Thread: Wells Fargo secured to unsecured card only for US citizens/PR?

Hello everyone

I have 1500 usd in a secured card with Wells Fargo. Do you guys know anything whether its mandatory to be USA citizens or Permanent residents for me to graduate from having a secured to an unsecured credit card?

I do not belong to either of the above categories. I am in a soup then. My 1500 usd is stuck then.

I don't know. This you will have to stop off at the bank and ask them.

You will not qualify. Only US citizen and permanent / green card holders will qualify. Because it is unsecure, the bank needs a little more security and residency is one of the requirements. Think about it, I am from Mexico and US bank laws do not apply in Mexico. Example: I owe citi 5000.00 and went home, what are the chances of me returning to pay citi?

Hi all,

I registered just to reply to this particular thread. Sorry for resurrecting this old discussion but I believe the info I'll share might help someone in the future

I'm currently on work visa here in the US (H1-B) waiting for a Green Card (say prayers for me). I came here with no credit (obviously) and no history at all yet I was still able to open a checking and savings account with BofA AND get approved for a secured $300-limit secured CC.

True, I had to provide extensive documentation including confirmation letter from my employer.

Two months after that I was able to get a car loan (~$15k) and BestBuy CC with $1,500 limit.

After first year BofA refunded me the security deposit and bumped my CL up to $1,500. In January this year I hit my two years, checked my score (~720) and went to apply for AMEX Blue Cash Preferred and got APPROVED.

Today I also went to BofA and had my secured card converted to Cash Rewards card (or whatever the name is) and got a CL increase to $3,000.

So NO, lack of US citizenship/permanent residency does not restrict you from living like a normal person here LOL. Just make sure you behave well.

What's even better is that if you happen to have a wife here with you who is allowed to stay here with you but cannot have a paid job (H4 visa, my wife's case) she still can build credit.
You can put here as an authorized person on your accounts and she can apply for a secured loan.

I'd recommend the secured loan through a local credit union as they tend to have less strict guidelines and might take "household income" into account.

Any questions, please feel free to ask or message me

LOL, questions like I'm being interrogated Let's see ...

Originally Posted by PlatinumAMEX94

What is your originating country?

Czech Republic

Originally Posted by PlatinumAMEX94

And in that country did you have a credit card or charge card there?

No, just a debit card. As far as I know (I'm only 27), in Czech Republic there is nothing even close in terms of verifying people's credibility or ability to pay off a loan/debt like here in the US. When I took a car loan over there, all they asked for was my income.

Originally Posted by PlatinumAMEX94

And is there a huge difference in getting a AmEx from a non-US country? I know that the fees are different for different countries.Couldn't you get an AmEx in that country and then have it converted to a US AmEx?

Not really sure I understand the question however, I think that AMEX Personal Cards available in Czech Republic are in Euro or USD and are issued in the UK. I personally don't know any Czech citizen having an AMEX card over there. They do offer Platinum but that's more like a show-off card over there for people with money because AMEX cards are not widely accepted and give you no benefit in terms of building a credit history because there is no such thing over there - it is still kind of under-developed/developing country being run by stupid people who converted from communism to capitalism over night


NOTE: In case some starts attacking me (another former Czech citizen) for misinformation about that country, please understand that the above are my personal opinions and experience. If you have a different one, please share.