Strategy to obtain US Amex

[Tiki]

Amex Hilton Biz is always an easy filler card if you can see yourself ever staying at a Hilton.

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Just approved for a Citi AA Biz card. They had to send a code via snail mail to my US address to confirm it, as expected. Will see how the card goes being used in Australia. My guess is I'm going to encounter a lot of fraud blocks that will make it a huge hassle to meet the minimum spend requirement.

I'd be interested to hear how you go with the fraud blocks and codes. I still have Citi Premier on my radar (vs Cap 1 Venture). Next month, I can walk into a branch near LAX and hopefully prove my identity and circumvent the fraud cough.

 

[blacksultan]

Thanks for that.

Contemplating whether it's worth wasting 1/24 for Cap 1 VX. Currently 4/24 and VX will be 5/24 but I'm not sure if 90K points is worth burning my last slot. I won't be 4/24 until March next year.

Given that I just got CIP I won't be eligible to apply for any other Chase cards for the next 2 months. Next on my radar might be another IHG Business or Amex Business.

Anything else worth getting right now? Amex's Business cards are heavy spends. I liked the Marriott 3 night cert for 6K spend only verses the 8K now needed for 125k points.

Can’t you apply for another ink ? Thought you can apply for multiple .

 

[levelnine]

Can’t you apply for another ink ? Thought you can apply for multiple .

Best to space out Chase applications by at least 3 months. Anything quicker than that courts the shutdown gods.

 

[_TheTraveller_]

Amex Hilton Biz is always an easy filler card if you can see yourself ever staying at a Hilton.

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Just approved for a Citi AA Biz card. They had to send a code via snail mail to my US address to confirm it, as expected. Will see how the card goes being used in Australia. My guess is I'm going to encounter a lot of fraud blocks that will make it a huge hassle to meet the minimum spend requirement.

I did see the Hilton Biz card bit of a shame that I missed out the points + FNC. Do you think it's worth burning a slot for Venture X (if I even get approved for it)?

Also I read online that the AA biz card requires 5Y credit history. Is that true?

 

[levelnine]

I did see the Hilton Biz card bit of a shame that I missed out the points + FNC. Do you think it's worth burning a slot for Venture X (if I even get approved for it)?

Also I read online that the AA biz card requires 5Y credit history. Is that true?

For the VX, the SUB is okay and therefore probably worth it in the first year. I'm turned off it by the recent nerfing of the travel credit — you can no longer cash it out and redeeming it at face value in Australia might be difficult (these portals always overcharge for Australian stuff in my experience).

Not sure about AA having such a requirement, sorry. I do have a credit file longer than 5 years.

 

[Daventry]

Chase Ink 90k points offer back online: Chase Ink Cash/Unlimited 90,000 Points Now Available Online - Doctor Of Credit

 

[BTS_FAN]

For those who has 1st Amex via GT (without SSN or ITIN)
Is it 6 or 8 months after account opened until you can see your FICO online?

Got approved for my 1st GT @ May 15, when can I apply for the 2nd GT?
I'm in the process of getting my ITIN, applied via einexpress last month.

Thanks

Here's the current info (Amex log-in)

Credit Score​

• View FICO® Score
• Free Credit Score and Report

Your FICO® Score Summary

Sorry, your FICO® Score is unavailable at the moment.
To learn more about your current credit standing, you can request a copy of your credit report from annualcreditreport.com

 

[DC3]

For those who has 1st Amex via GT (with our out SSN or ITIN)
Is it 6 or 8 months after account opened until you can see your FICO online?

I opened my 1st GT in May 15, when can I apply for the 2nd GT?
I'm in the process of getting my ITIN, applied via einexpress last month.

Thanks

Mine took 8 months. There are reports of from 6 months.

The IRS is currently processing ITIN applications that were lodged in May 2023, I believe. Applications are processed in the order that they are received.

 

[_TheTraveller_]

For those who has 1st Amex via GT (without SSN or ITIN)
Is it 6 or 8 months after account opened until you can see your FICO online?

Got approved for my 1st GT @ May 15, when can I apply for the 2nd GT?
I'm in the process of getting my ITIN, applied via einexpress last month.

Thanks

Here's the current info (Amex log-in)

Credit Score​

• View FICO® Score
• Free Credit Score and Report

Your FICO® Score Summary

Sorry, your FICO® Score is unavailable at the moment.
To learn more about your current credit standing, you can request a copy of your credit report from annualcreditreport.com

8 months for me

 

[Igreen]

Amex Hilton Biz is always an easy filler card if you can see yourself ever staying at a Hilton.

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Just approved for a Citi AA Biz card. They had to send a code via snail mail to my US address to confirm it, as expected. Will see how the card goes being used in Australia. My guess is I'm going to encounter a lot of fraud blocks that will make it a huge hassle to meet the minimum spend requirement.

did they ask u for any id?

 

[_TheTraveller_]

For the VX, the SUB is okay and therefore probably worth it in the first year. I'm turned off it by the recent nerfing of the travel credit — you can no longer cash it out and redeeming it at face value in Australia might be difficult (these portals always overcharge for Australian stuff in my experience).

Not sure about AA having such a requirement, sorry. I do have a credit file longer than 5 years.

What's your/everyone's thoughts on earning AA status via AA CCs? Is the opportunity cost worth it?

Assuming if you have world elite personal card, OWE could be as low as 95K LPs.

 

[Igreen]

What's your/everyone's thoughts on earning AA status via AA CCs? Is the opportunity cost worth it?

Assuming if you have world elite personal card, OWE could be as low as 95K LPs.

You will need to weigh the benefits of spending that amount with one Airline. You will need to do the math on how many SUB u can attain with that spend (Amex Plat Biz - 15k Spend u get 120k to 150k +). U could fly J or F and get those same benefits and not stuck to AA.

 

[levelnine]

What's your/everyone's thoughts on earning AA status via AA CCs? Is the opportunity cost worth it?

If you have unlimited spend through manufactured spending or business spend, I think it's an excellent idea.

If you are spend constrained, I think the opportunity cost is pretty high. 100K of spend could get you 520K UR (4 Chase Inks) & 600K MR (4 Biz Plats) with another 15K of spend to put towards other cards. That's over $16K in value at a modest 1.5c/pt. Not sure I value OWE that high when it is relatively easy to attain through Qantas with various SC earn opportunities and exploitation of DSC offers.

Plus the chief benefit of Qantas Platinum is release of award seats in my opinion, which you don't get with AA OWE.

 

[albyd]

Just got my ITIN from EIN Express. I want to take it for a spin. Already have FICO score and Sarasota has been my address for some years.

Is there anything else I need to bear in mind? I’m thinking I want the C1 Venture as my first ‘Everyday’ card to use alongside my US Citi Premier.

I’m not sure yet about CSP though from what I’ve read CSP married with a series of Ink Preferred (does this one have currency fee?)

Look forward to your guidance

Addendum:
Couldn't help myself and Tried C1. I have used the Capital One Pre-approval check. I entered my Sarasota Address and I get the following error:

Has anyone else encountered this with C1? What service might work with C1?

 

[georgie23]

The 8 months people - was that a charge or credit card - have a green card and curious if may take longer as a charge card

 

[georgie23]

If transferring MR points to US Amex card I have read from others that its once a year that you can transfer - is that limit of once a year on sending (AUS limited) or receiving (USA limited)

I have MR points with a business card here and wondering should I convert to KF prior to Oct 4 deadline or can I send to USA and also sewnd from platinum card as well within the year

Thanks for advice

 

[_TheTraveller_]

Just got my ITIN from EIN Express. I want to take it for a spin. Already have FICO score and Sarasota has been my address for some years.

Is there anything else I need to bear in mind? I’m thinking I want the C1 Venture as my first ‘Everyday’ card to use alongside my US Citi Premier.

I’m not sure yet about CSP though from what I’ve read CSP married with a series of Ink Preferred (does this one have currency fee?)

Look forward to your guidance

Where are you looking at your FICO score? Normally I would wait a month or 2 before applying with your ITIN so a few lenders can report to it. Do you see all your information on there? I tried something similar previously with a 1Y credit history and was instantly declined.

I believe the CIP might be the only one without FX fees.

The 8 months people - was that a charge or credit card - have a green card and curious if may take longer as a charge card

Yep I've heard charge cards take longer as well so it doesn't surprise me if it's 10-12 months instead.

 

[albyd]

I can see it via Citi’s app and Internet Banking there’s a link in there. I can also see it using the Amex US app.

I think it did take some time to get FICO I don’t recall how long now. Was years ago.

 

[http_x92]

Thinking about it, I might go to World of Hyatt as the secondary program, I can see that it is quite easy to get good value for point redemptions, especially when there are big events on. Mr & Mrs Smith hotels getting onboard soon as well (plenty of those in Australia), though I think it would be like the IHG relationship in the past (sorta like a more expensive OTA). Of course reaching Globalist is another matter altogether.

Tempted to start my ITIN journey to get the Chase WoH card...

 

[velli25]

I finally got a FICO score! Around 6 months and I have only had the gold charge card. Score is only 680.

For new AMEX applications should I wait a little bit longer for my score to go up? Also for a second application am I able to apply directly via a referral link or is there another method?