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The short answer
You start with no US credit file, because Nigerian records do not transfer. The usual routes are a secured credit card, a credit builder loan (often from a credit union), or being added as an authorised user on someone else's card. Whatever you choose, confirm the account reports to the credit bureaus, pay on time and keep balances low.
Why you start at zero
A US credit score is calculated from a US credit report, held by the three nationwide credit reporting companies. Your record with Nigerian banks and the Nigerian credit bureaus does not move across, so on arrival you are 'credit invisible'. That affects renting, phone contracts, car loans and sometimes job checks. The good news is that a thin file is easier to fix than a damaged one. The work below is about creating a short, clean history.
Route 1: a secured credit card
You apply as for any card, then place a deposit that sets your credit limit. The CFPB describes typical deposits of about $50 to $300. You spend on the card and repay it; the issuer reports your payments. Some issuers offer a 'graduation' to an ordinary card after a run of on-time payments. Before applying, ask the issuer one question: do you report to the credit reporting companies? If it does not, the card builds nothing. More detail is in how secured cards work.
Route 2: a credit builder loan
Credit unions are the usual source. Instead of handing you the money, the lender holds a small sum, often $300 to $1,000 according to the CFPB, in a locked savings account. You repay in instalments over 6 to 24 months, each payment is reported, and at the end the saved money is released to you. You pay interest and any fee the lender states, so read the agreement for the total cost.
Route 3: authorised-user status
A relative or friend with a long, clean US card history can add you as an authorised user on their account. Whether that account then appears on your report depends on the issuer's reporting practice, so ask. This route is quick but borrowed: if the main holder pays late or runs a high balance, it can count against you too. Use it alongside one account in your own name, not instead of one. See becoming an authorised user.
Habits that move the score
- Pay on time, every time. Set up autopay for at least the minimum.
- Keep use low. The CFPB notes experts advise using no more than 30% of your total credit limit.
- Do not open many accounts at once. Several new accounts in a short period may lower your score.
- Read your reports. You can get a free report from each of the three companies every 12 months at annualcreditreport.com, and dispute errors.
Worked example: keeping use under 30%
Example only. Tolu opens a secured card with a $300 deposit, so her limit is $300. Thirty per cent of $300 is $90. She puts her $60 monthly phone bill on the card and pays the statement in full each month, so her reported use is $60 ÷ $300 = 20%. If she also put a $150 grocery shop on it, the balance would be $210, or 70% of the limit, even if she then paid it in full on the due date.
What you need before you apply
- A US address and a US bank account to pay from (see opening a US bank account).
- An SSN or, where the issuer accepts it, an ITIN. Ask before applying.
- Proof of income or savings, as issuers check you can repay.
A first-year plan
| When | Action | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Weeks 1 to 4 | Open a US checking account; apply for an SSN if eligible | You need somewhere to pay bills from and an ID number lenders recognise |
| Month 1 or 2 | Open one secured card or credit builder loan | Starts the reporting clock |
| Every month | Pay in full or at least on time, by autopay | Payment history is a critical factor |
| After your first statements | Pull your free reports at annualcreditreport.com | Check the new account shows correctly |
| Later in the year | Ask about graduating the secured card | Gets your deposit back and raises your limit |
Resist the urge to add store cards and phone financing in the same months. One or two accounts managed well beat five opened in a rush.
What not to pay for
You do not need to pay anyone to 'create' a credit file. Credit repair firms cannot add history you do not have, and offers of a ready-made credit profile or a new identification number to use instead of your SSN are scams that can cause serious legal trouble. Your own on-time payments are the only thing that builds the file, and checking your reports at annualcreditreport.com is free.
Where Pryme fits
Pryme does not report to US credit bureaus, so it will not build your US score. What it can do is keep your Nigerian money tidy while you build: a Personal Account holds USD and NGN side by side, and the Personal Assistant Agent can prepare reminders for bills at home, with nothing moving until you approve.
Questions people ask
How do I start building credit in the US with no history?
Open one product that reports to the credit bureaus, such as a secured card or a credit builder loan, pay on time and keep the balance low.
Can I get a secured credit card without an SSN?
Some issuers accept an ITIN; many require an SSN. Ask the issuer before applying.
Does being an authorised user build my credit?
It can, if the issuer reports authorised users to the bureaus. The main holder's late payments can also affect you.
Where can I check my US credit report for free?
At annualcreditreport.com, where you can get a free report from each of the three nationwide companies every 12 months.
Sources
- Building credit: checklist for consumers with no credit history, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau · accessed Oct 2026
- Instructions for Form W-7 (Rev. December 2024), IRS · accessed Oct 2026
This article is general information, not financial, legal or tax advice. Products described are provided under the terms on this site and are subject to regulation and eligibility.