WE LIVE IN USA
RaccoMy list
All guides ＋
My products

CARD DEX · U.S. credit card map · 6 lines, 46 stops · 80 cards

Every stop on the
U.S. credit card map.

From no credit score to your first sign-up bonus

Credit scores, the three credit bureaus, secured cards, prequalification, sign-up bonuses, transferring points to airlines, paying taxes and rent by card, fraud and credit freezes. Everything you run into with a credit card in the US is laid out on the map below. Start by picking your current score to see which cards you could consider in that range and how much borrowing costs.

Your credit score nowFICO Score 8 ranges (Experian)

With no score yet, the first job is getting the credit bureaus to start a file on you

If you just got your SSN and your first account is under 6 months old, it's normal for FICO to have no score for you. In this range, look at secured cards, student cards, or cards whose issuers say they accept a passport or ITIN.

8cards list a suggested score within this range

Suggested scores are our own reference. Approval is always the issuer's call. How we rate

Borrowing with the same score

Without a score, most loans mean a bigger deposit, a co-borrower, or finding a lender that accepts other kinds of data.

Next stepsBank accountFirst cardAuthorized user6 months

THE MAP · 6 LINES · 46 STOPS

Every stop on the way to using a credit card in the US

Tap any stop to see what to know there, our guides on it and the official websites. Not sure where to start? Pick your situation first.

My situation

  1. 01Start lineSTARTFrom zero to your first card

    1. SSN / ITIN
    2. Bank account
    3. Credit bureaus
    4. First card
    5. Authorized user
    6. Credit from home
    7. 6 months

  2. 02Bonus lineBONUSFrom applying to earning the bonus

    1. Prequalification
    2. Issuer rules
    3. Reporting income
    4. Denied
    5. Sign-up bonus
    6. Hitting the target
    7. Annual fee
    8. Offer Tracker

  3. 03Points linePOINTSRewards, points and flights

    1. Cash back or points
    2. Reward categories
    3. Transferring points
    4. Flights to Taiwan
    5. Paying abroad
    6. Airport lounges
    7. Travel insurance
    8. Hotel cards

  4. 04Everyday lineEVERYDAYPayments, interest, limits and protections

    1. Paying the bill
    2. Interest
    3. Utilization
    4. Limit increase
    5. Venmo / PayPal
    6. Buy now, pay later
    7. Purchase protection
    8. Balance transfer

  5. 05Help lineHELPFraud, freezes, scams and debt

    1. Fraud
    2. Credit freeze
    3. Identity theft
    4. Scams
    5. Late fees and rate hikes
    6. Closing a card
    7. Card debt

  6. 06Life stages lineLIFEVisa status, family, moving and leaving

    1. International students
    2. H-1B / green card
    3. Dependent spouse
    4. Kids and parents
    5. Business cards
    6. Moving
    7. Leaving the US
    8. A death in the family

CARD DEX · 80 CARDS

Answer 4 questions to narrow 80 cards to the ones worth a look

Score, monthly income, preferences and ID. Each answer filters the list right away, and the card dex below updates with it. Approval is always the issuer's call.

01What's your credit score?

02What's your monthly pre-tax income?

03Other filters (optional, multi-select)

04Which ID number do you have?

Based only on issuers' own wording: Chase says applicants need an SSN or ITIN; Zolve says on its site that you can apply without an SSN (Firstcard says the same but only offers a waitlist). The issuer decides approval.

Editor's picks

A few cards to look at more closely before you choose.

NEXT STEP

Getting a card is one of 91 things to do after you land.

My USA Plan tells you which to do first: SSN, bank account, or driver's license.

My USA Plan

See the first 30 free

All cards

ChaseMainstream
•••• •••• •••• 5946
Air Canada Aeroplan Card (Chase)Mastercard
Up to 115,000 points: 75,000 after $4,000 in 3 months + 40,000 after $20,000 in 12 months
Annual fee $195/yr Foreign transaction fee None
  • 3x Air Canada and travel; 2x gas; 2x grocery & dining (3x through Dec 31, 2026)
  • Automatic Aeroplan 25K status with no spend requirement
  • Up to $100 a year in Air Canada credits; first checked bag free
✓ Fees checked🔥 ~$1100None FTF
Details

ALL STOPS

All 46 stops in detail

Key points, guides and official links for every stop on the map. Sign-up bonuses and annual fees change often, so check the issuer's own site on the day you apply.

01Start lineFrom zero to your first cardSSN / ITIN · Bank account · Credit bureaus · First card · Authorized user · Credit from home · 6 months

01 Start line · SSN / ITIN

The bureaus can't build your file until you have an SSN or ITIN

Credit bureaus identify you by your Social Security number (SSN). People with work authorization apply to the Social Security Administration for an SSN, and people who need to file taxes but can't get an SSN apply to the IRS for an ITIN. A few issuers say on their sites that they accept an ITIN, but most cards still require an SSN.

SSN
Issued by the Social Security Administration, requires work authorization
ITIN
Issued by the IRS to people who must file taxes but can't get an SSN
Cards that take an ITIN
Per each issuer's site, see our ITIN guide

Our guides

See cards

Official sites and services

01 Start line · Bank account

Open a US checking account first, because card payments and deposits come out of it

Paying your card bill, funding a secured card deposit and showing income all take a US bank account. You can usually open one with a passport before you have an SSN, but banks ask for different documents, so call the branch before you go.

Without an SSN
Most banks accept a passport, varies by bank
Deposit insurance
FDIC covers at least $250,000 per bank, per depositor, per ownership category

Official sites and services

01 Start line · Credit bureaus

Equifax, Experian and TransUnion each keep a file on you, free to check every week

Your card and loan payment history is reported to the three credit bureaus. Each keeps its own file, and they don't always match. AnnualCreditReport.com is the free report site set up under federal law, and you can check all three there once a week at no cost. Checking your own report doesn't lower your score.

Free reports
AnnualCreditReport.com, once a week
What's in a report
Accounts, payment and inquiry history. No score
Checking your own
A soft inquiry, no effect on your score

Our guides

Official sites and services

01 Start line · First card

Start with a secured or student card, with deposits from $49

With no US credit yet, a secured card has you put down a refundable deposit that becomes your limit, and your payments are reported to the bureaus like any other card. Capital One's site lists a minimum deposit of $49 and limits starting at $200. Students can look at student cards. Both types usually have no annual fee.

Secured card deposit
From $49 (Capital One, 2026-10)
Starting limit
From $200
Another route
A credit-builder loan, which usually costs more than a no-fee secured card

Our guides

See cards

01 Start line · Authorized user

As an authorized user on a family member's card, their on-time history counts toward your file

When a cardholder adds you as an authorized user, the account usually shows up on your credit report too, which makes it a common way to start before you have a score. The primary cardholder owes the balance. If they pay late or max out the card, your report is affected as well.

Who owes it
The primary cardholder
Upside
You pick up the account's age and on-time history
Risk
Late payments on the account show up on your report

Our guides

01 Start line · Credit from home

You can bring credit from home, with Taiwan and Japan on Amex's list and Korea on Nova's

Credit history from your home country doesn't appear at US bureaus. If you already hold an Amex card abroad, you can apply through Amex's Global Card Transfer. Nova Credit's Credit Passport translates reports from some countries for lenders that partner with it. According to both companies' sites in October 2026, Amex's list includes Taiwan and Japan, and Nova Credit's includes Korea.

Amex Global Card Transfer
You need an Amex card abroad first
Nova Credit
Only partner lenders can see it
Approval
Still the issuer's decision

Official sites and services

01 Start line · 6 months

Your first FICO score comes after 6 months, and year one is for applying sparingly

FICO can only calculate a score once you have an account that's been open at least 6 months. In your first year, what matters most is paying on time every month and not maxing out your limit. Hard inquiries from new applications keep counting for 12 months.

First FICO score
Once an account is 6 months old
Hard inquiries
FICO counts those from the last 12 months
Free score checks
CreditWise and Credit Journey work even if you're not a customer

Official sites and services

02Bonus lineFrom applying to earning the bonusPrequalification · Issuer rules · Reporting income · Denied · Sign-up bonus · Hitting the target · Annual fee · Offer Tracker

02 Bonus line · Prequalification

Prequalification uses a soft pull that doesn't touch your score, so check before you apply

Capital One, Amex, Bank of America, Citi and Chase all have prequalification pages or explanations that use a soft inquiry to show which cards you might qualify for, with no effect on your score. Being prequalified doesn't guarantee approval. The hard inquiry happens when you formally apply.

Prequalification
Soft inquiry, no score impact
Formal application
Hard inquiry
Prequalified
You can still be denied

Our guides

Official sites and services

02 Bonus line · Issuer rules

Chase 5/24 is a rule applicants report, and Amex may withhold the bonus if you've had the card before

Chase 5/24 is a rule of thumb from applicants' reports. If you've opened 5 or more personal cards in 24 months, Chase usually says no, though Chase hasn't published the rule. Bonus eligibility is in the offer terms. Amex, for example, says you may not get the welcome offer if you have or have had the card.

Chase 5/24
Reported by applicants, not officially published
Amex
Having had the same card can rule out the bonus
Where to check
Offer Terms on the application page

Our guides

02 Bonus line · Reporting income

From age 21, the income on your application can include a spouse's income you can access

The annual income on an application can include income you can reasonably expect to access. At 21 or older that can include a spouse's or partner's income that's available to you. Under 21, only your own income counts. Be ready to explain where the number comes from.

21 and over
Household income you can reasonably access
Under 21
Only your own income
Rule
Regulation Z 1026.51

Official sites and services

02 Bonus line · Denied

If you're denied, request your free report within 60 days and call to ask for reconsideration

Issuers have to tell you why they turned you down. If a credit report was used, you can get a free copy from that bureau within 60 days. Calling the issuer's credit department for reconsideration, with extra income details or a lower limit, sometimes changes the outcome.

Reason for denial
The issuer must tell you
Free report
From that bureau, within 60 days
Reconsideration
Call the issuer's credit department

Official sites and services

02 Bonus line · Sign-up bonus

Divide a bonus's spending requirement by the months allowed and compare it with what you normally spend

A sign-up bonus (welcome offer) pays points or cash if you spend a set amount within the first few months. Divide that amount by the number of months and compare it with your usual monthly spending. Buying things you don't need just to hit the target isn't worth it. Cash advances and balance transfers usually don't count.

The math
Spending requirement ÷ months, vs. your usual monthly spend
Usually excluded
Cash advances, balance transfers, annual fees
It varies
The same card can show different offers to different people

Our guides

See cards

02 Bonus line · Hitting the target

Taxes and rent paid by card count as spending, but compare the fee with your rewards first

Big bills like taxes, rent and insurance can help you reach the target, but work out the fees first. The processors listed on the IRS site charge 1.75% (Pay1040) or 1.85% (ACI Payments) for credit card payments. A landlord who adds 3% wipes out a 2% reward. Paying rent through Bilt has no fee.

IRS card payments
1.75% (Pay1040), 1.85% (ACI), 2026-10
When it pays
Your reward rate beats the fee
Rent through Bilt
No fee, paid from your bank account

Our guides

Official sites and services

02 Bonus line · Annual fee

Judge an annual fee by your own spending, and know there's a refund window after it posts

For a card with an annual fee, add up the rewards on a year of your actual spending, subtract the fee and compare the result with a no-fee card. Most issuers give you a window after the fee posts to cancel for a refund. Amex, for example, says 30 days from the closing date of the statement with the fee. If you don't want to pay it, ask whether you can downgrade to a no-fee card first.

The math
Extra rewards must exceed the fee
Refund window
Amex, 30 days from the fee statement's closing date
Don't want to pay
Ask about a downgrade first

Our guides

See cards

02 Bonus line · Offer Tracker

Our Offer Tracker ranks current sign-up bonuses by value

Current sign-up bonuses for the cards we list are gathered on one page and ranked by value, each with a link to the issuer's site and the date we checked. Offers change often, so read the terms on the issuer's site on the day you apply.

Order
By bonus value
Every card has
An issuer link and a check date

Our guides

See cards

03Points lineRewards, points and flightsCash back or points · Reward categories · Transferring points · Flights to Taiwan · Paying abroad · Airport lounges · Travel insurance · Hotel cards

03 Points line · Cash back or points

Cash back is the simplest, while points can be worth more when moved to airlines

Cash back comes straight off your bill at a fixed rate. Travel points can move to airline and hotel programs and are often worth more than cash when used for flights, but they take research, and award seats may not be available. Start with whether you'll actually use them.

Cash back
Credited directly, no research needed
Travel points
Can be worth more with airlines, seats may not be available

Our guides

See cards

03 Points line · Reward categories

Grocery bonuses follow merchant codes, and Costco stores take only Visa

Bonus rewards depend on the category code (MCC) the merchant registers, not the store's name. H Mart and 99 Ranch usually code as supermarkets, while superstores and warehouse clubs are often excluded. Rotating 5% cards need to be activated, and each quarter has a cap.

What decides it
The merchant category code (MCC)
Costco
In stores, Visa credit cards only
Rotating 5%
Activate first, $1,500 cap per quarter

Our guides

See cards

03 Points line · Transferring points

Chase, Amex and Capital One points mostly transfer to airlines at 1:1

Points from Chase, Amex, Capital One, Citi and Bilt can move to partner airline and hotel programs, and most airlines take them 1:1. Transfers can't be reversed, so find award seats in the airline's program before you move points, and make sure the name on your airline account matches your card.

Ratio
1:1 with most airlines
After transferring
No reversals
Do this first
Find the seat, then transfer

Our guides

See cards

Official sites and services

03 Points line · Flights to Taiwan

For award flights to Taiwan, EVA Air is in Star Alliance and China Airlines is in SkyTeam

EVA Air belongs to Star Alliance and China Airlines to SkyTeam. You can transfer directly to EVA Air from Capital One (2,000 points to 1,500 miles) and Citi. China Airlines has no direct bank transfer partner, so you book with miles from a SkyTeam partner such as Air France-KLM Flying Blue. Find the seats before you transfer.

Direct to EVA Air
Capital One 2:1.5, Citi
China Airlines
Through SkyTeam partners, e.g. Flying Blue
Checked
Each company's site, 2026-10-17

Our guides

See cards

Official sites and services

03 Points line · Paying abroad

Abroad, use a card with no foreign transaction fee and pay in the local currency

Some cards add a fee to every purchase made abroad, commonly 3%, while others charge nothing. When a card terminal asks whether to pay in US dollars, choose the local currency (Taiwan dollars, yen, won). Paying in dollars (DCC) means the merchant's side does the conversion, usually at a worse rate.

Foreign transaction fee
Commonly 3%, some cards 0
Currency to pay in
The local currency
Where to check
The card's Rates and Fees table

Our guides

03 Points line · Airport lounges

Before counting on lounge access from a card, check that your terminal has one

High-fee travel cards usually include airport lounge access, most often Priority Pass or the issuer's own lounges. Check whether the airports and terminals you use have one and whether you can bring a guest, then decide if the fee is worth it.

Common
Priority Pass, issuer lounges
Check first
Airport, terminal, guest rules

Our guides

See cards

03 Points line · Travel insurance

Travel insurance and rental car coverage only apply when you pay with that card

Many cards include trip delay, baggage and rental car collision damage waiver (CDW) coverage, but usually only when you pay for the trip or the rental with that card. Rental coverage can be primary or secondary, and some countries and vehicles are excluded, so read the card's Guide to Benefits before you leave.

Condition
Usually you must pay with the card
Rental coverage
Primary or secondary, some countries excluded
Where to check
Guide to Benefits

03 Points line · Hotel cards

For hotel stays in Asia, check the points cap on free night certificates first

Marriott, Hilton, Hyatt and IHG co-branded cards give a free night certificate each year, usually with a points cap, so popular hotels or peak dates may be out of reach. Check which hotels are in your destination city and how many points a night costs.

Free night certificate
Usually has a points cap
Check first
Hotels and point prices in your destination

See cards

04Everyday linePayments, interest, limits and protectionsPaying the bill · Interest · Utilization · Limit increase · Venmo / PayPal · Buy now, pay later · Purchase protection · Balance transfer

04 Everyday line · Paying the bill

Pay the statement balance in full to avoid interest, and use autopay so you're never late

Your statement shows three numbers: the minimum payment, the statement balance and the current balance. Pay the statement balance by the due date and your purchases aren't charged interest. Autopay for at least the minimum keeps you from paying late. Once a payment is 30 or more days late, the issuer can report it to the bureaus.

No interest
Statement balance paid by the due date
Minimum only
Interest starts on the rest
30+ days late
May be reported to the bureaus

Our guides

04 Everyday line · Interest

Card interest averages 22.36%, and cash advances start costing interest the same day

Federal Reserve G.19 data put the average rate at 22.36% on credit card accounts assessed interest in August 2026. Interest is usually charged daily, so paying only the minimum keeps a balance around for a long time. Cash advances accrue interest from the day you take them, with fees usually 5% or $10.

Average rate
22.36% (2026-08, Federal Reserve G.19)
Cash advance
Interest from day one, fee usually 5% or $10
To pay no interest
Pay the statement balance in full each month

Our guides

04 Everyday line · Utilization

Utilization uses your statement balance, so pay part of it before the statement closes

The bureaus usually get your balance as of the statement closing date. The lower the share of your limit you're using (utilization), the better for your score. While your limit is small, paying part of the balance before the closing date lowers the number that gets reported.

Utilization
Balance ÷ total limit
What's reported
Usually the statement balance
Closing a card
Total limit shrinks, utilization rises

Our guides

04 Everyday line · Limit increase

If your limit is too low you can ask for an increase, and Capital One uses only a soft pull

After a few months of on-time payments, you can request a higher limit in the app or by phone. Some issuers, such as Capital One, use only a soft inquiry. Others may do a hard pull, so ask before you request.

Capital One
Soft inquiry (per its site)
Other issuers
May be a hard pull, ask first

04 Everyday line · Venmo / PayPal

Paying on Venmo with a credit card costs 3%, and some issuers treat it as a cash advance

Sending money to friends on Venmo or PayPal with a credit card carries a fee: 3% on Venmo, and 2.90% + $0.30 for PayPal personal payments by card. Some issuers count these as cash advances, with interest from day one. Splitting bills or paying rent from a bank account or with Zelle is usually free.

Venmo by card
3%
PayPal by card
2.90% + $0.30
Zelle
Bank to bank, no credit cards

04 Everyday line · Buy now, pay later

Buy now, pay later usually protects you less on returns and disputes than a credit card

Buy now, pay later (BNPL) services like Affirm, Klarna and Afterpay split one purchase into installments. Compared with a credit card, dispute and return protections are usually weaker, and late payments can bring fees.

How it works
One purchase split into installments
Versus a credit card
Usually weaker dispute and return protection

04 Everyday line · Purchase protection

Purchase protection, extended warranties and phone protection differ card by card

Some cards include purchase protection, extended warranties, and cell phone protection that applies only when you pay your phone bill with the card. Terms, deductibles and limits vary and are spelled out in the card's Guide to Benefits. Debit cards usually have none of these.

Phone protection
Pay your phone bill with the card
Where to check
Guide to Benefits
Debit cards
Usually none

04 Everyday line · Balance transfer

Balance transfers run up to 18 months at 0%, but work out the fee of 3% and up first

If you already carry card debt, a balance transfer card lets you move it and pay no interest during the promotional period. The longest among the cards we list is 18 months (October 2026). Transfers usually cost 3% to 5%, and the regular rate applies once the promo ends.

Promo period
Up to 18 months among cards we list
Fee
Usually 3%–5%
Afterward
The regular rate applies

Our guides

05Help lineFraud, freezes, scams and debtFraud · Credit freeze · Identity theft · Scams · Late fees and rate hikes · Closing a card · Card debt

05 Help line · Fraud

Your liability for credit card fraud is capped at $50, and billing disputes need written notice within 60 days

If charges you didn't make show up on your statement, federal rules cap your liability at $50, and most issuers promise zero liability. For billing errors or disputes with a merchant, notify the issuer in writing within 60 days of the statement being sent. Debit card fraud is less protected than credit card fraud.

Fraud liability cap
$50, most issuers zero
Billing errors
Written notice within 60 days
Debit cards
Late reporting can cost $500 or more

Official sites and services

05 Help line · Credit freeze

A credit freeze is free, done separately at each bureau, and lifts within 1 hour

A credit freeze makes it hard for anyone to open new accounts in your name. Freezing and unfreezing are free, and you do it at each of the three bureaus. When you apply for a card or loan, request a temporary lift online or by phone, and the bureau has to process it within 1 hour.

Cost
Free to freeze and unfreeze
Where
Each bureau separately
Temporary lift
Online or by phone, within 1 hour

Official sites and services

05 Help line · Identity theft

If you see an account you didn't open, report it at IdentityTheft.gov first

If a card or loan you didn't open appears on your credit report, report it first at the FTC's IdentityTheft.gov, which lays out recovery steps for your situation. Then dispute it with the bureaus and freeze your credit.

Report
IdentityTheft.gov (FTC)
Then
Dispute with the bureaus and freeze

Official sites and services

05 Help line · Scams

Credit repair companies can't charge upfront, and callers posing as the government get a hang-up

The federal Credit Repair Organizations Act bars credit repair companies from charging before they've done the work. Callers claiming to be immigration, the IRS or your bank who ask for payment, passwords or verification codes are almost always scammers. Hang up and call back on an official number you look up yourself.

Upfront fees
Not allowed for credit repair companies
Report it
ReportFraud.ftc.gov

Official sites and services

05 Help line · Late fees and rate hikes

The $8 late fee cap is gone, and issuers must give 45 days' notice before raising your rate

The CFPB rule that cut large issuers' late fees to $8 was struck down in court in 2025, so late fees now follow each card's terms. An issuer has to give 45 days' notice before raising your rate. You can reject the increase and close the card, then pay off the existing balance at the old rate.

Late fees
Per card terms, the $8 cap is void
Rate increases
45 days' notice
Your option
Reject it and repay at the old rate

Our guides

05 Help line · Closing a card

Ask about a downgrade before closing a card, and know issuers can close cards without notice

Closing a card shrinks your total limit and can push utilization up. To avoid an annual fee, ask first whether you can downgrade to the same issuer's no-fee card. Cards left unused for too long can be closed by the issuer without notice, and you still owe any balance.

Before closing
Ask about a downgrade
Issuer closures
May come without notice
Balance
Still owed

Our guides

05 Help line · Card debt

If card debt is getting away from you, start with nonprofit credit counseling and keep medical bills off your card

When card debt keeps growing, a nonprofit credit counseling agency, such as an NFCC member, can work out a repayment plan with you. For medical bills, ask the hospital about financial assistance or an interest-free payment plan before charging them to a high-interest card.

Nonprofit help
NFCC member agencies
Medical bills
Ask about assistance and payment plans first

Our guides

Official sites and services

06Life stages lineVisa status, family, moving and leavingInternational students · H-1B / green card · Dependent spouse · Kids and parents · Business cards · Moving · Leaving the US · A death in the family

06 Life stages line · International students

A student card keeps working after you graduate

F-1 students can get an SSN only with on-campus work or practical training authorization. Without an SSN, look at cards whose issuers say they accept a passport or ITIN. Student cards don't close when you graduate, and the account keeps aging.

SSN on F-1
Needs on-campus work or training authorization
After graduation
Keep using the student card

Our guides

See cards

06 Life stages line · H-1B / green card

On an H-1B or a green card, get your SSN first and then apply

H-1B workers and green card holders can apply for an SSN, and with one you can apply for most cards. A change in immigration status doesn't affect cards you already have. If your address or name changes, update it with your issuers.

Get first
An SSN
Status changes
Existing cards keep working

06 Life stages line · Dependent spouse

A dependent spouse without an SSN can become an authorized user or apply for an ITIN

Dependent spouses on H-4, F-2 and similar visas can't always get an SSN (H-4 holders need work authorization). Start as an authorized user on the principal's card to build history, then, once you have an ITIN from tax filing, look at cards that accept an ITIN.

H-4
SSN only with work authorization
Start with
Authorized user status, an ITIN

Our guides

06 Life stages line · Kids and parents

Kids can be authorized users from age 13 at Amex, and parents without an SSN can be added too

Adding a child as an authorized user lets their credit history start early. Minimum ages vary by issuer, 13 at Amex and 15 at Discover. Some issuers, such as Capital One, also let you add parents visiting the US who don't have an SSN.

Minimum age for kids
Amex 13, Discover 15
Parents without an SSN
Capital One allows them as authorized users

Our guides

06 Life stages line · Business cards

Freelancers and new small businesses can apply for business credit cards too

If you're self-employed or just starting a small business, you can apply for a business card with your SSN and business name, without forming an LLC first. Keeping business spending separate from personal spending makes tax time easier.

Not required
Forming an LLC first
Upside
Business and personal spending stay separate

Our guides

06 Life stages line · Moving

After a move, update your address with every issuer before a new card goes to the old place

Once you move, update the billing address on each card in its app or website first. Replacement cards are mailed to the address on file, and one that lands at your old address can be taken and used. USPS mail forwarding is a backup, not a substitute for changing your address.

Change first
The billing address on every card
USPS forwarding
A backup, not a substitute

Official sites and services

06 Life stages line · Leaving the US

There's no need to rush to close cards when you leave the US, and accounts closed in good standing stay on your report for 10 years

Your US credit file doesn't disappear when you move home. Keep one no-fee card on autopay and you'll still have history if you come back. Accounts closed in good standing stay on your report for about 10 years. Unpaid debt doesn't stop being collected because you left the country.

Accounts closed in good standing
About 10 years on your report
Suggested
Keep one no-fee card on autopay

06 Life stages line · A death in the family

After a death, card debt is paid from the estate, and authorized users usually don't owe it

Credit card debt left by someone who has died is paid from their estate. Authorized users usually don't have to pay, but joint account holders do. Debt collectors can't demand that family members with no legal responsibility pay out of their own money.

Who pays
The estate
Authorized users
Usually don't owe it
Joint account holders
Do owe it

BEYOND THE CARD

Your credit score isn't just for credit cards

Landlords, car lenders, phone carriers, utilities and insurers can all look at the same credit report.

  • Renting

    Most landlords check your credit report. With no US history, bringing proof of employment, bank statements or a guarantor makes applying much easier.

    • Car loans

      Auto loan rates follow your score. Experian's figures for Q2 2026 put average new car loan rates between 4.41% for the top tier and 16.11% for the lowest.

      • Personal loans

        LendingTree's figures for Q3 2026 put average personal loan APRs between 15.55% for scores of 800 and up and 30.18% for scores below 580.

        • Mortgages

          Mortgage rates depend on your score as well as your down payment and debt-to-income ratio. Freddie Mac publishes national averages for 30-year and 15-year fixed rates every Thursday.

          • Phone plans

            Carriers usually run a credit check for monthly (postpaid) plans. Prepaid plans don't, so they're a way to start before you have a score.

            • Utilities

              If the electric or gas company can't find a record of you, it may ask for a deposit before opening your account.

              • Insurance

                In most states, auto and home insurers use an insurance score built from your credit report. A few states, such as California and Massachusetts, ban or limit its use for auto insurance.

              DIRECTORY

              Official sites and services for credit cards

              Grouped by type and listed alphabetically within each group. We don't use referral codes.

              Free reports and scores

              Freezes, identity theft and complaints

              Prequalification before you apply

              Building credit from zero

              Payments and points

              Rules and counseling

              WE LIVE IN USA

              More from We Live in USA

              Curated collections

              🌱 Credit Newcomer Gateway No U.S. credit history? Start here. Cards built for people with no score yet, to help you start building. 12 cards → 🛂 Newcomer Cards Without an SSN Just arrived, no SSN yet? The issuers of these cards say on their own sites that they accept a passport or ITIN (quoted on each card page). 1 cards → 🎓 Student Starter Pack Your first card as a student: built for little or no credit history, mostly no annual fee. 6 cards → 🛫 Premium Traveler's Arsenal For advanced players: lounge access, high-value points and premium travel credits. 18 cards → ✈️ Frequent Flyer Essentials Airline co-brand cards: free bags, companion fares and miles that fly you home to Asia. 13 cards → 💵 Cash-Back Maximizer No points to decode, just straightforward cash back on everyday spend. 36 cards → 🍜 Foodie's Table Big multipliers on restaurants, delivery and dining out. 13 cards → 🛒 Grocery Run Heroes Cards that turn weekly supermarket spend into serious rewards. 10 cards → 🆓 Keeper Cards, Zero Fee Cards worth holding forever: no annual fee, real long-term value. 44 cards → 🎁 Big Bonus Hunters Chasing the biggest sign-up bonuses in the market right now. 30 cards → 🏨 Hotel Free-Night Club Annual free-night certificates and elite status that pay for themselves. 9 cards →