How to Apply for a Visa Credit Card

Applying for a Visa credit card is easy compared to choosing which one to apply for. If you belong to a bank or credit union and have a fairly long history there, ask if they have Visa cards you can apply for. Credit unions generally have good reputations for offering credit cards with very reasonable interest rates. If your bank or credit union offers Visa cards, you can usually apply online, or you can ask for a paper application to complete and send in.

Any application for a Visa credit card will ask you for certain personal information. You'll start out filling in your name, social security number, phone number, date of birth, and email address. You will also be asked to provide your address and indicate whether you rent or own your home. You will have to fill in your monthly rent or mortgage payment.

Your total household income per year is also required. To apply for a Visa credit card, you'll need to disclose your occupation and information about your employer.

Visa will also need to know about any bank accounts you have and the total of their balances. If you have investment accounts, such as an IRA, 401K, or brokerage account, you will have to disclose how much they are worth.

Some Visa credit cards offer a balance transfer option. This lets you transfer a balance from another card to the new card, often at a temporary, discounted interest rate. Done responsibly, this option can save you hundreds of dollars in interest charges, but you have to transfer the balance to the new card (which can be done online usually), and then you must completely pay that balance off by the time the introductory interest rate expires to enjoy those savings.

Another choice you may make when you apply for a Visa credit card is your choice of card design. Many credit card issuers offer a choice of colors or designs, allowing you to make your card a little more personal. A few card issuers will even let you upload a photo to put on your card.

When you apply online, you might or might not be approved "instantly." If you don't get instant approval, it doesn't necessarily mean your application has been rejected, just that they want to look over your information more closely before making a decision. If you're turned down for credit due to something on your credit report, then you are entitled to a free copy of your credit report so you can see what information caused you to be turned down.