How to Build US Credit as a Foreigner from Sudan

Sudanese founders expanding internationally frequently face the invisible-credit problem when entering the US market. Because credit history established in Sudan—tracked by local reporting entities such as the Credit Information and Scoring Agency (CIASA)—does not transfer across borders, founders arrive in the United States with a non-existent or "thin" credit file [1]. This lack of domestic credit history creates friction when attempting to secure business loans, corporate credit cards, office leases, or enterprise software contracts. Establishing US credit is therefore a foundational milestone for cross-border founders.

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 a US credit profile as a non-resident alien without a Social Security Number (SSN) requires obtaining an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN).

1. Form W-7 Application: Complete IRS Form W-7 to apply for an ITIN for tax processing and financial compliance.
2. Entity Formation: Establish a US LLC or C-Corp, which provides the foundational operational framework for your business activities.
3. EIN Issuance: Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN) from the IRS for your newly formed US entity.
4. Certified Documentation: Gather certified copies of your Sudanese passport and supporting identity documents authenticated by issuing authorities or authorized certifying acceptance agents.
5. ITIN Submission & Account Opening: Submit the W-7 package alongside your tax filing or information return to the IRS, and subsequently use your ITIN to open US business bank accounts and apply for secured credit cards.

Nova Credit

Nova Credit is a cross-border credit bureau that enables immigrants and international founders to share their home country's credit history with US financial institutions. However, Nova Credit's bureau partnerships are limited to specific countries (such as Australia, Brazil, Canada, India, Mexico, Nigeria, the UK, and South Korea, among others). Because Sudan is not currently part of Nova Credit's active consumer bureau network, Sudanese founders cannot automatically port their local credit history into the US financial ecosystem through this channel. Founders must build their US credit profile from scratch using secured financial instruments.

Business credit: the faster lane

Building corporate credit offers a parallel track that shields your personal credit score. By establishing a Dun & Bradstreet (D&B) profile, you can build a business credit score measured by the Paydex score (ranging from 1 to 100). To accelerate this process, founders should:

• Obtain an EIN and set up a dedicated US business bank account.
• Establish net-30 trade credit accounts with vendor suppliers and software vendors that report payment history to commercial credit bureaus (such as D&B, Experian Business, and Equifax Business).
• Ensure all invoices are paid on time or early to build a pristine commercial payment record.

Recommended sequence

1. Incorporate your US entity: Form your Delaware C-Corp or US LLC and obtain your official EIN.
2. Obtain an ITIN: File IRS Form W-7 to secure your individual taxpayer identification number.
3. Open a US business bank account: Partner with digital-first fintech platforms or US banks friendly to international founders using your EIN and formation documents.
4. Secure a starter credit card: Acquire a secured business or personal credit card backed by a cash deposit to initiate reporting to major US credit bureaus.
5. Establish trade lines and monitor reports: Open net-30 vendor accounts, maintain low credit utilization, and regularly monitor your personal and business credit reports through major bureaus.

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.