Strategy to obtain US Amex

[Tiki]

 

[qq2233]

Hi All,

New to this but have read a lot of the context in this thread.

While HSBC Premier is something I can achieve, I dont want to spend 9 months to cycle my salary to get to Premier status.

So question is, if its possible to do a GT from my AU AMEX Plat if I have an ITIN, Wise US account (Checking Account with ACH) and a friend who will let me use his address? I plan on getting a US phone number as well to round out requirements.

Has anyone done anything similar?

Thanks in advance!

 

[blacksultan]

Hi All,

New to this but have read a lot of the context in this thread.

While HSBC Premier is something I can achieve, I dont want to spend 9 months to cycle my salary to get to Premier status.

So question is, if its possible to do a GT from my AU AMEX Plat if I have an ITIN, Wise US account (Checking Account with ACH) and a friend who will let me use his address? I plan on getting a US phone number as well to round out requirements.

Has anyone done anything similar?

Thanks in advance!

Wise account don’t work .
You don’t want to wait 9 months ?
This time last year when we called contact centre the agent had authority to upgrade us in first month itself .

 

[sudoer]

I dont want to spend 9 months to cycle my salary to get to Premier status.

Go to a branch in person. They waived the 6 month wait period for me. Be armed with a good story about why you want Premier (hint: it's not because you are getting into the US CC game!)

So question is, if its possible to do a GT from my AU AMEX Plat if I have an ITIN, Wise US account (Checking Account with ACH) and a friend who will let me use his address?

It's possible if Amex doesn't ask you for proof of address. If they ask for proof of address, the easiest method will be the HSBC account.

 

[qq2233]

Awesome stuff!

So on a forward basis did you guys just deposit your salary into the HSBC account to service the premier requirement?

 

[http_x92]

Awesome stuff!

So on a forward basis did you guys just deposit your salary into the HSBC account to service the premier requirement?

I was in frequent communication with them over the phone - once I let them know I deposited $9k in a month I called them again, giving them reasons of why I am getting a Premier account. Days later, they approved me for Premier, only requiring 1 month of deposit.

Then you will have to venture into HSBC Premier USA a few days later, which is its own online process.

 

[qq2233]

I was in frequent communication with them over the phone - once I let them know I deposited $9k in a month I called them again, giving them reasons of why I am getting a Premier account. Days later, they approved me for Premier, only requiring 1 month of deposit.

Then you will have to venture into HSBC Premier USA a few days later, which is its own online process.

If you don’t mind me asking, what reasons did you provide?

International business person needing international bank accounts?

 

[http_x92]

If you don’t mind me asking, what reasons did you provide?

International business person needing international bank accounts?

International travel in the upcoming year is a good enough reason.

 

[blacksultan]

Awesome stuff!

So on a forward basis did you guys just deposit your salary into the HSBC account to service the premier requirement?

You don’t need to . Your total deposits for the month have to total 9 k . You can even deposit a 1 $ * 9 k times !

 

[hill]

Is anyone using AI for BG GCs? Any feedback? I know Pepper, Fluz etc used to be huge, but any others that people might be dabbling in nowadays?

 

[levelnine]

Is anyone using AI for BG GCs? Any feedback? I know Pepper, Fluz etc used to be huge, but any others that people might be dabbling in nowadays?

AI is nothing like Pepper/Fluz. AI is a buyer of GCs — Pepper/Fluz are sellers of them.

And yes, AI is a very well-known buyer. You can join their Telegram channels to get a sense of the community and some tips on how they operate.

 

[thedamon]

I understand that one needs to file a tax return to keep the ITIN live after 3 years. I got mine in Sep 2023, is it correctly understood I would need to file for 2025 (or is it 2026)? How does one file atax return? I understand just filing for like $50 "Vegas winnings" would be sufficient to keep it alive?

Does anyone know the answer to this? If you just file a low income, let's say $100 in Vegas winnings, does that put any risk to the cards you've opened given you'd show as such low US income? Any service that can do the filing for you? Would appreciate any experience that can be shared here - definitely don't want the ITIN to expire..

 

[Phoenix-1]

Does anyone know the answer to this? If you just file a low income, let's say $100 in Vegas winnings, does that put any risk to the cards you've opened given you'd show as such low US income? Any service that can do the filing for you? Would appreciate any experience that can be shared here - definitely don't want the ITIN to expire..

I did find this:

When will my ITIN expire?

ITINs that haven't been included on a U.S. federal tax return at least once in the last three consecutive tax years will expire on December 31st of the third consecutive tax year, and must be renewed before being used again on a U.S. federal tax return. ITINs assigned before 2013, that were never renewed, have expired. Expired ITINs must be renewed in order to avoid delays in processing your tax return. For more information, see How do I renew my ITIN? later, or visit Individual taxpayer identification number (ITIN) | Internal Revenue Service.

https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p1915.pdf

 

[nthd_nthd]

3X gas & groceries would extend to Aus.

3x GAS+Groceries in all supermarkets and Gas Stations - 7Eleven too. I found I used HSBC cards more often than others when not working on SUB. I thought everyone knew this hence did not share. Working in all other countries too.

 

[sudoer]

I found I used HSBC cards more often than others when not working on SUB.

Do you hold both Premier and Elite?

 

[nthd_nthd]

Do you hold both Premier and Elite?

No, I have the "previous No Annual Fee" Version just before they charged the Annual Fee. And did not see the annual fee charged the 2nd year so still keeping it. With US$5 Netflix credit and $3-$5 credit at Coles/WW sometimes. Which was Nice surprice.

 

[Tiki]

Very strange Fedex behaviour from Torrance to BNE. This is my Citi AAdvantage so they better not mess it up! Why would they send it to Oakland and then back to Gardena which is a few km from Torrance? Getting worried!

Tuesday, 1/6/26 1:53 PM Shipment information sent to FedEx
2:42 PM Picked up HAWTHORNE, CA
4:02 PM Left FedEx origin facility HAWTHORNE, CA
Wednesday, 1/7/26 6:42 AM Arrived at FedEx hub OAKLAND, CA
11:55 AM On the way OAKLAND, CA
1:11 PM Departed FedEx hub OAKLAND, CA
2:12 PM On the way Your package may be late- local delivery restrictions OAKLAND, CA
Thursday, 1/8/26 7:27 AM On the way GARDENA, CA

 

[albyd]

Out of curiosity, how much did they charge you to use fedex?
I’m paying $US22 just to have one card posted to me with USPS. I didn’t think it would cost so much for ‘normal’ postal mail. I understand these services need to pay their bills too so they’re not going to do it for skinny margins. When I called them out on this, they said it’s what their supplier charges. End rant.

How does this marry up with others’ experiences with their providers? It is what it is I guess - they’re helping us and it’s a necessity. I don’t wholly begrudge it. Just seems excessive.

 

[DAC1]

Out of curiosity, how much did they charge you to use fedex?
I’m paying $US22 just to have one card posted to me with USPS. I didn’t think it would cost so much for ‘normal’ postal mail. I understand these services need to pay their bills too so they’re not going to do it for skinny margins. When I called them out on this, they said it’s what their supplier charges. End rant.

How does this marry up with others’ experiences with their providers? It is what it is I guess - they’re helping us and it’s a necessity. I don’t wholly begrudge it. Just seems excessive.

Seems cheaper than what USGM has given me recently.

 

[Tiki]

Out of curiosity, how much did they charge you to use fedex?
I’m paying $US22 just to have one card posted to me with USPS. I didn’t think it would cost so much for ‘normal’ postal mail. I understand these services need to pay their bills too so they’re not going to do it for skinny margins. When I called them out on this, they said it’s what their supplier charges. End rant.

How does this marry up with others’ experiences with their providers? It is what it is I guess - they’re helping us and it’s a necessity. I don’t wholly begrudge it. Just seems excessive.

The cheapest Fedex was around $40 with 5-7 days quoted. There are cheaper options I could have taken as low as $20 with a longer window delivery but I have a final cruise payment to make by 20 Jan which would satisfy my minimum spend in one go. Though I hear with Citi you should do a couple small USD charges first.

I have to get the actual card to set up online banking because my last Citi card was in 2019. I applied 30 Nov, 2 weeks later they sent a letter with a code to Planet Express to verify address which took over a week to show up. Probably slow due to holidays. I got the scan, typed the code into my application then instant approval on 24 Dec and the card mailed out that evening, received on 6 Jan. Fedex tracking says it should be here by 14 Jan, cutting it close! But not my fault, almost 2 months will pass from application to card in my hand.