How to Build US Credit as a Foreigner from Argentina

Founders in Argentina face the invisible-credit problem when expanding globally. When trying to rent software infrastructure, open US bank accounts, or secure corporate cards, your local credit history—tracked in Argentina via Veraz (operated by Equifax) and the Central de Deudores managed by the Banco Central de la República Argentina (BCRA)—does not transfer directly to the United States financial ecosystem.

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

For founders who cannot use the Amex shortcut, obtaining an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is the foundational step for entering the US credit system.

1. Form W-7 Application: Complete IRS Form W-7 alongside your US federal tax return or under an allowable exception (such as owning a US LLC with reporting requirements).
2. Certified Documentation: Gather your valid Argentine passport, certified by the issuing agency or notarized according to IRS guidelines.
3. EIN Acquisition: Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN) for your US entity, which acts as the social security number equivalent for your business.
4. Secured Credit Card Application: Apply for a secured credit card (such as those offered by Capital One or Discover) using your newly acquired ITIN and a US mailing address.
5. Credit Monitoring: Maintain a low credit utilization ratio (under 10%) and set up automatic full payments to build a positive payment history over 6 to 12 months.

Nova Credit

Nova Credit serves as a cross-border credit bureau bridge that allows foreign nationals to translate their home country credit bureau data into a US-equivalent credit report.

• Coverage Status: Nova Credit currently covers major credit markets including Australia, Brazil, Canada, India, Mexico, the United Kingdom, and several others.
• Application for Argentina: Because Nova Credit's direct integration list changes and may not feature Veraz data natively, Argentine founders should check Nova Credit's current country directory. If Argentina is not actively supported on the platform at the time of your application, you must rely on the traditional ITIN and secured card path.

Business credit: the faster lane

Building commercial credit allows your startup to establish a financial identity independent of your personal credit history.

• Dun & Bradstreet (D&B) Registration: Register your US entity with Dun & Bradstreet to obtain a unique D-U-N-S number.
• Paydex Score: D&B evaluates your commercial payment behavior through the Paydex score, which ranges from 1 to 100.
• Vendor Tradelines: Establish net-30 or net-60 vendor accounts with suppliers that report payment promptness to major business credit bureaus (D&B, Experian Business, and Equifax Business). Consistently paying these invoices ahead of schedule establishes strong commercial creditworthiness within 4 to 6 months.

Recommended sequence

1. Incorporate your US entity (LLC or C-Corp) and secure your EIN.
2. Evaluate American Express Global Transfer if you hold an active Argentine Amex card in good standing.
3. Apply for an ITIN via the IRS if you require a personal tax identification number for banking and credit building.
4. Open a secured US credit card or banking partner card using your ITIN and US address.
5. Establish business tradelines reporting to Dun & Bradstreet using your corporate EIN to build independent corporate credit.

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.