How to Build US Credit as a Foreigner from China

Chinese founders scaling businesses internationally often face the invisible-credit problem. When arriving in the United States or launching operations from abroad, your robust local credit history established with the People's Bank of China's Credit Reference Center (征信中心) does not cross borders. Without an established US credit profile, founders struggle to secure personal housing leases, utility services, founder-backed corporate credit cards, or equipment financing without posting hefty cash collateral.

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 do not qualify for the Amex shortcut or require a formal US taxpayer identification number before opening standard financial accounts, obtaining an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) via Form W-7 is the standard sequence [2]:

1. Form W-7 Preparation: Complete IRS Form W-7 (Application for IRS Individual Taxpayer Identification Number) alongside your US tax return or under a valid exception category [2].
2. Entity Formation / Documentation: Establish a US entity (LLC or C-Corp) or prepare documentation proving your non-resident alien tax status and foreign status requirements [2].
3. Certifying Acceptance Agent (CAA) Verification: Utilize an authorized IRS Certifying Acceptance Agent in China or internationally to verify your original passport and supporting identification documents, avoiding the need to mail physical passports to the IRS in Austin, Texas.
4. Submission to the IRS: Submit the verified application packet, Form W-7, and supporting federal tax documents or exception proof to the Internal Revenue Service [2].
5. ITIN Issuance & Credit Initiation: Receive your assigned ITIN within 6 to 10 weeks, enabling you to apply for secured credit cards, open US business bank accounts, and report financial activity to US credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, TransUnion).

Nova Credit

Nova Credit bridges international credit bureaus with US credit reporting agencies, allowing immigrants and foreign founders to share their home credit history with US lenders [3]. Nova Credit officially partners with bureaus across numerous countries, including Australia, Brazil, Canada, India, Mexico, the United Kingdom, and South Korea [3].

Because direct integration with the People's Bank of China credit registry is subject to strict cross-border data transfer regulations and varies by partnership availability, Chinese founders should check Nova Credit's current live country list during onboarding [3]. If your Chinese credit file is supported via Nova Credit integration, lenders such as American Express and select fintech platforms can ingest your local credit score to approve US credit cards instantly.

Business credit: the faster lane

Building corporate credit offers a parallel, highly efficient lane that shields personal credit utilization. By establishing a US C-Corp or LLC with an Employer Identification Number (EIN) and a dedicated business address, you can build business credit independently through the Dun & Bradstreet (D&B) network [4].

To build business credit rapidly:

• Obtain an official D-U-N-S Number from Dun & Bradstreet to activate your corporate credit file [4].
• Apply for Tier-1 vendor accounts (office suppliers, shipping providers, software vendors) that report payment activity to commercial credit bureaus (D&B, Experian Business, Equifax Business) [4].
• Maintain strict adherence to Net-30 or Net-60 payment terms, paying invoices ahead of schedule to build a strong D&B PAYDEX score of 80 or higher [4].

Recommended sequence

To establish comprehensive US credit efficiently as a founder from China, follow this structured sequence:

1. Leverage Amex Global Transfer: If you hold a qualifying direct American Express card in China, apply for a US Amex card using your existing account history [1].
2. Obtain an ITIN: File IRS Form W-7 through a Certifying Acceptance Agent to secure your Individual Taxpayer Identification Number for banking and credit applications [2].
3. Form a US Entity & Secure EIN: Incorporate your US startup (LLC or C-Corp) and obtain an EIN, enabling business banking and corporate credit formation.
4. Open US Secured Cards & Bank Accounts: Deposit initial capital into a US business bank account and secure entry-level credit cards that report to major consumer credit bureaus.
5. Establish Commercial Vendor Lines: Register with Dun & Bradstreet, obtain a D-U-N-S number, and utilize Net-30 vendor accounts to build corporate credit scores (PAYDEX) [4].

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.