up to the officer to consider enough evidence to get convinced that the relationship is legit. As we were leaving the parking lot, I was checking the status online for any changes. Then at my 3rd attempt, like about 30-40min later. It changed to "New Card Is Being Produced". Then shortly, we received a lot of text messages about an update on our case. I received also 3 emails. One confirming the card being in production and 2 about the AP/EAD being closed. 
 
So yeah, it seems like my journey with USCIS is done for now. See you, some of you, later on for ROC. Congrats on the approvals today and best of luck for the pending cases.