Credit Cards Guide
US Credit Cards for Non-Residents
US cards beat the European offers on bonuses, points, and perks. Almost nobody realizes you can use them as a non-resident. Here's the whole series, in the right order.
US credit cards for non-residents: the complete guide
How non-US residents get US credit cards and US credit, the right order to do it in, and how to get the most value out of the offers. Updated for 2026.
Read the guide →American Express Platinum for Non-Residents
Why I've carried the Amex Platinum since 2017 — Priority Pass, hotel status, rental car upgrades, and why timing matters when you leave your home country.
Read the guide →Amex Global Transfer: step by step to your first US credit card
Get a US Amex using an existing Amex from your home country, with no SSN and no US credit history. How Global Transfer works, the requirements, and the limits. For 2026.
Read the guide →Building a US credit score from zero: the realistic timeline
How to build a US credit score from zero as a non-resident. The real tools, a month-by-month timeline, and the costs. No 'score 700 in five weeks'. For 2026.
Read the guide →ITIN, SSN, and EIN: which US number you need for what
SSN, ITIN, and EIN get confused constantly. What the three numbers are, who gets which, and which one you actually need for a US credit card. Explained simply, for 2026.
Read the guide →The best US credit cards for non-residents, compared
Which US credit cards you can realistically get as a non-resident, and which only come with a score. Entry, Global Transfer, and premium compared, with ITIN suitability. For 2026.
Read the guide →Travel hacking: is the effort really worth it?
What US credit card points are actually worth, how much effort and risk sits behind them, and who travel hacking pays off for. For 2026.
Read the guide →US business credit cards for your LLC: EIN-only or personal guarantee?
Business cards for your US LLC: the difference between EIN-only cards with no guarantee (Brex, Ramp) and classic bank business cards with personal liability. What fits when. For 2026.
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