Banking & credit· 9 min read

How to Build US Credit as a Foreigner from

Published 6 Aug 2026Last updated 6 Aug 2026

How to Build US Credit as a Foreigner from Haiti

Haiti founders face the invisible-credit problem. When expanding into the United States or launching a Delaware corporation from Port-au-Prince or elsewhere in Haiti, establishing financial credibility is one of the most significant initial hurdles. Local credit bureaus in Haiti, such as those managed under the oversight of the Banque de la République d'Haïti (BRH), operate entirely domestically and do not share cross-border scoring data with major U.S. credit reporting agencies like Equifax, Experian, or TransUnion [1] [2]. Consequently, a founder with an established banking history in Haiti arrives in the U.S. financial system with an empty credit profile, making it difficult to secure commercial leases, business loans, or corporate credit cards without personal guarantees or substantial 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 non-U.S. residents who do not qualify for a Social Security Number (SSN), obtaining an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is a foundational step for building U.S. credit [5]. The standard five-step sequence involves the following actions:

  1. Form a U.S. Entity or Prepare Tax Documentation: Establish a U.S. LLC or C-Corp, or prepare documents proving the requirement for an ITIN for federal tax reporting [5].
  2. Complete IRS Form W-7: Fill out the Application for IRS Individual Taxpayer Identification Number accurately, ensuring all foreign status documentation is correctly classified [5].
  3. Gather Supporting Identification: Collect certified copies of original identification documents, such as a valid Haitian passport issued by the Direction de l'Immigration et de l'Émigration (DIE), or notarized equivalents [5].
  4. Submit via Certified Acceptance Agents or Mail: Send the completed W-7 package along with original identification documents or certified copies directly to the IRS ITIN Operation or through an authorized Certifying Acceptance Agent (CAA) [5].
  5. Receive ITIN and Open Secured Accounts: Once the ITIN is issued by the IRS, use the number to apply for secured U.S. credit cards and open business bank accounts that report to major credit bureaus [5].

Nova Credit

Nova Credit acts as a cross-border credit bureau that allows immigrants and international founders to translate their home country credit history into a U.S. equivalent score [6]. Currently, Nova Credit’s international partner network covers specific countries including Australia, Brazil, Canada, Dominican Republic, India, Kenya, Mexico, Nigeria, Philippines, South Korea, the UK, and Vietnam [6]. Because Haiti is not currently integrated into Nova Credit's direct bureau coverage network, founders from Haiti should check Nova Credit's current country list for updates or rely on alternative credit-building mechanisms such as secured cards and ITIN-linked accounts [6].

Business credit: the faster lane

Building corporate credit offers a faster lane for separating personal liability from business financing. By registering an Employer Identification Number (EIN) for a U.S. LLC or C-Corp and opening a dedicated business bank account, founders can establish a Dun & Bradstreet (D&B) profile. Establishing trade lines with vendors and suppliers who report payment history to D&B, Experian Business, and Equifax Business allows a company to build a strong Paydex score independently of personal credit history. Maintaining prompt payment terms of 30 days or less (Net-30 terms) rapidly establishes corporate trustworthiness.

Recommended sequence

  1. Form Your U.S. Entity: Incorporate a Delaware LLC or C-Corp and obtain an official EIN from the IRS [7].
  2. Apply for an ITIN: Submit IRS Form W-7 with verified identification documents to establish a U.S. tax identity [5].
  3. Open a U.S. Business Bank Account: Use your entity documents, EIN, and ITIN to open a digital-friendly U.S. business bank account [7].
  4. Secure an ITIN-Linked Credit Card: Apply for secured business or personal credit cards that accept an ITIN and report payment activity to major credit bureaus [5].
  5. Establish Trade Lines: Open Net-30 vendor accounts that report to Dun & Bradstreet to build corporate credit scores rapidly [7].

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

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

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