Strategy to obtain US Amex

[glasszon]

Raising red flags, perhaps?

Same feeling here, might be better to keep a low profile for a few months before changing the address to Australia.

I guess you can argue you are moving to US soon and so you want to use the AU address in the meantime, who wants to try it out and report back?

 

[glasszon]

I also messaged transferwise advising how I wanted to pay my US Amex card and they replied

"I believe what they have tried to do is set up a direct debit for the account belonging to the card but unfortunately this is not an option to do with the account in USD"

Hopefully something to do in the future as paying 20USD each statement is restrictive to only using the card a few times per year.

Did you try using transferwise directly for payment rather than direct debit? Trying to figure out whether there's a way to avoid the 20 USD fee.

 

[blacksultan]

Same feeling here, might be better to keep a low profile for a few months before changing the address to Australia.

I guess you can argue you are moving to US soon and

so you want to use the AU address in the meantime, who wants to try it out and report back?

I updated to my oz address and received my additional card Holders card by dhl .
However when I reported my own card missing to get a replacement at my own address ( as I never had the original card received at my friends US add sent to me ) they raised a red flag as I had also just reset my online password .
Said I needed to wait 2 months since change of add . But I can still use my card in Apple wallet and the additional card but I don’t think large purchases will be approved.

 

[glasszon]

I updated to my oz address and received my additional card Holders card by dhl .
However when I reported my own card missing to get a replacement at my own address ( as I never had the original card received at my friends US add sent to me ) they raised a red flag as I had also just reset my online password .
Said I needed to wait 2 months since change of add . But I can still use my card in Apple wallet and the additional card but I don’t think large purchases will be approved.

Thanks for the info, I guess the story is just spend first to meet the sign-up bonus, after that change address to AU and take it easy for 2-3 months.

 

[Finale]

Do you have to wait for at least 6 months before you apply for your second and subsequent cards ?

It was 5 months until I applied and got approved. I think it is safe to wait 6 months as thats when you start having a credit history. To be honest, I wasn't aware and just tried my luck.

 

[PointsLife1]

Did you try using transferwise directly for payment rather than direct debit? Trying to figure out whether there's a way to avoid the 20 USD fee.

Did you try using transferwise directly for payment rather than direct debit? Trying to figure out whether there's a way to avoid the 20 USD fee.

I looked into it but you cannot add the BIC/Swift number or add full name plus credit card number into the reference.

After 1 x returned cheque from TransferWise I was not game to find out.

Maybe some one might be willing to try who doesn’t have a strike against their name? Revolut also a product to look into.

 

[blacksultan]

It was 5 months until I applied and got approved. I think it is safe to wait 6 months as thats when you start having a credit history. To be honest, I wasn't aware and just tried my luck.

Thanks .Did you apply as another global transfer ? or through open/regular channels?
I know people have said you can only apply for a global transfer for your first card but I have more than one amex log in and wonder if I can use another log in.

 

[marki]

You don’t have to close an Aust card to open an OS card under their Global Transfer Program. You just ask the Global Transfer team to assess your application. Phone numbers etc are on the Amex site

I did this and was in possession of a German Amex Centurion of all things cheaper too!

 

[Finale]

Thanks .Did you apply as another global transfer ? or through open/regular channels?
I know people have said you can only apply for a global transfer for your first card but I have more than one amex log in and wonder if I can use another log in.

I called to apply. If you do it during work hour, they can transfer you to new app department and get approved on spot. You can't do GT more than once. If you want to apply online, there is another method which is Novacredit. Basically they will check your credit in Australia. If you pick that option, you will not need to enter SSN/ITIN when applying online, just tick I do not have SSN in the application. This is useful when there is some special link that give you better bonus points.

 

[blacksultan]

I called to apply. If you do it during work hour, they can transfer you to new app department and get approved on spot. You can't do GT more than once. If you want to apply online, there is another method which is Novacredit. Basically they will check your credit in Australia. If you pick that option, you will not need to enter SSN/ITIN when applying online, just tick I do not have SSN in the application. This is useful when there is some special link that give you better bonus points.

Thanks .I think I used that the first time round.

 

[glasszon]

I called to apply. If you do it during work hour, they can transfer you to new app department and get approved on spot. You can't do GT more than once. If you want to apply online, there is another method which is Novacredit. Basically they will check your credit in Australia. If you pick that option, you will not need to enter SSN/ITIN when applying online, just tick I do not have SSN in the application. This is useful when there is some special link that give you better bonus points.

You mean you can't use GT more than once per country or per profile? Due to personal reasons I need to get a UK Amex card soon....

 

[Finale]

You mean you can't use GT more than once per country or per profile? Due to personal reasons I need to get a UK Amex card soon....

Only once for the US. Getting UK one should be fine I believe.

 

[DC3]

... Please help us by updating your billing address as quickly as possible so we can deliver important information about your account ...

... It could be the Priority Pass membership which I never received but just called to receive the password in order to add to the app.

You may be right. I have since contacted Priority Pass about changing my address and received this reply:

“... Kindly be advised that your address update can only be done through American Express due to your membership being taken out through American Express ...”.

 

[PointsLife1]

So, now we all move to California at the same time?

Canada would be ideal as they have an Amex Cobalt card that earns 5 points per dollar on restaurants and groceries and they convert to 6 Marriott Bonvoy points per dollar!

That or the Amex Gold changes the 4 points per dollar spent at US supermarkets to global supermarkets.

They did change the 4 points per dollar from US restaurants to global restaurants so fingers crossed.

 

[lilkid28]

I updated to my oz address and received my additional card Holders card by dhl .
However when I reported my own card missing to get a replacement at my own address ( as I never had the original card received at my friends US add sent to me ) they raised a red flag as I had also just reset my online password .
Said I needed to wait 2 months since change of add . But I can still use my card in Apple wallet and the additional card but I don’t think large purchases will be approved.

How long after you got your own card before changing to Aus address to request additional cardholder?

 

[blacksultan]

How long after you got your own card before changing to Aus address to request additional cardholder?

In less then a week . Actually the additional card was on its way to my friends place as well and I had to call to get it redirected . I thought I would play it safe by getting an additional card before I cancelled my own card and had a new one sent to my oz add .

Post automatically merged: Feb 2, 2020

I applied for the Hilton aspire card . Was informed they can’t give me a response just yet and will get back within 14 day’s . Does anyone know what happens from here ?
My wife got approved for the same card .
How does one obtain the digital number to local onto digital wallets before the card arrives ?

 

[PointsLife1]

In less then a week . Actually the additional card was on its way to my friends place as well and I had to call to get it redirected . I thought I would play it safe by getting an additional card before I cancelled my own card and had a new one sent to my oz add .

Post automatically merged: Feb 2, 2020

I applied for the Hilton aspire card . Was informed they can’t give me a response just yet and will get back within 14 day’s . Does anyone know what happens from here ?
My wife got approved for the same card .
How does one obtain the digital number to local onto digital wallets before the card arrives ?

Was this done through Novacredit? As this would be your second Amex after Green card?

 

[PointsLife1]

I updated to my oz address and received my additional card Holders card by dhl .
However when I reported my own card missing to get a replacement at my own address ( as I never had the original card received at my friends US add sent to me ) they raised a red flag as I had also just reset my online password .
Said I needed to wait 2 months since change of add . But I can still use my card in Apple wallet and the additional card but I don’t think large purchases will be approved.

Do you need to call to change address to Oz? Trying to look into it online but the change of address is all US states etc.

No option for Australia

 

[blacksultan]

Do you need to call to change address to Oz? Trying to look into it online but the change of address is all US states etc.

No option for Australia

yes you need to call to do it.

Post automatically merged: Feb 2, 2020

Was this done through Novacredit? As this would be your second Amex after Green card?

through novacredit but doesn`t look like I will be approved.

 

[Spazmos]

Hey all. I am just going to give another update from my end. I have just come back from a 2 month trip abroad and wow how this thread has grown since then. I have finally caught up and see some new faces and a lot of questions. For those who don't know me I have the hilton aspire card and I can say the benefits really stack up (I stayed at hilton properties for the most part, and successfully got suite upgrades from the most basic room type booking about 75% of the time).
I also mainly use the aspire card when booking rooms at the hilton or spending on site for the bonus earn rate on points, and also when purchasing things in the USA.
From the look of things, we are all getting stung by $10-20 fees for just repaying the card via wire/FX. I myself previously used TorFX and that cost $20 per transfer.
So when I arrived in the USA my intention was to open a US bank account whilst I was there, and as blacksultan has mentioned a few times, the Citibank checking account with the free global transfer was the direction I went. Very easy and straightforward, as soon as I land into New York, I go to my hotel in Manhattan, drop off all my luggage and then I walk into the closest Citibank branch. All you need is you passport and another bank card in your name (I already have an aussie Citibank account so I used that card). There's a few different checking account options but I went with the most basic. At first I was a little sceptical that as a non citizen and non resident that they would not open an account for me but the lady who did it was really helpful and she knew what she was doing, not really questioning why I needed a US account. I guess being a Citibank customer already helps?
So once all the paperwork is done she also asks me if I want my debit card mailed to me at my hotel next day delivery. I am thinking sure thing, and she says once I get my card I need to bring it back to her so she can finalise and activate my account.
Once all that is done I now have a US and an Aussie citibank account both with separate online access. Global transfer is a piece of cake. You can either directly send funds from you Aussie account to US and it gets converted for you, or you can convert to USD first and hold them in "citi global currency account" and then send funds as US dollars. Either way I believe the exchange rate is the same, so what I have been doing is convert first and then transferring in USD. Seems to work as the amount I send = the amount received, hence no more fees!!! I also note that the exchange rate is a little bit better than using a FX platform, better than TorFX at least. Already made a bill payment to amex and works like a charm.

What about the fees to hold the US checking account? Well there is a $10 monthly service if but can be avoided by making one qualifying direct deposit OR maintain a $1,500+ combined average monthly balance OR one qualifying bill payment per statement period...... one bill payment..... hmmmmmm

I know this is not an option for some, as this requires you to actually be in the US to open the account, but if you have a trip planned to the US already, I may be well worth it in the end if you intend to use your US amex frequently.