Moving to the US is an incredible milestone, but it often comes with a frustrating realization: your excellent credit history from back home didn’t make the trip. Traditionally, the US financial system has treated credit scores as strictly domestic. If you didn’t have a US Social Security Number (SSN) and a US credit file, you were financially "invisible," forcing highly successful professionals to start over with basic, low-limit secured cards.
Fortunately, the landscape has changed. Financial technology now allows you to legally and securely translate your international credit history into a US-equivalent score. If you want to know how to use your foreign credit score in the US, two primary pathways dominate the market: Nova Credit and the American Express Global Card Transfer program.
Here is your complete Nova Credit Amex guide to skipping the credit-building phase and accessing premium US credit products from day one.
The Problem: Why Doesn't Credit Cross Borders?
Credit bureaus like Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion operate globally, but they maintain strict data silos for each country due to international privacy laws and differing financial regulations. A 750 credit score in Canada or an 800 in India is calculated using completely different algorithms than a US FICO score. Therefore, US lenders cannot simply "pull" your foreign report.
To solve this, a bridge was needed to standardize and translate foreign credit data into a format that US underwriting algorithms can digest.
Pathway 1: Nova Credit’s "Credit Passport"
Nova Credit is a cross-border credit bureau that solves the translation problem. They created a product called the "Credit Passport," which securely retrieves your credit file from your home country, translates the data into a US-equivalent score, and delivers it to US lenders during the application process.
How Nova Credit Works
Nova Credit is not a bank or a lender; they are a data translator. You do not apply for a "Nova Credit card." Instead, you apply for a credit card, auto loan, or apartment lease with a US institution that partners with Nova Credit. During the application, a pop-up window will ask if you want to use your international credit history. You will securely log into your home country's banking or credit portal, and Nova Credit will instantly generate your Credit Passport for the US lender to review.
Supported Countries
As of the latest expansions, Nova Credit can pull credit histories from several major countries, including:
- Australia
- Brazil
- Canada
- Dominican Republic
- India
- Kenya
- Mexico
- Nigeria
- Philippines
- South Korea
- Spain
- Switzerland
- United Kingdom
Note: If your country is not on the list, you will likely need to rely on alternative underwriting methods (like the Chase Freedom Rise or Petal cards) rather than direct credit translation.
Pathway 2: American Express Global Card Transfer
American Express is universally known as the most expat-friendly financial institution. They tackle the foreign credit problem in two ways: by partnering with Nova Credit for applicants from supported countries, and by utilizing their own proprietary Global Card Transfer program.
If you already have an American Express card issued directly by Amex in your home country (e.g., Amex UK, Amex Australia, or Amex Canada), you are already in their global database.
How Amex Global Transfer Works
Because American Express acts as both the payment network and the issuing bank, they already know your spending and payment habits. When you move to the US, you can apply for a US American Express card and check a box indicating you are an existing cardholder in another country.
Amex will use your existing international account history to approve your US application—no US FICO score required. This is one of the fastest ways to secure premium travel or gold cards immediately upon arrival.
Step-by-Step Guide to Applying
If you are ready to apply and use your foreign credit score in the US, follow this sequence to avoid unnecessary rejections:
Step 1: Set Up Your US Logistics
Before applying for any US credit card, you must have a physical US residential address and a US phone number. You cannot use a hotel address.
Step 2: Obtain an SSN or ITIN (If Possible)
While you can apply for Amex cards using just a passport through Nova Credit, having an SSN or ITIN makes the process significantly smoother. If you do not have an SSN, have your passport details ready.
Step 3: Choose Your Application Route
- If you already have a foreign Amex: Go to the US American Express website, log in with your foreign account credentials, and apply for a US card. The system will automatically recognize your existing relationship.
- If you do not have a foreign Amex: Apply for a US American Express card normally as a new customer. When the application asks for your SSN, check the box that says "I don't have a US credit history."
Step 4: Authorize the Nova Credit Pull
If you took the second route, you will be redirected to the Nova Credit portal. Select your home country and answer the identity verification questions (these will be based on your foreign credit file, such as "Which bank issued your mortgage in 2021?").
Step 5: Get Approved and Build US Credit
Once approved, American Express will issue your new US card. Moving forward, Amex will report your on-time monthly payments to the three major US credit bureaus. Within three to six months, you will generate a standard, standalone US FICO score, officially integrating you into the US financial system.
Final Thoughts
You worked hard to build a strong financial reputation in your home country; you shouldn't have to leave it behind. By leveraging this Nova Credit Amex guide, you can bypass the restrictive "Catch-22" of the US credit system, secure a high-quality unsecured credit card on day one, and establish a rock-solid financial foundation in America.