Most Indians on visas think they can't buy a US home. Wrong. The lenders below approve H1B, F1 OPT, EB-5, and Green Card holders — often with as little as 5% down.
Mortgage Lenders for Green Card holders — at a glance
Most Indians on visas think they can't buy a US home. Wrong. The lenders below approve H1B, F1 OPT, EB-5, and Green Card holders — often with as little as 5% down.
If you're on a Green Card (permanent resident), most US banks and lenders treat your application differently than a citizen's. The picks below are ranked specifically for visa holders: ITIN-friendly underwriting, no SSN-history requirement, and approval rates we've personally validated.
Top 5 picks (ranked)
1. Better Mortgage
100% online. Approves H1B, EB-5, Green Card with as little as 3% down. $200-$500 referral payout.
2. Rocket Mortgage
Largest US lender. Strong H1B approvals. Good for refinancing later.
3. Bank of America
Branch + online. Will approve H1B with 1-year W-2 history.
4. HSBC
Best for non-citizens. Will use international income for qualification.
5. SoFi Home Loans
Online-first. Up to $10K closing cost credit. Limited to 700+ scores.
Quick comparison table
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| Pick | Best for | Key advantage |
|---|---|---|
| Better Mortgage | Green Card holders | 100% online. |
| Rocket Mortgage | Green Card holders | Largest US lender. |
| Bank of America | Green Card holders | Branch + online. |
| HSBC | Green Card holders | Best for non-citizens. |
| SoFi Home Loans | Green Card holders | Online-first. |
Green card vs H1B mortgage: what actually changes
If you moved from H1B to a green card, the biggest shift is invisible: you change underwriting categories. On H1B you are a "non-permanent resident alien" in lender language — eligible, but with extra questions. With a green card you are a lawful permanent resident, and conventional and FHA programs underwrite you essentially the same as a citizen. Here is what that means in practice:
| What lenders check | Green card holder | H1B holder |
|---|---|---|
| Residency category | Lawful permanent resident — treated like a citizen on conventional and FHA loans | Non-permanent resident — eligible, but must document valid work authorization |
| Status-expiry questions | None. Card renewal is administrative; lenders don't treat it as a lapse risk | Underwriters may ask about visa expiry dates and the likelihood of extension |
| Program access | Full menu: conventional, FHA, jumbo | Mostly conventional; FHA and jumbo depend on the lender's overlay rules |
| Income documentation | Standard W-2s and pay stubs | Same, plus employer letters tied to visa sponsorship at some lenders |
| Down payment | Same floors as citizens — as little as 3% down at Better | Some lenders want a bigger cushion before approving |
The decision framework is simple. If you hold a green card, stop shopping in the "visa-friendly lender" bucket and shop like a citizen: compare rate, fees, and closing speed across the full market — every lender on this list plus any local credit union. If you are still on H1B, lender choice matters much more, because overlay rules differ; start with our H1B mortgage guide instead. And if your green card arrived mid-application, tell your loan officer immediately — recategorizing you as a permanent resident can remove conditions from your approval.
How to get pre-approved as a green card holder: step by step
- Check your FICO score first. Credit Karma is free. At 650+ most of this list is open to you; at 700+ you also clear SoFi's floor. If you are below that, fix your credit before you burn a hard pull.
- Gather your documents. Green card, Social Security number, recent pay stubs, W-2s, and bank statements. Bank of America looks for a 1-year W-2 history, so have your full employment paper trail ready.
- Season your down payment money. Underwriters must trace where your funds came from. If family in India is helping, move the money into your US account well before you apply and keep the transfer records — see our India-to-USA transfer guide.
- Decide your down payment level. Better approves from 3% down; several lenders here work at 5%. A smaller down payment keeps cash liquid but means mortgage insurance until you build enough equity to drop it.
- Apply to more than one lender within a short window. Credit bureaus treat clustered mortgage inquiries as one shopping event, so comparing lenders does not stack score damage the way spreading applications out does.
- Compare Loan Estimates line by line. Same loan amount, same day, same rate-lock period — otherwise you are comparing noise. Look at lender fees and credits, not just the headline rate; SoFi's closing-cost credit of up to $10K can outweigh a slightly higher rate.
- Freeze your financial picture until closing. No new credit cards, no car loan, no job change without telling your loan officer. Lenders re-verify right before funding.
Worked example: picking from this list
Say your green card arrived this year, you have a 1-year W-2 history at a US employer, and your FICO score clears the 700+ mark. Here is how the shortlist actually resolves:
- Bank of America clears you on employment history alone — its stated bar is a 1-year W-2 record, which you meet.
- SoFi is on the table because you are above its 700+ score floor, and its closing-cost credit of up to $10K directly reduces your cash to close.
- Better lets you put as little as 3% down, which keeps the most cash in your pocket — at the cost of mortgage insurance until your equity grows.
So the trade is: cash liquidity (Better at 3% down), lowest cash to close (SoFi's credit), or a branch relationship for a complex file (Bank of America). Now change one input: drop the score to the 650+ range and SoFi exits the picture — but Better, Rocket Mortgage, Bank of America, and HSBC all remain. Add income paid outside the US, and HSBC jumps up the ranking, because it is the only pick that will count international income toward qualification. That is the whole method: start from the constraint that binds you — score, cash, or income source — and the right lender falls out.
Common mistakes Green Card holders make
- Shopping in the "visa lender" bucket when you no longer need to. Permanent residents qualify at the same lenders and the same terms as citizens. Limiting yourself to immigrant-specialist lenders means skipping the exact rate competition that saves you money.
- Opening new credit or financing a car between pre-approval and closing. New hard pulls and new monthly payments change your debt-to-income ratio, and the lender re-verifies before funding. This kills more closings than any immigration-status issue.
- Moving large sums right before applying. Every deposit must be sourced. An unexplained transfer from India in your recent statements stalls underwriting; move gift or family funds early and keep the paper trail.
- Assuming you need a huge down payment. Lenders on this list approve green card holders from 3% down. Waiting years to save more while paying rent is often the more expensive choice.
- Getting only one quote. Pre-approval letters cost nothing, and comparing Loan Estimates is the only real leverage you have on lender fees. One quote means you negotiated against nobody.
What about other visa types?
Each visa has slightly different approval dynamics:
- H1B: see Best Mortgage Lenders for H1B Visa Holders
- F1: see Best Mortgage Lenders for F1 Students
- F1 OPT: see Best Mortgage Lenders for F1 OPT Students
- EB-5: see Best Mortgage Lenders for EB-5 Investors
- L1: see Best Mortgage Lenders for L1 Visa Holders
- J1: see Best Mortgage Lenders for J1 Exchange Visitors
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