In this day and age, having a revolving line of credit is the norm.  Many teenagers look forward to getting one when they turn eighteen, college students often rely on them, and adults use them regularly for both everyday and luxury purchases.  But there are so many options out there, it’s easy to get confused.  People are inundated with credit card offers through regular mail and email, and with constant advertisements and incentives.  One option is to apply for a Visa credit card online.  Visa is a name people know that has been around for years and is accepted just about everywhere. 

Even by narrowing it down to one specific credit card company, there are still many options available.  Should you apply through the mail, or apply online?  Should you get a regular credit card, or go with secured Visa credit cards?  What is a secured credit card anyway?

It’s a good idea to know the major differences between types of cards before applying for anything.  A secured credit card requires a cash deposit, which becomes the credit line for that account.  A person can only charge up to what they have already deposited on the card.  In a way, it makes the card more like a debit card than a credit card.  This option is often good for people who don’t want to charge too much, and is often the only option given to people with poor or no credit.

Regular credit cards are the ones most people are used to having.  There is an approved limit which cannot be exceeded without large penalty fees, and if the balance is not paid in full by the end of the month, a specified annual percentage rate (or APR) is applied to the existing balance.  Sometimes these cards have annual fees as well.  It is very important to read the fine print when it comes to APRs and annual fees.  Often, the flyer a person gets in the mail will advertise a very low APR, but what the consumer may not know is that it is only an “introductory” APR, meaning that in six to twelve months, it may skyrocket above twenty percent!

Once it is decided what type of credit card to apply for, and which company to apply through, then one should decide how to apply.  Although many people still get Visa offers through the mail, most of these offers give the option to apply online for a Visa credit card using a special code given in the flyer.  This is a much quicker way to get approved, and also to receive the card, since it is usually sent out fairly soon after online approval.  Sending the application through the mail is a much longer process that can take several weeks.  You can also go directly to Visa’s website and look through the current cards available and choose one that fits your lifestyle, whether that be earning incentive points, having a low APR or simply getting a credit card with a fun design!  It’s important to remember that although the options may seem overwhelming at first, they will eventually work out in your favor.  The more options you have, the more likely you will end up with a line of credit that fits your needs.