Recommend a credit card for a non-UK citizen

DullGreyGuy

retiredbanker1 said:

In my day anybody with less than 3 years in UK was an automatic decline.

Nowadays I suppose with digital banking worldwide perhaps someone like Chase or a FINTECH would consider her.

AmEx Platinum/Centurion, Citi, HSBC Private and a few others aimed at similar customers have for years had policies that you could transfer your account to your new country of domicile as long as you were an established customer in your original domicile and they operate where you're going.

Dont know what happens with account opening fees for Centurion etc, especially given how much they vary geographically but then never going to have a Centurion card so not a question I need to find an answer to. 

Grumpy_chap

FlorayG said:

DullGreyGuy said:

How long have they been in the UK already? 

Unless they've already been here for a substantial time then it's unlikely any lender based here will entertain them. If they have then some subprime etc cards may consider them but they aren't going to have high limits nor 0% promotions but very high interest instead. 

Do 0% cards exist in their former country of residence? Could they get a card from there instead? Alternatively do any of their banks from there operate in the UK? If so then some will transfer a customer between countries, though this tends to be limited to higher tier customers. 

She's been here one year. I'll ask her to look into a CC from 'home'

I am not sure how easy that will be now, as she is residing in UK, so won't be able to truthfully give a residence address in her former country of residence.

You say she is currently on a two-year VISA and has been here one year so has one year remaining.  Is it her intention (and realistic expectation - I am not knowledgeable on VISA rules) to remain for a longer term?
If not, budget furniture solutions that she can fund from her monthly wage might be options to consider - including charity shop items.  I know some charity shop items are not great, but there are some items that are hardly distinguishable from new.  In some areas there are also furniture recycling schemes that can be worth investigating.

As for having a home and no furniture, she is far from alone.  Many people have to start on very minimalist furniture and adaptations - fruit crates do become quite comfortable chairs after a while.

FlorayG

She's planning to apply for residency. I have no idea about the visa rules either but she seems to know what she is doing - she has several relatives already resident in this country. SO she may want to stay there long term and of course you can replace stuff bit by bit but after paying the deposit and first month's rent she's going to be short of cash for a few weeks at least so I was trying to think of ways she can spread the cost of whatever she needs to buy.
The CC obviously is not an option

retiredbanker1

FlorayG said:

She's planning to apply for residency. I have no idea about the visa rules either but she seems to know what she is doing - she has several relatives already resident in this country. SO she may want to stay there long term and of course you can replace stuff bit by bit but after paying the deposit and first month's rent she's going to be short of cash for a few weeks at least so I was trying to think of ways she can spread the cost of whatever she needs to buy.
The CC obviously is not an option

Bank of Friends or Mum and Dad?
Family member say sends her an amount from home country and she repays when she can?

gt94sss2

Depending on the country your friend comes from, HSBC UK may be willing to issue her with a credit card 

https://www.hsbc.co.uk/international/credit-cards/

Otherwise, if they had an Amex in their previous country, they may be willing to give her a UK Amex.

In general though, they will find it very difficult to get any UK issued credit card if they have only been here for a year.

movilogo

It is no big deal. Those on work permits can get credit cards. As long as can show a UK address and UK proof of income most banks will issue it. However, best to apply in the bank where she is getting her income deposited.