Applying for a credit card has never been easier with the advent of the internet. The best part about applying for a card over the internet is the vast amount of resources available to the consumer. Most sites allow you to directly compare the features each type of card offers before you start the application process. Features like interest rate, introductory offers, rewards or cash back incentives, and all the fine print you can handle can be found on the creditor's website.

The entire application process should take no longer than a few minutes, as most of the questions are simple to answer. General questions such as:

Name, Birthday, and Address
Contact Information
Employment Information
Social Security Number

For the most part, when applying for a credit card - whether it is a reward, cash back, airline, or club card - the process is relatively painless. Once you've decided on the card that best suits your needs, simply click the appropriate button (usually "apply now") and you will be promptly directed to the application page.

Once the decision process is over and you (hopefully) get accepted, you should receive your card within a few days to weeks. If you get rejected the lender usually sends out a letter describing what criteria you did not meet. Feel free to call the lender and ask them what you can do in the future to improve your credit rating and get accepted at a later date.

Applications vary from bank to bank, but these are the general questions that should remain constant through each application. Once you're done filling out each field, you will generally get a decision within 30 seconds. During the decision process the bank checks your credit worthiness. Each lender has different standards and criteria that they require in order for acceptance, but don't fret if your credit score isn't perfect. A perfect score will get you the best rates at the time; however most lenders only require a clean history with an average credit score to qualify.

Finally, before accepting any credit card be sure to read all the fine print. Some credit cards come with annual fees and/or hidden costs.