1) Open a bank account if you haven't already.

2) Apply for a credit card or a secured credit card. 

a. If you are ITIN, first, check to see whether the bank you used in your home country will open an account or issue you a credit card with a U.S. branch.

b. Some popular banks that offer secure credit cards and/or work with ITINS: Chase, Bank of America, American Express, Capital One, Citibank

3) Consider getting a credit builder loan. - Instead of getting a lump sum after you sign an agreement for this type of loan, you make your monthly payments first, which are put into a certificate of deposit or a bank savings account. You receive your lump-sum back, minus any interest or fees that you agreed to, as soon as all of your payments are made. Your payments will be reported to the credit bureaus, so you build both savings and credit. Contact me for options.

4) Ask family and/or friends to Become an authorized user on their credit card or loan account. - You need ask questions of the friend or family member to be certain that they pay the account on time and as agreed, have had the account open for a while, and that they maintain a low credit utilization ratio. Geneally, their utilization should be less than 30% of the account/card limit. If they remain in good standing, that individual’s good credit habits can positively help your credit score. If they do not have good habits, becoming an authorized user on their account could hurt your credit.

5) Use a rent reporting service to report rent and other utility payments. - Even if you don’t have credit accounts, you probably have monthly bills like rent, cell phone service and utilities. If you pay your bills on time, you could put that positive payment history to work for you by using a paid service that reports bill payments that don’t typically show up on your credit report.

6) Make payments on time for credit you have. - Do not skip payments or pay late. Do not let any bills go to collections and be sure not to let anything go into repossession or become a charge-off. You need to budget your money to ensure that you ALWAYS pay at least the minimum amount due on all of your credit cards and loans, on time or before the due date. Try to save money in a savings for emergency needs along with your future down payment and/or closing costs for a home. If you do not have the money to make a minimum payment on time, ask a friend or family member for assistance. If you have an emergent need such as a car repair, charge a portion of the repair if possible, rather than spending all of your funds which are needed to pay your bills. Also, try keep your credit card utilization under 30% for each account.

7) Live within your means. - Do not over-spend or obtain too much credit. You do not want too many hard inquiries hitting your credit reports because of applying for a bunch of loans within a short period of time. If you want to plan to spend 25-35% of your income on a house payment (including taxes, insurance, and association fees), then plan to keep your other credit expenses (credit cards and other loans such as car payments) at 10-15% or less of your monthly income. Your debt-to-income ratio with a house payment and other credit expenses (excluding food and utilities) should be about 36-45% or less depending on the loan type. Some home loan options may allow for a higher ratio. However, it is best to play it safe, the lower the better.