FICO Score
A FICO score is the three-digit credit score, ranging from 300 to 850, that most US lenders use to approve credit cards and price loans. It weighs payment history (35%), amounts owed (30%), length of credit history (15%), new credit (10%), and credit mix (10%); 670+ is considered good.
FICO is the score that matters for card approvals: while VantageScore appears in many free apps, issuers overwhelmingly pull a FICO model when you apply.
The five factors. Payment history 35% (one 30-day late payment can cost 60-100 points), amounts owed 30% (mostly credit utilization), length of history 15%, new credit 10% (hard inquiries and young accounts), and credit mix 10%.
The bands. 300-579 poor, 580-669 fair, 670-739 good, 740-799 very good, 800-850 exceptional. Most premium travel cards realistically want 700+; starter and secured cards approve far lower — or with no score at all.
Newcomer reality. Arriving in the US you have no FICO score, not a zero score — the model needs roughly six months of reported history to generate one. A first secured card plus on-time payments typically produces a 640-700 score within 6-12 months; see how FICO works for immigrants and the timeline to 700.
Common mistakes: closing your oldest card (shortens history), maxing a tiny starter limit (utilization spike), and applying for several cards in one week.