Strategy to obtain US Amex

[_TheTraveller_]

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.....

If we go back to original recommendations for the journey, it was always recommended that when you got FICO score, that's when you would apply for a 2nd card. Sometimes with GT you could get around it but there was no guarantee.

My guess is that if you tried to apply without an ITIN you might get past it but with an ITIN you're getting flagged cause you have no credit file hence you're getting hit with income verification.

Do you have a credit file on EX or EQ yet? Have you tried looking yourself up?

 

[blacksultan]

9 its issued in Dec 25

Did you do it yourself or use an agent ?

 

[AppleJune]

Did you do it yourself or use an agent ?

I got it thought CAA and I also got the letter confirmation from IRS for the ITIN issued (US address listed on the letter)

 

[AppleJune]

If we go back to original recommendations for the journey, it was always recommended that when you got FICO score, that's when you would apply for a 2nd card. Sometimes with GT you could get around it but there was no guarantee.

My guess is that if you tried to apply without an ITIN you might get past it but with an ITIN you're getting flagged cause you have no credit file hence you're getting hit with income verification.

Do you have a credit file on EX or EQ yet? Have you tried looking yourself up?

I don't think I have a credit file linked to my ITIN on EX or EQ yet, as it's only been 2 months since I got it. When I apply again, I would assume Amex would use its internal score to assess the application.

I tried applying again today through GT without an ITIN for a Hilton no-annual-fee card and still got sent straight to wait 14 days.

Will probably stop for the next 2 months to get more time, just don't want to miss the current 1 free night promo with Hilton

 

[Ktan89]

Is there a AMEX FX calculator or daily rates shown anywhere? I can find Visa and MC but not amex.
Looking to do a points transfer from AU to US - how long does it take?

 

[georgie23]

Is there a AMEX FX calculator or daily rates shown anywhere? I can find Visa and MC but not amex.
Looking to do a points transfer from AU to US - how long does it take?

its ballpark exactly the standard FX rate and usually 5-7 days - but it might not be todays rate it might be in 3 days times when it goes through - its going to be 0.7 x roughly - big picture - its been a pretty good time from the last few years now to do it

 

[Ktan89]

its ballpark exactly the standard FX rate and usually 5-7 days - but it might not be todays rate it might be in 3 days times when it goes through - its going to be 0.7 x roughly - big picture - its been a pretty good time from the last few years now to do it

Ahhh, I thought it'll be locked to the day requested.. here is am trying to time it best HAHA.
Big difference when transferring 1m points though. Probably shouldve done it last week. Knowing my luck the aud will drop now..

 

[georgie23]

Ahhh, I thought it'll be locked to the day requested.. here is am trying to time it best HAHA.
Big difference when transferring 1m points though. Probably shouldve done it last week. Knowing my luck the aud will drop now..

glass is half full - you get to use them in US. I have done it 3 times now and not sure from when I have chatted to them that they have actually actioned it - plus US/AU times zone differences etc etc - makes it practically impossible to know the exact day of when it is transferred

 

[Ktan89]

glass is half full - you get to use them in US. I have done it 3 times now and not sure from when I have chatted to them that they have actually actioned it - plus US/AU times zone differences etc etc - makes it practically impossible to know the exact day of when it is transferred

It is only allowed once a year correct?

 

[georgie23]

It is only allowed once a year correct?

yes

 

[albyd]

That’s right 1x per annum. Having said that, is this meant to be a GT ‘courtesy’? Might there come a point where they say ‘no more’? I hope not but just playing the devil’s advocate here. Getting a haircut to 0.7x then 1:1 to supported airlines is much better than 0.33x to Amex AU’s airline partners. I can see the attraction for many taking this route.

 

[blacksultan]

yes

Once in 12 months

 

[albyd]

I came across this YouTube video courtesy of Gemini earlier today. I think it quite neatly summarises what to do to get started on the path to US credit cards. It also includes some insights I hadn't thought about - like a lease document to prove address residency and a couple of other tips including how to tell if the address you're about to choose is identified as "commercial" or "residential". I think that this thread is worth reading through to get clear on some of the challenges and bank/issuer "foibles" you might encounter which this video doesn't cover. It really isn't a walk in the park as might be implied by this video but it's a good place to start.

YMMV.

 

[metaphase]

Haha we've clearly had spookily similar ideas with looking at AI @albyd ! As this thread has now hit 700 pages I put it into NotebookLM and it generated this podcast chatting about the things - I've only listed to the first few minutes but quite impressive what it manages! Hacking_US_Credit_Cards_From_Abroad.m4a

 

[diamondhands]

Has anyone opened a HSBC card recently?

I was able to open US checking and savings accounts smoothly. I then called the U.S. premier line and was sent an application for the Elite card through Adobe Sign, however that has been rejected due to “insufficient bank relationship with HSBC”. I’ve then spent the past month using my HSBC U.S. debit card buying lunches and other small transactions to try and show some sort of bank relationship in the U.S. and have applied online and been rejected again. The application is obviously being rejected before running any ID or credit checks.

I just called the Australian international banking center to see if they could initiate an application on the Australian side. They said they only help with bank accounts and I’d need to fly to the U.S. and apply at a branch in person for a credit card.

Have others done this step differently?

 

[N0mad]

Has anyone opened a HSBC card recently?

I was able to open US checking and savings accounts smoothly. I then called the U.S. premier line and was sent an application for the Elite card through Adobe Sign, however that has been rejected due to “insufficient bank relationship with HSBC”. I’ve then spent the past month using my HSBC U.S. debit card buying lunches and other small transactions to try and show some sort of bank relationship in the U.S. and have applied online and been rejected again. The application is obviously being rejected before running any ID or credit checks.

I just called the Australian international banking center to see if they could initiate an application on the Australian side. They said they only help with bank accounts and I’d need to fly to the U.S. and apply at a branch in person for a credit card.

Have others done this step differently?

are you a premier client through your Australian relationship?

we basically all did the same thing, become premier clients in Australia, open US bank Accounts, apply for credit card over phone and through adobe form although some were able to apply online.

 

[diamondhands]

are you a premier client through your Australian relationship?

we basically all did the same thing, become premier clients in Australia, open US bank Accounts, apply for credit card over phone and through adobe form although some were able to apply online.

Yeah Australian premier. Opened my account in the Perth branch and showed pay slips to get premier status straight away. Then had to wait 30 days to open the US checking and transaction accounts and they were both opened without fuss on day 30. Those US accounts were opened almost 2 months ago now.

Just at a bit of a loss now about what to do next. I think I’ll try getting ahold of the US credit line tonight.

 

[N0mad]

Yeah Australian premier. Opened my account in the Perth branch and showed pay slips to get premier status straight away. Then had to wait 30 days to open the US checking and transaction accounts and they were both opened without fuss on day 30. Those US accounts were opened almost 2 months ago now.

Just at a bit of a loss now about what to do next. I think I’ll try getting ahold of the US credit line tonight.

ok, i think you have followed the right process but perhaps it was too soon after establishing the relationship (just a guess).

i didn't open a credit card until after several months at least of having accounts in both Australia and US, hopefully others have DPs on timing of credit cards for you.

 

[metaphase]

Yeah, sorry to hear that - I'd been Prem for a few years with HSBC so not sure if that relatively short time was perhaps the problem?

 

[albyd]

When I did it - I recall in 2019, when I opened my checking account, I told them I'd like a CC too. I got sent a prefilled application form from my RM (I haven't had one since the sale of the retail customer base) through Adobe and then received it delivered in AU a few weeks later. I suspect it's gotten more difficult since then. I have the Premier CC - was "free" at the time though not anymore. I made my elderly mother a supp and she uses it for supermarket shopping since it's 3x in AU.