What credit score can a brand-new immigrant expect before they have any U.S. credit history?

None at first. U.S. credit scores like FICO and VantageScore need at least a few months of reported activity before a score can even be generated, so a newcomer with no Social Security number activity is 'credit invisible' rather than having a low score. The CFPB estimates tens of millions of U.S. adults are credit invisible or unscorable. Your foreign credit history from your home country does not transfer. The fastest fixes are a secured card or credit-builder loan reported to the three bureaus, plus becoming an authorized user on an established account. Expect a usable score in roughly three to six months of on-time activity. The CFPB has newcomer credit guides at consumerfinance.gov.