Getting your first card with thin or no credit
My first year here, every application got declined, and nobody explained why: I had no history for them to judge. Here is the path I wish someone had drawn for me.
Start with a card built for no history
Secured cards (you put down a deposit that becomes your limit) and starter cards are designed for thin files. Some newcomer programs and student cards also approve people with no US history. Approval there is the on-ramp, not the destination.
Use it small and pay it in full
Put one small recurring charge on it, a streaming subscription or a tank of gas, and pay the statement in full every month. You are not trying to spend, you are trying to create a record of on-time payments.
Graduate
After six to twelve months of on-time payments, your score and history grow, secured cards often refund the deposit and upgrade you, and better cards open up. Patience here is the whole game.