Moving to the USA, get a card now or wait till I'm there?

samcolley1

Hi all,

Later this year I will be moving to the USA, probably in about 6 months time, depending on when the embassy in London reopens to my category of visa. I intend to stay there for roughly 3 years.

I currently do not have a credit card but was looking at getting one. I just wanted to know if people have experience with moving their AMEX card from the UK to US or if there are any other cards people would recommend that are transferrable, or even if I should just not bother getting one until I get to America.

From speaking to friends who have emigrated it took them six months to be able to apply for a card after they got a US bank account, I was wondering if I could cut this out by getting a card here in the UK and then transfer it to the USA.

If people know of any US forums that may be more appropriate for this it would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance 

PRAISETHESUN

You won't be able to open any UK accounts from overseas so if you need to do so then do it before you move. Using UK accounts overseas may be expensive however, so you'll need to consider that too - consider using one that offers fee-free international transactions to keep costs down. In any case it won't help build US credit history however.

My personal experience when I moved to the UK from overseas was it was simply easier to open something when I arrived here rather than trying to faff around setting it up before I moved, but your mileage may vary. Banks with an overseas presence (eg. Amex, HSBC, Barclays) might be able to set you up with something beforehand, but you'll need to be an existing customer. I've never done it so I don't know how easy it is to do.

pbartlett

If you get a card here then you will be spending in USD and statementing in GBP - is that what you want? Do you want to pay your bill in GBP or USD?

maxximus75

If you are already a customer?  Amex has their Global Transfer Service.  They will set you up with a card in the US and allow you to keep your UK card (if required).

s_r

Like maxximus75 suggested, if you have an American Express card in the UK; then you can use their Global Transfer Service and they may be able to set you up with an American Express card in the US. However, you will need to be able to provide a US address and US bank account details (which was not the case before)... definitely worth exploring. 

Check out
https://www.americanexpress.com/global-card-transfers/index.shtml

[Deleted User]

Wise/Transferwise can might be useful as they can give you USD account details that accept domestic US ACH credits.

Opening a checking account is fairly straightforward with a Social Security number or ITIN.