How to Build US Credit as a Foreigner from the Czech Republic

Czech founders often face the invisible-credit problem when expanding to the United States. In the Czech Republic, personal and commercial financial history is tracked through credit bureaus and registries such as the Central Credit Register (Centrální registr úvěrů - CCR) administered by the Czech National Bank, as well as non-banking registries like CIBR, NBCIR, and REPI (accessible via platforms like KolikMam.cz). However, none of these local Czech credit files transfer automatically to the United States. When you land in the US as an immigrant or non-resident founder, US financial institutions view you as having a blank credit slate, making it difficult to secure apartments, business loans, or personal credit cards without a robust strategy.

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

If you do not qualify for immediate card transfers, obtaining an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) from the IRS is your next core milestone. An ITIN allows foreign founders to interact formally with the US financial system without requiring a Social Security Number (SSN).

1. Form W-7 Application: Complete IRS Form W-7 to apply for an ITIN for tax processing purposes.
2. Entity Formation: Establish your US entity (such as a Delaware C-Corp or LLC) to generate federal tax filing requirements that necessitate an ITIN or EIN.
3. Certified Documentation: Gather your valid Czech passport, certified copies, and supporting tax documentation verifying your foreign status.
4. Submission via Certified Acceptance Agent (CAA): Submit your W-7 application through an IRS-authorized Certifying Acceptance Agent or directly to the IRS ITIN Operation unit.
5. ITIN Issuance & Bank Integration: Once your ITIN is issued, use it to open US business bank accounts and apply for secured or unsecured US credit cards that do not strictly require an SSN.

Nova Credit

Nova Credit acts as a cross-border credit bureau bridge that allows immigrants and foreign nationals to translate their home country credit history into a US-equivalent credit profile.

• Czech Republic Coverage Status: Nova Credit primarily covers specific partner countries (such as Australia, Brazil, Canada, India, Mexico, the UK, and several others). Currently, the Czech Republic is not natively supported on Nova Credit's direct bureau integration network.
• Action Required: Czech founders should check Nova Credit's current country list periodically as partnerships expand, but should rely on Amex Global Transfer or secured credit building if Nova Credit does not yet ingest Czech credit bureau data.

Business credit: the faster lane

Building business credit separates your personal liability from your company's financial footprint. Dun & Bradstreet (D&B), Experian Business, and Equifax Business track commercial credit independently of your personal FICO score.

• D&B Paydex Score: By registering your US LLC or C-Corp with Dun & Bradstreet to obtain a D-U-N-S number, you can establish commercial trade lines with vendors and suppliers who report payment terms (e.g., Net-30 accounts).
• Execution: Open vendor accounts with US suppliers (such as office supply companies or software providers), purchase necessary business goods, and pay your invoices early or on time. Consistently paying Net-30 invoices ahead of schedule builds a strong D&B Paydex score of 80 or higher, enabling your US corporation to secure business credit cards and financing without relying solely on a personal US credit history.

Recommended Sequence

1. Establish a US Entity & Bank Account: Form your US company and open a digital-friendly business bank account (using an EIN).
2. Leverage Amex Global Transfer: If you hold a qualifying personal Amex card in the Czech Republic, apply for a US Amex card using the Global Transfer program.
3. Apply for an ITIN / EIN: Secure your Employer Identification Number (EIN) immediately and apply for an ITIN if you are operating as a non-resident individual.
4. Open Secured Consumer Cards: If Global Transfer is unavailable, open a secured credit card with a US bank (using a cash deposit as collateral) to begin generating positive monthly reporting to US credit bureaus.
5. Build Business Trade Lines: Register for a D-U-N-S number and establish Net-30 vendor accounts to accelerate commercial credit generation.

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.