You can use your foreign credit history to get a US travel card through the American Express Global Card Relationship program if you already hold an Amex card in your home country. However, you cannot use Nova Credit to get an Amex card, as their partnership ended in 2025.
“I am on an L1 visa and arrived in the US 1.5 months ago. I just got approved for a Chase Freedom Rise card to start building credit, but I want a travel-focused card for my family of three. What are the best credit card options for someone who is new to US credit?”
Summary
You do not necessarily have to wait a full year for other premium travel cards—expats report successfully getting cards like the Chase Sapphire Preferred with just eight months of credit history.
Depending on your foreign banking history, you have two main paths to a travel card.
If you already hold an American Express card in an eligible country, you can use that relationship to get a US Amex card without a US credit file.
Continue using your Chase Freedom Rise. It can take up to six months of payment history or more before a credit score can be calculated, though some systems need as little as one month.
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The rules on foreign history and timelines
The Nova Credit and American Express partnership ended in 2025, so you cannot use that service to apply for an Amex travel card. If you want a US American Express card, the Global Transfer program is your best route.
If you apply for a US Amex card without providing a tax ID, the account builds history with American Express internally, but it does not report to Experian, Equifax, or TransUnion. You cannot attach an {"term": "itin", "text": "ITIN"} to that account later to make it report to the {"term": "credit-bureaus", "text": "credit bureaus"}.
There is no strict one-year minimum credit history requirement for all premium travel cards. While it takes time to build a score—up to six months or more for some systems, and as little as one month for others—expats report being approved for the Chase Sapphire Preferred at eight months.
Next steps
If you have an Amex card from your home country, you can apply for a US card using these steps.
Confirm your eligibility
You must be the primary cardholder on an American Express card that has been open and in good standing for at least three months in an eligible country.
Gather your documents
You need a physical US residential address, a US phone number, your passport, and your existing Amex card details.
Apply online or by phone
Start a US card application online and select the option stating you do not have a US credit history but have held a card in an eligible country, or call the Amex Global Card Relationship line.
Legal sources
These facts come directly from credit bureaus, practitioner guides, and lived experience reports.
TaxSym
Existing Amex cardholders can use their foreign relationship to get a US Amex card without a US credit file.
If you already hold an American Express card in an eligible country, you can use that relationship to get a US Amex card with no Social Security Number, no ITIN, and no US credit file.
Frugal Flyer
The partnership between Nova Credit and American Express ended in 2025.
Note: The Nova Credit and American Express partnership has ended as of 2025. If you are interested in obtaining a US American Express card, American Express Global Transfer is your best bet.
Note.com
Expats report that the one-year credit history rule is not absolute, with approvals for the Chase Sapphire Preferred happening at eight months.
The 1-year rule is that if you do not have at least 1 year of credit history when obtaining a CSP, you will be immediately denied. As you all have noticed, I was able to create a CSP 8 months after creating my JAL card... In other words, the 1-year rule did not exist.
TaxSym
A US Amex card opened without a tax ID only reports internally and does not build a profile with the major US credit bureaus.
a US card opened without a tax ID builds history with American Express internally, but it does not report to Experian, Equifax, or TransUnion, and Amex will not let you bolt an ITIN onto that account later.
SettleKit is not a law firm and this is general information, not legal advice. Confirm your eligibility and options with a licensed immigration attorney or financial advisor.
SettleKit is not a law firm. This is general information, not legal advice.
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