How to Build US Credit as a Foreigner from Kazakhstan

Kazakhstan founders expanding into the United States frequently encounter the "invisible-credit" problem—arriving in the US market with zero domestic credit history, making it exceptionally difficult to lease an office, secure corporate leases, obtain business credit cards, or sign favorable supplier contracts. In Kazakhstan, credit histories are tracked by specialized credit bureaus, notably the First Credit Bureau (FCB) and the State Credit Bureau (GKB), but this local credit profile does not transfer across borders to US financial institutions.

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 hold an eligible foreign Amex card, obtaining an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is the foundational step for entering the US financial system.

1. Form W-7 Preparation: Complete IRS Form W-7 (Application for IRS Individual Taxpayer Identification Number) indicating the appropriate tax reason code (typically federal tax reporting or compliance).
2. Supporting Documentation: Gather certified copies of your Kazakhstan passport and secondary identification documents verified by an IRS-authorized Certifying Acceptance Agent (CAA) or official issuing agency.
3. US Entity Association: File Form W-7 alongside a US federal tax return or attach supporting documentation demonstrating your connection to a US entity (such as a Delaware LLC or C-Corp).
4. Submission to the IRS: Submit your application packet via mail or through an authorized CAA office in the US or partner network abroad.
5. ITIN Issuance: Receive your 9-digit ITIN assignment letter from the IRS, which enables you to open US bank accounts, apply for secured credit cards, and build credit history without a Social Security Number (SSN).

Nova Credit

Nova Credit is a cross-border credit bureau reporting agency that allows immigrants and international founders to share their home-country credit history with participating US financial institutions.

Coverage Status: Nova Credit currently partners with credit bureaus in select countries (such as Australia, Brazil, Canada, India, Mexico, the UK, and several others). Because Kazakhstan's local credit bureaus (First Credit Bureau and State Credit Bureau) are not currently integrated into Nova Credit's direct cross-border consumer network, Kazakhstan founders should check Nova Credit's current country list for updates or rely on the ITIN and secured card pathway.

Business credit: the faster lane

Building commercial credit through your US LLC or C-Corp bypasses the need for an SSN or individual consumer credit history.

• Obtain an EIN: Secure an Employer Identification Number (EIN) for your US entity from the IRS.
• Dun & Bradstreet (D&B): Register your US company with Dun & Bradstreet to generate a Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number.
• Establish Trade Lines: Open vendor accounts with suppliers that report payment performance to commercial credit bureaus.
• D&B Paydex Score: Maintain prompt payment habits (paying invoices within or before terms) to build a strong D&B Paydex score ranging from 0 to 100, enabling unsecured corporate credit lines and vendor financing.

Recommended sequence

1. Form Your US Entity: Incorporate your Delaware LLC or C-Corp and obtain your official IRS Employer Identification Number (EIN).
2. Obtain an ITIN (if needed): Apply for an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number via Form W-7 if you intend to apply for consumer credit cards or open specific US banking accounts as an individual.
3. Leverage Amex Global Transfer: If you are an existing Amex cardholder in Kazakhstan with 6+ months of history, apply for your first US card using the Global Transfer program.
4. Open US Business Bank Account & Secure Cards: Open a digital US business bank account (using platforms friendly to international founders) and secure a secured business credit card backed by a cash deposit to establish initial reporting.
5. Establish D&B Trade Lines: Register your company with Dun & Bradstreet, obtain a DUNS number, and use net-30 vendor accounts to build corporate Paydex credit history.

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.