It can be difficult for newcomers to the U.S. to build credit. Without a credit history, they are unable to rent an apartment, buy a car, apply for a credit card or get a mortgage. A credit report is specific to the country where people live so they cannot rely on a previous credit record in another country.
In the U.S., anyone who extends credit, from banks that issue credit cards to cellphone providers, will check credit history . It is only when someone applies for and gets the credit that the lender starts reporting and the person gets a credit file with the three major credit bureaus in the U.S.
Building a credit score may seem overwhelming ...