Need help establishing credit in the U.S.

CanadianAmerican85 · #1 (**permalink**) 08-28-2005, 11:21 PM

Hello,

I am a dual Canadian-American Citizen and have a Social Security #. I haven't lived in the states since I moved from there with my family as a 4 year old toddler. I have lived in Canada since I was 4 years old until now. I am currently an undergraduate student in a canadian university and have plans to move back to the homeland down south to complete my post graduate degree in about a year. Since I have only lived in the states upto the age of 4 I ofcourse have NO CREDIT established. What would you guys suggest for me to do from now while I am in Canada and have no U.S. address to establish my credit in the U.S.? I am so lost about what to do. I will be finding out where my address is going to be in a few months (as I will be living with family while pursuing my degree). The reason why I want to develop my credit is so I can get a credit card almost immediatly when I get down there and possibly get a loan for school. My credit in canada is ok since I am only 20 I haven't done much to develop it.

What should I do?

CanadianAmerican85 · #2 (**permalink**) 08-28-2005, 11:22 PM

One more thing.

I have registered to vote from canada and sent some form to do it where I entered my SS number and address when I used to live in the U.S. The problem is I sent the form once and it got "lost" in the mail. If someone got a hold of it should I have any reason to worry about identity theft occuring? As it has by Social Security number and prev. address as well as current address in canada. Are these 2 pieces of info enough for one to commit identity theft?

Sorry for all the questions guys. Thanks for your patience

Thanks,

CanadianAmerican85

terry1156 · #3 (**permalink**) 08-29-2005, 12:02 AM

I've never had to do anything like this, but could you get / do you have a credit card with a bank in Canada that also does business in the US where you will live? If so,once in the US, you can contact the bank and they should be willing to work with you to get a credit card once in the US.

I would definitely pull your credit report to make sure nobody has gotten the information you lost.

CJsoccerchic · #4 (**permalink**) 08-31-2005, 04:48 PM

Try opening up a bank account in the states. Maybe an internet bank might be the trick! Once you've opened your bank account - then you could possibly get a credit card and from there you'llhave established some form of credit. Note - when you first get a credit card, they'll give you the minimum (like 300 or 500$) make sure you pay it off in time and of course, you'll have to actually USE the credit card. having it sit in your wallet is not going to do anything for you..

hee hee BTW - if you use the credit card in canada and it is originally a US card - you'll get changed some kind of international fee transaction percentage (did that make sense?) I once bought a ring for my husband from ontario and they charged me a 1% nternational fee transaction (i hated it - even tried to fight it - a new charge from VISA - they JUST implemented it a few months ago)