Strategy to obtain US Amex

[_TheTraveller_]

So with Wise, does it function as an account which the issuer can DD? That's what I do with Citi and Amex from HSBC. Only really looking at Citi for the $1,000 checking SUB (I wish I had enough $US to qualify for the $2,000 SUB but I don't ).

I'll give Citi a call on Monday - they had previously said I had to convert to "simplified banking" happy to do that but the agent I got wasn't very helpful.

Hope I can get to "yes" with CSP then decide what I do - may set up Chase Checking for $200 SUB & try to use it as my main US transactional account which is what I'd intended with C1.

Yep, there is a DD function with Wise.

 

[albyd]

thanks for the heads up. I’ll check it out

 

[Sora]

I’m getting a new handset in USA, a plan had to be attached to it for approx $70 a month. Does anyone want to take over the number?

OR, what’s the best strategy to avoid that cost. I’d prefer to pay the phone down with just repayments, I wouldn’t need the actual sim. I’ll pay the phone out, doing a trade in, just doesn’t seem ideal to keep paying a sim for later on when I return home.

 

[levelnine]

I’m getting a new handset in USA, a plan had to be attached to it for approx $70 a month.

Why can't you just buy the handset outright? Won't that $70/month cost negate any savings you'd get by buying the phone in Australia?

 

[Sora]

Why can't you just buy the handset outright? Won't that $70/month cost negate any savings you'd get by buying the phone in Australia?

It’s about $200 cheaper. I didn’t have the full amount so I’m just going to contract it short term and settle it out.

 

[Sora]

I cant see why not
My understanding is that to deal with IRS you get SSN or ITIN

I went through SH Studio - can always email them and ask. (THE SH STUDIO – Taxation House - their website seems to be down as of just now - hopefully a short term glitch)

How did you go with this?

I emailed them and they said I could apply.

 

[http_x92]

Member Week offers are here and the Hilton 200/80 comes up, only one that is likely of interest. But... only for Hilton Hotels in the US (Curio Collection, Canopy, Tapestry Collection, Motto, Tempo properties). Ahh...

 

[Daventry]

Looks like no Gold bonus for those who already have Platinum

American Express Adds Family Language To Personal Gold Card - Doctor Of Credit

American Express has added family language to the Personal gold card. Last month family language was added to Delta cards and then earlier this month was

www.doctorofcredit.com

 

[levelnine]

For anyone who has a Business Platinum, there is some incredible stacking opportunities for Dell.

I bought a pair of headphones for $220 that I'll resell for about $150 & I get back $50 (Dell membership week statement credit), 2400 MR (12x Rakuten) & $200 (Dell half yearly credit).

 

[Finale]

Just got Amex plat retention offer for the third year in a row. It was the worst offer of 25,000 points for $3k spend, normally 30,000 points. It will be the last year also as I cannot make it 13 months next year. The fee normally hits my account mid Sep. I got the retention bonus Jul 21, Sep 22 and Oct 23. This 13 months' rule appears to start from the date they grant the offer, not the date you receive the points. If you plan well, you can get the offer multiple years in a row, just have to skip the first year.

 

[albyd]

Yep, there is a DD function with Wise.

Further to my Journey with US bank accounts, I've used my new ITIN to open an AMEX US checking account and made the ACH transfer from HSBC US to iy to hopefully trigger the Welcome bonus. I've also opened a High Yield Savings account (for my very modest $US) with the application being referred and someone over the phone helping to get it approved. Pretty happy little camper. I'll stop everuything else. Was hoping to get Citi Checking for $US1,000 bonus but I'm somehow still showing as a non-resident Alien and need to visit a branch to fix it.

 

[cathalm8]

Hi guys, I have had a AMEX Plat Aus since beginning of August with good bit of spend on it. I am wondering can I now go ahead and chance my luck at a AMEX US card via GT method without any negative consequences? many thanks

Tried my luck applying for Amex Green via GT. No luck. Was auto rejected immediately saying letter stating reasons why would be mailed to my US address (Friends address).

Not sure why or what to do from here. Except wait one more month and try again?

 

[DC3]

Tried my luck applying for Amex Green via GT …Not sure why or what to do from here. Except wait one more month and try again?

It’s been suggested, upthread, to have at least a 3-month relationship with Amex AU before trying for GT. All good there?

 

[anyonebutqantas]

Do Citi or any of the other banks let you open personal accounts entirely online without visiting in person? I looked at some options and even with SSN it seems they still want a passport number which is a dealbreaker.

 

[_TheTraveller_]

Do Citi or any of the other banks let you open personal accounts entirely online without visiting in person? I looked at some options and even with SSN it seems they still want a passport number which is a dealbreaker.

C1 didn't require a passport if you're opening to dealing with them.

 

[maverick1]

Further to my Journey with US bank accounts, I've used my new ITIN to open an AMEX US checking account and made the ACH transfer from HSBC US to iy to hopefully trigger the Welcome bonus. I've also opened a High Yield Savings account (for my very modest $US) with the application being referred and someone over the phone helping to get it approved. Pretty happy little camper. I'll stop everuything else. Was hoping to get Citi Checking for $US1,000 bonus but I'm somehow still showing as a non-resident Alien and need to visit a branch to fix it.

my ACH transfer from HSBC to Amex Checking didn't trigger the welcome bonus. Per DP's people are usually getting confo email within 5 days of qualifying deposit. I made the deposit of 501 on 26 Sep. Waited a week or so and then recently did another 2k ACH xfer from IBKR on 6th Oct no emails or bonus yet.

 

[albyd]

my ACH transfer from HSBC to Amex Checking didn't trigger the welcome bonus. Per DP's people are usually getting confo email within 5 days of qualifying deposit. I made the deposit of 501 on 26 Sep. Waited a week or so and then recently did another 2k ACH xfer from IBKR on 6th Oct no emails or bonus yet.

hmm - sounds like the path to Amex checking SUB might not be so easy after all. I'd like to get SUB from Citi

 

[DC3]

… they still want a passport number which is a dealbreaker.

You don’t have a passport? Or, is a US passport the issue?

 

[DC3]

… I've used my new ITIN to open an AMEX US checking account and made the ACH transfer from HSBC US to iy to hopefully trigger the Welcome bonus …

From the Welcome Bonus T+C: “A Qualifying Direct Deposit is a single ACH transfer of $500 or more from an employer or the government for a paycheck, pension, government benefit (such as Social Security), or tax refund. The following are not Qualifying Direct Deposits: person to person transfers (P2P), demand deposit account to demand deposit account transfers (for example, from a checking account to another checking account), and deposits or ACH transfers not from an employer or the government (for example, online transfers or bank transfers) ….”.

So, a transfer from an employer or the government.

https://www.americanexpress.com/us/directdepositincentiveterms2023/

As this offer is relatively new, we won’t know for a while whether other ACH transfers can actually trigger the bonus (regardless of the T+C, or confirmation emails) as it will apparently take 8-12 weeks to post

 

[Finale]

From the Welcome Bonus T+C: “A Qualifying Direct Deposit is a single ACH transfer of $500 or more from an employer or the government for a paycheck, pension, government benefit (such as Social Security), or tax refund. The following are not Qualifying Direct Deposits: person to person transfers (P2P), demand deposit account to demand deposit account transfers (for example, from a checking account to another checking account), and deposits or ACH transfers not from an employer or the government (for example, online transfers or bank transfers) ….”.

So, a transfer from an employer or the government.

https://www.americanexpress.com/us/directdepositincentiveterms2023/

As this offer is relatively new, we won’t know for a while whether other ACH transfers can actually trigger the bonus (regardless of the T+C, or confirmation emails) as it will apparently take 8-12 weeks to post

I sent a bit over $500 from Revolut to Amex on Sep 28. Got email $250 bonus is on its way on Oct 4. Bonus hit my account Oct 5.