I am trying to build US credit history but I only have a Canadian phone number. I was approved for a Capital One credit card online, but I had to close the account because they couldn't verify my Canadian number to send a text message. Are there any workarounds for this, or what other US credit cards can I apply for online to build credit?
Federal law requires banks to implement their own risk-based verification procedures under the {"term": "cip-rule", "text": "Customer Identification Program (CIP) Rule"}. These procedures must collect your name, date of birth, address, and an identification number. While the federal rule does not mandate a US phone number, banks enforce their own internal verification checks. Because you are a non-U.S. person, you can use another approved identification to open accounts, but you must clear the bank's internal phone requirement.
You can still build US credit. You can bypass the phone barrier by applying for alternative credit cards designed specifically for international applicants, or by setting up a US mobile plan to clear standard bank checks.
