Banks and cards

A Chase Credit Card for Immigrants: Where to Start and What the 5/24 Rule Is

Chase is one of the largest banks in the US, and sooner or later almost every immigrant wants its card. But Chase has its own rules that the bank does not officially publish. Let us figure out which card to start with and why you can be denied even with a good score.

October 10, 20268 min read

The corner of a modern bank branch in Los Angeles: navy glass, pale stone, potted olive trees by the entrance and palm shadows on the sidewalk.

Key points

For people whose history is just starting, Chase has the Chase Freedom Rise card — no annual fee and no deposit.
The odds of approval are higher if you already have a Chase account. The bank itself says a balance of $250 or more helps.
The 5/24 rule is unofficial: if you opened 5 or more personal cards at any banks in the last 24 months, most Chase cards usually get denied.
Chase looks not only at the score but also at the number of new accounts and inquiries. A series of applications in a row is a common reason for denial.
Card terms change. Before applying, check them on the bank's website, and check your report in all three bureaus.

Why everyone wants a Chase card

Chase has thousands of branches, a convenient app and a card lineup for every stage: from a first card with no history to premium travel cards. In Los Angeles, Chase branches are literally on every corner, so many immigrants open their first account there. Then comes the logical question: how do you get a card from the same bank?

The good news: Chase works with people without a long history. The bad news: the bank has its own unwritten rules, and it is better to learn about them before applying, not after a denial. Every application is a hard inquiry, and extra inquiries later get in the way at other banks.

Which Chase card to start with if you have no history

For beginners, Chase has the Chase Freedom Rise card. The bank created it specifically for people who are just starting a credit history. At the time of writing, it has no annual fee, requires no deposit, and the cashback is 1.5% on all purchases. The card reports to all three bureaus — meaning it builds history.

Chase itself says the odds of approval are higher if you already have a Chase checking or savings account with a balance of $250 or more. So the usual path is: first an account, then a card. After 6 months, the card may be offered a credit limit increase.

The path to Chase cards from scratch

1A Chase accountA checking or savings account with money in it.

2First cardChase Freedom Rise or another card for beginners.

36–12 months without late paymentsSmall purchases and paying every statement in full.

4A cashback cardFor example, from the Freedom line — once the history gets stronger.

5Travel cardsThe Sapphire line — usually when the score is already good and the history is long.

A guide. The bank decides for each customer separately.

What the 5/24 rule is

This is Chase's best-known unwritten rule. The bank does not officially publish it anywhere, but based on the experience of thousands of applicants it works like this: if you opened 5 or more personal credit cards in the last 24 months — at any banks, not only Chase — most Chase cards usually get denied. Even with a good score.

Calling the bank to ask for reconsideration after a 5/24 denial usually does not help. So you need to count your cards before applying.

What usually counts toward 5/24 and what does not

Usually counts

Personal cards from any bank in the last 24 months
Cards where you are an authorized user, if they show on your report
Store cards, if they are credit cards

Usually does not count

Business cards from most banks
Auto loans, mortgages, student loans
Cards opened more than 24 months ago

Based on applicants' observations. Chase does not officially disclose the rule.

What else Chase looks at

New accounts and inquiries. Many applications in recent months are a bad sign for any bank, and especially for Chase.
Your relationship with the bank. A Chase account, your history of using it, the balances on it — all of this helps.
Late payments and negative items. A fresh late payment or collection will almost certainly close the door to good cards.
Utilization. If your cards are maxed out, the bank sees risk. Below 30% is normal, below 10% is excellent.
Income. The limit depends on it. State your real income: the bank may ask for proof.

Why people get denied even with a good score — in the article the top 5 reasons a card gets denied. And if you already have many inquiries — how many hard inquiries is too many.

How to use your first card so the bank raises the limit

Getting the card is half the job. After that, the bank looks every month at how you use it. This decides whether you will be offered a limit increase and whether the next card will be approved. Simple habits work here, but they have to be followed without exceptions.

Use the card every month. A card sitting in a drawer tells the bank nothing about you. One or two small purchases are enough — for example, a phone bill or a subscription.
Pay in full and on time. The easiest way is to set up autopay for the full statement balance. One 30-day late payment wipes out months of good history.
Keep the balance small on the statement date. This is the amount the bank reports to the bureaus. More — in the guide utilization and the statement date.
Do not rush the next application. Let the first card work for at least 6–12 months.

Stage	What is usually available	What the bank looks at
No history	A card for beginners, for example Freedom Rise	A Chase account, income, no negative items
6–12 months of history	Cashback cards from the Freedom line	Payments without late payments, low utilization
Good score and long history	Travel cards from the Sapphire line	Score, income, number of new cards in 24 months

A guide to the Chase card lineup. Specific cards and terms change — check them on the bank's website.

Important: even at the same bank, the decision on each card is made from scratch. Approval of the first card does not mean the next one will be given automatically. But a clean history with the first card is the best argument for any bank.

Can you get a Chase card without an SSN

Document requirements may differ between cards and between branches. If you have an ITIN instead of an SSN, it is better to ask at a branch in advance which cards are available to you, and not to apply blindly. A general overview of which banks work with an ITIN — in the article credit without an SSN using an ITIN. You can also start your history with other tools — more on that in the guide how to start a credit history from scratch.

Checklist before applying to Chase

Before you click «Apply»

Counted how many personal cards you opened in 24 months — fewer than 5
No series of applications to other banks in the last 6 months
No fresh late payments or collections
Card utilization below 30% on the statement date
You have a Chase account with money in it
Checked the bank's personalized offers without a hard inquiry

5 minutes of checking saves a year of waiting.

If you are not sure your report is ready, it is better to wait a month and put it in order than to get a denial and an extra inquiry. Which banks give high limits — in the guide top 5 banks with high limits. A general overview of cards — the best credit cards in the US.

How Excalibur helps before you apply

During the free review, Excalibur Credit Solutions managers look at your three-bureau report through the bank's eyes: how many new cards in 24 months, which inquiries, what utilization, whether there are errors. If the report has inaccurate entries, our technical team works with the bureaus. If the history is too short, the manager will tell you about credit lines to grow your profile. Results are individual.

Frequently asked questions

Which Chase card is easiest to get without a history?

For beginners, Chase has the Chase Freedom Rise — a card with no annual fee and no deposit. The odds are higher if you already have a Chase account with a balance of $250 or more. The bank makes the final decision on each application separately.

Do cards from other banks count toward 5/24?

Yes. Based on applicants' observations, Chase counts all personal credit cards opened in the last 24 months at any bank. Business cards from most banks usually do not count.

If I was added as an authorized user, does it count toward 5/24?

Often yes, if the card shows on your report. So authorized user status is useful for your history, but it can get in the way when applying to Chase.

Does calling the bank help after a 5/24 denial?

Usually not. If the denial is because of the number of new cards, it is wiser to wait until the oldest of them pass 24 months.

How long should I wait between Chase applications?

The bank does not publish an exact rule. Many people wait at least a few months between applications and do not apply to several banks at the same time.

We will check your report before you apply to a bank

Excalibur Credit Solutions will review your three-bureau report for free and show what the bank will see: new cards, inquiries, utilization, errors. We will tell you when to apply and what to fix before that. Results are individual, no hidden fees.

Get my free credit report review Call: +1 (747) 466-7552

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