Strategy to obtain US Amex

I just got an email notification from one of my billers they are moving to direct payment only. I think the ATO is just the start of this. I suspect more will move to this. All our high cost outlays like Land tax, Strata (changes already made with DEFT), etc will move to no CC acceptance and we'll only be able to use our fancy US cards at retail outlets (until they figure out a way - I hear Chemist warehouse is working on a QR code system to use bank accounts - similar to what is in place in many parts of Asia already). Many of the big ticket items we used to leverage to earn SUBs will go (unless we use NBilling intermediaries at crushing cost - I got quoted 3.3% to use my foreign VISA by payment logic).

Am I just panicking here or am I onto something? I don't want to dismantle my US credit setup which was established over many years but it seems this party may be over for those of us like me who live in AU and predominantly spend in $A.
 
I've thought about asking my US-resident sibling to purchase my overseas flights and hotels on their Amex card for the 5ppd. I reckon I could reimburse them at a 0.9% forex loss, using OFX or similar.
$1000 flights ---- 5,000 points
AUD$1435 @ 0.9% = AUD 12.92
$12.92 for 5,000 points !
Is my logic correct?
 
sudoer said:
Yes the logic is correct, but you missed the step where you ask you sibling if you can use their mailing address to sign up for a card in your own name.
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But I don't have a SS number in the US?? Maybe they could add me as an additional card holder?
 
metaphase said:
Amex GT and ITIN time! (see the prev 752 pages lol)
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HAHAHA - I've tried to read the previous 15,000 posts but usually fall asleep after 100 or so. And I've NEVER solved the riddle of the US AMEX Holy Grail.
15,000 posts at maybe 15 seconds per post ( that's an average of those one dwells on because they've said something insightful and those you skip over because they've added ****-all, like my post). Anyway that's a full year of my life if I spend 10 minutes each night, exclusively on this thread. So, I'm begging someone, somebody, anybody to please give me a summary.

p.s. Chat and Claude were no help.
 
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sudoer said:
Yes the logic is correct, but you missed the step where you ask you sibling if you can use their mailing address to sign up for a card in your own name.
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They'd be happy to offer their address but unlikely it'd be "residential address" unless I stretched the definition.
 
The Step-by-Step US Credit Strategy Oct 2026

Due to the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) introducing tighter caps on credit card points earning rates and interchange fees, the domestic rewards landscape has continually degraded. Earning meaningful frequent flyer balances or outsized travel value solely through Australian-issued cards has become increasingly difficult. To circumvent these domestic limitations and unlock significantly higher sign-up bonuses, category multipliers, and flexible transferable currencies, here is the updated blueprint to obtain US-issued credit cards as an Australian resident.


Step 1: Establish the Australian Amex Foundation
  • Hold a primary Australian American Express card (charge or credit) in good standing for at least 3-6 months.
  • This establishes an internal Amex Global Risk profile that circumvents your lack of a US credit bureau history.

Step 2: Set Up Infrastructure (US Address, Phone, Bank)​

  • Mailing Address: Use a family or trusted contact’s residential mailing address, or obtain a commercial mail receiving agency (CMRA) / virtual mailbox.
  • US Phone:Obtain a US phone line capable of two-factor SMS verification using an eSIM or low-cost MVNO (e.g., Tello, Ultra Mobile PayGo).
    • Bonus tip: A major perk of holding an active US mobile number is gaining access to undervalued platforms like Rove. Because registration requires a US number, most Australians miss out—yet it unlocks massive points multipliers on travel bookings that significantly out-earn standard portals. Even better, unlike typical third-party OTAs, certain hotel bookings through Rove allow your elite hotel loyalty status, perks, and tier night credits to carry over. If you want to jump on it, Click Here for my Rove Referral Thread Post.
  • US Checking Account: Walk into a physical US branch (Bank of America, Wells Fargo) with your foreign passport and driver’s license to open a checking account, or use cross-border banking services such as Wise to fund statement payments via ACH.

Step 3: Execute Amex Global Transfer (GT)

Step 4: Secure ITIN/EIN, Attach to Amex & Graduate to Other Issuers
  • ITIN (Individual Taxpayer Identification Number): Apply via an IRS Certified Acceptance Agent (CAA) or work with an accountant to prepare your form submission alongside the necessary tax exception documentation or non-resident tax return. A standard, legitimate method to generate necessary tax withholding documentation (Form 1042-S) is opening an international US brokerage account (e.g., Webull) and purchasing a dividend-yielding US stock or ETF.
  • EIN (Employer Identification Number): Obtain an EIN for a business entity or sole proprietorship to open US business checking accounts and apply directly for US business credit cards.
  • Tax Compliance: Maintain proper annual US tax filings/reporting where required based on your generated US-source income or business activity.
  • Attach to Amex US: Once your ITIN is issued by the IRS, contact Amex US to attach it to your existing profile so your payment history binds directly to your credit file across Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion.
  • Credit Seasoning: Allow your US credit history to age to 6–12 months to build a strong FICO profile.
  • Graduation: Once established, apply for cards from major US issuers (prioritizing Chase business cards, then Chase personal cards, before moving to Capital One, Citi, or Barclays).

Golden Rules for US Credit Health
  • Maintain Low Credit Utilization: Keep reported utilization across all cards under 10% (ideally between 1% and 3%). Pay your balance down to less than 10% utilization prior to the close of your billing cycle so that only a low balance is reported to the credit bureaus. Then, wait for the actual statement balance to generate and pay it off in full within the final week before your due date to avoid paying any interest while demonstrating consistent, active on-time repayment history.
  • Never Close Down Credit Cards Recklessly: Avoid canceling older accounts without a clear strategy. While closed accounts in good standing continue to age on your US credit bureau reports for up to 10 years, closing an account immediately wipes out that card's credit limit—spiking your overall credit utilization ratio. This is a long game: unlike in Australia, where closing unused credit limits is often necessary to reduce total debt exposure for home lending, having high, unused credit limits in the US directly strengthens your FICO score. If you want to eliminate an annual fee, always pursue a product change (downgrade) to a no-fee card first rather than canceling. Product Change (Downgrade) to No-Annual-Fee Cards: If an annual fee card no longer justifies its cost after Year 1, request a product change (PC) to a no-annual-fee option within the same card family (e.g., Chase Sapphire Reserve to a Freedom product, or Hilton Surpass to the base Hilton card) to preserve credit line history without ongoing fees.
  • Navigate the Chase 5/24 Rule Strategically: Chase enforces an unofficial "5/24 rule"—if you have opened 5 or more personal credit cards across any bank within the past 24 months, your application will be automatically denied regardless of how strong your FICO score is. Chase business cards do not add to your 5/24 count, but you must be under 5/24 to be approved for them. Always apply for Chase business cards first, then Chase personal cards, before pursuing cards from other issuers..


Disclaimer

The above content represents personal thoughts, strategies, and opinions based on individual experiences and is provided strictly as edutainment for playing the credit game in the USA. At the end of the day, I'm just a guy posting some cough up on this forum—not a licensed financial advisor, credit attorney, or tax professional. Credit card rules, cross-border regulations, and banking algorithms change constantly. Do your own due diligence, verify requirements directly with issuers, and consult qualified professionals before making financial moves. I accept zero responsibility or liability for anyone’s personal finances, approval outcomes, or credit profile decisions.
 
sudoer said:
You do realise the impact of publishing this? Why the need to spoon feed?
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Agreed. It has also overly simplified the process. For example, CMRAs won’t work, there have been many recent issues with several of the named mobile operators (including Tello), Chase approvals are not as simple as that post suggests, there is anecdotal evidence that 5/24 is not applied as it has been historically and I could go on.

It is not as easy as this guide suggests and the game changes literally by the day and it’s never in a way that makes it easier. The most active posters on this thread probably spend many hours each week managing their US card position.

Nothing like Australian credit cards where the most you have to think about them is in the 5 minutes it takes you to pay it off once a month (or less if you have a direct debit set up).
 
sudoer said:
You do realise the impact of publishing this? Why the need to spoon feed?
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Don't worry soon some youtuber going to make a video about it and also probably mentioned some tip and trick in their video like how they did with Amex Aus Travel Credit. Now start seeing people called Amex and ask if the trick work 🤣
 
To be honest, with the current stage of AI, you can literally ask it to go through these thousands of posts and help you get started. If people say AI can't assist them in starting, then you do you, to be honest. It's a hobby. Initially, I didn't even know we could do US CC until I saw the title of this thread, which prompted me to start months of research before actually posting here and asking questions. If people can't even do their own research, there's a chance they'll ruin things if they treat it as Aus CC.

The initial step for these instructions is claiming they are going to migrate to the US with Amex, and one day, someone might say they don't actually move there but saw this post mentioning it and wonder if they could do that, even living in Australia. This could raise flags for Amex, leading to restrictions or making it harder for others to follow. For these kinds of ‘instructions,’ especially at the beginning where you intend to misleading Amex with false information. It should be take into account.
 
sudoer said:
You do realise the impact of publishing this? Why the need to spoon feed?
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Apologies to everyone. I feel a bit guilty that @ithongy responded so soon after my post with such a comprehensive summary (for which I am very grateful).
I also acknowledge the usual "shush, don't tell everyone or you'll ruin it" anxiety.
However, ithongy is the OP and it is theirs to decide what to share and when to elaborate..

It confirms (for me) that the process requires a strong commitment and a lot of effort for the substantial rewards.

I'd also like to know what the OP said that required moderation?
 
Duffa said:
I'd also like to know what the OP said that required moderation?
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OP was being very helpful, no doubt about it, it's just a little too helpful in a way that someone behind a desk could quickly identify a particular pattern and close off the path (and that someone can be any of the players mentioned in the process); after all, the reasons why we love a product may sometimes also be the same reasons why a profit maker may not want us to use them. If it requires a bit more piecing together, then (1) only those who are truly determined will do it and not be silly along the way in a manner that threatens it, (2) it won't attract as much attention/will deter detailed examination, and (3) therefore the numbers are small enough to not overwhelm or skew anything to the extent that it requires addressing. The worst thing that can happen is that the game dies, in which case everyone loses. Of course, the point about AI being able to piece a lot of this together very quickly is becoming more and more real, and our forum is not exactly the only source for this info, so maybe the door is closing a bit over time regardless, but we all just want what we have here to continue for as long as possible 🙂
 

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