Strategy to obtain US Amex

Successfully opened HSBC AU and US Premier accounts.

AU:
- Deposited 9k this month, got in contact with a Premier Manager over the phone and was upgraded
- On the condition that I deposit 9k+ AUD for 6 months straight.

US:
- Applied online through the HSBC USA app, mentioned that I was a Premier in AU (this was key!)
- Set the residential and permanent addresses to the Australian ones, but set the mailing address to the virtual suite - somehow this got through
- Usual passport verification was done.
- Reasons for opening account.
- HSBC USA contact reached out, realised that it takes a few days to show up as a Premier customer on the US side. 2 key questions asked were: How you are going to use the checking account outside of travel and how are you are going to make deposits (HSBC directly or other sources)
- So from HSBC AU to US Premier approval took about 4 business days. Made a promise in the application that I will make a $1k USD deposit as my first one.

Pretty good process - hard to get a checking account outside the US with an actual bank so this was the only way.
 

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