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Loans for Immigrants and New Arrivals: What Lenders Ask For

By Published 7 min read

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Sometimes, but there is no single rule. Each lender decides which documents it asks for, and most do not publish that list on their sites. In your first months in the U.S. the practical steps are to learn what a lender wants before you visit, open an account at a bank or credit union, and start a U.S. credit file.

This guide covers what a few lenders say in their own words, what the official consumer pages say about accounts and credit, and a list of questions to ask. If your question is about an ITIN (a taxpayer ID number), read our ITIN guide instead.

What lenders say they ask for

We read the public pages of the lenders in our directory. Very few say anything about ID. These are the ones that do (all checked October 2026):

  • Western Shamrock's FAQ says: "These could include: A copy of a valid, government-issued ID (e.g. driver's license or passport) Proof of residence (e.g., a utility bill, or a signed lease) Proof of income (e.g. paystubs or tax returns) We may ask for additional items based upon your unique situation." Our directory has a page for Western Shamrock / Check Exchange.
  • Cash Store's FAQ says: "Yes - an open and active checking account, active for at least 30 days, is required to apply."
  • Cleo's site says: "While you don't need to be a US citizen to apply for the Cleo Card, you need a valid SSN, birthdate, and address in order to be approved."
  • OppLoans lists on its site that borrowers must "Have a bank account (checking account or saving account)" and "Have a regular source of income."

Notice what is missing. None of these pages says whether it accepts a foreign passport alone, a consular ID, or an ITIN in place of a Social Security number, apart from Western Shamrock listing a passport as an example of government ID. Do not assume a lender accepts something it has not said it accepts. Ask.

Why the 30-day account rule matters if you just arrived

Cash Store's rule means a brand-new account may not be enough. The account must have been active for at least 30 days. Possible Finance, a lending app, says on its approvals page: "For security purposes, your loan funds must be sent to the bank account you used to apply." So the account usually comes first, and it helps to open it before you need money.

Step 1: open a bank or credit union account

The FDIC's GetBanked page (checked October 2026) lists six steps to open an account: you must be 18 or older, gather your IDs, complete an application in person, online or in an app, make a first deposit (the page says it may be as low as $25), sign documents, and set up tools such as online banking and a debit card. For IDs it names a Social Security number or an ITIN. Banks set their own policies, so call first and ask what they accept if you have neither.

The FDIC says deposits are "automatically insured to at least $250,000 at each FDIC-insured bank." It also recommends certified "Bank On accounts," which it says "have low and transparent costs and don't allow overdraft or insufficient fund fees."

Credit unions are another route. MyCreditUnion.gov, run by the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA), has a locator tool and share insurance information. A credit union may have membership rules, such as where you live or work, so ask what you need to join.

Step 2: start a U.S. credit file

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) explains that "a credit report is a statement that has information about your credit activity and current credit situation such as loan paying history and the status of your credit accounts" (CFPB, reviewed January 29, 2024). Credit reporting companies "collect and store financial data about you that is submitted to them by creditors."

That file is built from data that creditors send in, so a lender that does not report leaves it empty. The CFPB says that 26 million Americans are "credit invisible", meaning one in ten adults has no history with the three nationwide credit reporting companies. People without scoreable records "may be denied access to credit." They may also have trouble leasing an apartment (CFPB, last modified December 28, 2022).

A credit file starts when an account is reported to the credit bureaus, such as a loan or card from a lender that reports. Ask any lender, "Do you report my payments to the credit bureaus?" If it does not, on-time payments will not build a file. For other ways to build credit, see our guide to loans with no U.S. credit history.

State rules that can matter

Before you borrow, check that the lender holds a license in your state. These state regulators publish a license lookup:

StateRegulatorWhere to check a license
TexasTexas Office of Consumer Credit Commissioner (OCCC)License lookup
FloridaFlorida Office of Financial Regulation (OFR)License lookup
IllinoisIllinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR), Division of Financial InstitutionsLicense lookup
ArizonaArizona Department of Insurance and Financial Institutions (DIFI)License lookup
North CarolinaNorth Carolina Office of the Commissioner of Banks (NCCOB)License lookup

From our regulator data, last checked October 2026. For other states, open the state's page in our lender directory; it names the regulator and links its search where we have one.

Cheaper places to borrow first

These are general options, not recommendations of a particular provider.

  • Credit unions. Federal credit unions can offer Payday Alternative Loans (PALs): PALs I are $200 to $1,000 for 1 to 6 months, and PALs II are up to $2,000 for 1 to 12 months, with an application fee of $20 or less (12 CFR 701.21(c)(7)). Ask whether a credit union offers one and what you need to join.
  • CDFIs. The Treasury's CDFI Fund says a Community Development Financial Institution is "a specialized organization that provide[s] financial services in low-income communities and to people who lack access to financing" (CDFI Fund, checked October 2026). It lists certified CDFIs in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Guam and Puerto Rico.
  • Lending circles. Mission Asset Fund says its Lending Circles are groups of 6 to 12 people with loans of $300 to $2,400, that it reports to all three credit bureaus, and that participants raised credit scores 168 points on average (its own site, checked October 2026). This is one example, not an endorsement, and those are the organization's own figures.
  • 211. Dial 211 or visit 211.org for local help with rent, utilities and food.

Our state-by-state legality page shows where payday loans are available at all.

What you'll need

  • A government-issued photo ID. One lender in our data names a driver's license or passport as examples; which IDs count is up to each lender.
  • Proof of where you live, such as a utility bill or signed lease.
  • Proof of income, such as pay stubs, tax returns or bank deposits.
  • An open checking account, sometimes open for a minimum time (Cash Store asks for 30 days).
  • A U.S. phone number and address. Some online lenders and apps also require an SSN.

Ask the lender which documents it accepts before you go. To call a store, use lenders near me.

Questions to ask a store before you apply

  1. Which IDs do you accept? Is a foreign passport enough, or do you need a U.S. ID too?
  2. Do you need a Social Security number, or can I give a different taxpayer number?
  3. Does the account I use need to be open for a certain time?
  4. What is the full cost in dollars and as an APR? (See how APR works.)
  5. Do you report my payments to the credit bureaus?
  6. Can I see the contract in my language before I sign?
  7. Is your license number posted, and which state agency issued it?

Frequently asked questions

Can I get a loan in my first month in the U.S.?

It depends on the lender. The lenders that publish their requirements ask for things like ID, proof of income and a bank account, and one wants that account open for 30 days. Ask each lender what it requires.

Do I need a Social Security number to open a bank account?

Not always. The FDIC's page names a Social Security number or an ITIN as IDs, and banks set their own policy, so ask what yours accepts.

Does a foreign credit history count in the U.S.?

The CFPB says credit reports are built from data that creditors submit to credit reporting companies. Ask each lender what it checks and whether it can use anything besides a U.S. credit file.

Is a credit union better than a payday store?

It can cost less. Federal credit unions can offer PALs with an application fee of $20 or less. They may require membership, and not every credit union offers PALs.

Does my immigration status affect borrowing?

Lenders may ask about it. For questions about your status, ask an immigration attorney or a DOJ-accredited representative.

Sources

We are not a lender. This is general information, not legal or immigration advice. Rules change; check your state's current rules and the lender's own disclosures before you borrow.