Strategy to obtain US Amex

[sudoer]

Earn 4x-10x Qantas Points on Bunnings, Woolworths, Everyday WISH and Other Gift Cards @ Qantas Marketplace

Deal: Earn 4x-10x Qantas Points on Bunnings, Woolworths, Everyday WISH and Other Gift Cards @ Qantas Marketplace, Store: Qantas Marketplace, Category: Other

www.ozbargain.com.au

Anyone going to see how these code? The Offset (which codes well) comes from Marketplace

Qantas Offset your Home purchase:
Appears on statement as QANTAS LOYALTY MASCOT AU
Expanded online statement entry reads QANTAS STORE
Categorised as 'Airfare' on Aspire and earned 7X - should work for airline credit

 

[Finale]

Would it be a good idea to upgrade my existing Amex green GT to the Amex Plat if possible or is this a bad idea?

If not I will likely want to downgrade the green to a zero fee card if possible in Dec 24 as the annual fee likely makes it not worth holding and I think I need to keep the account open as its my first card.

There is no downgrade option for Green. It is also not a good idea to upgrade to Platinum unless you get some decent offer. The biggest offer from Green to Platinum I heard of was only 100k and that was quite rare. I would just cancel especially when the card is only one year old. It won't have that much impact in your credit file.

So just to clarify, I have a 3 year history with 2x US Amex cards and am in the process of getting my ITIN. Once I get the ITIN, if I apply for an additional US Amex card to link my ITIN to my current 2x Amex cards (plus the new Amex card), then would I still need to wait 13-14 months before attempting a Chase card? Or would Chase recognise the previous 3 year credit history with Amex and I can apply a few months after receiving the new Amex card?

I'm interpreting 'needs to be reported history' to mean I'd have to wait 13-14 months, but not 100% sure.

Also, does the same rule apply for Citi and Cap1? Thanks!

Chase will see 3 year history. I heard EX and TU didn't list ITIN. That might be the reason why those with ITIN cannot obtain the report online. EQ lists ITIN as SSN but I heard Amex didn't report it to the bureaus. I don't think you need to wait. I used my brand new ITIN with about 3 year history at Citi and was approved with no issue.

 

[sudoer]

I used my brand new ITIN with about 3 year history at Citi and was approved with no issue.

Without 'connecting' it to your credit file through an Amex application? (assuming you started off with GTs)

 

[Finale]

Without 'connecting' it to your credit file through an Amex application? (assuming you started off with GTs)

Yes. My first ITIN app was Citi in 2020. If Amex didn't report it to the bureaus, I didn't see how connecting ITIN to Amex would help with apps on other banks.

Disclaimer: Amex not reporting ITIN was something I heard in the past. Things might have changed now, same as EX and TU not listing ITIN.

 

[levelnine]

Would it be a good idea to upgrade my existing Amex green GT to the Amex Plat if possible or is this a bad idea?

I agree with what Finale said. With very very few exceptions, only open a new card if you're going to get a sign-up bonus — that's where the big value lies.

 

[Finale]

Did a quick Google search and saw one person recently saying his friend could see his ITIN in EQ from having Amex cards only. If that is true, it "might" be good news. Nothing new about EX/TU not listing ITIN.

Just have to hope Chase pulls EQ for your location. My address is IL and Chase mostly pulled EX/TU. They pulled EQ once out of 7 apps (5 approvals) and even that they still had some issue with my ITIN on every single app except the first one. Chase kept saying there was something wrong with ITIN, some info mismatched or couldn't find my report even after I got a hard pull lol. They approved the app with no issue though after calling. The two apps that got rejected had nothing to do with ITIN.

 

[susshiii]

Dropping it here as this might be useful for those who might have issues setting up online banking with Chase when approved using ITIN. Long story short, I have been approved for CSP card and I can't get online banking set up even after multiple calls and speak to various different department. A quick google search seems to show same story for some people.

Chase Account Setup with ITIN

docs.google.com

Credit to original poster on reddit

https://www.reddit.com/r/Chase/comments/18n16te

 

[_TheTraveller_]

So just to clarify, I have a 3 year history with 2x US Amex cards and am in the process of getting my ITIN. Once I get the ITIN, if I apply for an additional US Amex card to link my ITIN to my current 2x Amex cards (plus the new Amex card), then would I still need to wait 13-14 months before attempting a Chase card? Or would Chase recognise the previous 3 year credit history with Amex and I can apply a few months after receiving the new Amex card?

I'm interpreting 'needs to be reported history' to mean I'd have to wait 13-14 months, but not 100% sure.

Also, does the same rule apply for Citi and Cap1? Thanks!

You can always apply to Chase as soon as you get your ITIN but YMMV. My experiences have had me declined when I applied 2 weeks after receiving my ITIN. I'm assuming that if/when your ITIN gets linked with existing credit report, then your existing history will be sufficient.

That is just my guess as how some of this stuff works but it's a black hole. You can keep applying to Chase every month until you get approved but I'm not sure if there is a guaranteed way.

There is no downgrade option for Green. It is also not a good idea to upgrade to Platinum unless you get some decent offer. The biggest offer from Green to Platinum I heard of was only 100k and that was quite rare. I would just cancel especially when the card is only one year old. It won't have that much impact in your credit file.



Chase will see 3 year history. I heard EX and TU didn't list ITIN. That might be the reason why those with ITIN cannot obtain the report online. EQ lists ITIN as SSN but I heard Amex didn't report it to the bureaus. I don't think you need to wait. I used my brand new ITIN with about 3 year history at Citi and was approved with no issue.

Yeah I had the 100K offer but unfortunately didn't have some big spend coming up so I passed on it. I was hoping to also double stack it with applying for a Amex Plat + Upgrade but timing wasn't good for me.


I received my ITIN and applied for WoH a few weeks after but was declined as there was no credit history and recon made them flag it as a fraudulent application. I would be very surprised if EX/TU didn't record an ITIN on your file. YMMV but speaking from experience, I have been declined with a fresh ITIN.

Dropping it here as this might be useful for those who might have issues setting up online banking with Chase when approved using ITIN. Long story short, I have been approved for CSP card and I can't get online banking set up even after multiple calls and speak to various different department. A quick google search seems to show same story for some people.

Chase Account Setup with ITIN

docs.google.com

Credit to original poster on reddit

https://www.reddit.com/r/Chase/comments/18n16te

I'm surprised that no one was able to help you at Chase. Mine took a while to setup because I had issues with being authenticated but once that was sorted, it was all smooth sailing.

 

[Tiki]

Chase still loves me! I waited a week to make sure I was back to 4/24 and applied for Ink Cash because I like the 6 months to do the minimum spend and 5x at OfficeWorks for gift cards to almost everything. Instant approval! I was actually shocked! I called them immediately to ask them to expedite it to Australia which wasn't a problem as my Aussie address is in my profile as a mailing address for my United Gateway and Freedom.

 

[11110000]

Chase still loves me! I waited a week to make sure I was back to 4/24 and applied for Ink Cash because I like the 6 months to do the minimum spend and 5x at OfficeWorks for gift cards to almost everything. Instant approval! I was actually shocked! I called them immediately to ask them to expedite it to Australia which wasn't a problem as my Aussie address is in my profile as a mailing address for my United Gateway and Freedom.

View attachment 390432

Doesn’t business ink have 3% fx fee?

 

[QF_Flyer]

Earn 4x-10x Qantas Points on Bunnings, Woolworths, Everyday WISH and Other Gift Cards @ Qantas Marketplace

Deal: Earn 4x-10x Qantas Points on Bunnings, Woolworths, Everyday WISH and Other Gift Cards @ Qantas Marketplace, Store: Qantas Marketplace, Category: Other

www.ozbargain.com.au

Anyone going to see how these code? The Offset (which codes well) comes from Marketplace

I'll give it a go, usually buy normal woolies cards at 4% off, so Wish at (essentially) the same (I'd value the points at a bit more is a win, doubly so if it codes as airline.

Gold is coding as Travel - Airline (so 3x MR, and would be the same on green, 7x HH on Aspire), let's see.

 

[levelnine]

Doesn’t business ink have 3% fx fee?

Yes, but you earn 5% on office supply stores, which is where Tiki is proposing to do the spend.

And if you're doing it purely for the SUB, that's an additional 12.5%.

 

[Tiki]

Doesn’t business ink have 3% fx fee?

Yes, but you earn 5% on office supply stores, which is where Tiki is proposing to do the spend.

And if you're doing it purely for the SUB, that's an additional 12.5%.

True but I would be doing the spending in 5x categories and also using the card as partial payment for a 2nd hand car which will be much cheaper than dealer financing. The card has 0% APR for the first year and I would be putting max $5000-6000 AUD for the car which I can easily pay off in 12 months. And the Chase Travel portal is a good backup if QF doesn't load award seats for the date I want in Oct. I would need about 65k UR for a Y ticket on LATAM BNE-MEL-SCL. QF normal fare is 41.9k + $220 tax Y or 81.3k + $315 tax PE but seats are hard to get. So now I will have a back up plan.

 

[Tiki]

Hmmmmm I wonder if I can get a car dealer to accept these gift cards? 5x plus minimum spend done and dusted!

 

[timmy1234]

Doesn’t business ink have 3% fx fee?

An alternative is the Ink Biz Preferred, No FX fees, $95 AF but more spend $8k for 100k SUB

 

[cathalm8]

I was hoping to also double stack it with applying for a Amex Plat + Upgrade

Hey how does the double stack amex plat sub offer + upgrade work? Do you end up getting say 175k MR for sub plus say 100k for upgrade offer?

 

[_TheTraveller_]

Hey how does the double stack amex plat sub offer + upgrade work? Do you end up getting say 175k MR for sub plus say 100k for upgrade offer?

Yep that's it. I recall someone upthread mentioning about it.

 

[nj12]

Dropping it here as this might be useful for those who might have issues setting up online banking with Chase when approved using ITIN. Long story short, I have been approved for CSP card and I can't get online banking set up even after multiple calls and speak to various different department. A quick google search seems to show same story for some people.

Chase Account Setup with ITIN

docs.google.com

Credit to original poster on reddit

https://www.reddit.com/r/Chase/comments/18n16te

I can appreciate your frustration. I went through the same process when I got approved for my first Chase card in Dec 23', also a CSP. I must have made 6 or 7 calls which all ended with "You need to go into a branch with two forms of ID to have it setup". I kept calling and eventually got a rep who simply asked for my email address and sent a link to create a new password and my online account was setup in less than 5 mins. As others have mentioned - persistence is key. The links you have provided are helpful as i'm sure others will encounter this issue as well.

 

[susshiii]

I can appreciate your frustration. I went through the same process when I got approved for my first Chase card in Dec 23', also a CSP. I must have made 6 or 7 calls which all ended with "You need to go into a branch with two forms of ID to have it setup". I kept calling and eventually got a rep who simply asked for my email address and sent a link to create a new password and my online account was setup in less than 5 mins. As others have mentioned - persistence is key. The links you have provided are helpful as i'm sure others will encounter this issue as well.

I think what's more frustrating for me was every time I called they kept saying that my account was under review and need to transfer my call to review/fraud team. The funny thing is the review/fraud team can actually authenticated me and called me back on my textnow number. However, as soon as they transferred me back to online set up team then they couldn't authenticate me and the only solution was to call back in next 24 hours or go to branch. This is going on for around 6-7 days after received my card. Not sure why their system just don't talk to each other. Anyway that is my experience with Chase so far even before I use the card! Luckily they have 75K bonus sub at the moment and I found that link.

 

[Ansett Nostalgic]

Chase still loves me! I waited a week to make sure I was back to 4/24 and applied for Ink Cash because I like the 6 months to do the minimum spend and 5x at OfficeWorks for gift cards to almost everything. Instant approval! I was actually shocked! I called them immediately to ask them to expedite it to Australia which wasn't a problem as my Aussie address is in my profile as a mailing address for my United Gateway and Freedom.

View attachment 390432

How do you get a foreign non-US mailing address added to your profile?