Strategy to obtain US Amex

[Pele]

Why's that? Has Amex Blocked you due to "Churning"? Once you get to :yes" with Amex AU, I think you'll need to hold got at least 6 months before you can do a Global Transfer to the US.

I think you're right then, have to look to non-Amex but you may need to go via a "secured" card first to build up your credit profile before you can go for a rewards credit card like one of the Chase ones. I'm not sure which bank will let you open a secured card from AU. Others who follow this thread may have DPs. That otherwise might be your first objective for your upcoming US trip. I would set up a checking account with Chase in branch and start the relationship with Chase that way. I don't think Chase offer secured cards but there are other banks who do and that may be the best way to get into the US card ecosystem in the first instance. Then you eventually have that bank as well as Chase - they say it's always good to have 2 in case one gets shut down. YMMV.

I dont know if i have been blocked or as some people call it 'Dr Ralph'd'!
I had a plat charge card for a couple of years until 2023. Held a few other cards here and there since. Last year i hadnt applied for any cards until Sept when i went for the Velocity Platinum, got rejected with the 'we will send a letter in 5-10 days'. Then in December i got the HSBC Star Alliance card no worries. Went back today and had another crack at the Velocity Platinum and it did ask me to upload payslips but then said they will get back to me in 5-10 days so im pretty sure thats another no.

Anyway i will take on board the advice here and might go for a bit of a walkabout in the USA later in year trying to open bank accounts and let you know how i go!

 

[Ko0l]

Anyway i will take on board the advice here and might go for a bit of a walkabout in the USA later in year trying to open bank accounts and let you know how i go!

No. 1. You need ITIN or SSN, none of that = no credit cards.

Other method of building credit history in the US is through HSBC.

Get HSBC AU Premier, Use that to get HSBC US Premier, use that account to get a HSBC US credit card. Put in an US address and the ITIN that you have to build a credit history.

After 1 yr, you should be good to apply for US Amex and chase.

Your no.1 priority is ITIN and a HSBC US credit card. With that it'll build a US credit history and may even be sufficient to open a starter chase credit card in 6mths if you apply in branch.

 

[albyd]

What’s the deal with Hyatt? I don’t want to spread myself too thin with Hilton and Marriott but considering Hyatt. High status doesn’t get you an upgrade when they’re issuing it like toilet paper. I’m a leisure stayer so not their target market.
Hyatt appears to be a program which has some value after Hilton and Marriott have gone to dynamic pricing and their points are worth a fraction of a cent. Is this why Hyatt is on the radar?

 

[http_x92]

Hyatt appears to be a program which has some value after Hilton and Marriott have gone to dynamic pricing and their points are worth a fraction of a cent. Is this why Hyatt is on the radar?

Globalist is the hardest to attain among the US chains so the status is well recognised. There are a few shortcuts like putting a lot of spend to earn elite night credits each year and periodic double nights but thats it. With every 10 nights (starting from 20, ending at 150), you also get milestone bonuses.

There are features like gifting Suite Upgrades, Guest of Honor, Club Access awards to family and friends as well.

 

[albyd]

Thanks for explaining. I’ll do some more research and I think I might go down this avenue with my Chase points as Hilton especially are a waste of now precious Amex points given it’s going to be harder to earn them from CC usage in AU once we get our ‘reforms’ layer this year.

I can only guess what this will mean for foreign cards like we’re all getting on this thread. I imagine they will be hard to use without paying a surcharge which wipes out the benefit.

 

[_TheTraveller_]

I cant confirm on Boundless as I dont have it, but for CSP - which I have - and Coles/WW qualified for bonus Cat for CSP - Online Groceries shopping - Hope this helps.

In store or online?

 

[pyusha]

In store or online?

Instore works all the time. Never attempted online

 

[pyusha]

Instore works all the time. Never attempted online

I stand corrected. Even online orders get 3x.
This for Aeroplan card.

 

[_TheTraveller_]

I stand corrected. Even online orders get 3x.
This for Aeroplan card.

I think AP is generic groceries whereas CSP is online groceries. I tried Coles online and it was fine but I don't recall if in store works for CSP.

 

[aaa99]

Submitted an itin application through one of the Fiverr recommended agents on this thread. Fingers crossed . How long does this take usually?

In the meantime, my BoFa app has updated to give me an option to enroll to view my FICO score. However, the enrolled process fails with error. "we are unable to process with the enrollment. Please try again later".

Is this because there is no linked SSN or ITIN on the account?

 

[albyd]

I get that too. The only one which has worked for me is Citi on their app. I recall upthread it has something to do with our local computer’s clock settings.

I suspect it also has something to do with our having ITINs.

 

[martindagun]

No. 1. You need ITIN or SSN, none of that = no credit cards.

Other method of building credit history in the US is through HSBC.

Get HSBC AU Premier, Use that to get HSBC US Premier, use that account to get a HSBC US credit card. Put in an US address and the ITIN that you have to build a credit history.

After 1 yr, you should be good to apply for US Amex and chase.

Your no.1 priority is ITIN and a HSBC US credit card. With that it'll build a US credit history and may even be sufficient to open a starter chase credit card in 6mths if you apply in branch.

I have read through this thread as I wanted to go through the Amex GT route. Unfortunately, due to previous churns with them, i have been rejected the last ~3 times I have applied with them. I am putting a hold on my churning for the next two years so I can then reapply and get approved.

I am now going down the HSBC premier route and have already setup a bank account with them and put in the required cash.
I was reading HSBC may request that you prove you are somehow tied to the US. i.e. work/travel. I have only visited the US once in the last few days (for two days) and am not planning to travel there anytime soon.
Will I have difficulty getting the HSBC US checking / credit accounts?

 

[metaphase]

For me they asked for evidence and I supplied flight tickets and hotels for the past year and upcoming. They approved then amusingly called back a few weeks later (after the account had been opened and I'd already received the cards!) saying they'd noticed some of the hotel stays were upcoming and might be cancelled. I just said "yes but I'm not planning to just now and also do investments in the US" and that seemed to placate them enough.

When I then opened the savings account I had the opposite issue and had to fill out extra paperwork to prove I wasn't linked to the US for tax purposes - it seems adding a US mobile number is enough for it to trigger them worrying about this for savings income!

Thankfully have now had the Prem account, Prem Elite MC and a Savings account for 4 months and seems to be going nicely!

One thing that did throw me with HSBC and Amex is the benefits reset every Jan (so based on calendar year), I was used to most things with Amex or other card providers being a rolling 12 month period based on card opening date. For example Priority Pass expiry seems to be set at 31st Dec each year, but it reset fine come Jan.