new filing and reporting requirements for US real estate investors begins March 1 https://youtu.be/A05ggUW9NC0

Credit strong is one of the credit builder products we recommend. There are two types. 1. Revolving credit - This is their Revolv product. This mimics a revolving credit line like a credit card or a revolving line of credit. You can add this to add to your credit profile another credit line and the higher amount plans will help you to show lenders you can handle higher credit limits and the aim is to leverage this to get real credit cards with higher limits. For thin profiles, any of the plans will help. Note that you can not actually use or spend the money in the credit line, it is just to build your credit report 2. instalment loans - these act like real loans. These are useful to build up the instalment side of your credit profile, especially if you will be going for loans in the future, like personal loans, auto loans etc. This proves that you can handle monthly payments for a loan and shows you can handle the amount of loan you choose. this is the Magnum and Instal products. Choose the amount similar to the real loan you want to get from a lender. Note, these are long term plays, you will also get a boost to your FICO score, if you decide to do them you should commit for at least 1 year and better is 2. They also report to all 3 credit bureau so it is good for building thin and new credit files. It is also good for credit repair. But also be aware, if you miss payments on these, they will give you missed payments on your credit report and be a net negative effect. So if you commit , make sure you can keep up the payments and pay on time. Here is the link to get started https://creditstrong.referralrock.com/l/3DAVID28/

Most people focus on getting an ITIN. Few focus on what happens after. And that’s where the real opportunity begins. An ITIN is not the opportunity itself. It’s the key that unlocks access to opportunities you may not have had before. Business banking.Credit card programs. Higher credit limits. Business funding. Loans and mortgages. Travel points. Cashback. U.S. business credibility. New income streams. But here’s the part many people miss: The paperwork gets you in the door. The strategy determines what you do once you’re inside. I’ve noticed that the people who get the best results are not always the ones with the most money, the best connections, or the most resources. They’re usually the ones who have a clear plan for what comes next. They understand that getting an ITIN is not the finish line. It’s the starting point. Once you have it, the focus should shift to: ✅ Building banking relationships ✅ Establishing personal and business credit responsibly ✅ Staying compliant ✅ Increasing access to funding ✅ Leveraging credit for business growth ✅ Using rewards, cashback, and travel points strategically ✅ Creating systems that support long-term financial growth This is where entrepreneurs can start thinking bigger. Not just, “How do I get approved?” But: “How do I use this access wisely?” “How do I build credibility?” “How do I create funding options for my business?” “How do I turn financial access into long-term growth?” Because getting access is one thing. Maximising it is another. The people who win long term are the ones who don’t just collect documents. They build a strategy. So I’m curious: What’s the biggest goal you’re hoping to achieve after getting your ITIN? Is it business credit, funding, credit cards, banking, travel rewards, cashback, real estate, or something else?

For those who have a new credit file, one of the biggest hurdles is actually getting info reported to your credit file. What we advise clients, as soon as you get your first card, activate it as soon as possible and buy something small as soon as possible. This gets activity going and something for your statement (which you will be waiting for to give other banks as proof of address). Another option is to put a subscription on it, like netflix, chatgpt, spotify etc. This is even better as you get monthly utilisation and reporting.

Usually getting a secured credit card is the first step for most people and that is still working well. But right now, some people seem to be getting approved for both Discover It and Capital one quicksilver And on new ITIN numbers too. Try doing the pre-approval on both If denied, wait a few days to a week and try again. Some are getting lucky and getting $500 limit. If you don't have a credit file, you will need to send in your passport and ITIN letter. If you can get this, it is a better option than secured. Here is a link for the discover it pre-approval - https://i.capitalone.com/GKuL8eh7U The discover card is great as well as you can auto request limit increase in the app every 90 days. So even if you start with 500, you can raise it pretty quickly over the year. You can also create virtual cards in the app / website as well.