topic Re: Applying for a First Card Remotely - Without an SSN in Credit Card Applications

Applying for a First Card Remotely - Without an SSN

Anonymous — Thu, 28 Oct 2021 09:35:29 GMT

Hi,

I'm not a US citizen and I currently live abroad, planning to build credit for a possible move to the US in the next 1-2 years. I have an account with BofA (Platinum rewards status, 55K in balance) that I opened late August on my last visit, but I didn't apply for credit there and will not visit the US again probably until March.

I reached out to the person I've met with at the branch when I opened my account to apply for a CC, but he said it is required for me to be phisically present at the branch for applying as I have no SSN (I do have an ITIN). I remeber people mentioning getting a first card from BofA remotely, but was unable to find concrete datapoints here or elsewhere.

Is there a path to getting a card through an online / phone application, with BofA or anyone else in my situation? Did anyone had success in this position recently? I opt for a Travel rewards card, but everything goes as building credit is the main goal here.

Thanks!

Re: Applying for a First Card Remotely - Without an SSN

Red1Blue — Thu, 28 Oct 2021 11:56:24 GMT

Check out Sable Secured Card. It does not require SSN. It also has rewards program.

@Anonymous wrote:
Hi,

I'm not a US citizen and I currently live abroad, planning to build credit for a possible move to the US in the next 1-2 years. I have an account with BofA (Platinum rewards status, 55K in balance) that I opened late August on my last visit, but I didn't apply for credit there and will not visit the US again probably until March.

I reached out to the person I've met with at the branch when I opened my account to apply for a CC, but he said it is required for me to be phisically present at the branch for applying as I have no SSN (I do have an ITIN). I remeber people mentioning getting a first card from BofA remotely, but was unable to find concrete datapoints here or elsewhere.

Is there a path to getting a card through an online / phone application, with BofA or anyone else in my situation? Did anyone had success in this position recently? I opt for a Travel rewards card, but everything goes as building credit is the main goal here.

Thanks!

Re: Applying for a First Card Remotely - Without an SSN

Anonymous — Thu, 28 Oct 2021 20:20:00 GMT

Thanks! I'll check it out.

Did anyone had experience with BoA in this situation?