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

Dominican Republic founders expanding to the United States frequently face the invisible-credit problem. When arriving in the United States, founders often possess zero domestic credit history, rendering standard financial onboarding frustratingly difficult. In the Dominican Republic, credit scoring and consumer credit reports are managed by credit bureaus such as TransUnion S.A. (Dominican Republic) and Experian, but this local credit history does not automatically follow you across borders. Without established US credit, founders routinely encounter roadblocks when attempting to secure business loans, corporate credit cards without personal guarantees, office leases, or mobile phone plans.

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 Amex Global Transfer or require a broader foundation of US financial identity, obtaining an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) is the standard foundational step.

1. Form a US Entity or Establish Tax Obligations: Determine whether your US LLC or tax filing position necessitates an ITIN.
2. Complete IRS Form W-7: Fill out the Application for IRS Individual Taxpayer Identification Number accurately with your personal particulars.
3. Gather Supporting Documentation: Prepare original or certified copies of your Dominican passport and supporting identity documents verifying foreign status.
4. Submit Application: File Form W-7 alongside your US federal tax return or through an IRS-certified Acceptance Agent based in the Dominican Republic.
5. Receive ITIN: Once issued, use your ITIN to open US bank accounts, apply for secured credit cards, and report tax obligations.

Nova Credit

Nova Credit serves as a vital cross-border bridge for Dominican founders. Nova Credit translates your credit history from the Dominican Republic—sourced directly via local bureaus like TransUnion S.A.—into a US-equivalent credit profile. Major US financial institutions and credit card issuers partner with Nova Credit to evaluate applicants from supported countries, enabling you to apply for credit cards and loans using your Dominican credit history within minutes.

Business credit: the faster lane

Building business credit allows founders to separate personal finances from corporate obligations. By establishing a US LLC with an Employer Identification Number (EIN) and a dedicated business bank account, you can register your enterprise with Dun & Bradstreet (D&B) to obtain a D-U-N-S number. Establishing trade lines with vendors that report payment activity to commercial bureaus enables your startup to build a strong D&B Paydex score, unlocking commercial financing and corporate credit cards based purely on business performance rather than personal history.

Recommended sequence

1. Leverage Amex Global Transfer: Apply for a US Amex card using your existing Dominican Amex account profile if eligible.
2. Apply via Nova Credit: Use Nova Credit-supported partner applications to apply for US financial products using your Dominican TransUnion credit bureau history.
3. Secure an ITIN: File IRS Form W-7 to establish your official US tax processing identity.
4. Open a US Business Bank Account: Establish a corporate account for your US LLC using your EIN and ITIN.
5. Build Business Credit Lines: Register for a D-U-N-S number and establish vendor trade lines that report to Dun & Bradstreet to cultivate a Paydex score.

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.