Strategy to obtain US Amex

[PointsLife1]

The information at the link below was quite helpful to me and includes a link to the IRS’ W7 form.

Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) - Form W-7

An Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) is assigned by the Internal Revenue Service to individuals involved in a transaction which may be a

au.usembassy.gov

From re-reading the web page appears that the ITIN needs to be renewed every three years if not used to lodge a US tax return.

I Read somewhere it can take up to 7 weeks to get it back. I applied the last week of November. Might take longer because of the holidays. I’ve had a look on the form again doesn’t seem to ask for any reason. Mine if asked would be I intend to make investments in the US. Will post when I hear back. I notice (but haven’t used) there is a site EIN where it can be done electronically for a similar cost. I haven’t used that site so can’t give any feedback.

Keen to hear of others’ experiences in getting an ITIN if it took 7 weeks or longer and how well it’s worked.

@albyd

Any news on the ITIN number? With all this time home in ISO the mind seems to wonder over to the great Chase credit card applications.

How is everyone getting on with their US Amex cards and has anyone found a way to maximise or use the increased earn rates on US Supermarkets?

Luckily if not I assume we are all local champions and spending big amounts on our Platinum Edge cards locally.

 

[PointsLife1]

Also has anyone been able to access their FICO score on the AMEX site? I have had the Bonvoy Brilliant card since November but FICO score still unavailable.

 

[albyd]

@albyd

Any news on the ITIN number? With all this time home in ISO the mind seems to wonder over to the great Chase credit card applications.

How is everyone getting on with their US Amex cards and has anyone found a way to maximise or use the increased earn rates on US Supermarkets?

Luckily if not I assume we are all local champions and spending big amounts on our Platinum Edge cards locally.

@PointsLife1 - ITIN project is on the backburner. Had tried Bank of Hawaii who were prepared to open an account remotely. They said they might send me a letter for the IRS but never heard back from them.

I did manage to set up remotely with HSBC. They didn't need my ITIN as based on my Australian profile - even got an RM who got me a no AF CC - not the same league as CSP but impressed was able to do it. HSBC seem to 'underwrite' your CC application based on their proprietary data much like AMEX global transfer. Didn't have an impact on my FICO score but I think it's not contributing to it.

Anyone else had any success in getting an ITIN lately?

re FICO - I didn't see this on the AMEX US website now but I could still check on the app by tapping "Account" at the bottom of the app, there's a "FICO Score" option. Should still be on the website somewhere if we can still check it with the app.

 

[PointsLife1]

@PointsLife1 - ITIN project is on the backburner. Had tried Bank of Hawaii who were prepared to open an account remotely. They said they might send me a letter for the IRS but never heard back from them.

I did manage to set up remotely with HSBC. They didn't need my ITIN as based on my Australian profile - even got an RM who got me a no AF CC - not the same league as CSP but impressed was able to do it. HSBC seem to 'underwrite' your CC application based on their proprietary data much like AMEX global transfer. Didn't have an impact on my FICO score but I think it's not contributing to it.

Anyone else had any success in getting an ITIN lately?

re FICO - I didn't see this on the AMEX US website now but I could still check on the app by tapping "Account" at the bottom of the app, there's a "FICO Score" option. Should still be on the website somewhere if we can still check it with the app.

@albyd

Thanks for the update and great news on the HSBC front. The CSP would compliment the US Amex cards we have all acquired perfectly.

FICO score option is available for me but when clicking on it advises "Sorry, your FICO Score is unavailable at the moment"

 

[Finale]

@PointsLife1 is it your first card? I heard for some people, score didn't show up until they got a second card.

Regarding Chase, the biggest issue is their address verification. Chase is quite fussy about this. When I was in the US, they didn't even let me open a checking account without having a proof of address and it had to be utility bills. They wouldn't take a bank statement. The banker told me to ask a friend to add me to his bill for a month.

However, I heard lately some people got away with a bank statement as a proof of address so I might try soon. Waiting on my new address to show up in credit files. Hope Citi reports my ITIN since Amex won't be adding ITIN to existing cards.

I'm one of those lucky ones who got ITIN form Amazon self generated letter on the first try (around Nov last year). Some people got rejected 3-4 times. IRS doesn't quite like self generated letter, no issue with a physical one if you could get them to send it. It is quite pricy around $100 each time to try so I never recommend this method to anyone.

 

[PointsLife1]

@PointsLife1 is it your first card? I heard for some people, score didn't show up until they got a second card.

Regarding Chase, the biggest issue is their address verification. Chase is quite fussy about this. When I was in the US, they didn't even let me open a checking account without having a proof of address and it had to be utility bills. They wouldn't take a bank statement. The banker told me to ask a friend to add me to his bill for a month.

However, I heard lately some people got away with a bank statement as a proof of address so I might try soon. Waiting on my new address to show up in credit files. Hope Citi reports my ITIN since Amex won't be adding ITIN to existing cards.

I'm one of those lucky ones who got ITIN form Amazon self generated letter on the first try (around Nov last year). Some people got rejected 3-4 times. IRS doesn't quite like self generated letter, no issue with a physical one if you could get them to send it. It is quite pricy around $100 each time to try so I never recommend this method to anyone.

Yes my first Amex card so well could be the reason and maybe a reason to get another one

Great data points on the Amazon route and a risky proposition at $100 per attempt. Would be interested in an alternate method? Maybe a small investment in US shares to qualify for ITIN number.

I have the no annual fee for life Macquarie card (formally Hilton) earning 1 x QF point per dollar so nothing compared to a Chase Sapphire variety but nothing to lose too much sleep over.

 

[blacksultan]

@PointsLife1 is it your first card? I heard for some people, score didn't show up until they got a second card.

Regarding Chase, the biggest issue is their address verification. Chase is quite fussy about this. When I was in the US, they didn't even let me open a checking account without having a proof of address and it had to be utility bills. They wouldn't take a bank statement. The banker told me to ask a friend to add me to his bill for a month.

However, I heard lately some people got away with a bank statement as a proof of address so I might try soon. Waiting on my new address to show up in credit files. Hope Citi reports my ITIN since Amex won't be adding ITIN to existing cards.

I'm one of those lucky ones who got ITIN form Amazon self generated letter on the first try (around Nov last year). Some people got rejected 3-4 times. IRS doesn't quite like self generated letter, no issue with a physical one if you could get them to send it. It is quite pricy around $100 each time to try so I never recommend this method to anyone.

What method exactly costs $100 ? Thanks

 

[Finale]

What method exactly costs $100 ? Thanks

The amazon letter. Each time you try, you need your passport certified by US consulate costing around $80 then postage to the US $20+ (unless you use stamps). And if you send yourpassport to the consulate using mail, you need to pay for postage there and back as well.

 

[blacksultan]

Thanks . The rules also state that the passport can also be certified by the issuing authority . I wonder if there is no official process of certification by passport office if certification by an employee of the passport office would be valid ( usually permanent govt employees are valid certifiers )

 

[tlam]

Ok here is an update on ITIN. The application sent in Dec last year and I got this envelope from IRS last week. I was excited for 5’ and opened it, there was no ITIN number, they were just returning the original document.
I’ll keep you posted.

 

[glasszon]

Just thinking outside the box here, given the difficulty of obtaining an ITIN number, is it possible to subsitute that with a SIN number from Canada?

 

[Finale]

Ok here is an update on ITIN. The application sent in Dec last year and I got this envelope from IRS last week. I was excited for 5’ and opened it, there was no ITIN number, they were just returning the original document.
I’ll keep you posted.

Mine was a bit weird as I got ITIN first then original docs like over a month after. Others reported they got results in a week or 2 after original docs. Good luck. I think it could be a bit slow now. My parcel got stuck in LA since May 2.

Just thinking outside the box here, given the difficulty of obtaining an ITIN number, is it possible to subsitute that with a SIN number from Canada?

You could be in real big trouble if the number happens to be the same as SSN or ITIN that belongs to someone else. Moreover, some card issuers (ie Citi/Chase) might want you to send them a copy of ITIN as well if they can't verify in credit files.

 

[blacksultan]

Just thinking outside the box here, given the difficulty of obtaining an ITIN number, is it possible to subsitute that with a SIN number from Canada?

I read somewhere that one shouldn’t do that as they are similar and if it matches an existing US SSN you can be accused of fraud .

Post automatically merged: May 18, 2020

Ok here is an update on ITIN. The application sent in Dec last year and I got this envelope from IRS last week. I was excited for 5’ and opened it, there was no ITIN number, they were just returning the original document.
I’ll keep you posted.

Was the original document your passport ?

 

[glasszon]

You could be in real big trouble if the number happens to be the same as SSN or ITIN that belongs to someone else. Moreover, some card issuers (ie Citi/Chase) might want you to send them a copy of ITIN as well if they can't verify in credit files.

I read somewhere that one shouldn’t do that as they are similar and if it matches an existing US SSN you can be accused of fraud .

Sad, I got a Canadian SIN number so I thought it's worth a shot given how difficult it is to get a ITIN number, guess not if it's essentially fraud.

 

[ithongy]

Amex announces changes to certain card benefits due to COVID-19.

Best American Express Credit Cards Of March 2024

American Express is one of the most versatile credit card providers. But with more than a dozen cards to choose from, how can you know which is suited for you?

www.forbes.com

 

[ithongy]

perhaps speak with a US Account or accounting attorney on how to go about obtaining ITIN might be easier.

have SSN & accountant setup LLC in less than a week.

Just thinking outside the box here, given the difficulty of obtaining an ITIN number, is it possible to subsitute that with a SIN number from Canada?

 

[JFi]

For anyone interested, I have the Hilton card and the period to meet the minimum spend was in Jan this year. As part of the minimum spend, I used it for some hotel stays in May and obviously had to cancel those. I called AE and asked if I cancelled my hotel and used the same amount on the card, will I still retain the bonus points and they said yes.
So I spent on the card and then cancelled the stays a few days after that. Hotel was too efficient and refunded straightaway before my purchase posted so was a bit scared. My account was in debit? (negative) for a few days but once my purchase posted and my statement came, all good. Bonus points still there as well as points for the extra amount I spent (minus the refund of course).
So if anyone has trouble meeting the minimum spend, I guess this is a way to extend the time you get to meet the minimum spend, especially given that some hotels now have no cancellation fees.

Also, does anyone know where to check the certificate either in AE or Hilton account? It doesn't show up and I only got the email from Hilton. I had to cancel the stay using the cert as well so wonder if there was a way to check I still have it on my account?

 

[JFi]

Also has anyone been able to access their FICO score on the AMEX site? I have had the Bonvoy Brilliant card since November but FICO score still unavailable.

I have the Hilton card also since November and it's my first card too. Have no issue seeing my FICO score on the AE site. Clicking on it, I can see my score history going back to November.

 

[blacksultan]

Finale thanks for mentioning Premier. I got started with Premier st my local branch yesterday. I told HSBC's International Business Centre (1300131623). I was only after the account for personal purposes and it would be funded by savings. They told me I could only open a US account through them if I was Premier. Not sure if that means they can help you without setting up Premier if you're a 'business'.

This is a little OT but my RM didn't promote anything special about Premier so interested if anyone else has gleaned any specific information. $35/month is a small price to pay not to have to go to the US specifically to open an account. Keen to hear how the strategy outlined by glasszon works.

How long after making the $200 k deposit does one get upgraded to hsbc premier ? Also if one loses the AU hsbc premier status can one still retain the free US hsbc account ? Thanks

I was surprised they said it would take 4 weeks to open the US account. It apparently also takes 4 weeks to open a non-personal account (eg SMSF or Family Trust) and it can't be an operating business.

 

[tlam]

I read somewhere that one shouldn’t do that as they are similar and if it matches an existing US SSN you can be accused of fraud .

Post automatically merged: May 18, 2020

Was the original document your passport ?

yes