Strategy to obtain US Amex

[aaa99]

Should have read this before transferring a bigger sum over

 

[nthd_nthd]

Am I right it would be reasonable to apply for another Amex then but this time and when doing so I enter my ITIN in the application form to 'link' it to my Amex history to date?

Yes

the Chase IHG card - would you leave it a while after the 2nd Amex application with an ITIN to allow some credit file to build up first?

Should leave it until your Credit score higher and Credit history Seasoned. Ppl recommend for over 12 month of Credit History in U.S

Would it be worth opening a Chase checking account when I'm next in the US using my ITIN as a prelude to applying for the CC

Yes

 

[blacksultan]

Did you have to fund your HSBC USD account before applying for the premier card? Is, how much is recommended?

Don’t have to . Won’t harm anyway

Could you elaborate on how this works?

Just chat with them for it . That’s if u don’t already have 7500 points required .

 

[cathalm8]

Hi guys is there any downside to changing the home and mailing address on your AMEX USA profile to an Australian address? My P2 has her home and mailing address set as our Australian address and the last time she got a card it got sent straight to Aus without even needing to call them.

 

[blacksultan]

Hi guys is there any downside to changing the home and mailing address on your AMEX USA profile to an Australian address? My P2 has her home and mailing address set as our Australian address and the last time she got a card it got sent straight to Aus without even needing to call them.

As I found out in my case with chase , they sent a letter to my oz address and since I didn’t respond within a week or so they closed my cards !

 

[DC3]

Hi guys is there any downside to changing the home and mailing address on your AMEX USA profile to an Australian address? My P2 has her home and mailing address set as our Australian address and the last time she got a card it got sent straight to Aus without even needing to call them.

Just for clarification, P2’s card is a US Amex?

I guess that the P2 AU address was set-up over the phone and not on-line?

 

[Triben]

Just for clarification, P2’s card is a US Amex?

I guess that the P2 AU address was set-up over the phone and not on-line?

You can do it with via the chat service, I have updated AU address as my mailing address.

 

[cathalm8]

Just for clarification, P2’s card is a US Amex?

I guess that the P2 AU address was set-up over the phone and not on-line?

Yeah US amex, she likely asked for delivery to aus and they added her aus address as her mailing address and the next card got sent directly to aus

 

[Darkpulsar]

For US branch visits, is there anywhere else besides Chase, BofA, and Citi should look to book appointments?

U$1500 for both Chase and BofA, and U$500 for Citi checking to avoid monthly fees seems like a fair bit to tie forever lol.

And what CC apps in-branch seems like best to ask of any approvals and if not apply for Chase Freedom Rise and/or BofA Customised Cash? Otherwise secured cards if the banker offers that?

Currently have HSBC Premier Mastercard Nov 2025 and Amex Green GT Jan 2026 + HBSC checking. ITIN recently received.

 

[DAC1]

For US branch visits, is there anywhere else besides Chase, BofA, and Citi should look to book appointments?

U$1500 for both Chase and BofA, and U$500 for Citi checking to avoid monthly fees seems like a fair bit to tie forever lol.

And what CC apps in-branch seems like best to ask of any approvals and if not apply for Chase Freedom Rise and/or BofA Customised Cash? Otherwise secured cards if the banker offers that?

Currently have HSBC Premier Mastercard Nov 2025 and Amex Green GT Jan 2026 + HBSC checking. ITIN recently received.

Add Wells Fargo to that for a checking bonus. You can also give SoFi a go virtually while in the US.

And thats the price we pay for fee free banking in the USA unfortunately.

Other than the type of cards you’ve mentioned, you don’t really have much shot at any of the decent Chase or BofA cards with less than 12 months (Chase) or 24 months (BofA) of history. CSP/CSR will be more realistic once you have 12 months and the BofA Alaska Atmos cards anecdotally require 24 months (and an in person verification if you have an ITIN - but should be able to be bypassed if you set your BofA account up with your ITIN attached). .

You could consider a Freedom Rise/Customised Cash/secured card but you already have two cards. If you add one or two of those, you’re starting to push up closer to some of the limits that Chase and BofA impose on number of recently opened accounts when you are eligible for those cards.

 

[DAC1]

Am I right it would be reasonable to apply for another Amex then but this time and when doing so I enter my ITIN in the application form to 'link' it to my Amex history to date?

Yes

Do I just apply directly on the Amex US site and put ITIN in SSN field?

Yes

I'm also interested in the Chase IHG card - would you leave it a while after the 2nd Amex application with an ITIN to allow some credit file to build up first? Would it be worth opening a Chase checking account when I'm next in the US using my ITIN as a prelude to applying for the CC?

Yes. Chase generally wants 12 months of history too before applying, and that will be measured by the time of your first card on your credit record. That might be HSBC (some see it appear on their report, mine personally has not appeared even after 10 months) or it might be your first Amex.

As to whether a Chase account helps you - the jury is out. On one hand, Chase does anecdotally put some value on a relationship (although not as much as banks like BofA). On the other hand, a bank account with a financial institution increases the scrutiny and eyes on your account and increases the risk of a shut down (including of any credit cards). That risk is diminished where you have credit accounts only.

 

[metaphase]

As to whether a Chase account helps you - the jury is out. On one hand, Chase does anecdotally put some value on a relationship (although not as much as banks like BofA). On the other hand, a bank account with a financial institution increases the scrutiny and eyes on your account and increases the risk of a shut down (including of any credit cards). That risk is diminished where you have credit accounts only.

Ah OK, that's very interesting - I wasn't aware of that potential negative aspect! Sounds like 2nd Amex with ITIN is definitely worth doing then will leave it for another six months before considering a Chase application.

 

[aaa99]

Here is a data point.

While I wait for HSBC to process my Premier CC, I tried the C1 pre-approval tool.
It pre-approved me for the Venture One for good credit card.
Not very exciting, but this was surprising as this meant my ITIN is already reporting to credit bureaus?
Only called up BoFA to add my new ITIN 10 days prior.
I had a BoFA secured card statement generate between then and today.

I got a little curious and went to check out Venture X pre-approval link (from this thread) as well (since it said it won't do a hard pull either). As expected, it said I wasn't pre-approved.
They sent me a letter explaining the reason (not enough history), but more interestingly, it already had a TransUnion score of around 730. I didn't expect scores to propagate so fast across the bureaus and it is reassuring? This could be one way to get your credit score

For now, I await the result of HSBC Premier application before doing any hard applications.

 

[Ktan89]

Does HSBC premier CC get automatically approved if you have a US premier checking with them? Should I make some transaction on the checking first? - I have been using wise instead for cheaper rates i think.

Also, can someone please confirm if the x3 gas and grocery work here please

 

[aaa99]

Does HSBC premier CC get automatically approved if you have a US premier checking with them? Should I make some transaction on the checking first? - I have been using wise instead for cheaper rates i think.

Also, can someone please confirm if the x3 gas and grocery work here please

Not from my experience....

I applied via a US RM as discussed in this forum. They sent me a pre-filled form which I submitted.
It was auto declined and I was asked to fund my USD account.

Still waiting for the manual processing.

 

[Triben]

Does HSBC premier CC get automatically approved if you have a US premier checking with them? Should I make some transaction on the checking first? - I have been using wise instead for cheaper rates i think.

Also, can someone please confirm if the x3 gas and grocery work here please

Yes gas & grocery x3 point each dollar

 

[Ktan89]

Not from my experience....

I applied via a US RM as discussed in this forum. They sent me a pre-filled form which I submitted.
It was auto declined and I was asked to fund my USD account.

Still waiting for the manual processing.

Thanks for your DP. I'll add some funds and make a few transactions through the checking account before applying. Do you reach out to the RM via chat/email?

Yes gas & grocery x3 point each dollar

Thank you. I hope 7/11 service stations register the bonus

 

[metaphase]

Does HSBC premier CC get automatically approved if you have a US premier checking with them? Should I make some transaction on the checking first? - I have been using wise instead for cheaper rates i think.

Not automatically for the Elite, they needed last payslip for me (see my post a few weeks back re my experience).

 

[fafnersbane]

Had my HSBC Elite approved today (I think) after having the checking account opened for a week (with ~$3k USD parked in it but no purchases).

- I applied for the credit card online
- 24hrs later received an email saying to expect another with a link to a document portal (to upload payslips I assume).
- Another 24 hours pass and I never received the separate link so called up the US Premier support line.
- Whilst on the phone to them I logged in to the app. and saw that the Credit card account showed up including last 4 digits of the card number.
- Still stayed on the phonecall to ask about the separate document portal link but the person said that since the account was already showing that there was nothing further for me to do.

 

[metaphase]

That seems a much more seamless process than I had - forced to use PDF application rather than online and then took quite a while to get sorted. Enjoy the card though, it's my go-to one for travel/dining spend and even on routine spend it's very reasonable when you spend the points via the travel portal.