Strategy to obtain US Amex

[albyd]

I use Revolut to HSBC to fund my card spend. The FX risk means for particularly chunky purchases, I hedge straight away especially should there be a huge swing in the currency against me. Sometimes, I'm tempted to wait. I put a large (by my standards) charge on Saturday on my US Amex and bought the USD on Revolut within minutes - I had a good feeling the AUD would rise closer to 70c and it has but I think risk management is key especially when we're doing this for the points. I left the USD in Revolut most of the week and transferred to HSBC last night. I've previously got the "don't use us as a money transfer service" email so leave it there for a few days so it's not entirely obvious what I'm doing and Revolut gets to make some $$ from my interest free funds. YMMV.

 

[AppleJune]

American Express fined $350 million for insufficient anti-money laundering program​

Hope nothing related to NRA ITIN. Otherwise, they're going to be scorched for the next few months or even years

 

[GerrardGerrard]

Anyone managed to open a US paypal account as a non resident?

 

[AppleJune]

No issues opened previously, just submit my ITIN on SSN field and upload Passport when account required verification

 

[GDale]

Anyone managed to open a US paypal account as a non resident?

No issues at all, and I'm now targeted all the time for PayPal credit products

 

[GDale]

Hoping for some advice please - for those who have gone over to apply for cards and accounts in branch, is it generally better to do it closer or further away from where your address is?

 

[velli25]

For those who have applied for the HSBC US cards, what was the process? I’ve read some people filled forms vs online application. Is it as simple as logging into your USA account and then applying?

 

[N0mad]

For those who have applied for the HSBC US cards, what was the process? I’ve read some people filled forms vs online application. Is it as simple as logging into your USA account and then applying?

some have been able to apply online, most need to call in and apply over the phone where they send you a pdf app to sign

 

[AppleJune]

HSBC currently offers a 20% bonus with Flying Blue. They usually don't offer a transfer bonus that often, so if you need to book with SkyTeam, then do a transfer

 

[cmacma]

After months of reading this thread, I finally went for it and applied for the Bonvoy Brilliant since it has the current 200k bonus. I intended to apply for the green, but I guess that’s next now.

It was surprisingly easy.

I set up address (travelling Mailbox) after searching for a non PMB address and phone (Tello), and card was approved today with 15k limit using global transfer from my NZ account.

Amex wanted a recent statement showing my US address, so I just paid my Tello account early even though its on autopayment and this generated a statement, so that was $6 well spent.

I called AmEx after approval, said I was travelling, but as other posters have said Amex told me to wait a few days as card is already on the way to my USA address and I can then request a new one sent to my overseas address.

I have one problem with Tello, I consistently lose signal. I have to turn off Wi-Fi and reboot, and I might then get signal for a few minutes hopefully in time to receive validation texts from Amex. I also toggle VPN to USA and that sometimes helps.

I have spent a few hours today on the Tello site playing with various settings without resolution so will call them if you more experienced used cannot help, PS, yes, I have searched the thread, and it seems pretty common but nothing specific to my problem came up. I am in New Zealand so it might be a local problem any suggestions appreciated.

Did US AMEX require require you to provide a US TIN or SSA to support your application? Thanks