How to Build US Credit as a Foreigner from Bolivia

Bolivian founders expanding to the United States often face the invisible-credit problem, where an established financial track record in Bolivia does not transfer across borders. In Bolivia, local credit history is tracked and managed through bureaus such as INFOCRED (Infocred S.A.) under the supervision of the Autoridad de Supervisión del Sistema Financiero (ASFI) [1] [2]. When you arrive in the United States or start a US-facing venture, US financial institutions cannot see your INFOCRED report, leaving you with a credit score of zero.

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 utilize card transfer shortcuts, obtaining an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) is the standard method to enter the formal US banking and credit ecosystem.

1. Incorporate a US Entity: Establish a US Limited Liability Company (LLC) or C-Corporation to create a formal business framework requiring tax identification.
2. Prepare Form W-7: Complete IRS Form W-7 (Application for IRS Individual Taxpayer Identification Number) alongside required federal tax declarations or valid identification documents.
3. Certify Identification Documents: Have your Bolivian passport certified by a US consular official or an IRS-authorized Certifying Acceptance Agent (CAA) to avoid mailing original identification documents.
4. Submit Application to the IRS: Mail the completed Form W-7, federal tax return or exemption documentation, and certified identification documents to the Internal Revenue Service.
5. Receive ITIN and Open Bank Accounts: Once the IRS issues your ITIN, use it to open US business and personal bank accounts, apply for secured credit cards, and begin building an independent US credit profile.

Nova Credit

When seeking cross-border credit assessments through lenders that partner with international credit bureaus, founders should note that Nova Credit bridges international credit data for select countries [3]. While Nova Credit partners with bureaus across major markets such as Brazil, Canada, India, Mexico, the United Kingdom, and several European and Asian nations, coverage for Bolivia varies [3]. Founders should check Nova Credit's live country directory to confirm whether direct bureau data integration is available for Bolivia at the time of application [3].

Business Credit: The Faster Lane

Establishing business credit independent of your personal social security number or ITIN provides a faster lane for corporate financing. By obtaining an Employer Identification Number (EIN) for your US entity, you can register with business credit reporting agencies such as Dun & Bradstreet (D&B) to establish a D&B D-U-N-S Number. By opening trade lines with vendors that report payment history and maintaining prompt payment habits, your corporation can build a strong D&B Paydex Score ranging from 0 to 100, enabling corporate financing without relying solely on personal guarantees.

Recommended Sequence

1. Incorporate your US Entity: Form a Delaware or Wyoming LLC/C-Corp and obtain your EIN from the IRS.
2. Obtain an ITIN: File IRS Form W-7 through a Certifying Acceptance Agent to establish your individual tax identity in the United States.
3. Open a US Business Bank Account: Use your EIN, formation documents, and ITIN/passport to establish digital banking with fintech platforms friendly to international founders (such as Mercury or Relay).
4. Apply via Amex Global Transfer: Leverage your existing international banking history if eligible to secure your first US credit card.
5. Establish Vendor Trade Lines: Register with Dun & Bradstreet, obtain a D-U-N-S number, and build business credit through reporting suppliers and secured corporate cards.

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.

References

[1] Infocred S.A. Infocred - El Buró de Información Crediticia en Bolivia [2] Autoridad de Supervisión del Sistema Financiero (ASFI). Entidades Reguladas y Burós de Información [3] Nova Credit. What countries does Nova Credit provide credit reporting from?

This guide is for informational purposes only and is not financial, tax, or legal advice. Consult a qualified adviser for your specific situation.