Strategy to obtain US Amex

thedamon said:
How do people pay their Amex bills from abroad? Do you transfer using Wise or what’s the best and most cost effective way of doing these transfers?
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Yes, definitely Wise in my view. I have Autopay set up for the full amount to be deducted

Once you have autopay set up the link between the Wise account and Amex is established and you can then also easily make random payments if you wish
 
thedamon said:
How do people pay their Amex bills from abroad? Do you transfer using Wise or what’s the best and most cost effective way of doing these transfers?
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I use Wise to transfer to my account at B of A. They have become faster this last year, sometimes 6 hours or so. It used to take 36 hours including the ACH clearing time.
 
Viridis said:
Yes, definitely Wise in my view. I have Autopay set up for the full amount to be deducted

Once you have autopay set up the link between the Wise account and Amex is established and you can then also easily make random payments if you wish
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+1 this.

You can load Wise with USD instantly if under 1k AUD (goes via Osko) or overnight if over 1k. Then initiate the Wise deduction from Amex US portal, Amex marks account as paid immediately and withdraws from Wise in 12-24 hours.

The payment workflow was my biggest concern with opening a US Amex but it turned out to be far easier than anticipated.
 
For those that can't open some form of US Bank account, currently, Wise is the best way to go (of course, do not abuse the system!)

Nonetheless, having a bank account in the US could help you be 'pre-approved' for some of the cards in their system - also depending on how much you have deposited in those accounts as well.
 
jbmemories said:
For those that can't open some form of US Bank account, currently, Wise is the best way to go (of course, do not abuse the system!)

Nonetheless, having a bank account in the US could help you be 'pre-approved' for some of the cards in their system - also depending on how much you have deposited in those accounts as well.
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How does one abuse the system? Isn't it setup to do these things?
 
sudoer said:
+1 this.

You can load Wise with USD instantly if under 1k AUD (goes via Osko) or overnight if over 1k. Then initiate the Wise deduction from Amex US portal, Amex marks account as paid immediately and withdraws from Wise in 12-24 hours.

The payment workflow was my biggest concern with opening a US Amex but it turned out to be far easier than anticipated.
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Does it take overnight if over 1k? Isn’t using Osko still instant even if over 1k?
 
I much prefer Wise over Revolut. I think for larger sums, Revolut is definitely the way to go but their app isn't great.

W7 delivered to IRS today. Time to start the clock.
 
richh1833 said:
I much prefer Wise over Revolut. I think for larger sums, Revolut is definitely the way to go but their app isn't great.

W7 delivered to IRS today. Time to start the clock.
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Mine’s due on the 9th, clock starts then.

Edit: Wise’s UI is definitely must better than Revolut’s.
 
Ok I am trying to tap the brains trust of this form as I am in a little bit of a pickle. I am in the process of getting my 1st US amex card (Amex Gold as there was a 90k sign up bonus). I have a US number (Talkatone), address (myUS), and in teh process of getting the HSBC US bank account (should be opened within 10 business day).

Amex is not approving my application as they want to verify my identity. Originally, they said they coould use a payslip - easy my employer just changed my address to the myUS one, but Amex now won't accept it. Amex said they need to speak to a bank or see a utilities bill. I don't want to get a friend's bill and edit the details to include mine as the downside is massive, what should I do? Even once the HSBC US bank is opened, it won't have a US address in it. Should I:
- write it off and start again in a month?
- wait until the US bank account is opened and then change to US address and then get Amex to contact HSBC (but I don't know how easy it will be to change the address to myUS)?
- use a different mail forwarder or virtual US address going forward?
- edit the utilities bill and go full YOLO?

This has been going on for weeks and it is very frustrating.
 
dein_gesicht said:
Ok I am trying to tap the brains trust of this form as I am in a little bit of a pickle. I am in the process of getting my 1st US amex card (Amex Gold as there was a 90k sign up bonus). I have a US number (Talkatone), address (myUS), and in teh process of getting the HSBC US bank account (should be opened within 10 business day).

Amex is not approving my application as they want to verify my identity. Originally, they said they coould use a payslip - easy my employer just changed my address to the myUS one, but Amex now won't accept it. Amex said they need to speak to a bank or see a utilities bill. I don't want to get a friend's bill and edit the details to include mine as the downside is massive, what should I do? Even once the HSBC US bank is opened, it won't have a US address in it. Should I:
- write it off and start again in a month?
- wait until the US bank account is opened and then change to US address and then get Amex to contact HSBC (but I don't know how easy it will be to change the address to myUS)?
- use a different mail forwarder or virtual US address going forward?
- edit the utilities bill and go full YOLO?

This has been going on for weeks and it is very frustrating.
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US bank account and change address. It should be straight forward.

I really do wonder what has triggered all of this...
 
dein_gesicht said:
- wait until the US bank account is opened and then change to US address and then get Amex to contact HSBC (but I don't know how easy it will be to change the address to myUS)?
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A variation of this. Wait until the US bank account is opened and ask Amex to do a three-way call between you, Amex and HSBC. Amex will ask the HSBC rep to confirm the address on the account, and you should be approved straight away.
 
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I told them that I just moved to the US and trying to get all my ducks in a row. I might just call today and see if I get a sympathy approval (I have been with maex for 10+ yrs)
 
richh1833 said:
US bank account and change address. It should be straight forward.

I really do wonder what has triggered all of this...
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If I change my address on the US HSBC bank account, will that change the address on the AU account? Or can I have a different address for AU?
 

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