How to Build US Credit as a Foreigner from Jordan

Jordanian founders launching US-based startups frequently encounter the invisible-credit problem. When stepping into the US financial ecosystem without prior history, founders find themselves locked out of standard business loans, founder credit cards, and software financing. In Jordan, consumer and commercial credit data is managed by CRIF Jordan, operating under the Credit Information Law, but this local financial track record does not automatically cross borders into the United States credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion).

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

Securing an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) is the bedrock of building independent US credit history for non-resident foreign founders. Follow this standard 5-step sequence:

1. Form a US Entity: Establish your US LLC or C-Corp to generate official federal documentation (EIN).
2. Complete Form W-7: Fill out the IRS Application for IRS Individual Taxpayer Identification Number along with your federal tax return or qualifying exemption documents.
3. Gather Certified Identification: Obtain certified copies of your Jordanian passport or notarized identification documents verifying your foreign status.
4. Submit to the IRS: Mail your W-7 application package, identification documents, and entity paperwork to the IRS ITIN Operation division or utilize an authorized Certifying Acceptance Agent (CAA) in Amman or online.
5. Receive Your ITIN: Once issued, use your ITIN to open secured credit cards, apply for foundational banking products, and report credit activity to US credit bureaus.

Nova Credit

Nova Credit bridges international credit histories by translating foreign credit bureau data into a format understandable by US financial institutions. However, Nova Credit's international bureau partnerships currently cover select countries such as Australia, Brazil, Canada, India, Mexico, Nigeria, the UK, and South Korea. Because Jordan is not currently part of Nova Credit's direct bureau integration network, Jordanian founders should check Nova Credit's current country list for updates or rely on the ITIN and secured card methodology to build credit from scratch.

Business Credit: the Faster Lane

Building business credit allows founders to separate personal liabilities from company borrowing. By obtaining an Employer Identification Number (EIN) for your US LLC or C-Corp, you can establish a credit profile with Dun & Bradstreet (D&B), Experian Business, and Equifax Business. Register your company with Dun & Bradstreet to secure a D-U-N-S Number, open vendor accounts with net-30 terms (such as office suppliers or cloud software providers that report to business bureaus), and build a stellar D&B Paydex Score by paying invoices ahead of schedule.

Recommended Sequence

1. Incorporate and Secure EIN: Form your US company and obtain your federal Employer Identification Number.
2. Apply for an ITIN: File Form W-7 via a Certifying Acceptance Agent to establish your tax identity in the US financial system.
3. Open a US Business Bank Account: Partner with fintech-friendly digital banking platforms that serve international founders using your EIN and formation documents.
4. Obtain a Secured US Credit Card: Deposit funds with a US issuer using your ITIN to establish a revolving credit tradeline reporting to major consumer bureaus.
5. Establish Business Tradelines: Register for a D-U-N-S number, utilize net-30 vendor accounts, and monitor your D&B Paydex score to unlock unsecured corporate financing.

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.