credit cards that don't require citizenship?

Parent Cafe
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<p>of course, this is assuming that anyone’s getting approved for credit right now…</p>

<p>my application for a bank of america credit card was rejected over the summer, allegedly because i’m not an american citizen (though i do have a g-4 visa, work permit, and social security number). i have checking and savings accounts at bank of america and have never had a problem before, but perhaps credit is different.</p>

<p>i’m in a minor liquidity crisis right now, and i don’t know how i’m going to pay for books next term. my parents are having financial troubles of their own and will not be able to help me out. i’ve worked on campus since freshman year, and i’ll be working two jobs starting in january; i’ll have sufficient funds at the end of the month, but obviously i can’t wait four weeks in a 10-week term to buy books (i could, however, pay the credit card bill in full).</p>

<p>the only other option i can think of is to borrow money from my boyfriend, but i’d rather not resort to that (for reasons of pride and self-reliance, mostly), and i’d like to have a credit card on hand regardless in case of emergency and to establish a credit history.</p>

<p>so, does anyone know of a card that doesn’t require citizenship or permanent residency? </p>

<p>thanks so much,
e.</p>

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<p>If your parents have a credit card – and they must, to survive here – have them add you to the card so you can charge on it. Of course you’ll pay them back. </p>

<p>Which begs the question, if they have a card and they’re not citizens, why can’t you. But then again, things are different now, aren’t they.</p>

<p>I don’t know of a specific card for noncitizens, but apply to a Chase card or a Citicard, and see what happens.</p>

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<p>my parents have swedish credit cards, but i don’t plan to live or work in sweden and would prefer an american card. they’re also behind on their bills (like i said, we’ve hit a rough spot) and say they can’t add me until everything’s paid off.</p>

<p>i’m filling out an application for the american express “blue for students” card right now… let’s see if this works.</p>

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<p>Citizenship isn’t an issue in our family’s experience, but permanent residency might be.</p>

<p>A student credit card is a good idea. If that doesn’t work out, see if your college has a short-term “emergency” lending program. I believe lots of colleges do this. It’s just for the kind of situation you describe.</p>

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<p>

rejected again, but for a different reason. now i have a new question: how on earth am i supposed to build a credit score if i can’t get approved for credit?</p>

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<p>problem solved (i think)! i just got approved for this capital one card specifically for people with a limited credit history. the apr after the first six months is pretty astonishing (19.8%!) but i was planning to pay it off in full anyway, so it really doesn’t matter.</p>

<p>[Capital</a> One - StandardPlatinum Credit Card for YoungAdults](<a href=“http://www.capitalone.com/creditcards/products/details/?sol=10830&tc=2&credit=3&linkid=WWW_0608_CARD_Z_Z_Z_01_T_CP83002LW]Capital”>http://www.capitalone.com/creditcards/products/details/?sol=10830&tc=2&credit=3&linkid=WWW_0608_CARD_Z_Z_Z_01_T_CP83002LW)</p>

<p>thanks again, and i’m sorry for posting about something that i evidently could’ve solved myself in a few minutes of googling. :o</p>

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<p>“i’m in a minor liquidity crisis right now, and i don’t know how i’m going to pay for books next term.”
When ever possible, buy used books- that can save you a LOT of money! The used booksellers at Amazon com are a good place to start. Just plug in the ISBN # in the search box .
And we just heard about this website-
[Chegg.com</a> - Cheap Textbook Rentals. Search for Used Textbooks and Rent College Textbooks.](<a href=“http://www.chegg.com/]Chegg.com”>http://www.chegg.com/)
where you can RENT textbooks for a semester or qtr for even less $$ than buying them, in most cases.</p>