You can try Zolve without an SSN or OpenSky Plus with a valid SSN and $300 deposit, but you must never inflate your income.
“I am an international student who arrived in the US last year. My income is very low, and I was just rejected for a Chase Freedom Rise card and couldn't get pre-approved for a Capital One student card. What other credit cards can I apply for to build credit for a loan next Spring, and is it a bad idea to inflate my income on applications?”
Summary
One Chase denial and one unsuccessful soft preapproval do not end your credit-building plan. You still have a documented no-SSN route and a no-credit-check secured route, but truthful ability to pay—not a larger invented number—is the key constraint.
Your practical route depends mainly on whether you have a valid SSN and $300 for a refundable deposit; your age determines which income may be reported.
If you do not have an SSN, Zolve is the clearest documented newcomer route: its official support page says an SSN and U.S. credit history are not required, and Zolve says it reports to Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. Apply at https://zolve.com/us/credit-card, but do not assume approval or accept an offer until its disclosure gives you the missing APR and any deposit requirement.
If you have a valid SSN, are treated by OpenSky as a U.S. resident, and can lock up $300, the OpenSky Plus says no credit check, $0 annual fee, monthly reporting to all three bureaus, and a $300 minimum . Its dedicated page showed 28.99% variable APR; submit at https://www.openskycc.com/plus-secured-visa only after the Chase-notice review.
Do not use this route. Report only current or and assets allowed by the age rule; a knowingly false number intended to influence a covered lender can fall under 18 U.S.C. § 1014.
Every route remains subject to the federal ability-to-pay rule, so no card can guarantee approval with very low truthful income.
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Watch out for
Next steps
These steps prevent another avoidable application, start a reporting account, and give it enough time to age before spring 2027.
Before another application
Read the Chase adverse-action notice
Write down every stated denial reason and the named credit-reporting company. If Chase used a credit report, request that company's free report within 60 days of the notice; use the contact instructions in the notice or https://www.annualcreditreport.com, then dispute any incorrect item with the bureau that displays it.
Requirements
Before entering an income number
Calculate only truthful countable income
If under 21, count your own current or reasonably expected income/assets; regular transfers deposited into your account may count, but money another person merely uses to pay your expenses does not. If 21 or older, you may include income you reasonably expect to access, such as money regularly deposited into your account or regularly used to pay your expenses. Do not include hoped-for work or an invented amount.
Requirements
After reviewing the denial reason
Submit one matched card application
Without an SSN, use Zolve's application at https://zolve.com/us/credit-card. With a valid SSN and $300 available, use OpenSky Plus at https://www.openskycc.com/plus-secured-visa; it says no credit check, but it may still reject applicants whose expenses exceed income or whose income/assets cannot cover the payment. Do not send both applications merely to see what happens.
Requirements
Immediately after approval
Automate a clean payment record
Put one small planned expense on the card, set automatic payment for the full statement balance by the due date, and keep spending well away from the credit limit. Confirm each monthly statement and payment; OpenSky says it reports when the monthly statement is generated, while Zolve says it reports to Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion.
Requirements
From March 2027 if opened by September 2026
Review the file before the spring loan
Pull all three reports again at https://www.annualcreditreport.com and confirm the card, limit, balance, and payment history are accurate. FICO's basic file rule requires an account open at least six months and an account reported within the previous six months; satisfying it means a score may be generated, not that the loan is approved.
Requirements
Legal sources
This answer is grounded in CFPB Regulation Z and denial guidance, the U.S. Department of Justice's description of 18 USC 1014, FICO's scoring requirements, and the card providers' own materials.
12 CFR 1026.51(a)(1)(i)
Every issuer must consider income/assets and current obligations before opening the card.
(a)(1)(i)
A card issuer must not open a credit card account for a consumer under an open-end (not home-secured) consumer credit plan, or increase any credit limit applicable to such account, unless the card issuer considers the consumer's ability to make the required minimum periodic payments under the terms of the account based on the consumer's income or assets and the consumer's current obligations.
12 CFR 1026.51(b)(1)
An applicant under 21 needs independent repayment ability or a qualifying person age 21 or older who accepts liability.
(b)(1)
A card issuer may not open a credit card account under an open-end (not home-secured) consumer credit plan for a consumer less than 21 years old, unless the consumer has submitted a written application and the card issuer has: (i) Financial information indicating the consumer has an independent ability to make the required minimum periodic payments on the proposed extension of credit in connection with the account; or (ii)(A) A signed agreement of a cosigner, guarantor, or joint applicant who is at least 21 years old to be either secondarily liable for any debt on the account incurred by the consumer before the consumer has attained the age of 21 or jointly liable with the consumer for any debt on the account; and (B) Financial information indicating such cosigner, guarantor, or joint applicant has the ability to make the required minimum periodic payments on such debts, consistent with paragraph (a) of this section.
Official Interpretations of 12 CFR 1026.51
The official commentary explains accessible income for adults and the narrower independent-income rule under 21.
Comments 4(iii) and 1 to § 1026.51
In both of these circumstances, a card issuer may treat any income and assets to which an applicant, accountholder, joint applicant, cosigner, or guarantor who is or will be liable for debts incurred on the account has a reasonable expectation of access as the applicant's current or reasonably expected income - but is not required to do so. However, because § 1026.51(b)(1)(i) requires that the consumer who has not attained the age of 21 have an independent ability to make the required minimum periodic payments, the card issuer may only consider the applicant's current or reasonably expected income or assets under § 1026.51(b)(1)(i).
18 USC 1014
Knowingly lying to influence an institution covered by the statute can be a federal offense.
Section 1014 of Title 18, United States Code, covers the knowing making of false statements or willfully overvaluing any property or security for the purpose of influencing in any way the action of the enumerated agencies and organizations.
CFPB adverse-action guidance
The Chase notice must identify the main denial reasons, and a report-based denial creates a 60-day free-report right.
If you were turned down for a loan or a line of credit, the lender is required to give you a list of the main reasons for its decision or a notice telling you how to get the main reasons. Tell you about your right to get a free copy of your credit report from the credit reporting company that provided it within 60 days of your adverse action notice.
Capital One preapproval guidance
Capital One preapproval is soft screening, not guaranteed approval or a completed card application.
When you’re pre-approved for a credit card, it typically means the card issuer has run a soft inquiry and determined that you meet the basic eligibility requirements for the card. Yes, you may still get denied for a credit card even after you’ve been pre-approved. Applying for a credit card after you’re pre-approved could require a hard credit inquiry, which could cause your credit scores to drop temporarily.
CFPB credit-score guidance
CFPB identifies payment history, staying away from the limit, account age, and limited applications as good-score habits.
Pay your loans on time, every time. Don't get close to your credit limit. A long credit history will help your score. Only apply for credit that you need.
FICO minimum score requirements
FICO generally cannot produce a valid score until the file has one six-month-old account and recent reporting.
In order to receive a valid FICO Score, the credit report must have: At least one account opened for six months or more, and At least one account that has been reported to the credit bureau within the past six months, and No indication of a deceased person on the credit report.
Zolve credit-card eligibility
Zolve documents a card-account application route for newcomers without an SSN or U.S. credit history.
Hey, you do not need an SSN or U.S. credit history to apply for a Zolve Account.
OpenSky Plus Secured Visa terms
OpenSky Plus is a no-credit-check secured option requiring at least $300 and charging no annual fee.
Min. deposit $300. Annual fee $0. Variable APR 28.99%. No credit check to apply. We report to all 3 major credit bureaus.
OpenSky FAQ
OpenSky reports monthly and does not require a linked checking account to apply.
One of the benefits of your account is automatic monthly reporting to the three major credit bureaus. OpenSky is one of the few issuers that doesn’t require a linked checking account to apply.
These are the official rules and product statements as published on the cited dates; laws, underwriting, and card terms can change.
This is general information about official processes, not legal advice, and SettleKit is not a law firm.
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