Strategy to obtain US Amex

[blacksultan]

Decided to apply for the US HSBC Premier.

International Premier members needed to apply by phone.

Similar to other DPs, they sent me a PDF form and I filled it out. Once done, we send the form to someone in HSBC and then they come back and asked for a Proof of Employment, which was easy. Approved 2 days later, calling them in the early morning.

Then I realised it was sent to the mailing address, which is the MyUS Suite. Didnt want to push it too hard to send it to the residential address and make the game obvious, and changing it again might be complicated.

How big is the pdf form ? Did they ask the reason you needed account ? What did you say ?

 

[http_x92]

How big is the pdf form ? Did they ask the reason you needed account ? What did you say ?

The PDF form was like the typical credit card application so it is not very long.

• Residential and mailing address
• Employment, income
• Non-US mortgage repayments and credit balances

Few days later they asked for verification of employment. Approved after 2 days. Changed the mailing address of the card with the help of HSBC US chat and it is now sent via DHL.

 

[blacksultan]

The PDF form was like the typical credit card application so it is not very long.

• Residential and mailing address
• Employment, income
• Non-US mortgage repayments and credit balances

Few days later they asked for verification of employment. Approved after 2 days. Changed the mailing address of the card with the help of HSBC US chat and it is now sent via DHL.

How many payslips did you require to submit ? TIA

The PDF form was like the typical credit card application so it is not very long.

• Residential and mailing address
• Employment, income
• Non-US mortgage repayments and credit balances

Few days later they asked for verification of employment. Approved after 2 days. Changed the mailing address of the card with the help of HSBC US chat and it is now sent via DHL.

Is this for the hsbc premiere checking account or the premiere credit card ?

 

[http_x92]

How many payslips did you require to submit ? TIA

Is this for the hsbc premiere checking account or the premiere credit card ?

This is for the HSBC Premier credit card

 

[_TheTraveller_]

An update - Revolut will work as DD for SoFi. $300 within 2 hours of hitting the 5K requirement.

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Does anyone know anything about Charles Schwab accounts? I was hoping to get a CS Amex Platinum but I'm not sure which CS account to open? Is it suppose to be a US brokerage account or is the international brokerage account eligible for the CS Amex Platinum?

 

[blacksultan]

This is for the HSBC Premier credit card

What was the prices for the checking account ?
Did you mention itin for cc ?

 

[metaphase]

How many payslips did you require to submit ? TIA

Is this for the hsbc premiere checking account or the premiere credit card ?

For me it was only for the CC and they wanted a couple, issue was they didn't like the scans of the actual ones because no employer logo on them - instead had to screenshot from online portal instead (which although in my case were genuine would to my mind would have seemed easier for someone to fake!).

 

[Ktan89]

Will HSBC run a credit check for me to open a Premier banking account?
It also says i need $9k funds to be deposited.. what happens if I do this to open the account and take it back out once I have my statement with US address?

 

[sudoer]

Will HSBC run a credit check for me to open a Premier banking account?

In Australia? No

It also says i need $9k funds to be deposited.. what happens if I do this to open the account and take it back out once I have my statement with US address?

You need $9k AUD into your AU HSBC account each month to maintain Premier. You can immediately withdraw it. I have scheduled transfers set up to take the $9k in and out.

 

[Ktan89]

I have scheduled transfers set up to take the $9k in and out.

I will do the same. I assume the proof of US address is required for future applications if I want to branch out from the Amex Gold right?
I have no intentions to apply for SSN or ITIN (not sure if I can) but having the Amex Gold.. i gathered that it will start a credit file under my name?

 

[blacksultan]

Will HSBC run a credit check for me to open a Premier banking account?
It also says i need $9k funds to be deposited.. what happens if I do this to open the account and take it back out once I have my statement with US address?

Nothibg

I will do the same. I assume the proof of US address is required for future applications if I want to branch out from the Amex Gold right?
I have no intentions to apply for SSN or ITIN (not sure if I can) but having the Amex Gold.. i gathered that it will start a credit file under my name?

Did you get gold without proof of address ?

 

[QF_Flyer]

Nothibg

Did you get gold without proof of address ?

I’ve had all of mine without providing proof of address.

 

[Ktan89]

I’ve had all of mine without providing proof of address.

I haven't applied yet.. still trying to get the proof of address sorted first.

@QF_Flyer care to share your exp please., what did they ask you and how long have you been with amex AU for?

 

[metaphase]

I will do the same. I assume the proof of US address is required for future applications if I want to branch out from the Amex Gold right?
I have no intentions to apply for SSN or ITIN (not sure if I can) but having the Amex Gold.. i gathered that it will start a credit file under my name?

See upthread - if you want non-Amex you'll need ITIN. AIUI the credit file creation is a bit hit or miss with Amex.

 

[QF_Flyer]

I haven't applied yet.. still trying to get the proof of address sorted first.

@QF_Flyer care to share your exp please., what did they ask you and how long have you been with amex AU for?

I’m surprised they’re asking but it’s better to have it ready.

So my Amex US journey commenced in 2022, I think I used an old UK card to global transfer, as it was late 2022 I closed the last of my Amex AU cards.

I had to ironically GT back to Amex AU earlier this year, after a year of rejections, presumably due to churning, as others have experienced. So there was a gap with AU, UK has been continuous since 2015.

Anyway, first was Hilton Aspire, then Green about ~8 months later, prob some time in 2023 (until FICO was visible, which it isn’t in the app now). Next was either Hilton Surpass or Gold, I forget which way around, both in 2024. Then Gold upgraded to Plat earlier this year, about a month after that Bonvoy Brilliant, April or May 25, finally - I’d been in PUJ for the Marriott cards for years!

I opened a new UK BA Premium Plus and AU QF Ultimate this year.

My longest held Amex card is a UK Platinum now, which was itself an “Amex Rewards” CC (MR, no fee), originally. I upgraded that during a 100k bonus offer, coinciding with cancelling the ICC USD card which, prior to cancellation, was my and P2’s travel and car rental insurance, which is now the UK Plat’s job.

GBP 650, £400 dining credit, £200 of which I definitely use (the international half), the UK part is a maybe, so I consider it £450/y for the insurances - I fly a lot and rent cars maybe every other month, so the value is there, for me - I don’t think the US Plat would cover me the same insurance wise, but it also pays for itself with the recent changes (I was going to cancel it when the year is up, but I’ve reconsidered now and will keep).

Not that anybody asked, but my current annual fee spend to Amex is a depressing: £650 + A$450 + US$2,195 , approx A$5k…so I need to make sure I’m getting value from this, as you can imagine! I value a lot of the benefits at nothing, but some of them are very good and worth the money, so overall this is fine, for now…it’s an ongoing process (for e.g. I cancelled my Platinum cards during Corona, because what did I need travel insurance for).
EDIT - add the BAPP to that, £300/~A$600 - the signup bonus was increased and so justified it this year, the upgrade voucher is also good value since it can now be used on journeys originating outside the UK, but I’ll be trialling that at some point to see if I can justify that cost going forward.