Before you start

Passport, with visa and I-94 if applicable
A US residential address
An SSN or ITIN if you have one; a passport number if not
An opening deposit, which varies by bank

Step-by-step

1
Open a checking account in branch
Bring your passport, Texas address and SSN or ITIN if issued. Federal Customer Identification Program rules explicitly permit a passport number and country of issuance instead of a taxpayer number for non-US persons — a refusal on that ground is bank policy, not law.
In personWho: YouWeek 1
2
Mention a pending ITIN if you have no SSN
Banks may open accounts for people who have applied for but not yet received an ITIN. File IRS Form W-7 and keep the receipt; raising it can pull your banking forward by weeks.
In personWho: You
3
Set up direct deposit
Give payroll your routing and account numbers. Direct deposit waives the monthly maintenance fee on most US checking accounts.
Via employerWho: You and your employer
4
Open a secured credit card in month one
Post a deposit, typically $500, and get a card with a matching limit that reports to the credit bureaus like any other. Age of history matters as much as behaviour, so start immediately rather than when you need credit.
OnlineWho: YouMonth 1
5
Think about the car loan before you need it
Austin effectively requires a car, and financing one with no credit history means either a large deposit or an interest rate several points above market. Six months of secured-card history first, or a co-signer, saves real money. Some captive finance arms of manufacturers underwrite newcomers on visa and employment documents — ask.
In personWho: You
6
Pay in full every month and keep utilisation low
Autopay the statement balance and keep the balance under about 30% of the limit. Carrying a balance does not build credit; it only builds interest at 20%+ APR.
Mobile appWho: You

Documents you’ll need

Passport, with country of issuance serving as the identifying number if you have no SSN or ITIN
Visa and I-94, where applicable
SSN card or ITIN letter, if issued
Proof of Texas address
Employer offer letter, accepted by some banks and lenders as supporting evidence

Things most newcomers don’t know

In a car city, the missing credit file costs you cash immediately.

In New York you can wait out the six months on the subway. In Austin you need a vehicle in week one, and financing without a credit file means a large down payment or a rate several points above market — often thousands of dollars over the loan. This is the strongest argument for starting a secured card the day you land.

Source: community-reported

Federal rules let a bank take your passport instead of an SSN.

The Customer Identification Program rule accepts a passport number and country of issuance for non-US persons. Branch staff often do not know this. If refused, escalate or try a bank with a stated newcomer programme rather than waiting for a number you may not be eligible for.

Source: FFIEC BSA/AML Examination Manual — Customer Identification Program

No credit history is treated worse than bad credit history.

US underwriting scores a file, and a file that does not exist cannot be scored. A well-paid newcomer can be declined for a flat, a phone contract and a car loan in the same week. Nothing about your financial standing at home transfers.

Source: community-reported

Carrying a balance does not build your score.

Scores respond to on-time payments and low utilisation, not to interest paid. Paying in full each month builds history identically and saves a rate above 20% APR. Enormous numbers of Americans believe otherwise.

Source: Consumer Financial Protection Bureau — credit cards

Common mistakes to avoid

Waiting for an SSN before trying to open an account, when a passport often suffices.
Financing a car in month one with no credit file and accepting a punitive rate.
Delaying a secured card until credit is needed.
Carrying a balance in the belief that it helps.
Paying an avoidable monthly maintenance fee by never setting up direct deposit.

Some of this may be out of date. Spotted something inaccurate? Help us keep it right for the next newcomer.