Credit Cards For International Students

While you study abroad, having a credit card is necessary and can be helpful.

During your study abroad, only part of your schooling takes place in the classroom. Most of your time can be spent engaging yourself in another culture: trying new foods, exploring new cities, and generally taking in everything the country has to offer.

And truly some of these things cost money, and it is vital to figure out smart ways to fund everything you want to do.

Constantly withdrawing cash can be annoying, which is why this article will educate and enlighten you on credit Cards For International Students.

How To Choose Credit Cards For International Students

Once you decide to get a student credit card, it is essential to know what credit card features will work best for you.

Here are some of the features you can consider when choosing the best student credit card:

Low-Interest Rate: make sure to look for credit cards with lower interest rates to keep your bills under control. Using your credit card responsibly is always better to avoid paying interest.

Low Annual Fee: in some cases, some banks may exempt annual fees for student accounts, and credit cards may differ. So this is why you need to choose a card with a low cost or no annual fee.

Contactless Options: “Tap & Go” is today’s most convenient option. Therefore, choose a card that allows you to make contactless payments by simply tapping for small purchases.

Complimentary Extras: Look for a student credit card with additional benefits like extended warranties for some items you want to purchase with your card or complimentary purchase protection insurance. For example, costly textbooks, a laptop, or other supplies for university.

Online Banking Option: If you are like me that loves to manage everything through a smartphone, ensure that your card has an online banking option. It will help you pay your bills and check your statement anytime.

The Best Credit Cards For International Students

Let’s review some credit cards that are considered best for international students;

1.Deserve EDU Mastercard For Students:

The Deserve EDU Mastercard is designed to reward students who have positive financial health and habits.it is best for international students studying in the U.S

The Deserve EDU Mastercard doesn’t charge an annual fee or a security deposit, however, you’ll get advantages like one year of Amazon Prime Student when you spend $500 in the first three billing cycles, as well as no foreign transaction fees.

You also get a flat 1 percent back in cash rewards for each dollar you spend, as well as $30 in rewards for each friend you refer.

No annual fee and no foreign transaction fees, no foreign transaction fees, No security deposit required, and offers 20.99 percent variable APR

To get this card, students do not need an SSN and there is no credit needed to apply. Deserve EDU Mastercard for Students who make application decisions based on school, income, expenditures, etc.

2.Bank Of America Travel Rewards For Students

The Bank of America Travel Rewards for Students is among the best student travel cards because it has a high earning rate on its rewards program that you can then redeem for flights, hotels, vacation packages, cruises, rental cars, or baggage fees.

Student cardholders can earn 1.5 points per dollar on all purchases everywhere, every time with no expiration on point.

The lack of foreign transaction fees makes this an ideal card for student travel outside the U.S. You can also pay off purchases for 18 months with no interest and it’s friendly to foreign travel.

3.Journey Student Rewards From Capital One

With the Journey Student Rewards from Capital One card, you’ll earn 1% cash back on all purchases. But what is even more interesting is you’ll get rewarded with an extra 0.25% cash back when you make your payments on time.

There is no standard balance transfer fee for this card and Making your payment early is a key part of building your credit. And with this card, you’ll earn extra rewards for it, too!

The Journey Student Rewards from Capital One is designed to help students learn about credit and to monitor their credit scores over time with CreditWise.

That tool helps students understand their credit score, keep up with changes via alerting, and monitor their credit information—all of which are critical when trying to improve their credit score.

The card’s credit limit may be raised after just six months of use and there are no foreign transaction fees, which can be helpful to keep costs down on semesters abroad.

4.Petal 2 Visa Credit Card

The Petal 2 Visa Credit Card is an ideal option if you want to avoid fees as you start the clock on your credit history.

Unlike many starter cards, no security deposit is required, nor will you pay an annual fee to hold the card.

The Petal 2 Visa Credit Card has a $0 annual fee. And no foreign transaction fees. The card also has no over-limit fees or even late fees.

You will also get a credit limit of anywhere from $300 to $10,000. A higher credit limit could make it easier to use the card for everyday purchases without worrying about hurting your credit scores with a high credit utilization rate.

Finally, the Petal 2 Visa Credit Card’s variable purchase APR ranges from 17.49% – 31.49%. If you qualify for its lowest rate, that’s better than some other credit cards designed for credit newbies. On the flip side, the higher end of this range isn’t especially low. If you carry a balance, you could end up paying a fair amount in interest every month.

If a no-fee card is what you’re looking for, it’s hard to beat the Petal 2 Visa Credit Card. So this card might be a great option if you’re worried about getting into trouble with fees with your first credit card.

Just remember that “no fees” doesn’t mean no interest, though. The Petal 2 Visa Credit Card comes with a variable purchase APR of 17.49% – 31.49%.

5. Capital One Quicksilver Student Cash Rewards Credit Card

The Capital One Quicksilver Student Cash Back credit card automatically earns 10% cash back on purchases made with Uber & Uber Eats through 11/14/2024, unlimited 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, and 1.5% unlimited cash back on every purchase.

It has no category limitations or earning caps and rewards do not expire for the life of the account.

Rewards earned with the Quicksilver Student card may be redeemed for cash, gift cards, or on purchases through Amazon.com or Paypal Pay with Points.

The Capital One Quicksilver Student Cash Back Card offers a 1.5% rewards rate on all purchases. At a return rate of 1.5% on typical annual expenses of $13,640, the average college student could expect to earn $204.60 in cash back per year.

Frequently Asked Question

1.Can you get a credit card if you are an international student?

Can an international student get a credit card in the US? Here are your options for getting a credit card during your time abroad: Use your SSN/ITIN to apply for a US student credit card.

Apply for US student credit cards that only require your passport.

2.Do you need an SSN to apply for a credit card?

Not having a Social Security number isn’t an obstacle to applying for a credit card, but it may limit your choices.

To apply for credit, you’ll need a form of identification accepted by the bank that issues the credit card. In many cases, that can be an individual taxpayer identification number.

Conclusion

Finally,choosing the right card can help in many ways, just as choosing one that doesn’t complement student needs can hinder a student’s financial progress and success.

New credit card users especially should take note that their credit cards add value to their lives.