Strategy to obtain US Amex

[larrymull]

well you don’t need to keep any money in your account, as long as you make that deposit you’ll qualify and keep your premier status
You can withdraw the money right after the deposit

Ok good to know, is it per month or can you do it once and then opt out? I’m guessing all you are really using it for is to confirm address and setting up a US bank account.

 

[nomad2000]

Ok good to know, is it per month or can you do it once and then opt out? I’m guessing all you are really using it for is to confirm address and setting up a US bank account.

technically you once you become a premier you can open you open your US account, wait for a statement after a month and then forget about the premier status.
however, the HSBC account is a good option to pay your AmEx bills too.
Or you can use things like Wise to pay for those bills if you don't wanna keep your HSBC account as well.
Once your Premier status is gone, HSBC's US Premier bank account will have a monthly fee of $50 or so I think for account maintenance.

 

[blacksultan]

I have been given a referral for US Amex Platinum with a 150k MR bonus.

When I click on “I don’t have a SSN, let’s log in and do a global transfer” it proceeds to say that such offer is no longer available and can get only 100k MR

True . That’s what tends to happen .

Post automatically merged: Aug 4, 2022

Yes this is a problem, and it is a steep learning curve. Enjoyable but steep. After reading for days about the strategy to undertake, what is the best US bank to open an account up from OZ? I see Bank of A given plenty of thumbs up but hard if I am not in the US, I was actually there in May, would have been good if I found this earlier.

Hsbc

 

[blacksultan]

I have an ITIN but I suspect it'll be easier to go through GT as I don't have any other US cards.

Those of you who got an ITIN later on, how did you link it to your account? Can it be done online or did you have to call Amex?

Can’t do online . They asked me to mail a letter , along with itin and state Id / passport but I managed to link it with a fresh Amex application .

 

[larrymull]

technically you once you become a premier you can open you open your US account, wait for a statement after a month and then forget about the premier status.
however, the HSBC account is a good option to pay your AmEx bills too.
Or you can use things like Wise to pay for those bills if you don't wanna keep your HSBC account as well.
Once your Premier status is gone, HSBC's US Premier bank account will have a monthly fee of $50 or so I think for account maintenance.

Yes I think I’d just use the hsbc account for the verification, then close it. Hopefully when I do my GT they won’t need a verification of my US address. I can use my brother’s P.O. Box address that may be a better option than a MyUS address.

 

[Daventry]

Can’t do online . They asked me to mail a letter , along with itin and state Id / passport but I managed to link it with a fresh Amex application .

Was that a non-GT application?

 

[blacksultan]

Was that a non-GT application?

Yes . Third Amex .

 

[MikeG]

Would like to know what GT stands for. Guessing its not Grand Turismo...

 

[larrymull]

Would like to know what GT stands for. Guessing its not Grand Turismo...

Global transfer through your Australian Amex Card.

Post automatically merged: Aug 5, 2022

For my global transfer, should I have a text now (US phone number) to input in the application or is an Aussie one ok? Also are they flagging myUS addresses these days?

 

[levelnine]

For my global transfer, should I have a text now (US phone number) to input in the application or is an Aussie one ok?

You'll need a US number. Text Now works fine with Amex in my experience.

 

[DC3]

Would like to know what GT stands for. Guessing its not Grand Turismo...

It’s Gin and Tonic

 

[larrymull]

It’s Gin and Tonic

it's 8.45am Friday morning and now I am craving one!

 

[MikeG]

Thanks

 

[albyd]

If you can deposit $9k+ a month into an account (salary or otherwise) you can go down the HSBC premier path.
Open an HSBC bank account in Australia and qualify for the "Premier" status. Then you can use your status

Does this still work even though HSBC has exited US consumer banking & are Premier only and need a balance >$US100k tostAy with them? Probably only a strategy for a much narrower group of people now?

 

[nomad2000]

Does this still work even though HSBC has exited US consumer banking & are Premier only and need a balance >$US100k tostAy with them? Probably only a strategy for a much narrower group of people now?

I did it a few months ago, I qualified for Premier in AU and opened a US Premier account through the HSBC US international banking center.
I think it'd still work.

 

[blacksultan]

Does this still work even though HSBC has exited US consumer banking & are Premier only and need a balance >$US100k tostAy with them? Probably only a strategy for a much narrower group of people now?

Actually it might be easier now . Open an account directly with them in the us. Online through new simplified process for non residents . Then qualify for premier with oz and request reciprocal benefits in us .
Might be easier then opening US account through IBC.

 

[DC3]

... Open an account directly with them in the us. Online through new simplified process for non residents …

“new simplified process for non residents” Sounds interesting.

 

[albyd]

Thanks for sharing guys. That sounds a lot easier than it was when I did it. I was so glad I do this during lock downs when we couldn’t travel even if we wanted to. I’m still bewildered why Citi and Wells both with whom I’d been banking for years wouldn’t open a new account for me unless I went into a branch or had an SSN to do so online.

 

[blacksultan]

The hsbc us premier cc now has an increased number of travel partners . 2 hotels and 12 airline .

 

[RAM]

In the US you really need to use a Visa card or cash to pay at Costco. They don’t take MasterCard nor Amex.Their best products are King Crab legs and Kirkland chocolate Macadamias.
Getting stuck with a phone and or credit card that does not work in the US would be a real concern. I go to a T mobile store to get connected. It is quick and easy.
My US bank branch moved out of Ralphs supermarket in Marina del Rey CA during the pandemic but there was another branch down the street so that was ok.
We get showered with credit card offers including Amex Platinum with a 100,000 point sign on. I have stayed with Amex Gold with autopay Off the US Bank account.
Getting to the US after 2.5 years meant I was swamped with mail about 1 foot high.
To do funds transfers to the US we use Bell FX or Westpac.

For FX transfers just about anywhere - I found OzForex the best starting back in the early 2000s. Changed its name a few years back to OFX now.

Worth a look vs any bank offerings. They have a 'charge-free' threshold depending on your home currency. For the AUD it is $10k or more, otherwise they add a $15 service fee. The spread they charge from the mid-rate (if you juust want to transact then & there) varies by size & seems to be about 1.1% or so.

Or, you can just set a level you are happy to transact at (if you enjoy the casino).