Talk To A Chicago Immigration Attorney
312-332-2550
Want to Build Credit as a U.S. Citizen? Here is How
Looking for A Specific Post? Search Below
You made it through the immigration process and now you are able to live freely and without fear of removal in the Land of the Free. However, now that you are here, you have quickly discovered that life in the United States is not as easy and carefree as you thought it would be. In fact, it is downright difficult, and a large part of what makes it so difficult is your lack of credit.
To get ahead in the United States, you need excessive amounts of capital or great credit, two things that the average American does not even possess. To buy a house, finance a vehicle, rent an apartment in a nice part of town, or even apply for a good job, you need decent credit. According to MarketWatch, immigrants may now need to show proof of their credit scores just to live in the U.S. But how, when U.S. born-and-raised individuals struggle to build credit, can immigrants generate enough credit to build the life they imagined for themselves before ever being granted green card status? Our Chicago immigration lawyers at Kriezelman Burton & Associates, LLC may have a few tips that can help.
Look Into Secured Credit Cards
Secured credit cards are cards that individuals with little to no credit, or with poor credit, can obtain by putting down a sum of money with the lender as collateral. Sometimes the sum of money is equivalent to the awarded credit limit and sometimes it is significantly less. The sum of money is then held by the bank until it either needs to be used to make up for missed payments or until the borrower proves his or her creditworthiness. Because lenders have little to nothing to lose with secured credit cards, they are easy to obtain, making this one of the best ways for you to begin building your credit score in the United States.
Pay Your Bills on Time and in Full
The key to maintaining a positive credit score is paying your bills on time or before their due dates without fail. “Bills” include everything from your phone bill to your cable bill, and from your rent to your credit card balances. Of course, with credit cards you can pay a “minimum balance,” but if you set the precedent of doing just that, you risk accruing excessive interest and falling behind on your payments. The best thing you can do is pay all your debts in full by the due date. If you spend only within your means, this should be easy to do.
Become Authorized as a User on Another Person’s Card
If you can not, for whatever reason, obtain a credit card of your own, ask a parent, sibling, close family member, or your spouse if you can become an authorized user on his or her account. You do not actually have to use the card, which may be a relief to some, but the account can help you to build your credit, as it will be in your name, as well.
Work With a Chicago Immigration Attorney to Make Life in the U.S. as Easy as Possible
Maintaining a strong credit score can be immensely helpful when you decide to take the next step as a U.S. immigrant. Whether that next step is finding gainful employment, buying a home, or going to university, you will be happy you took control of your credit sooner rather than later. For help paving the way to a better future in America, contact Kriezelman Burton & Associates, LLC, today.
Co Mówią Nasi Klienci
Ocena 5 gwiazdek | Na podstawie 200+ pozytywnych opinii na Google
My aunt was recently detained by ICE and sent to El Paso, Texas to the East Montana Detention Facility. This place is essentially a prison in the middle of the desert, and the majority of the detainees here get deported. My family and I interviewed a dozen immigration attorneys around the country to help my aunt, and we decided to hire Kevin Raica, an attorney with Kriezelman Burton and Associates.…
Our case was very difficult, and at times it felt like there was no way out. My wife was detained for a long period of time, and it was an extremely challenging experience for our family. Kriezelman Burton & Associates, LLC truly changed our situation. I would especially like to thank our attorney, Brittni Rivera, as well as Natalia. They were attentive, honest, and always ready to help. It was…
I cannot recommend Kevin Raica highly enough. He helped me successfully obtain my U.S. green card, and the entire process was smooth and stress-free because of his expertise and dedication. From start to finish, Kevin was professional, organized, and extremely knowledgeable about immigration law. He made sure every document was prepared correctly and took the time to explain each step clearly. Anytime I had questions, he responded promptly and made…
Great experience with this attorney office. They helped me with my I-751 waiver after divorce. Kevin was very professional, and supported me through the interview. Everything went smoothly and my case was approved. Highly recommend!
We contacted Kriezelman Burton & Associates, LLC, based on a recommendation, when my wife was detained by ICE. Attorney Khiabett Osuna handled our case, and it turned out to be the right choice. From the very beginning, she proved herself to be a caring and competent professional, clearly explaining the process. You can tell she's truly invested in each case and achieving results for her clients. We've also heard of…
I would like to express my gratitude to Kriezelman Burton & Associates, LLC, and especially to attorney Khiabett Osuna, who handled my case. I contacted them based on a recommendation and have never regretted it. From the very beginning, she demonstrated high professionalism. I could tell she was genuinely committed to the outcome and was doing everything possible to protect her client.
Mr. Kriezelman, Mr. Burton and Ms. Erin Cobb, I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for handling my case. Your knowledge and dedication to my case is truly appreciated. Thank you.
I highly recommend Brittni Rivera. We are very grateful to her and the entire team at Kriezelman Burton & Associates. Your dedication, responsiveness, and compassion made an enormous difference during an incredibly difficult time. Serving as the liaison between Brittni Rivera and our friend in ICE detention, I saw firsthand how tirelessly she worked guiding us through the process, answering every question, and never losing sight of the humanity at…
Andrea C. Ochoa is truly the best of the best. ❤️ Our family went through one of the most difficult and frightening experiences of our lives when Feruz was detained by ICE. We felt lost, scared, and unsure of what would happen next. From the very beginning, Andrea brought us not only her professionalism and deep legal knowledge, but also something even more important — hope. She guided us through…
Thank you Matthew for all your help with my case. Highly recommend
Schedule a consultation!:
Umów się na konsultację!
Libertyville
Reklama prawnika. Informacje te mają wyłącznie charakter ogólny. Przedstawionych informacji nie należy interpretować jako formalnej porady prawnej ani tworzenia relacji prawnik/klient. Wcześniejsze wyniki i referencje nie stanowią gwarancji, rękojmi ani przewidywania wyniku Twojej sprawy i nie powinny być w ten sposób interpretowane. Wyniki z przeszłości nie mogą zagwarantować przyszłych wyników. Jakikolwiek wynik w pojedynczej sprawie nie ma na celu stworzenia oczekiwań podobnych wyników w przyszłych sprawach, ponieważ każdy przypadek wiąże się z wieloma różnymi czynnikami, dlatego też wyniki będą się różnić w każdym przypadku. Podając dane kontaktowe, użytkownicy potwierdzają i wyrażają wyraźną zgodę na kontakt za pośrednictwem udostępnionych metod komunikacji, w tym wiadomości SMS. Mogą obowiązywać stawki za wiadomości i transmisję danych. Częstotliwość wiadomości może się różnić. Odpowiedz STOP, aby zrezygnować.
NUVEW | Prawo autorskie 2026 Wszelkie prawa zastrzeżone | Informacja o dostępności | polityka prywatności