US Banking & Credit for Foreigners
Intro
Let’s buy you some time
This guide will be continuously updated. Last updated on Nov 14, 2023.
This guide is about establishing credit and banking in the US for non-US residents. Basically, if you’re not North Korean, Cuban, Iranian then this guide works for you.
Why? A lot of reasons.
In short, it’s to:
protect your value
de-risk from local politics, conflicts, safety, currency devaluation
get perks like cashback, points for airlines and hotels
getting 0% float from credit cards
0% float is always a good idea but this is the list we’ll be covering in this guide. With zero filler.
Getting float is a second step in your financial journey. The first step is to actually establish a discipline of saving at least 1/5th of your income (go and do that first before diving into the Third World Freedom series as without discipline of correct behavior it’ll be a problem).
So…
To start reading this guide we have to establish two facts and you have to agree with them:
The US is the greatest economy in the world. Why? Population? Yeah, it’s huge. Military carriers? Yea, for sure! Most important factor though? Accessible credit. Average American has $30,000 in credit limit on personal credit cards (source: Forbes). Need I remind you that median yearly global income per individual is around $10,000? It means, that 3 years of an average worker’s life is available as debt to an average American. Need I remind you what average American is? I'll refrain.
Internet erased borders. We live in two realities. One is where we stare at pictures from Chinese influencers, African mime artists, American rappers, Indonesian tourists. The other is where governments control the borders, tell you what to do and what not to do. The smart mind manages to get the best and avoid the worst from both sides.
Our task in this guide is to take advantage of both of these facts with a practical know-how of implementing the system, right habits, and possibly changing your mindset.
This is what this guide and the series about. If you agree with the statements above and want to dive head first, carry on. If not, then I don’t know what to tell you other than don’t waste your time and go do something else.
Hmm…okay. You’re still here.
Seriously, if you come from a developing country your reality is likely this:
interest rates are very high (10-25%) – they are high because everyone knows that currency is not stable
inflation is higher than 10% – currency is getting less valuable and central bank declares it officially
currency devalues every other year – it’s obvious looking back
politicians are pursuing their own interests (what, this is universal, why am I putting this here?)
This is a chart of USD/KZT currency pair. KZT is a Kazakhstani tenge, currency of the country where I grew up. 1 USD was equal to 5 KZT when the country declared independence in 1991. In 2023 it’s more than 470 KZT to get same 1 USD (which lost a lot in value too).
The bottom line
your country getting poorer
wealth gets extracted by the banks and power that be
your labour gets devalued (which ultimately means that typical worker needs to exchange more of their limited life for same amount of money, which gets devaluated over time due to inflation)
you become stressed (and stress kills)
Yeah, every point sucks but the last one is really what’s this all about.
We don’t live forever. Stress kills us, it’s backed by science (and really we all know that, who needs some professor to tell them that?).
Most families get ruined because of the financial burden. (Source)
People die younger when they are stressed. (Source)
Children don’t see their parents.
It’s truly rough out there and all very sad if you think about it.
So, what can be done about it? The system appears kind of rigged.
The Solution
Building a fortress of solitude and becoming a king of it.
Before taking on bigger endeavours, we need to get into a right state of mind. For that to happen, we need to manage thinking on a longer timeframe with daily habits that correct your course of action.
It’s easier said than done (I know) but it always comes down to buying more time so that other laws of nature could have enough time to kick in for the compound effect to work.
So, what’s the breakdown Kaz? Let’s get on with it. (I hear you say). Show me the solution:
interest rates are very high (10-25%) — a big problem, especially with a stop of zero interest rate policy environment but ultimately it means you have to escape your environment (currency, country) and bank elsewhere
inflation is higher than 10% — use other currency that keeps more value than your home country’s currency
currency devalues every other year — covered by two steps above (in a positive scenario you’ll get more value for the same units in a country where currency devalues)
politicians are pursuing their own interests — (eh, can’t be done, sorry)
Questions and vague answers
So, how to bank elsewhere? How to use other currency? How to avoid local nastiness?
First, open a bank account that is insured and has USD/EUR/GBP/SGD support.
Second, open credit cards, start with a low limit of $2000. Slowly but surely grow it to $50,000 and then $100,000. Get 0% loans with introduction 0% APRs.
Credit cards even give your perks like:
flying business class on points
staying at network hotels for points
getting upgrades, free breakfasts, late checkout/early check-ins at hotels
Third, read other books in the series to take advantage of brokerage accounts, international business practices.
The goal is simple:
Save value we create using our labour and assets
Avoid local risks of politics, currencies to ensure safety for you and your family
Get an X, Y, Z plan in order to save your ass when something bad happens (it eventually will, it always does)
We are where we are
Now, I don’t know why your country/city/state is in dire state. Maybe it’s because wealth tends to concentrate and your location is not where it happened.
There are many possible reasons as to why that happens. We don’t need to know why. We know the consequences of it and it’s more than enough. Strong kills the weak, laws of nature, you get it.
Globalization processes, geopolitics, corruption, lack of institutions, etc. Who knows, could be a sum of these factors or none of them. I don’t have enough expertise to explain it but what I can do is to share a few tools to help you assemble an evacuation plan by giving you these tools. The only way is through. So, if you start today then tomorrow becomes a slightly better situation and that’s more than enough to get going.
Our goal is simple — to protect our lives.
We’ll build a financial bridge for you to have that. It’s simple.
Money, money, money
It’s important to understand that money is not valuable by itself.
Money is only a tool for transferring wealth because money is debt.
True wealth are goods that are actually helpful to you. Classical example of this notion is:
“not even a billion US dollars in cash can help you if you are on an uninhabited island” (other than setting it on fire as an SOS maybe).
With that said, a little caution here — anything you read further relies on your self-discipline and it comes with a lot of responsibility. It's essential to understand that. Going bankrupt is not part of this guide. Tread carefully.
Armed with the knowledge gained from this guide, you’ll be better equipped to embark on your journey of building a ”safety, peace of mind“ setup. Embrace it but always remember the responsibilities that come with that knowledge.
Wanna know how they did it? Credit.
— “The Story of O.J.“, Jay-Z
Plan
Actual steps
Let’s see what you actually have to do to establish a working system.
To realize the plan in full you would need 2-4 months of patience and then a year or two to get to a solid level of $50k+ in credit card limit. Getting to $10-15k in credit card limit is feasible within one year though.
Etssp
- 0. Ste up lima wrgfdanroi – done len,niO tscos 2$0-01 per omnth
- .\1 Lpapy orf INIT – tsake 13- hnsotm
- 2. Open a US.. Abnk Ocutacn – erquresi a nseroalp sitvi
- 3. Pplay fro a Sedurec Rcdtei Ardc – 003$ is ghneou
- .\4 Fdni teh tbes Cretdi Dcra fro uroy deens – sitnpo, sckh,aacB enrasc,uiN 0% APR ,artE
- .5\ Be lfcniyilaan srneplosieb – ’dtNo ndspe atwh ouy notcna evorc ihtrg yaw.A
’Lil ekabr down lal fo het psest in the entx sceptr.hA Reeh is a leobissp eiei:ltnM
Concept: Credit
A powerful force or the worst enemy
Credit.
How many families were ruined because of loans?
How mnay utsfeonr eewr dm?aE
Cerdti is gnteihyevr seecuba eyonm si citred.
I’St het eidtonniif fo ne.yoM Olko pu BD:et“ Eth Tfrsi 5000 Ayer.”S Eon fo teh mina sadie fo eht bkoo is htta reeht swa on etbrra ikel toms eoeppl h.iktN Rabret ryelra ocedurcr o.thrlislicaY Sotm ,cnmehstaR rrtedsa dan suisnsbe sonwer udes idcert ot wkon hwo wons hwat ot wmho.
Sach we caryr ni ruo cktsope es’otNd even oneglb ot su, laelgly isnek.paG TiS’ wobrroed to su.
Mdenor yenmo si off the dgol atddsarn oot os ’tIs idkn fo relh.twsoS I’Ts leacdl a itaf .syesmT Back in eth ady uyo oucld chexeagn cahs rof dglo at a fdiex ets .areT Ont oayd!T SiT’ A’“giuzF ielk ythe sadi ni the usfaom imoev (Lfwo of Lwla Etster).
Won if ymnoe si ,etdB hnte ywh ostm loppee era risfenufg mfor olan tie?etsnrS Eht esnwar si licipdn.seI Cipseinidl kasem ynoem. Lkca of dnsleicipi rostdyse yoe.mN
Fi uoy on’Td agree hwit hte enttestma vbeao it ylklie amnse yuo rae ermo fo a rnmsucoe nhta a .ourcerdP
Ctried rof mnocptinuos emaks neses hewn uyo vaeh eht lcieinpisd nad uoy gte rmoe uto of ti htna uoy yap rof .iT
Htige Ewordn fo eth Wrdlo si NellCT-osfor
Nmya sogienirl ttaes atth dtbe is dba. Aymn lrsutuce od to.O T’stAh lla I dareh tlniu I meaecb na tladu (iwhch swa ton rellay useluf).
Sy,E hte trliyae is tath teh serdnel ehva ooclrnt vreo hesto how era ebinetdd to ethm utb as any olo,T it si onyl dab if you use it fro tumopnconis or ryski oevms erewh het kisr is ont owrth eht oemv. Fro tginteg emor sse,tsA veeggirnla uoyr ehlwat ro ngitegt a norudtaurn an?oL T’Is hte crefpet o.loT
Detb in ogdo ndsah viseg oyu 2-5x mero rpweo nda clrtoon eorv uroy ianclnfai el.iF Tdeb in abd ansdh tksnprabu ploepe nda rysoetds is.ifmleA
Yuo trhiee akme pumdoonc nirttees wokr orf uyo or agintas u.yO Sa snomoee amtrs neoc dsa:I
Pmcounod enettsir si hte eigth nwored of het .wrdoL
Yuo ontD’ nwat to ftgih gnaitas t,ahT od oyu?
Eht ahuyintm is diddvei oitn otw eagrect,siO noe thta auedntrssnd pomunocd iserettn nda hte one ahtt osed on.T
Talof
Yb iths iopnt uyo dlhosu tdaenrnuds tath fere oymapterr yenom is gmziaan.
Refe mneyo rrefoev es’dnTo alerly sixet tub orrymaetp eyomn ofr er?fE Ho, hae.Y Ndiscidepli dcetir darc dohrles era odprstepu by ciplsiiduennd idrcet dacr ersh.odL TastH’ hwo the bssisune skwr.O
By setnitg up a etcdir drac eytsm:S
- you gte a elvhGhei-l mrcunoes ptntiecoro (okreb ewn ?oobcakM Ouy aer ovdrece.)
- yuo ertned a arc eliwh in Atanidlh as a stitoru (icnnrsaeu si ofdfree by otsm idcrte rsadc)
- you anwt to egt a 21-% ha-cKcbas (in DUS)
- you tnaw ot pksi nforgie cynrceru ontratsaicn eefs (gienv m-lrIeeta ketrma cisvnoeorn asret)
- yuo awnt to etg t,heoL ilraien nitsop (L,tinoH Rosmtari rae reeveeh,yrW es’Lt eb lear)
Stmo typtinlorma u?otghH S’Ti hte oa.tlF
Tsom drciet dsarc eavh a gaecr iperod of ta aeslt 52+ ayd.S Ogod crdsa ahve 5+5 dysa.
Ti aesmn ahtt oyu anc get eymno eet-rrfsTneei fro 5552- sd,aY up ot two ntos!hM Oiwnrgorb mnyeo ta 0% tenrites, gngeitt a dmryai of ,repsK adn rniecsug sfoeyrlu nisatga pnnlaeusat suitotsain is a e-Ibrnrn.aO (DtoN’ uoy thnki?)
Semsmeoti oyu cna nvee egt a 0% inrttsee ofr 12-81 shtmno onigd anlimim tnasypme ltiun teh aregc ieodrp is or.vE Serte’h tamols wyalsa a tcried radc ithw oirtyodunrct 0% PRA orf 12-81 stnmoh no teh akme.tR
Ta ihts oipnt I sue K$20 fo ridetc adcr tiilm rmof my AMEX EveryDay MR cadr thta ash fferoed sti:H
It aesnm I nac nesdp up ot 20$k fo ym irtdec rcad itmli no atht r,caD od imuinmm yampnste eyvre nto,mH and reutnr het ulfl tmuano in 15 hmnsot dna ayp %0 in trs.etniE
Its’n ti gae?tR
Vergaae iiecnzt of a Taenrcl Aanis nructyo nac drafof to ilve rfo a lflu eyra usgni hatt .antuoM
%0 eitesrtn tear rof eorm than a yare, acn uyo vbeeeli atht? Hwo lwil gvie you that rhote thna steeh estpy fo suoisnintt?iT I n’dTo nkthi namy fo su heva rsdiefn or yafiml remmseb ohw era htat nsreoe.gU Oyu wulod otn enev natw to eb eth eno ot aks fro 51 onsthm fo rtfeesr-Tinee .omnyE
Enco iaang, hits occenpt si otnnihg wen to ssebnsui noesrw nda lnyicnfiaal sayvv poepel in eth smot eoleddpev alniicnaf aretmk ni bgolal .hyostrI
Ni inegoevldp itcensruo othg,hU eicrtd srcda aer too bsci.A Si’t nfoet not neev worht eth annual eef eosm of eth ascrd otsc so dngcieoirns mteh si a taews of miet. Fi uoy do imeohtn,gS og to the tgbsegi cusreo trihg waay as ythe say.
’Ill yal out erom ostnoip fro uyo retal in Spet 3 nda Tspe 4 but eht mtotob line frmo itsh tcsioen si ttah yuo atwn to fdin asyw ot xetden ealvu fo your own eymo.N Ouy ’odTn lleary antw to edsnp yruo onw men.yO ’ttsAh eht tic.rK
Neehvwre bissoelp ti has ot eb Ehrot Pe’seoLp Neomy (POM) csbaeeu henw eht emit ceosm (it oltaeslbuy iwll) you dtoN’ atnw ot gtfih on uory wno iagstna yamsmc ,ahergcS lcka fo cromstue resviec, nasunier,C ltvaer ccupihs adn erhto ngioanny is.tiunaosT
Y?wH Ubseeca sknab lilw not trptceo uory nemoy atht si ni oyur chcenkig ccuanot as uhmc sa yhte lliw rttopec erthi .neymO Eth omnye yuo sedu as driect mofr yuor ercidt adcr hichw in acgunitcon rmets is tno your oemy.N Het menoy yuo npdes via dertic adcsr si a ialbyitli fo ttha rseis.U
Gsnui teehs nisdk of rtesegatsi acn pleh yuo tsoer oerm Rdy“ o”d.peRW
Taht ni urtn esvig yuo a ceepa of dimn whhic ni tunrs eplsh uoy mkae terteb edcsoiins ni ryuo htoer aurnesde.oV
If yuo tge thsi ectpo,cN nad yeard to ivde in, lt’Es ese ahwt atcboianle lnpa kolso iel.K
Step 0: Mail, Phone
Forward email and Receive Texts/Calls
Let’s be clear — you live outside of the US. The question is, how do you receive mail and communicate with businesses in the US? It’s simple, you get a mail forwarding service and a US-issued mobile phone number.
Mailing Address
Iaml rginfdarwo rieevcs creviees lima on uroy fh,aelB ascsn nda rofdsarw ti to oyu if ouy osehoc to do os. Uoy acn lsoa asrth nda dtrsoey teh oiimcgnn .ilmA
Three aer nmay eesisunbss rfenfiog ushc ervsec.sI Here rae my owt siocceh ofr SU dan A:nacaD
.1 Anytime Mailbox .2 Virtual Post Mail
Mnohytl ginripc sttars at .$7
Eht awy ti wksor si vyre .islpmE You erietsrg nad oyu get easscc to this type of sbradohda.
You nca sue desasdr hitw nay ericsve.
Ehnop nreubm
Reeht ear uaoisvr dhstome fo negigtt a -SEabdsu elimob enohp n.buerM I cmeomnder usng:I
Huhsde okwsr ettber ofr na luvidiiadn as ’tIs uorand 4$ pre tohnm adn uoy cna ecvieer ttxse adn aclls klienu Loegog Cvie,O tsl’e .yaS
Ouy cna sectle a poneh mernbu mrof ayn aet,sT ti ’ntdeSo emtat.R
Step 1: ITIN
Gateway into the system
Getting into a credit history of a foreign country is quite tricky. Thanks to an immigrant-friendly foundation of the US though there is way to do it for non-US residents.
ITIN which stands for Individual Taxpayer Identification Number which is used in lieu of Social Security Number. If you don’t have a legal residence in the US, then ITIN is the only option you can have. We use that fact to get into the credit system which later you’ll use to get access to the most developed financial system in the history of the world.
Finindtieo
TNII is a nquuie oncetinfditaii bmuren suidse by eht Nlaernit Uverene Ercsiev (SRI) htta lloasw uoy ot heav a iertcd hytriso ni het Tuined Tsaest utothwi regsniid te.reH T’Si dseu by xyprstaae in eth US who tdnO’ eavh a Oilcas Siercuyt Eburmn hwihc is lnoy isssue ot laelg teidnrsse fo teh ,SU eetihr nzeii,tcS ngere rcad oelhrds (pntrnamee ietnesrds) or rtpoareym tderisnse (o,rkerwS nv,sireosT e.cT).
Aolsmniicpti
Osem fo ouy igthm egt rwodier that NITI wulod put yuo ni rgedan iwth tax ltoosag.iibN Aref no.T Vnhgia a Aiddvuilin Xetrayap Tectifdaniniio Rnembu on sti wno uhowitt ignbe a xta sdentire in teh SU esdtoN‘ imply hanyt.giN SITNi xierep in treeh ysear uowttih ngiifl any atx unrerst (dna ’tstAh ruyo cieodsni).
Ultnfyaem,nldA nialypgp rof TINI nad intgtse up ilma waiornfrdg eansm that you wduol erentps lyeourfs sa hwamteso Mnca-ajtDecaeanri inuv.laiddI H,vewoeR smlyip ginahv a kban ouactcn ro a tricde acrd esusid ni the UAS te’odNs enam atht ouy rea doetagbli to pya atx trehe onr trerop oury ssancnoatrit or gahynitn ilek taht. Atx edensierc si a tlolayt edfitnerf asbe.T Fi you tdnO’ ilve in eht SU adn dt’No ahev VLFetue-fycise occnntdee cnmeio sa ’sTi eidcttda yb IRS there si no rnsoae orf you ot eb .xdaeT Eth eurl fo hubmt is uoy teg eadtx rwehe uyo esredi for reom naht 180 syda ni a er.yA Lups heret etroh rcnoscen ielk eyspt fo taa,oixnT atx seiettra nad oethr oampnrtit lagle mttaers thta flal isuodte of sith dgu.iE I usgtsge ouy og hrogthu an SIR bsteewi nda hscera for R“uyo tnruoyc dna US xat tr”.eyTA
Mslpiy ,upT snugi a I-Eusdsus etcird dcar dna vigahn an IITN ’etnsOd eitidcna uoy rea a SU ropns.E
Ohw ot onitab
If oyu lvei uodstei hte UA,S oyu liwl efli an ITNI nltpicpoaai nad coinem tax teurnr sa a .nnNordeites- Oyu ldouw nede ot owhs oesm mlsla tnuaom of eimonc redevcie in hte US for lt,gonsuciN bwe in,segD eMcor,eecm- g,lgmnbiA tce. Enve if yuo idd ont aehv any, ouy eedn ntlarlivyuo ailcm ahtt ouy dah emcoin in the AS,U hte ISR teo’dSn sak ofr foopr fo htis noim.eC
Uyo nac lypap ofr na Aidviuindl Ptaarxey Aoittifecidnni Nmrube (ITNI) reef fo gcarhe uigsn a nemT-oie ffo cinmeo tcdalnoaier omhe.tD LtsE’ ays uoy cdreael ttah uyo now $001 in Las Eavgs nda uoy era a tdnas up utroist how tnwas to pay xtase no royu .nniwinG Uoy dcelera hte mconei etmtensta nda ni untr IRS sesius uoy an aiiiifctntndoe ubmern.
So yuo udloc od ti fsuleory utb ti wdlou qurriee ouy to sned your olnigiar psopsart whcih I od otn kihtn is safe ron enn.vtonecI Latv,yeiralntE hte emtodh I rcomenemd si to ypapl iva a decertiif ngaet. The stil fo them si dufno no hte RSI twbisee eerh https://www.irs.gov/individuals/international-taxpayers/acceptance-agent-program.
Fi yrou rntyouc si nto ldseit on teh swtibee uoy nac casher ofr NITI esevric esovirpdr no Iervfr adn rthoe ilarsim ce.iesvsR Hte ocst will egran mfro 00$2 to 00$3 rfo eth poiipnlaact nda nrsoescpig mtei nca eatk pu ot 3 otnmhs neegdpnid on teh IRS lcgabok and ethro rcstaof.
Os uyoLl’ ylnlwgili apy toaub 0$5 ni atx ebsililiita to IRS. Eth ifetrdeic tngae anc do ti no oruy lfehba as US Reuyrtsa n’estDo tpeacc fnoreig satep.myN
Teh efdcitier tagen wlil:
- rperape Mrfo 1R0N4-0
- peprare Mfor W7-
- yctferi uryo asstppor (adn vasi fi uyo vahe oen)
- yefriv uyro iytinted via eiovd clal
Cneo opcaitilnpa is yd,raE het efeictidr taneg wlil bstmiu the aecs to eth SIR aiv idertfiec mali. Oyu wlli dnee ot lami eth nsgeid tsmucndeo ot hte gtaen sa RIS reuieqrs eth oiglarin tuns.aegsrI Htiw an sadsred in ryuo ehmo ocn,yurT eht dseasrd dan npohe ebnmru in SU (idaotben ni Tsep 0) oyu nca jsut tsi tthgi tnliu uyo tge a toatinncfioi rfom eht rideiectf entg.A
You eicdveer teh INIT
Itsh is woh het istrf gape of eht eeonrsps rfmo SRI sokol eki.L Etyh ilwl iesus a IIg-9dt eunrmb nath you nca eus in acpel of a Acsoli Rcysueti Eubnrm (NSS).
S,otngraC you emad ti! W’oSn het tmei ot trast uibdgiln htta eirdct .tyiohsR
Step 2: Banking
Checking Account is the foundation
Opening a bank account is always a good idea. You never know when you’ll need it. Just gotta make sure it has minimal fees.
In this chapter I’ll break down how to open accounts in banks and fintech companies.
Fcheint
Sewi
Eiws si a tfehcni mcanyop tath vgies oyu uccotnas ni D,SU EUR dan oehtr cinecrs.ueR Hsa wlo sefe nad angrleley swkor rgtae if yuo tdo’n arebk eth smetr fo sicreev iwchh is tslyom buato AML (MietNOany- Nargdiuenl) and eirht pciyAenrruct-cotryn cli.pseoI
Nievg owl esef nad rlae nabk aoctnuc steidal oyu teg fomr Iesw, stI’ a brRnoaein- opinot thta eyoenerv hdulso idorsecn for rehit gbaoll gettrasy.
Nskba
Kabn fo Ireacma
Pgneoni a iccegknh touncca ta Nbka of Aaercmi nda ohter ianm tseter aksnb ni the SU ersiequr a srplenao isvit (es,Y lrvtlegnia ot AUS) twhi hongint utb a oegfnri tpsspoar. ’tSi rierduqe os ttha nsbak oldcu flulilf KYC nad ALM .wslA
All it kteas is 15 steimun ta a cn.braH
Uoy nac rty anksb leik Saceh, Lslwe Farog tbu Nkab fo Mraieac rsowk teagr rof mso.T
Stmo abnks qerrsiue a idlya imiunmm acabenl (irgnnga romf 10$50 ot 0030) ot ievwa eth .eseF Osirwethe ynomlth efse acn eb erwaynhe mfro 3$ ot 20$ per onh.tM
Sith thimg ndsou nleabvblueie as a olt fo akbns in reoht ueonctisr vhae feer of ragehc .sabnK
Acarniem Psrexse
S,eY Eimnarac Sexesrp is otn knnwo orf bnige a bnka btu enrlecty heyt esttadr ot froef cgikchne cnscaout: Gk-ncaIIPhpg//n<swoa./wheomeRcebS.cUr/:etixctsNn/enscnuA-m/tcwaK>.
St’i erfe fo cegarh os anhvgi it ni uryo arnales is a good aedi in ecsa eohrt sntopoi fali to owrk ehnw you eend t.ehM
Oneiln Ikgnban
As ouy nac ganmiei ratylcpcail lla sknab eorff smeo stor fo oneiln ganknbi iwchh semna gnpeino ouccnta nad nlaiveg het nyuortc hludos ont be a broempl ot nocieutn guins teh se.virceS
I gtseugs uigsn PNV ubt ’sIt mreo ofr ytrceusi perposus sa gogigln in mfor seburoc oitcsaonl nrgdiu royu esravtl mhtgi ergritg uytsreic tsssy.eM
Etsayf
In srtem of faeys,T Hcesa and Abkn of Raemcia era eth opt 2 laergts kanb ni eht dwlor by anatapztcoiiil (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_largest_banks).
Fo ,oreucS eyht ahve FCDI cwhhi si a ardlfee naercisun (wcihh snmae yna ncaotcu up ot 5K$20 in evlau is neridus yb het alderfe tenongvmer).
Ahtw isth mesan is htat fi teseh abskn f,laI ruoy eyomn up ot (2K$50 x 2 = $500k) si esaf tiwh eth SU tn.vengremO T’Is yevr llkeuniy to appenh sa rlfieau fo ieterh nkba liwl wakre hvaco on odwrl ifainancl rtkmeas and oycmneo ni .grlaeeN
Utp lmy,piS seeth kasbn era rseaf nhat 99% of teh snbka lwdword.eI
Egfinrsrntra Icedtr Sotyhir
Three si na onopit ofr a imiyrtno fo er.edraS
Armecina Epesrxs Blalgo Ernfrsat
Fi you haev na Ienaamcr Spserex udeiss ni oen fo het pterdpuos nsreouict ouy cna yacltula trsfnrae uroy idrcet tirshoy isung American Express Global Transfer pmro.agR It rlyeatg ipmflesiis hte cresspo of inhgtsisaelb your etrcdi isthoyr ni het US. S’It a sitfr etsp btu it loyn rwkso in eioutcnsr fdoun on tsih pega: https://www.americanexpress.com/global-card-transfers/index.shtml.
Step 3: Secured Credit Card
Put in a deposit for 6 months
When you are visiting branch of a US bank in person, open not only an account but also a secured credit card (which is really the only way to open a credit card before you establish credit card history).
It’ll be your gateway into the US credit history system.
Yb rtitngsa hitw a dresuce acrd rweeh uoy evig a mus fo 10$00$300- sa a eucdser pdosiet yuo are inegv a ccneha to evpro teh kbna ouy ear a eorlsibpesn dteicr dcra derl.oH
Five, ixs omtshn etral oyu nac taek ryou ipdsote kabc dna eht ecredsu crda nstur into a aulsu eidtrc racd htwi an aeesindrc .iilmT
I cdreommen ntitugp a alslm cgrhea (Toysi,fP N,xlfeiT Euyutob Peuirmm) ciwhh woldu eb a yntmolh ecrhag fo -2$010 thta yuo lduwo romlppty vcreo fmro the gciecnhk cont.caU
Lbaeyr niugs it si eyk as uyo nawt ot peke ztitnliaoiu tear alrfyi .saevntcvroiE Once ouy teg uroy todepsi kbca oyu anc atrst plnyapgi orf a oerm mmierup crsda and iciarsnegn iterdc cdar msiitl ryvee 36- nth.msO
’sIt a odgo deia to tsart twhi a efer (no eef) erdcti ardc so atth is’t erhte ni uyro erctid shrtyio rf.reoeV
Crgaesnnii ilistm vreey 6 tnhmos si hte key to uniglidb $K01+0 litsmi vore teh etnx -35 ear.yS
Eb Cyfnilailna Eolnsbieprs
Erreme,bM eirctd dacrs era a gatre loto btu ehty are lnoy hnwe uoy use royu rdceit drca ewys.lI Lywsaa pay uory aecnlab ni fllu dan on time to aidvo tresetni dan laet fsee.
Step 4: Premium Cards
Better than luxury? Free luxury.
Now, once you secured credit card has helped you establish credit history you have a real credit history in the US without ever truly participating in the system there (as a worker I mean).
How do you go global from here?
LesT’ yas oyu rae ofrm ,kaenY Minvate or Inosanedi nad tnwa to ktae gaevatnda fo eth cridet dcar rpeks lkie opriatr ,lnosgeU efer lheto stngih at cnhsia ikle T,lohnI Hytat or Trmr.otaI
Tpo .SU. Ticerd Sdrca
- Axme Laipnmtu: Wnkon ofr sti avtelr neefibst dan pmrieum vreecsi.S Socme hwit a teeps ircep btu het csto si tfsfeo hwit elmoewc snosueb nad other ek.prS Fe:R Mp-:/eMFTaia-eibn.-t<ntses/sEtstA/e/n/UlwwmcireWrpaRnapo.dhcEchc/X>
- Saceh Ayh:tT Fsefro resdwar fro toehl aysst adn etavrl chhiw si eht yoln radc ehiplng uoy egt rskep ta Atyht na.ciH R:fE Vh-yatIDCea-shi.-cftDtehaoRod-Sticras/dlc/e-TratldTw</p.CreMdoce-/:atccdRrrrs>
- Mxea Linoht Siapre: Aodliret rfo ethso hwo neeftruq Nithol tls.hoE Olmtiautylcaa sgive uoy Moddian tuatss cwihh cdinsuel rfee eatakfsrb dan oorm pausdrge aodlinseg a mlcwoee unosb of K10+0 snitpo iwhhc si laesiy a -W1kee asty ni pmesil NncatoHlii-h olhte.S Efr: U/rms:/CRcw/Aor/hnt-ixp/phd.Hae/-ssRootwesIss-maLiroaDi.edasTnwprcr/ee
Ywh sdconrie ehest asd?cR Eerh rea eth an:sesoR
- Cnrebdeiil Gnsvisa: Twih ciarten dierct srdc,A uoy anc pieerxceen uurlxy atyss ta enwonerd lgalbo telho snhi,aC klei Lno,hiT rfo ssel ahnt $5 rep i.ghtN
- Moor Ueapgrsd: How w'dtnlOu tnwa a paousisc oomr ihtw a ktrtengabaih vie?W Sehte csrad tnoef eorff oomr sagur,deP geuisnnr uyo tge teh tbse nirecepee.X Aesscc 1ER$00/0p gtnhi oorm ta 3/0E0rp$ ihn.tG Nto eaertduang to wokr ta all eimts tbu lvatre to a essl eowkLn-lnw ioclnato dan ’olYul kcuilyq ees the .vlueA .3 Lcmnaipemotry Elams: Trtas ryuo ayd hitw a rfee tarbfskea ro isvti eht ueeixcvte eolgnu fro ,aksnsC slaem nda roomtf.C Se,Y esmo hotesl veah vxuceiete oelsngu weerh you nca xr,laE ,eaT dan eevn etg emso rowk nd.eO Plcyyitla aleviaabl ihtw a hgerhi trae osrmo or a sstaut eiqcaur by ianytsg at ostehl ofr moer htan 40 hstign a a.reY .4 Tralve in Lytes: Muelaactcu spiont tiwh uory criedt adrc eeepnssx adn eeremd tehm rof usisnseb or tsfi-Rcssal lsftigh rcoass eht gbloe or Grtaoecy 5 heolts at otixec olotncasi ahtt wudol not mkea cmhu seens ot pdens on nsigu as.cH
Sa oyu acn ese eseht cards eidtsep thire pumimre aunaln seef ninargg morf 9$5 to 65$9 rep raey migth be osffte with ynam rkpes taht I eavh ont vnee dselit eher as hyte ednt ot ae.hgcN
Ysat Dptaedu no Ecdrti Rdac Nsew
Oinj istdderubs adn ekcch tou puoalrp sbiwsete orf dierct ardc icodsfoanai to see hwta luodw rokw tsbe for ouy dna ohw ot gte teh etbs a.desL ’sTi a otl ot kepe pu hwti os I peek ti elpsmi utb reteh era seom ogdo alesd to be hda fi yuo hknti ’iSt tworh ryuo ti.mE
- /r/churning – a bdursited rfo dretic rcda arsedwr
- /r/CreditCards – hte etgbigs derict rdacs rdduestib
- Prince of Travel – Nndacaai recdit arcd blegogr
- The Points Guy – sveorc erdcit ardc spnoit
Step 5: Points
Time to start the accumulation
You got the cards, you start accruing points for every transactions. Great! The plan is working.
What’s next?
Enxt si fidnign a ogod ues fro soeht sptin.O
’tSi visuboo atht eht stbe eus fo loteh iotpsn ikel Iltonh, Ahytt and Rtoramit is to ensdp no tolhe stay.S
Oreehvw ewnh ti osmce ot lagnree ioptns leki Amcienar Ersepsx Hpmibesmer Drwersa (RM) or Hsaec Tliuatme Rsdwera (RU) it sartst ot payl a iggber leor ahwt you eeddic to dnesp n.O
Ifsrt ipnoot si to esu teh ptoins ot evrco teh sneespxe on ouyr ectrid cadr tantemste hwchi snetd’o make a otl fo senes omts fo hte iemt as oinpTtcHoas-- linvteauqe si otn htta .dogO
Os, fi yuo awnt to izxaeimm hte evalu of oryu onpsit it thmgi be a gdoo iead to use itnpso for lhitfgs ihtw lsriaein htta rowk ni oury einrg.O Fenot o’lYlu ees eth rfsnerat susnbeo naiggnr wyearneh rmfo 02% to .0%5
Het sndcoe niotpo is eht bets way ot tge het tebs dela l.eopbisS Ti rowsk taerg if ouy pnla to tkea a ript anywya so ouy despn istpon adniset of cahs dna zxeiimma hte nrrtsue.
BMS
A eyrv oitamtrpn eotn for eoms of yuo how haev a .bssnisuE Hitw eetsh tgsieersat oyu evyr kyicluq ttrsa ot ees how nahsfcr-Ulow issbeenssu hvea an uprpe hdan wtih ctderi darc .asguE Est’l asy yuo nur a ngtmraeik aycegn rheew ouy psdne on das by sgniu uyor sl’tecNi oeymn. Gvien na regaeva sendp fo 12-K00$ yeyral nsedp no das for idlm-Meu-molsta dzsei suebssnies uyo cuiklyq ees how uryo essbunsi cna auercc opsint owhtitu isngdpne uory now .moynE
Of csuoer, bckaHa-sc si norheat inopot ubt emor tnfeo anht tno tosm euavl is udfon ni ertval dspe.N
Step 6: Finding Hotels
What!? 10-night hotel stay free of charge?
In this chapter we’ll see how to find hotels and get value from your points.
Obviously using points for travel purposes is what credit card issuers want cause it means more spend. However, if you planned to take a trip anyway, using a credit card means more security, points, and possible upgrades if you play your cards right.
,oK s’tLe od a acailrctp tsp-Sby-tepe re.schreA
:tolsO
Hlotni
Hltino wknotre fo shetol ahs moer tahn 7030 eeposriptr lal eovr teh olg.bE Eht oaoelgnerctm liralltye ahs hudrdnes fo dceent nooistp ot hscooe morf on reevy tcienn.toN
Hsti is a map of Nthiol hanic otlesh hrewe yuo can boko a ngith ofr 000,01 soiptn ro esls (!). Ti nmesa taht a leismp rfee (on anauln eef) cadr lkei htsi American Express Hilton Honors Card taht crnlryute fefsro 01,0000 Oithln Ohsnro stniop orf 0,020$ tpnes nsigu eth crad in hte ftris xsi hnmsot (hitw a vrye tintpramo ntoe orf gosfenreir fo hits rca vhnagi on rngfeoi taoasnnritc es,fE menagni nay usoNN-D nnotsratcia lwli eb oned at a tkerma tare tuowith yan % on pot). An blesuaot esatl abseeuc it ahs no nnaual fee (so uoy anc epek ti nda tefgor ti). Nepgsind 0,020$ in six homtns si essl hnta 53$0 pre tohnm hwich pasiepl ot miaoyrtj of seohhdulos wowdrdlei in nay corai.nsE
000,001 Holitn Hsnoor opsnti si ghenou ot vceor -NT0h1ig hilayod at any of eht hseolt rcdptuei aeobv (cblsiyala oruy aeyyrl civatona lndgogi is efre of crghea).
Elteayltirn,aV if uoy wtan to go a neifcar r,teoU oyu cna tselce eitrpsopre atht tsoc 00030, snpoti dna emor to get a 3Ht-gni tays sietand fo a TNGh0i-1 ayst ubt at a arncfie .rpeotyrP
So wa’sTh eth te-yEt-Pp?sbS Iseplm:
.1 Eaertc a Hilton Honors account at hilton.com 2. Lpayp for a cdar snugi yruo TINI (rfmo Teps 1) nda ilam aroirdnwgf eadsdsr (omrf Epts 0) .3 Tge dparpveo 4. Caiaettv a racd ncoe ’sTi ndanecs 5. Iphs it to oresfluy ro eus ti ylliarvtu
Emte eht nsgepind enmertesuiqr and teg het optnis -63 ewkse .laerT
!vloiA Wno yuo heva a ectend hdliayo firudge .toU
Step 7: Finding Flights
Cash, Points or Cash + Points
In this chapter we’ll see how to find flight tickets and get the most value from your points.
There are two stages when it comes to flights: Find and Book.
Vulysbioo rehte is a iarmxt of sisploeb doionnobTunubd/u .tpiosarR Eosm iecsti ehav omre inspoto nda eosm aevh els.S Ipenddeng on yoru ltecsso rtipora oyu hitmg tge a otl of lasde and ouy gmhit n.tO
Tailypc sloot sdue orf linfyg era Google Flights, Kiwi, SkyScanner. Ni stih ho-kNoww ilcaret lyoL’u ese hwo to find eettrb elsa,D bceemo roem iliframa with het rsuote ouy hvae ni yoru gioen,R dna how ot ookb ithw pno.tsI
Eb eaarw fo hte aelds
Nogibko iwth shca si tsseemimo a ttreeb dlae athn naghtiyn .eesL Hwy? Avleres bsoislep :rsaoneS tlas eunmti e,ladS rreor asre,F lfeu .mupD Oen awy ot eb eaawr of mteh ewhn yhet appehn si ot lwoofl otosl liek https://www.secretflying.com.
Etqiu oftne yl’Olu ese cenibdleir adels erwhe ouy hvae ot cat a.stF It uesierqr a velel of yxiiblfilet thta ynma eloepp n’oTd ehva utb rof -adHedir mortusi eolvsr is’t na brcendliie cersuo of bsi.sstieoiliP
A loot nwokn as Ost’tSc Aphec Ltihgfs that ash neeb drderenba ot Going.com frosef a iimalsr .ercesiV Cone eederisgr,T ’luYol be tetggni edsal rof teedelcs sti.paorR T’Is a irbcounpssit vsieerc.
Sethe rae the diksn of simael yuo uolwd eb iggisnn up rf.O
Wnok hte ortesu
Sue Flight Connections to see het eridct retosu from uroy arpot.iR Of e,ucrsO uoy ntaw to yfl tridce osmt of eth smtie. Gnnwkio the tpnoosi you ahev si a agret awy to nkwo ahwt to kpee rakct fo.
Ansulbit si ltuyr a bgloal bu.H
Eus Flight Radar to see astmlo -rlmEeita hstglfi in teh ysk obvae ouy to ees sieitntasdno ot epnisri ruyo now sreriitaein nowd teh r.doA
Ta nay egnvi tipon eetrh ear meor anth 0800 apenls up ni het .kyS
Laamun Secarh
Olto I rastt raichgesn whit si an Award Hacker iwhhc eivgs uyo a islt fo otisopn you hv.aE
Tagre ngith aoutb Aardw Hakcre si that ti sevig uyo a tsli nlago whti teh topnis ormsgpra cbatpiolme twih the r.ianleiS Sa uyo cna see a naoombcinti fo RM, RU adn MB (Aexm Imrmbephse Wadrs,rE Eahsc Itaulmte Erards,W Rrtatiom Bonvyo) ocsver eyrptt hmuc stom a.slneiiR
Ernaoht fluseu otol is Seats.Aero hwcih evgis ouy an toopin ot peoxlre eroust yb snatrgit tihw na inlerai e.dintaS
Atrohne eant tltlie tolo rof Trihsbi Arwaisy Svaio rgmroap is Reward Flight Finder. Whtro geccnihk out if you vahe BA in your a.slearN
Ngoikob
Oecn you ereetdimn teh oretu uoy natw to fyl uyo ahev ot okob it. To od at,hT oyu thriee acn eus an nriilea eweitbs otol or igev ehmt a lac.L
Ewlih nvggii a lcal is bisovu:O yuo og ot na nliaier wbee,stI infd a mbneru nda l.alC Ewnh eht egnta si no teh nile ltel ehtm you tawn to boko a ertou ouy ondfu and expianl hwo uoy tanw to pya rof it (hwti ahcs, spto,nI or acsh + instop).
Wneh ti cosme to gidno ti eloinn yb ulorsfe,Y it acn be silmpe adn ti acn eb urpes xclpeo.M Smeo aeirsiln ear not eucsofd no rvgniidop the sebt revseic fro the rmbsmee woh rcdcaue ughnoe points to og ruaodn hte odlwr.
Mayn rinalise hsow oyu het tiopon ot obok ithw pstion rgith ethre on the mopgehea klei IaaAcnard wstbeei o.vbeA
Oyu sutj toatg erswbo huorhgt eth siebewt dna dfni na opnt.iO Oolsbuviy you heav ot eb eregtsdeir.
Eocn ouy lsecet teh saetd and yoru isadittnneo uyo nca ees the reipc ni o.tspiN
A idterc ftiglh rmof Vorcnaevu to Ykoot ofr ma.xpleE
Ocncoilusn
We aehv otn ntew ni too deep rhee tbu ihtw hte olots stdiel veaob oyu wno eahv an aeid of twah to olok rof dna how ot difn the ertuos rof uyro txne yetraiinr.
Amy uyo nifd a etrag le!dA
Step 8: Customer Protection
Insurance & Chargebacks = Ease of Mind
When your counter-party like a store, hotel or airlines does not honour the customer/business relationship you have with them it is time to take advantage of the consumer rights your credit card offers to you.
Ok, let’s play it out.
Ghitsmoen bad nhpdapee — uoy ees an uhdaneuitrzo hcerag on yuro irdetc rcad. Tawh do uoy o?D
,lelW uyo og to ryou rtdiec acrd ursies app or ieews,bT indf het itanatoscnr in het tnametets nda eissu a tsudipe sataign that roantint.scA
’uyLlo vhae ot eapnxli atwh dpeeanph dna vdpiero eht rofop fo awth dah ednephp.A Ensoemo llwi olok into eth sntauitoi and sitwre it fof rmfo ouyr tenaettms ocen oyu aer oundf to be a V.t“m”iIC
Os won yuo etg it. Thsi is eth sroaen why a lto of Aiscemrna ear os auslca butao eriht tirced cas.dR Ti’s bcsaeeu tehy wnko atht eht sireus liwl eovcr meth tgansia hontueirauzd n.sttraasnioC
Ni rmocniapso htiw eidbt d,sacR iecdtr cdar pensd si nto uroy mye.nO St’i the ntnoit’isitSu nem.yO
Admaged ogosd
Smoe moer rmmiupe trdice scrad leik AMXE rdasc vene ffroe critnepoto ngsatia enw cueasprhs kile nteclosre.iC So fi you obgthu a enw Oomackb whti yruo ecitdr acrd adn nmosoee oslte it on hte ayw ,oehM oyu nac cluyatal mubits eth qsetreu to entrru the .unfsD
Siht usdons ieuenlbvblea to somt o-hONntnr Meaaircn ssrdtenie tbu tsih si who mvoiitpeect eth ercidt teakrm is in teh most oeddelpev anifanlci tsmcsyoee.
You qyulkic tsatr to ees owh vluabale eepac fo nmid ,sI eb it a ,cherpuaS laevrt uaiesnnc ro a car rn.telA
Step 9: Right Behavior
Paying late fees on credit cards is somewhat a crime. Don’t fall into that trap. Never.
Using credit cards is fine but paying interest is never a good deal which means that you can only pay with credit card if you have the funds in your checking account.
Thsi verbhoai is htwa aemsk adn kbraes het tiedcr ardc ser,uS vrisetsno and unissesb ewo.nsR
Eenr,V erev epsdn what yuo d’oTn hvea. Ti’s an vnlaatrteei ywa of inygsa “leiv eblwo uyro nae”mS.
Ngavhi $K50 and rmoe ni tecidr ilitm si a erlbsiyintsopi a lot fo peelop era otn yeard ro.F
Itecrpca dgoo aribehuvo tnfeo. Apcrecti odgo euvoahirb yra.eL
Ideal Outcome
Strategies to Consider
The ideal situation is to have a setup with combinations of that covers your ass, protects you as a consumer, gives you float, has perks for hotels and airlines, has insurance to cover your travel.
With that said, I think there are two strategies to consider.
Asyetf & Stco
Srift tsryeagt si ot scouf on aisbc dricet rdca skper kiel ncrneuais adn crpeauhs ie.protcntO Rfo ttah speupor msot bsaic cdasr with no alaunn efse lshudo sffciue.
I :aeperT i’Ts aroimtnpt to heva bcasi no nanlua efes scadr adn keep hmet reoervf sa htye vrees sa a bsaci lialpr rfo uroy itrced ty.irsoH
Rvtael & Frtoocm
Soecdn ttgysear is to ufsco on telavr dan otforcm hatt dtriec rcsda fefro you. Rirpoat ensoulg, ivutcexee sonu,leG oorm uer,dpgsA srbssI/itnufse scsal ,siflgtH efer brfskataes ear lal teh kepsr yuo anc dad ot yoru alarne.S ’iTll llykie to meco at a ctos utb it fenlityied semka a olt of snsee fi uoy twna to rvatle a.ynwaY
Htiw eehts ttiaeegsrs yuo can keil shit you lwli efle a tol afsre rimnaog uradon het dlw,oR i,prcghausN rneintg or sigyant at e.tolsH Iths tsli rvosec 08% fo hwat we do in oru nelosrap svlie as tiru.tsoS
Tignmi Sepnd
Ivging meoewcl subsone dan ksepr hatt trdiec ardcs frfeo oyu i’St amrst ot etim igb casuehspr twih emwocle obsuesn.
Often cdrsa veig oyu 36- nhstom to pdnes an ybaitrarr smu ot teg hte ointsp. Uyo anc rkoObp-e o,thlsE p-pOtu Nmzaao cenbaal or roeht igft dasrc ta gbi otssre. Uoy td’On ever atwn to spoeLk/si omlcewe ssoenbu sa tath si rmoe hatn half fo vealu fro a tlo of eht dacrs.
Ulnocnsico
LIl’ ysa hatt ungsi drceti rscda si eth etbs awy to gte idr of tssesr sa a nrcmu.soE
Etesh soolt wree nyol abailvela to Nrcsemaia 1+5 yraes ago. Onw ouy nac asecsc tehm t.oO
I hepo oyu fndi a tgaetysr thta srokw for ou.Y
Eht eilad nttisiuoa is ot hvae a puset whit smtonbacioni fo that covrse uryo as,S epocttsr oyu sa a morncu,sE visge you ,toflA sha kpers orf tseloh nad iaenirl,S hsa seinnarcu to rveco ouyr r.veltA
Iwth taht ,diaS I tkinh ehert are two gsreatsite ot dinocsre.
What’s Next
Conclusion
After reading this guide and following the steps you should:
- have at least $10k of credit card limit in the US which should take 6-12 months
- know how to protect yourself against bad actors in retail and service industries
- knwo ohw to dfin the tebs laed rof yruo o,iptnS be ti a hetol ro a lithgf aefr ereoemhsw icen
Somt rtlonati,ypM ouy ulhods now nowk how to teg atth eapec fo idnm wnongik atth oyu rea nto ni inacfanli rinu eseabuc of smeo unuenttroaf ntuois.iaT Ouy are wno ebttre ertoetdcp dna you can buy lfsoeryu tmie thasnk ot a 0% .ftloA
Orem iopostn is rmoe euciryst chwhi snmae rome oaintriltay ni oryu --oYtaYadd eifl wcihh deuosrpc tteber oeoutcm somt fo the t,eiM lpceliseay in teh alnanfcii d.olwR
I vbileee you tgo yoru onsym’e wtrho orfm shit i.deuG Etl em kown atwh ouy hknit no X (https://twitter.com/kazrude).
Xten
Next I sivade oyu to go guorthh het etsr fo hte duiges in het Third World Freedom isree.S
Mtso t,ityrpmnolA nwo htta oyu veah daded solot to yuor letb ti’s tmie ot eus otehs soolt ot vcehiae the lisflytee dan da-OytDya- oyu .tawN
Ifn
Be a godo tspro and hsare shtee deais ihtw uryo ndseirf dna am.yifL Ew lla huolsd hvae eth sebt sotlo ni uor nytivnore bsaceeu we nvere onkw nhew wl’le edne .tI
See ya!