Strategy to obtain US Amex

[AppleJune]

Lots of report that C1 wont accept foreign passport as ID now especially if it goes with ITIN instead SSN. Thing seem getting strict.

 

[albyd]

Proof address and ID. Not sure of result yet as I just submitted. Will update on how it goes

What did you just submit?
When they asked me for ID, it was only US govt issued ID. They wouldn’t accept my AU passport.
I applied without a VPN and it was fine (different situation to yours as you already had a C1 product).
C1 card is now my daily driver. Hope it doesn’t get converted to Discover. YMMV.

 

[Grrr]

Hope it doesn’t get converted to Discover

That would be terrible. Hopefully they keep the Venture X as Visa

 

[AppleJune]

What did you just submit?
When they asked me for ID, it was only US govt issued ID. They wouldn’t accept my AU passport.
I applied without a VPN and it was fine (different situation to yours as you already had a C1 product).
C1 card is now my daily driver. Hope it doesn’t get converted to Discover. YMMV.

How did you pass their request if they dont accept your AU passport?

 

[albyd]

How did you pass their request if they dont accept your AU passport?

They accepted my AU passport when I applied with an AU IP address and no VPN. Assuming they knew on previous attempts, I'd applied using a VPN and so asked for harder to get things like a US govt issued ID supposedly as I was a fraudster..

 

[_TheTraveller_]

Wanted to ask the brain trust, I was looking at opening a Australia based brokage account for US shares. They asked whether I have an ITIN For tax treaty purposes, are there any concerns if I provide it?

 

[albyd]

I’m currently setting up an Interactive Brokers account. It’s licensed in AU thought they’re a US company. I have not been asked for US ITIN.

You could always look at Silo markets. It’s backend is Interactive Brokers. Though, you’d likely need to be US based or convince Silo you’re in the US. Apparently, according to the editorials about it in YouTube, you can earn credit card style points. I haven’t looked into it personally. YMMV.

 

[Sharkster]

I managed to get the Hilton Honors no AF card approved via GT from my Uk Amex. I used a mail forwarding service for the address but did not sign up for their service as I can’t be bothered to pay the subscription, notarise the USPS form and pay for forwarding just for one card. I will just ask Amex to ship to overseas after 10 days. For the phone number I used Anveo, it even forwards all sms to my Uk number.

My plan is to apply for another US Amex after 9-10 months, perhaps the gold if there will be a 100k sign up bonus which I could then downgrade to Green. Will I have to do a global transfer again or can I just apply for it within my US Amex account without even having an ITIN/SSN? I want to close my Uk Amex card because you can only get a sign up bonus once every 24 months and I don’t really use it either.

 

[DC3]

I managed to get the Hilton Honors no AF card approved via GT from my Uk Amex. I used a mail forwarding service for the address but did not sign up for their service as I can’t be bothered to pay the subscription, notarise the USPS form and pay for forwarding just for one card. I will just ask Amex to ship to overseas after 10 days. For the phone number I used Anveo, it even forwards all sms to my Uk number.

My plan is to apply for another US Amex after 9-10 months, perhaps the gold if there will be a 100k sign up bonus which I could then downgrade to Green. Will I have to do a global transfer again or can I just apply for it within my US Amex account without even having an ITIN/SSN? I want to close my Uk Amex card because you can only get a sign up bonus once every 24 months and I don’t really use it either.

With no subscription, the mail forwarder may return any (Amex) mail to sender. This could be a red flag at Amex (i.e. would appear to not be your US address).

I have four Amex cards, all by GT through an AMEX AU relationship, but that was done several years ago using a mail forwarder.

 

[Grrr]

can I just apply for it within my US Amex account without even having an ITIN/SSN

You need an ITIN/SSN to apply for anything from within a US Amex account

 

[PikachuFF]

Will I have to do a global transfer again

I have four Amex cards, all by GT through an AMEX AU relationship, but that was done several years ago using a mail forwarder.

Similar to @DC3 , but more recently:

• GT via Amex AU in April
• ITIN in August
• Second GT (with ITIN on the application) in October

All through a mail forwarder.

 

[Amber_PP]

Similar to @DC3 , but more recently:

• GT via Amex AU in April
• ITIN in August
• Second GT (with ITIN on the application) in October

All through a mail forwarder.

Which mail forwarder if you don't mind me asking? A lot of the popular ones seem to have been recently burned by Amex.

 

[Sharkster]

With no subscription, the mail forwarder may return any (Amex) mail to sender. This could be a red flag at Amex (i.e. would appear to not be your US address).

I have four Amex cards, all by GT through an AMEX AU relationship, but that was done several years ago using a mail forwarder.

I agree using a mail forwarder without subscribing wasn’t the wisest move but my plan was to enable paperless and to ask them to ship my card overseas thereon after.

From what I have seen indeed, to request another card via the myaccount page you need SSN/ITIN. However I read applying over the phone can bypass that requirement. There is also the possibility of doing GT again as well. In any case I would only look into getting another card if they introduce a good new entry level MR card like the Green without any fx fees as well.

 

[AppleJune]

I agree using a mail forwarder without subscribing wasn’t the wisest move but my plan was to enable paperless and to ask them to ship my card overseas thereon after.

From what I have seen indeed, to request another card via the myaccount page you need SSN/ITIN. However I read applying over the phone can bypass that requirement. There is also the possibility of doing GT again as well. In any case I would only look into getting another card if they introduce a good new entry level MR card like the Green without any fx fees as well.

If they flag your account for fraud, even a second GT application will still be linked to the previous application in their system. By then, you’ll already have a profile with Amex. Submitting a GT application is usually just a way to bypass the ITIN requirement; they still assess your application using your name, phone number, address, and other details to match it to your credit profile. You won’t appear as a completely new person to them. I recently did GT two more times, and they gave me a much lower balance than with my first application. When I called GT, they already knew I had applied through GT before and said my application had been assessed like a normal application. So, if they flag you for fraud, that’s another separate issue.


Amex usually doesn’t send a first card overseas, as far as I remember, but you could try.

 

[albyd]

I agree using a mail forwarder without subscribing wasn’t the wisest move but my plan was to enable paperless and to ask them to ship my card overseas thereon after.

I think that what you are doing is to try to get the extra costs down for this workaround. It costs what it costs. You need to determine whether the extra costs are worth it for the amount of spend you might put through this channel vs an AU card. Otherwise, not only will you get shut down for fraud, you will get issuers to look more closely at those of us who are being good citizens and playing by the rules. This is a workaround not an entitlement.
We all wish we could get our cards shipped by the issuer to AU to circumvent the egregious fees the forwarders charge. It’s just not worth the grief … end rant.