As someone in the US on a visa, some lenders might require you to apply with a permanent resident or citizen as a coapplicant. However, a few lenders like Stilt and Boro specialize in loans for people that are nonresidents.
| Provider | Eligible visas | Visa-related requirements | Other requirements | APR | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SoFi | E-2, E-3, H-1B, J-1, L-1, or O-1 visas. | All visas must have at least two years left, unless you’ve applied for renewal or for permanent resident status. Permanent residents must also have at least two years left on their visa. |
| 8.99% to 29.99% fixed APR | |
| LendingClub | Valid, long-term visa | None stated |
| 8.98% to 35.99% | |
| LendingPoint | No specific visa requirements | None |
| 7.99% to 35.99% | |
| Kora | A5, C8, F1 / OPT, G, H1B, J1, L1 and O1 visa holders. | International students with an F-1 visa must meet GPA requirements. |
| 15.99% to 35.99 for KoraCash6% to 16.49% for Kora Drive | |
| TD Bank | No specific requirements | None stated |
| 5.99% to 19.99% | |
| Stilt | F-1, OPT, H-1B, O-1, L-1, TN, J-1 visas. DACA recipients can also qualify. | None stated |
| 7.99% to 15.99% |
For lawful permanent and nonpermanent residents, applying for a loan is nearly the same process as for US citizens.
The application and approval process depends on the lender and type of loan you choose. Generally, as a nonresident, you need to submit documents proving you’re in the US legally and might have to apply with a cosigner to add security to the loan if your credit history is lacking.
Loans as a nonresident don’t have higher costs or fees — though interest rates may vary. Most lenders don’t have higher interest rates for immigrants or noncitizens, but others can increase rates by 0.5% to 1%. But interest rates on mortgages for nonresidents are often higher than the average US interest rates as well.
There are lenders that offer loans without SSN, but you need some identification and likely a visa. Expect to see these requirements when you’re applying for a loan as a US nonresident:
A cosigner is someone that signs onto the loan with you. The cosigner offers more security on the loan because they promise to repay the loan if you become unable, therefore increasing your chances of approval. They don’t help you with installment payments each month, though — they’re the backup payer. For a cosigner to actually help approval chances, they need a good credit score, proof of income, and likely be a US citizen or have lived in the US for at least two years.
An individual taxpayer identification number (ITIN) is typically required for a loan if you don’t have an SSN. It’s a tax processing number for noncitizens, aliens and their family members who can’t get a SSN.
You’re eligible for an ITIN number as soon as you start paying taxes. You can get an ITIN by filling out a W-7 application, and you’ll have to include documents supporting your resident status and your identification.
If you need help, look for an IRS Acceptance Agent near you — an entity like a college or bank that the IRS has authorized to assist with your application. You can find an acceptance agent in or outside the US on the IRS website.
Most US citizens use their SSN to check their credit score — and having an SSN is required to get copies of your credit reports with AnnualCreditReport.com.
To check your credit reports and credit score with your ITIN, you can reach out to each credit bureau directly. The three major credit bureaus are TransUnion, Equifax and Experian.
You’re entitled to a free copy of your credit report from each bureau once every 12 months, and reviewing your own credit reports and score do not harm your credit score.
As an immigrant or noncitizen, it may be possible to get a nontraditional credit check. This could help you get a loan without a credit history.
Depending on the lender you choose, you may need sufficient credit references, and to increase your approval odds, it helps if your credit accounts are free of late payments, collection accounts, bankruptcies or foreclosures.
Nontraditional credit references can include:
Try to have at least three nontraditional credit references — they can really help if each show 12 months of on-time payments.
Even when you find a lender that works with nonresidents, you may face some restrictions:
When applying for a personal loan in the US, you’ll quickly realize that they aren’t designed for nonresidents. But there’s good news: You’re still eligible to apply for some personal loans, including car loans. Just be prepared for plenty of paperwork.
A personal loan for nonresidents is similar to a personal loan for residents: If approved, you can use the money you receive to cover almost any expense. You pay back the principal amount — the money you borrowed — plus interest over the term.
For a temporary resident, like someone on a work visa, you may need to meet extra criteria in order to qualify. Most lenders will need the details of your visa before you’re approved to ensure that the terms of the personal loan don’t exceed the amount of time left on your visa. You may also need to meet higher minimum income criteria.
The paperwork required to fill out your application depends on the type of loan you’re applying for and the lender you’re applying with. In general, loans are only granted to people who plan to continue working in the US for at least three years or through the duration of the loan.
Expect to need:
As a nonresident, you can apply for four main types of loans: personal loans, student loans, mortgages or business loans.
| Type | Description | Typical maximum amount |
|---|---|---|
| Unsecured personal loan | An unsecured personal loan isn’t backed by any collateral and can be used for almost any purpose. And while your interest rate will likely be fixed over the life of your loan, you may have to pay a higher interest rate than with a secured personal loan. | Up to $100,000 |
| Secured personal loan | A secured personal loan requires you to provide an asset as a guarantee — like your car or home. It protects the lender by allowing it to repossess and sell your asset to recoup its losses if you default on the loan. Because of this, it generally has lower interest rates than other types of personal loans. | Up to $100,000 |
| Payday loan | With repayment terms of two to four weeks, payday loans are typically for smaller sums of money. However, because they’re meant for borrowers with bad credit or a limited credit history, interest rates can be quite high — sometimes more than 300%. | Up to $1,000 |
| Installment loan | With a set number of payments over a scheduled period of time, installment loans can last for a few months or more. An installment loan is usually as expensive as a payday loan, but you’ll have more time to pay it back. Best of all, some lenders even report your on-time payments so you can build your credit. | Up to $5,000 |
| Cryptocurrency loan | A type of secured personal loan, these loans use cryptocurrency as collateral. They have fewer requirements than your typical loan — other than already owning cryptocurrency. But there are several risks — like going into default if the value of your cryptocurrency drops significantly. | Up to 50% of the value of your cryptocurrency holdings. |
| Inheritance funding | This type of financing offers an advance on an inheritance that’s tied up in the legal process. This typically has fewer requirements than most loans. But it can complicate the inheritance process — and you could pay up to 40% of your inheritance’s value in fees. | Varies |
Whether it’s MIT, UCLA or Harvard, the opportunity to study in the US can open many doors. But if you can’t afford the cost of attending college in the US, an international student loan may be able to help.
As an international student, you likely haven’t built up a credit history in the US. Lenders don’t require you to have excellent credit, but you might be required to have a US cosigner.
If you don’t have a cosigner, you still have some options. Some lenders like Mpower and Prodigy specialize in student loans for international students. Rather than looking at your credit score and current income, these lenders consider your academic record and how much you might earn in the future.
The maximum loan amount available for a nonresident is $10,000,000 for a mortgage on one property.
Financing a home loan or mortgage as a nonresident is difficult, but not impossible. The ease of application usually depends on your residency status.
Generally, you can apply for a home loan if you are a permanent resident with a valid green card (Form I-551), or a nonpermanent resident with a valid work visa. If you’re neither of those, you may run into trouble finding a lender willing to finance a mortgage.
Lenders typically ask to see the following documents from noncitizen applicants:
If you’re on the hunt for a business loan without a SSN, then you may be able to use your ITIN.
You can also apply with Small Business Administration (SBA) providers with an ITIN. In fact, there’s a specific SBA program for immigrants that don’t have a SSN yet.
You can also use your ITIN to apply for an employer identification number (EIN), which is a number used to identify businesses for tax purposes.
Typical requirements for a business loan can include:
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Is there any lending company that will issue a business loan or line of credit to Canadians without a SSN?
Hi Missy,
Thanks for your inquiry.
You’re already on the right page where you can see your options for non-resident loans in the US. Please refer or go through “Personal loans you might be eligible for as a nonresident” portion to check your options and compare them to find the right lender for you. Once you decided who to go, you may click the “Go to site” button to proceed with the application.
Please ensure that you meet the eligibility criteria and requirements of the loan option or lender and make sure to read the details, as well as the relevant Product Disclosure Statements / Terms & Conditions of the loan option before making a decision and consider whether the product or option is right for you.
I hope this helps.
Kind regards,
Bella
Please I need an installment loan of about $15,000, please I need a direct contact, I’m a non citizen but I reside is here in Boston & I got a reputable job in the States, I work with construction company, I live in Boston, my name is Marcio, drop a contact I can call for aid.
Hi Marcio,
Thanks for your inquiry
It looks like you’re already on the right page for comparing options non-resident loans in the US. Even though you don’t have access to all of the financial benefits that come with being a US citizen or resident, you are able to get a loan for personal use, for business use, to buy a home and to pay for your studies. Though it may be more challenging for nonresidents, there’s no reason for you to give up on the American dream.
Please go through the options above and compare them to find the right one for you. Once you have chosen one, you can click the ‘ Go to site ‘ button to proceed with the application. Please make sure you read and meet the eligibility requirements before you apply.
Hope this information helps
Cheers,
Arnold
I need a Personal Loan $10,000 24 months.
No ssn just ITIN.
Hi Jorge,
Thanks for your inquiry
It may be challenging to apply for a loan without an SSN. There may be lenders that will consider you for a loan if you can provide the other requirements and meet the eligibility criteria shown on the page above. It would be best to contact these lenders directly in order for your situation to be taken into account.
Hope this information helps
Cheers,
Arnold
As an international student in USA who doesn’t have green card what is the maximum amount $ can I borrow from and from where,to start my own business?Can I take at leat $100 000 ?
Hi Nurlan,
Thanks for your inquiry
It may be hard to apply for a $100,000 loan as a non-resident. Eligibility requirements will vary depending on your lender and loan type and mostly they require you to be a resident. The page above shows you your loan options as a non-resident. Please check it out
Hope this information helps
Cheers,
Arnold
Can I get a personal loan as a temporary protected status. I have a work permit.
Hi Claudel,
Thank you for your inquiry.
These are some challenges you may experience when you apply for a loan if you are non resident in the U.S.
– If you are a nonresident who will be in the US for a limited time, approval for a loan may be hard.
– If you are a foreign national or have diplomatic immunity, it’s much more difficult to get a mortgage because you are not subject to US law. This leaves lenders unprotected should you default on the loan.
You are still eligible to apply for some personal loans, including mortgages and auto loans. But there will be plenty of paperwork, so your patience is required. Please check your options from the information we provided above.
I hope this information has helped.
Cheers,
Harold