You don't need to pay to check your credit score. The best free options for H1B holders:
Free ways to check your credit score
You don't need to pay to check your credit score. The best free options for H1B holders:
| Platform | Score type | Free? | How to access |
|---|---|---|---|
| Credit Karma | TransUnion + Equifax VantageScore 3.0 | ✅ Free forever | creditkarma.com |
| Experian | Experian FICO Score 8 | ✅ Free forever | experian.com/free-credit-score |
| Chase Credit Journey | TransUnion VantageScore | ✅ Free (no Chase card needed) | creditjourney.chase.com |
| Capital One CreditWise | TransUnion VantageScore | ✅ Free (no CapOne card needed) | capitalone.com/creditwise |
| Discover ScoreCard | FICO Score 8 | ✅ Free (no Discover card needed) | discover.com/free-fico-score |
FICO vs VantageScore — which one matters?
90% of US lenders use FICO Score for credit decisions (mortgage, auto loan, credit card). VantageScore is useful for tracking but not what lenders pull.
- FICO Score 8: Most common for credit cards
- FICO Score 5/4/2: Used for mortgages (Equifax/Experian/TransUnion versions)
- VantageScore 3.0 or 4.0: Used by Credit Karma, less lender-critical
For mortgage applications, specifically request your FICO Mortgage scores — available at myfico.com for $29.95 (1-time pull).
What score range means what
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| Score | Tier | Impact |
|---|---|---|
| 800+ | Exceptional | Best rates on everything |
| 740-799 | Very Good | Near-best rates |
| 670-739 | Good | Most cards approved, decent rates |
| 580-669 | Fair | Limited options, higher rates |
| Under 580 | Poor | Hard to get approved |
New to the US — no credit file?
When you first arrive in the US, you're credit invisible — no US credit file exists. This is different from a bad score. Solutions:
- Secured credit card (Capital One Quicksilver Secured): $200 deposit → first card
- Experian Boost: Links your rent, phone, utility payments to your Experian file (adds history for some H1Bs)
- Nova Credit: Some US lenders accept your Indian CIBIL score as a proxy
How often to check
Check monthly. Credit Karma and Credit Journey send alerts when something changes. Hard pulls from lender applications drop your score 5-10 points temporarily — soft pulls (checking your own score) have zero impact.
Watch the H1B credit score plan video →
📥 Get the Free H1B Credit Card Guide
5-page free PDF — which card to apply for based on your month-in-US, visa, and credit score.
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