How to Build US Credit as a Foreigner from Algeria

Algerian founders face the invisible-credit problem when expanding or incorporating in the United States. Without an established credit footprint, accessing venture debt, corporate credit cards, or SaaS financing is exceptionally difficult. Algeria maintains a centralized bank risk registry managed by the Bank of Algeria (Banque d'Algérie), namely the Central Risks Service (Service des Risques), but local commercial credit bureaus or consumer scoring systems like those in the US (FICO) do not directly transfer across borders.

Why US credit matters

A US credit file changes what a US company can do. Without one, financing means cash collateral or a personal guarantee, corporate cards come with a deposit, and commercial leases ask for six months up front.

With one, the same company borrows at a normal rate. That is the whole difference, and it is why the sequence below is worth the months it takes.

No part of this is guaranteed. Credit decisions belong to lenders, and nobody — including us — can promise you a score or a limit.

The Amex Global Transfer route

American Express runs a programme — Global Transfer, sometimes called the Global Card Relationship — that lets an existing Amex cardholder apply for a US card using their established relationship with Amex rather than starting from nothing.

Your credit history does not transfer. This is the most common misunderstanding about the programme. What transfers is the relationship — Amex's own record of how you have handled your account with them. Your local bureau file, your repayment record with other lenders and your local credit score do not cross the border. Amex US underwrites you as a new customer who happens to be a known quantity to Amex.

That is still a considerable advantage over building a US file from zero. It is not the same as arriving with a credit history.

Four conditions apply, and all four must be met:

1. The card you already hold must be issued by American Express itself, not by a local bank operating under an American Express licence.
2. You must be the primary cardholder, not an additional or supplementary cardholder.
3. You must have held the card for at least three months.
4. The account must be open and in good standing when you apply.

Corporate cards are excluded separately from all four.

Condition one eliminates more applicants than the other three combined. In many markets American Express operates through Global Network Services, where a local bank licenses the Amex brand and issues its own cards under it. Those cards carry the Amex logo, but the account relationship belongs to the bank — so there is nothing to transfer. A local partnership is not an alternative route to eligibility; it is the thing that removes it.

How to check your own card: read the cardholder agreement, not the card. The agreement names the legal entity that issued it. If that name is a local bank, the card will not qualify. If it is an American Express entity, it may. If you cannot find the agreement, call the number on the back and ask which legal entity issued the card.

We maintain a country-by-country reference for this, including which markets are confirmed and which are not: Amex Global Transfer country eligibility [blocked]

Check before you rely on this: American Express sets these terms and can change them. Confirm current conditions with American Express directly.

The ITIN path

Securing an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) is the foundational step for establishing US financial identity without a Social Security Number (SSN).

1. Form W-7 Application: Complete IRS Form W-7 (Application for IRS Individual Taxpayer Identification Number).
2. Federal Tax Declaration or Entity Association: Attach Form W-7 to a US federal tax return or establish a US LLC that requires an ITIN for tax reporting purposes.
3. Certified Documentation: Gather original or certified copies of your Algerian passport and supporting identity documents issued by Algerian authorities.
4. Certified Acceptance Agent (CAA) Submission: Utilize an authorized IRS Certifying Acceptance Agent or visit an IRS Taxpayer Assistance Center to verify documents without mailing originals abroad.
5. Receive ITIN Assignment: Obtain your official IRS ITIN letter, which serves as your primary identifier for banking and credit applications.

Nova Credit

Nova Credit allows newcomers to translate their home country credit history into a US equivalent score. Currently, Nova Credit’s international credit bureau network covers countries such as Australia, Brazil, Canada, India, Mexico, Nigeria, South Korea, the UK, and several others. For Algerian founders, because local Algerian credit bureau data is not currently integrated into Nova Credit's direct cross-border consumer bureau network, founders must check Nova Credit's current country list or rely on alternative bootstrap credit-building methods.

Business credit: the faster lane

Business credit does not rely on your personal Social Security Number or ITIN history. By obtaining an Employer Identification Number (EIN) for your US LLC and establishing a DUNS number via Dun & Bradstreet, your company can build a standalone credit profile. Opening a US business bank account, working with vendor-tradeline suppliers that report to commercial bureaus (such as D&B, Experian Business, and Equifax Business), and maintaining a strong D&B Paydex score allows your company to secure financing independently.

Recommended sequence

1. Form your US LLC and obtain your federal Employer Identification Number (EIN).
2. Apply for and secure an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) via IRS Form W-7.
3. Open a US digital business bank account tailored for non-resident founders (e.g., Mercury or Relay Financial).
4. Register your business with Dun & Bradstreet to generate your corporate DUNS number.
5. Establish initial vendor tradelines and apply for secured US business credit cards to build repayment history.

What Keystone Bridge does

We handle the US side for founders based outside the United States: entity formation, EIN, ITIN, US business banking access, and business credit.

The price of every stage is published on this site, so a first conversation is about whether we fit — not a pitch. If the answer is that you can do this yourself, we will tell you so. This guide is for informational purposes only and is not financial, tax, or legal advice. Consult a qualified adviser for your specific situation.