Best Credit Cards for Foreign Students and Immigrants in 2024
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Last updated 03/15/2024 by
Allison MartinAre you an international student or immigrant living in the U.S.? Are you planning on staying in the U.S.? If you answered “yes” to either of these questions and you’re finding it difficult to qualify for a credit card, you’re not alone. We have rounded up the best credit cards for foreign students and immigrants to help you with your search.
As if qualifying for a credit card isn’t challenging enough, it can be even more challenging finding the right one. The good news is that there are many options designed specifically to accommodate your needs as an international student or immigrant. You need to know what to look for.
These options include unsecured and secured credit cards that are open to people without a Social Security number. Some of the top credit cards for foreign students and immigrants also offer generous signup bonuses and rewards programs.
The problem is that these options could be tough to find. That’s why we found them for you.
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The credit cards for foreign students: Deserve Classic Mastercard
Annual fee: $0
Sign-up bonus: none
Rewards: Earn 1% cash back on all purchases
Sign-up bonus: none
Rewards: Earn 1% cash back on all purchases
All in all, the Deserve Classic Mastercard could be an ideal credit card for foreign students who don’t have a Social Security number, but want an unsecured credit card that lets them earn cash back while building credit. It’s also a great option if you often travel back home, because no foreign-transaction fee applies.
The best option for dining and entertainment: Citi ThankYou Preferred
Annual fee: $0
Sign-up bonus: earn 2,500 bonus points when you spend $500 within the first three months of becoming a cardholder
Rewards: Earn two points for every dollar spent on dining and entertainment and earn one point for every dollar spent on all other purchases (points are worth 0.5 and 1 cent when redeemed for cash back and travel, respectively)
Sign-up bonus: earn 2,500 bonus points when you spend $500 within the first three months of becoming a cardholder
Rewards: Earn two points for every dollar spent on dining and entertainment and earn one point for every dollar spent on all other purchases (points are worth 0.5 and 1 cent when redeemed for cash back and travel, respectively)
All in all, the Citi ThankYou Preferred card could be a good option for you if you enjoy going out, because it allows you to earn a generous amount of points on dining and entertainment purchases. Even if you don’t go out that often, this card may still be a good option for you, as it doesn’t require a Social Security number to qualify. This is one of the better credit cards for foreign students.
Best secured option: Discover it Secured Card
Annual fee: $0
Sign-up bonus: 100% cash-back match at the end of the first year
Rewards: Earn 2% cash back for every dollar spent at restaurants and gas stations, and earn 1% cash back for every dollar spent on all other purchases (limited to $1,000 each quarter)
Sign-up bonus: 100% cash-back match at the end of the first year
Rewards: Earn 2% cash back for every dollar spent at restaurants and gas stations, and earn 1% cash back for every dollar spent on all other purchases (limited to $1,000 each quarter)
All in all, the Discover it Secured card could be a good credit card for foreign students or immigrants that have a Social Security number and want to earn cash back on dining and gas purchases. It is also a viable option for those who can’t get approved for an unsecured card.
The best option if you want a lower security deposit: Capital One Secured
Annual fee: $0
Sign-up bonus: None
Rewards: None
Sign-up bonus: None
Rewards: None
All in all, the Capital One Secured card could be ideal if you’re an international student or immigrant looking for a straightforward secured credit card with which you can begin building credit.
If you can’t get approved, you have another option
If you can’t get approved, you can consider becoming an authorized user on someone else’s card. To do this, you’ll need to provide your name, date of birth, and address. The credit card issuer does not need your Social Security number. Assuming the primary cardholder uses the card responsibly, you can start building credit right away.
Many benefits come with building credit. For example, you’ll save on financing when it’s time to buy a car, home or if you need to take out a loan. You may also be able to rent an apartment without a cosigner and qualify for lower insurance premiums. To receive these benefits for yourself, discover if you are eligible for any of these credit cards today.
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Allison Martin is an accomplished finance writer who has written for publications including The Wall Street Journal, MoneyTalksNews, The Simple Dollar, and Credit.com. Her work has been featured on Fox Business, Yahoo! Finance, MSN Money, and ABC News. She enjoys writing about personal development, entrepreneurship, personal finance and is a Certified Financial Education Instructor (CFEI).
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