Strategy to obtain US Amex

[velli25]

Some hilton NLL offers for anyone interested.

American Express Hilton No Lifetime Language Offers

American Express currently has a number of Hilton links with no lifetime language…

www.doctorofcredit.com

 

[ithongy]

Makes the Citi Strata Premier sound amazing ! Are they really more fraud trigger-happy than Chase/C1 ?

TD bank is more fraud happy than Chase & C1 combined.

 

[georgie23]

It doesn’t show up on mine even after 8 months. I think many others are in the same boat.

Just got all 3 credit reports of P2 account - had HSBC Elite for 5 months now - reported on 2 of 3 agencies - so may still happen or just not on one you are checking

 

[blacksultan]

Just got all 3 credit reports of P2 account - had HSBC Elite for 5 months now - reported on 2 of 3 agencies - so may still happen or just not on one you are checking

Where did you get them from ? Do you have ssn ?

 

[georgie23]

Where did you get them from ? Do you have ssn ?

no - itin - equifax online account and then able to get a once a year 3 agencies report

 

[DAC1]

I’ve also been able to get Equifax report and Fico 8 score through myFICO.

 

[AppleJune]

Hey all,

My first Global Transfer was approved on 20/09/25 (Hilton Aspire).

I received my ITIN in early Dec. Since then, every new Amex application (Jan, Feb) has been flagged for income verification with a request for Form 4506-T.

The issue is that my income is earned in Australia, and Amex does not accept Australian payslips. I also don’t have any U.S. tax transcripts yet, so submitting a 4506-T isn’t helpful.

Recent Applications:

• 03/01/26 – Gold Card → Provide required information
• 04/01/26 – Hilton Surpass → Provide required information
• 19/02/26 – Hilton (no AF) → Provide required information

For these 3, I withdrew or let them lapse due to the 4506-T request. However, they still appear in the application status portal. Do these eventually drop off, or do they remain permanently?

• 27/02/26 – Hilton Surpass (via Global Transfer link) → In progress, additional information required

I called the Global Transfer line and was told to wait 5 business days for a letter regarding income verification. I assume this will be another 4506-T request.

First 3 applications: submitted through the standard Amex US website (ITIN attached)
Latest application: submitted via Global Transfer link (ITIN attached)

1. Am I applying too soon after receiving my ITIN?
2. Is the repeated income verification likely due to the new ITIN having no U.S. tax or credit history attached?

Appreciate any insight from those who’ve experienced something similar.

 

[DAC1]

Hey all,

My first Global Transfer was approved on 20/09/25 (Hilton Aspire).

I received my ITIN in early Dec. Since then, every new Amex application (Jan, Feb) has been flagged for income verification with a request for Form 4506-T.

The issue is that my income is earned in Australia, and Amex does not accept Australian payslips. I also don’t have any U.S. tax transcripts yet, so submitting a 4506-T isn’t helpful.

Recent Applications:

• 03/01/26 – Gold Card → Provide required information
• 04/01/26 – Hilton Surpass → Provide required information
• 19/02/26 – Hilton (no AF) → Provide required information

For these 3, I withdrew or let them lapse due to the 4506-T request. However, they still appear in the application status portal. Do these eventually drop off, or do they remain permanently?

• 27/02/26 – Hilton Surpass (via Global Transfer link) → In progress, additional information required

I called the Global Transfer line and was told to wait 5 business days for a letter regarding income verification. I assume this will be another 4506-T request.

First 3 applications: submitted through the standard Amex US website (ITIN attached)
Latest application: submitted via Global Transfer link (ITIN attached)

1. Am I applying too soon after receiving my ITIN?
2. Is the repeated income verification likely due to the new ITIN having no U.S. tax or credit history attached?

Appreciate any insight from those who’ve experienced something similar.

What income are you reporting in your applications?

 

[AppleJune]

What income are you reporting in your applications?

Employed - 72k USD, is that too high? I read somewhere people mentioned that we should report lower and they accept Bank statement that listed deposit/transfer from Australia as income so probably shounld list full salary since you wont transfer 100% to US account

 

[georgie23]

seems to be more and more requests for 4506 - sometimes lower income may get around it- make sure paid off all cards when applying and try different cards - you seem to be doing the right things. Try one with a lower income of say 60K or 50K - can't hurt - wait 30 days to let them lapse
- pass applications will always appear and once you apply for many they may not show up in the application portal at all. good luck

 

[AppleJune]

seems to be more and more requests for 4506 - sometimes lower income may get around it- make sure paid off all cards when applying and try different cards - you seem to be doing the right things. Try one with a lower income of say 60K or 50K - can't hurt - wait 30 days to let them lapse
- pass applications will always appear and once you apply for many they may not show up in the application portal at all. good luck

Thanks, I always pay off when I log a new application.

For the income, I worried once; I changed my income amount in the application, it could trigger Financial Review on my existing card, so I have been submitting the same amount that I reported initially for my first card.

 

[georgie23]

I got a FR about a year ago - most seem to be related to lots of new credit or a ramp up in spending (or both)
Mine was both - got new cards and increased spending to about 3 x previously monthly spend on a short period of time.

I don’t think the income is the be all especially to trigger a FR - lots of people spend huge amounts each month and don’t have a huge income but build up slowly and show a good pattern of paying off cards

 

[Grrr]

I got a FR about a year ago

Did you send your Aus income statements ?
If not, are you just pushing funds in and out of your US account(s) to show capacity ?

 

[AppleJune]

It is definitely something to do with the ITIN, I believe, as I just tried to submit for my partner (clean profile, not submitted any application since 1st card back in Sept, 75k income, NO ITIN) and I got instant approval.....

 

[georgie23]

Did you send your Aus income statements ?
If not, are you just pushing funds in and out of your US account(s) to show capacity ?

Amex US cant use Foreign income - if get an FR ALWAYS say you are self employed - all they want then is bank statements from 2 banks you pay your amex from and the last 2 statements only.

If mention anything other than self employed they may want pay stubs and that will lead to shut down

 

[Grrr]

I believe, as I just tried to submit for my partner (clean profile, not submitted any application since 1st card back in Sept, 75k income, NO ITIN

GT you mean ? You couldn’t do that with no ITIN otherwise ?

 

[georgie23]

It is definitely something to do with the ITIN, I believe, as I just tried to submit for my partner (clean profile, not submitted any application since 1st card back in Sept, 75k income, NO ITIN) and I got instant approval.....

this is the beauty and frustration - P1 and P2 can lead to complete different outcome even with the exact same details

 

[AppleJune]

GT you mean ? You couldn’t do that with no ITIN otherwise ?

GT you mean ? You couldn’t do that with no ITIN otherwise

Yes, GT, but since I have an ITIN, I tried to attach ITIN to all my applications. I tried the first 3 with the normal Amex website, which led to 4506-, T, so I tried again today after waiting for a month using GT. However, I still submitted my ITIN in that application, and it led to the same result as before. I even called the GT team, and they said just wait for the letter (as they need to verify the income), that's what they said on the phone.