All About Foreign Credit Cards

[Mr He]

So another card, this time Amex's Hilton Honors Aspire Card, has changed its design (for the worse in my opinion) and perks/benefits (surprisingly for the better!) . Credit Cards - Compare & Apply Online | American Express

 

[Viridis]

Actually, @Mr He i quite like the new design …. sometimes less is more

I notice from one screen shot you have 5 US Amex.

Do you live there, have an SSN or ITIN, or were they all by GT. I’d really quite like to get the Bonvoy Brilliant but reluctant to try for a 3rd GT

 

[Mr He]

Actually, @Mr He i quite like the new design …. sometimes less is more

I notice from one screen shot you have 5 US Amex.

Do you live there, have an SSN or ITIN, or were they all by GT. I’d really quite like to get the Bonvoy Brilliant but reluctant to try for a 3rd GT

Hi I live here Down Under, in Melbourne, without an SSN or ITIN. Thought of applying for an ITIN for non-Amex cards from the US but have been too lazy to proceed.

I got my first Amex US card, the then SPG cobrand card which later evolved into the Marriott Bonvoy metal version, via GT. That's the only card I applied via this method. I applied for the following four, spanning from 2019 to early 2022, as an exisiting cardmember. When applying Amex US could pre-fill most of my information so the application process was quite smooth. Not sure about the latest policy though; they might have gotton more strict.

 

[Viridis]

Hi I live here Down Under, in Melbourne, without an SSN or ITIN. Thought of applying for an ITIN for non-Amex cards from the US but have been too lazy to proceed.

….. me too!

I got my first Amex US card, the then SPG cobrand card which later evolved into the Marriott Bonvoy metal version, via GT. That's the only card I applied via this method. I applied for the following four, spanning from 2019 to early 2022, as an exisiting cardmember. When applying Amex US could pre-fill most of my information so the application process was quite smooth. Not sure about the latest policy though; they might have gotton more strict.

Interesting. Thanks. I assume then, just based on your FICO score?

Mine rotates between ‘Good’ and ‘Very Good’ each month; not sure why? Numbers are the same too - 744 then 739; then 744 the next month & so on

Is your score in that range or better? Did Amex ask for anything else? Proof of income etc?

You’ve built up an impressive collection - nice work!

 

[Mr He]

….. me too!


Interesting. Thanks. I assume then, just based on your FICO score?

Mine rotates between ‘Good’ and ‘Very Good’ each month; not sure why? Numbers are the same too - 744 then 739; then 744 the next month & so on

Is your score in that range or better? Did Amex ask for anything else? Proof of income etc?

You’ve built up an impressive collection - nice work!

Just look at my My FICO score and it's 757, not particularly high.

Amex US has never asked for a proof of income. Occasionally the application was not instantly approved but after I called them promptly, mostly confirming my personal information and explaining SSN-related issues, then it was all good. I remember this happened when I applied for the Hilton Honors Aspire card, my second Amex US card, in 2019.

 

[asterix]

Hi I live here Down Under, in Melbourne, without an SSN or ITIN. Thought of applying for an ITIN for non-Amex cards from the US but have been too lazy to proceed.

I got my first Amex US card, the then SPG cobrand card which later evolved into the Marriott Bonvoy metal version, via GT. That's the only card I applied via this method. I applied for the following four, spanning from 2019 to early 2022, as an exisiting cardmember. When applying Amex US could pre-fill most of my information so the application process was quite smooth. Not sure about the latest policy though; they might have gotton more strict.

What is GT?

 

[Mr He]

What is GT?

Short for "Global Transfer". You can refer to this thread Strategy to obtain US Amex for more info.

 

[QF_Flyer]

So another card, this time Amex's Hilton Honors Aspire Card, has changed its design (for the worse in my opinion) and perks/benefits (surprisingly for the better!) . Credit Cards - Compare & Apply Online | American Express

Yes, I noticed this yesterday. Design has updated in the app, but not Apple Wallet yet. Fee increase, but benefits def a plus imo.

I don't think we (existing holders) can start taking advantage of the $400 ($200 per six months) resort credit until 1/1/2024, but the flight credit we can. I'd already used this year's $250 resort credit anyway.

The flight credit I'm not sure about, I don't book a lot using Amex travel, and having to use it in $50 blocks...but then again I just used the old incidental credit to buy $250 worth of United travel bank credit each year (which I now can't continue topping up, so will have to devise a plan to use).

 

[Viridis]

Yes, I noticed this yesterday. Design has updated in the app, but not Apple Wallet yet. Fee increase, but benefits def a plus imo.

I don't think we (existing holders) can start taking advantage of the $400 ($200 per six months) resort credit until 1/1/2024, but the flight credit we can. I'd already used this year's $250 resort credit anyway.

The flight credit I'm not sure about, I don't book a lot using Amex travel, and having to use it in $50 blocks...but then again I just used the old incidental credit to buy $250 worth of United travel bank credit each year (which I now can't continue topping up, so will have to devise a plan to use).

Apple wallet? May require you to delete the card and re-add it but can’t say for sure

I’m in two minds about the card. The airline credit in $50 lots is hopeless. It would be better for me to use the Gold Card or an airline branded one

Stay in Hiltons but almost never a Resort

PP I get from my Aussie Amex Plat.

So it’s really just another USD$100 to retain Diamond status

For another $100 it’s the Bonvoy Brilliant which gets you Platinum and therefore Lounge Access. And the side benefits seem more achievable if resident outside the US

I have, at least, until January to decide when my AF is due . And always reluctant to give stuff up because you may never get it back

 

[Mr He]

Apple wallet? May require you to delete the card and re-add it but can’t say for sure

It normally happens automatically. It's a bit unusual this time. Last year when the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant card changed its design, the image on Apple Pay was updated almost simultaneously, but not this time. But I'm happy with the old design so actually hope the exisiting image on Apple Pay can stay a bit longer

 

[Mr He]

Yes, I noticed this yesterday. Design has updated in the app, but not Apple Wallet yet. Fee increase, but benefits def a plus imo.

I don't think we (existing holders) can start taking advantage of the $400 ($200 per six months) resort credit until 1/1/2024, but the flight credit we can. I'd already used this year's $250 resort credit anyway.

The flight credit I'm not sure about, I don't book a lot using Amex travel, and having to use it in $50 blocks...but then again I just used the old incidental credit to buy $250 worth of United travel bank credit each year (which I now can't continue topping up, so will have to devise a plan to use).

For the flight credit, as the new policy says it's redeemable on "flight purchases made directly with an airline or through amextravel.com using your Card", I reckon it gives much more flexibility as it applies to any airline. My guess is that for us living in Australia, buying Qantas vouchers on the Qantas website or paying for fees when redeeming rewards flights with Qantas or Virgin might qualify.

 

[QF_Flyer]

Apple wallet? May require you to delete the card and re-add it but can’t say for sure

I’m in two minds about the card. The airline credit in $50 lots is hopeless. It would be better for me to use the Gold Card or an airline branded one

Stay in Hiltons but almost never a Resort

PP I get from my Aussie Amex Plat.

So it’s really just another USD$100 to retain Diamond status

For another $100 it’s the Bonvoy Brilliant which gets you Platinum and therefore Lounge Access. And the side benefits seem more achievable if resident outside the US

I have, at least, until January to decide when my AF is due . And always reluctant to give stuff up because you may never get it back

Yeah to be fair I don’t stay in resorts often, but both the properties in Fiji count, and I do go there semi-regularly, so that’s a win for me there.

And yeah I agree re giving it up, I’ve got this and the Green card, both are excellent in my view, thankfully the AF isn’t due until July for the Hilton card!

Post automatically merged: Oct 20, 2023

For the flight credit, as the new policy says it's redeemable on "flight purchases made directly with an airline or through amextravel.com using your Card", I reckon it gives much more flexibility as it applies to any airline. My guess is that for us living in Australia, buying Qantas vouchers on the Qantas website or paying for fees when redeeming rewards flights with Qantas or Virgin might qualify.

Oh does it, I clearly didn’t read that properly in my half asleep state - if directly with airlines then I’ll def be able to burn it (although all at once would be better), it was the Amex Travel restriction I wasn’t a fan of. As you say, paying fees on redemptions would probably work. I’ll have another read.

 

[Viridis]

It normally happens automatically. It's a bit unusual this time. Last year when the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant card changed its design, the image on Apple Pay was updated almost simultaneously, but not this time. But I'm happy with the old design so actually hope the exisiting image on Apple Pay can stay a bit longer

Interestingly, the Amex website isn't presently showing the Aspire Card (although it has the others).

The Hilton website has the card and notes the changes about to occur

And, I've received nothing from Amex

 

[DC3]

And, I've received nothing from Amex

Patience Grasshopper

 

[Mr He]

As my old Amex Hilton Honors Aspire card expires early next year, it’s about time to request a new card anyway. So I did the other day, and requested a replacement for my Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant card as well (long overdue as the card changed its design over a year ago) . Both arrived today - Amex US and DHL are always super efficient!

 

[dein_gesicht]

Always a fun topic to be had!

 

[DC3]

As my old Amex Hilton Honors Aspire card expires early next year, it’s about time to request a new card anyway. So I did the other day, and requested a replacement for my Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant card as well (long overdue as the card changed its design over a year ago) . Both arrived today

Same expiry dates as the old cards?

 

[Mr He]

Same expiry dates as the old cards?

Of course not. Expire in 2028 now.

 

[QF_Flyer]

Of course not. Expire in 2028 now.

This is a good idea. Is your account address still US? As in you just asked them to send you a new one to Aus?

 

[Mr He]

This is a good idea. Is your account address still US? As in you just asked them to send you a new one to Aus?

Yes, used to be a friend's home address in New York in the very beginning and later as she moved home I changed it to a forwarding address. You hardly need to use it anyway, as you can always request replacement cards be shipped to an overseas address. They can even record your non-US address as an alternate address on file and issue the PDF statements using that foreign address.