Strategy to obtain US Amex

[blacksultan]

Do you update all the addresses in your profile or just your mailing address? I’m asking because their tax department did contact me when I updated all of mine and wanted to know if I had moved to the US and become a US resident and hence a tax payer.

I can’t remember but I think it needs to be residential . Wow ! Do you have an itin or ssn ? How did it end ? Easily fixed ?

 

[Daventry]

I can’t remember but I think it needs to be residential . Wow ! Do you have an itin or ssn ? How did it end ? Easily fixed ?

I have an ITIN but decided to update only my mailing address.

When did you make the change?

I have an US HSBC premier account since January and they seem to send over these forms every time you update your address or phone number to a US one. I received it again after updating my phone number because I was having issues with their text messages.

 

[blacksultan]

I have an ITIN but decided to update only my mailing address.

When did you make the change?

I have an US HSBC premier account since January and they seem to send over these forms every time you update your address or phone number to a US one. I received it again after updating my phone number because I was having issues with their text messages.

I opened mine in June 2020.I keep swapping addresses depending on if I need it for further cards elsewhere .
I can update my details online . No forms . Only need to complete online secure form recently to provide itin for the first time .

Post automatically merged: Jun 5, 2022

I have an ITIN but decided to update only my mailing address.

When did you make the change?

I have an US HSBC premier account since January and they seem to send over these forms every time you update your address or phone number to a US one. I received it again after updating my phone number because I was having issues with their text messages.

So the irs contacted you because you had a us mailing address ? Or after you updated your residential address ?

 

[Daventry]

I opened mine in June 2020.I keep swapping addresses depending on if I need it for further cards elsewhere .
I can update my details online . No forms . Only need to complete online secure form recently to provide itin for the first time .

Post automatically merged: Jun 5, 2022

So the irs contacted you because you had a us mailing address ? Or after you updated your residential address ?

It wasn’t the IRS, it was the HSBC tax department. They have contacted me every time I have added an US address or US phone number.

 

[DC3]

It wasn’t the IRS, it was the HSBC tax department. They have contacted me every time I have added an US address or US phone number.

HSBC Fraud Department?

 

[Daventry]

HSBC Fraud Department?

No, taxes. I had to send my response back to [email protected]

 

[blacksultan]

It wasn’t the IRS, it was the HSBC tax department. They have contacted me every time I have added an US address or US phone number.

Ok . This department didn’t contact me . Is that something to be concerned about ?

 

[nomad2000]

Ok . This department didn’t contact me . Is that something to be concerned about ?

They sent me a letter to my US address asking me to contact them 3 weeks after I changed my home address.
It’s nothing major, the main thing that would happen if you don’t get back to them (if they reach out) is they would need to withhold the most amount of tax on your savings account interest if you’re earning interest.
Unless you advise them that you’re not a US resident.
But I wouldn't worry too much about it, they’ll eventually contact you if they need.

 

[Daventry]

They sent me a letter to my US address asking me to contact them 3 weeks after I changed my home address.
It’s nothing major, the main thing that would happen if you don’t get back to them (if they reach out) is they would need to withhold the most amount of tax on your savings account interest if you’re earning interest.
Unless you advise them that you’re not a US resident.
But I wouldn't worry too much about it, they’ll eventually contact you if they need.

If you don’t reply and they assume you’re now a US resident, won’t they inform their colleagues in HSBC Australia?

 

[nomad2000]

If you don’t reply and they assume you’re now a US resident, won’t they inform their colleagues in HSBC Australia?

Im not sure but I highly doubt it, the US and AU HSBC are totally different and I don’t think they would share info
I believe what was written on my letter was if you don’t respond we’ll withhold the max percentage or tax for your interests

 

[blacksultan]

Im not sure but I highly doubt it, the US and AU HSBC are totally different and I don’t think they would share info
I believe what was written on my letter was if you don’t respond we’ll withhold the max percentage or tax for your interests

Similar to not providing your Tfn to banks in oz .

 

[Daventry]

Im not sure but I highly doubt it, the US and AU HSBC are totally different and I don’t think they would share info
I believe what was written on my letter was if you don’t respond we’ll withhold the max percentage or tax for your interests

Yeah that’s what it says.

I guess having linked my recently arrived ITIN to my account will be useless if I don’t update my residential address.

To be honest maybe I overreacted: they contacted me 5 days before a holiday to the US and was seeing myself held up at passport control and questioned about my tax affairs!! I guess I watch too much TV!!

BTW - those of you who haven’t been contacted yet, is that because when you originally opened your account you already provided a US address? I opened it as an international client and applied for their WE card through my Premier manager. A few weeks later I logged in and changed my address - that’s when they sent me the letter. And as I said above, I received the same letter upon providing a US phone number. Which btw hasn’t solved the issue I’m having with some online transactions: when I get the Mastercard 3DS pop up and need to receive a SMS to verify my transaction, it always comes up with my UK mobile number and I never receive the verification message. It still happens after changing all primary and alternative contact numbers to my US one, it always tries to verify my transaction by using the phone number I gave them when I applied for the card.

 

[DC3]

…was seeing myself held up at passport control and questioned about my tax affairs!! I guess I watch too much TV!!

 

[???]

Thanks. I assume this should be bank statement with US address. I chose to upload the document and he said I will get an email, but I still have not received any email.

I think it was triggered because when it was linked to Nova credit for my Australian credit history, I think I entered the info incorrectly then it could not access my passport/licence. Then I got the email that I need to provide additional information. I provided the passport details on the call, then he said I need to provide the proof of address.

In this case would it be better if I request to cancel the application and re-apply? Or should I wait for 2 months?

What did you do in the end?

If you decide to cancel the application, can you reapply immediately or do you have to wait before applying again?

Also, If one was to open a HSBC premier account in Australia, do you subsequently need to open a premier account in the US, and then change the address to prove it? Or can you you just change the address in the HSBC AU account and send that???

 

[Tiki]

This is beyond ridiculous! Like a real person at a bank is going to bother writing a personal letter and giving their phone extension. Even when you call a branch you get am automatic answer with the same menus. I can definetely supply a checking account statement on 9 June. But there is no way I would get a personalized letter like this.

View attachment 278404

Update: I woke up to this email. Guess the Chase Freedom statement worked after all! 70k Delta Gold card, need to use a referral as public offer back down again.

Good news - you've been approved for a new Card.​
		We're thrilled you've chosen American Express. As you wait for your new Card to arrive soon, here are a few things you can do now to get started.​

 

[http_x92]

Seeing the points earn on the Green, I can definitely see the appeal for it here. The best chance to potentially get 3 points per USD dollar, which is 2.16 points in AUD. Which means 2.16 QFF or Krisflyer points per 1 AUD for flights, cruises, hotels and transportation. More doable to get the multipliers here compared to the Gold and Platinum.

Can use 100 USD credit on the Plaza Premium lounges here. Now finding a way to get the other 50 USD to make up the annual fee...

 

[sudoer]

Seeing the points earn on the Green, I can definitely see the appeal for it here. The best chance to potentially get 3 points per USD dollar, which is 2.16 points in AUD. Which means 2.16 QFF or Krisflyer points per 1 AUD for flights, cruises, hotels and transportation. More doable to get the multipliers here compared to the Gold and Platinum.

You can also convert Aus Amex MR to US Amex MR once per year at 1:1.

 

[albyd]

I thought it was done at the Exchange rate. I have heaps of AU MR I'd be happy to convert at 1:1 (given ours convert to airline miles at 2:1). Where do I find out more?

 

[sudoer]

I thought it was done at the Exchange rate. I have heaps of AU MR I'd be happy to convert at 1:1 (given ours convert to airline miles at 2:1). Where do I find out more?

Sorry, my memory may have failed me on the conversion rate - I read about it on here a year or two ago and I think it occasionally gets a mention in this thread although it's quite hard to search for because of the 4 char minimum.

I found the below thread which mentions it at a different rate, @blacksultan might be able to provide further info?

US Amex Referral

If you already have an Aussie Amex and need more sign up bonus points or would just like access to the excellent US Amex card offerings you could look at applying for a US Amex through Global Transfer. There are various card types and except for the free cards all cards have no forex charges so...

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

In any case, if you have a US Amex which earns MR as well as a stockpile of AU MR points, there are some arbitrage opportunities.

 

[albyd]

Thanks for the heads up. I'll have a dig around. If I can squeeze more out of my AU MR points, I might as well