Strategy to obtain US Amex

[nomad2000]

Thanks for the info.

I don't seem to have a history section when I enter into the FICO score section.

You might need to wait for a couple months after you get your first Fico on AmEx.
Fico score usually takes at least 6 months (if not more) to generate.

 

[_TheTraveller_]

You might need to wait for a couple months after you get your first Fico on AmEx.
Fico score usually takes at least 6 months (if not more) to generate.

I actually see my FICO score but I was wondering whether there was any way on the amex site that showed my previous history but not a major deal.

I've read upthread Citibank didn't need an ITIN. Is this still the case and what are people's recommendations for the length of time between applications?

 

[nomad2000]

I actually see my FICO score but I was wondering whether there was any way on the amex site that showed my previous history but not a major deal.

I've read upthread Citibank didn't need an ITIN. Is this still the case and what are people's recommendations for the length of time between applications?

AmEx also has a history for you FICO score from the time it gets shown on your profile but anything prior to that you gotta check somewhere else.
Online applications with Citi would still require ITIN/SSN, I believe you need to physically go into a branch to open a bank account and/or a credit card without an ITIN/SSN

Post automatically merged: Feb 1, 2023

I actually see my FICO score but I was wondering whether there was any way on the amex site that showed my previous history but not a major deal.

I've read upthread Citibank didn't need an ITIN. Is this still the case and what are people's recommendations for the length of time between applications?

In terms of space between applications, it really depends on your credit profile, a long thick profile doesn't need that much, you could even apply for multiple cards in a month (or sometimes in a week)
But with a thin/short history, I'd say at least 3 months and better yet 6 months

 

[levelnine]

I've read upthread Citibank didn't need an ITIN. Is this still the case and what are people's recommendations for the length of time between applications?

If you're talking about Citi credit cards, I'd be wary about applying for them as a novice to US cards.

They are notorious for having terrible fraud systems, which are likely to be tripped by using the card overseas from the start. From everything I've read, you need a lot of patience and experience dealing with US bank phone reps.

 

[nj12]

I applied for the Chase Ink Cash card with the current 90k points offer end of Nov last year and after a couple rounds of asking for recon got approved for $3k.
I made the move start of Jan and applied for the Sapphire Preferred card to for the points transfer options, got denied after a couple days, asked for a recon, got denied again, asked for a recon again and got denied in 2 days, then after a week called again and asked for a another recon explaining that I got the hard pulls (I got 4 total HPs which was even odd to the agent) and it'd be disappointing to get denied.
Aaaaannnd, I just got the approval email this morning!

Congrats on the Chase approval with only a short credit history. Just wondering what address (was it myUS, friends, LLC address?) you used on the application and what verification Chase required when you applied for your first card. I'm assuming having an LLC and EIN made it somewhat easier.

 

[nomad2000]

Congrats on the Chase approval with only a short credit history. Just wondering what address (was it myUS, friends, LLC address?) you used on the application and what verification Chase required when you applied for your first card. I'm assuming having an LLC and EIN made it somewhat easier.

Thanks!
I used an LLC formation company called WyomingLLCAttorneys with a mail forwarding service for the cards.
Provided a copy of my EIN letter from IRS, a bank statement from HSBC and also my ITIN letter for both applications

Post automatically merged: Feb 1, 2023

Congrats on the Chase approval with only a short credit history. Just wondering what address (was it myUS, friends, LLC address?) you used on the application and what verification Chase required when you applied for your first card. I'm assuming having an LLC and EIN made it somewhat easier.

Also I have a postpaid service with AT&T so been able to receive all verification codes and etc from all banks without any issue

 

[Franko Costa]

Thanks!
I used an LLC formation company called WyomingLLCAttorneys with a mail forwarding service for the cards.
Provided a copy of my EIN letter from IRS, a bank statement from HSBC and also my ITIN letter for both applications

Post automatically merged: Feb 1, 2023

Also I have a postpaid service with AT&T so been able to receive all verification codes and etc from all banks without any issue

which mail forwarding service are you using?

 

[Viridis]

Quick question if i may ....

I have the Hilton Aspire card and recently got the Gold Card.

Whilst having spent about US$1500 in the first month of having the card (much of that at restaurants with 4x points) I have no points credited to my account.

The T&C's state that

Points will be credited to your Program account within 8-12 weeks after you have met the Threshold Amount.

When i first read that i assumed that it was the bonus 60,000 points that would be credited at this point, not the routine accumulation of points. Has anybody had any experience with this?

 

[Viridis]

Multiple card products. From the T&C's has anybody experienced this

Rewards Account Linking and Redemption Options: If you have multiple Products, we may automatically link them to the same Rewards Account. Your ability to use points may differ based on your Product and/or the Products linked to the Rewards Account. If you would like to link or delink any of the Products to the same Rewards Account, you may call us at the number listed on the back of your Card to do so.

Specifically, anybody had their co-branded cards involuntarily linked to their other (Gold or Platinum) card for points accumulation purposes?

 

[nomad2000]

which mail forwarding service are you using?

Same company, they forward my mails as well

 

[Franko Costa]

Same company, they forward my mails as well

ok. I assume you have other items there being forwarded as their (along with other providers) are quite expensive to just churn credit cards

 

[levelnine]

Whilst having spent about US$1500 in the first month of having the card (much of that at restaurants with 4x points) I have no points credited to my account.

They will credit to your account a few days after you pay the first statement.

 

[nomad2000]

ok. I assume you have other items there being forwarded as their (along with other providers) are quite expensive to just churn credit cards

I got it for my LLC and been using it for other mail as well, and I usually wait for a couple cards to arrive to request for a shipment.
I don't use their mail forwarding service, a few pieces of mail are included yearly with their LLC and registered agent service that I use and it costs extra to request for mail to be scanned and forwarded when I need to
Otherwise it's not worth it at all, too expensive

 

[mrsquare]

Quick question if i may ....

I have the Hilton Aspire card and recently got the Gold Card.

Whilst having spent about US$1500 in the first month of having the card (much of that at restaurants with 4x points) I have no points credited to my account.

The T&C's state that



When i first read that i assumed that it was the bonus 60,000 points that would be credited at this point, not the routine accumulation of points. Has anybody had any experience with this?

Having not held a charge card before I’m not sure if this is the case across all charge cards, but the points seem to post once the statement has posted and paid off. As opposed to credit cards where the points come in when the transaction posts. Just my experience with my Gold so far.

And no have not had my Marriott account linked to my Gold MR account so far. Seems to be separate and alright.

 

[Viridis]

They will credit to your account a few days after you pay the first statement.

Having not held a charge card before I’m not sure if this is the case across all charge cards, but the points seem to post once the statement has posted and paid off. As opposed to credit cards where the points come in when the transaction posts. Just my experience with my Gold so far.

And no have not had my Marriott account linked to my Gold MR account so far. Seems to be separate and alright.

Thank you both. Much appreciated. Direct debit gains on the 8th so I’ll check then.

Thanks again

 

[_TheTraveller_]

Can anyone let me know if there's anything I should be aware of with my strategy below?

I've applied for an ITIN and the first card I'll be applying for is the C1 Venture X. I'll wait 3-5 months for the C1 Savorone. Once that's done I'll look at applying for the CSP at a later date and that would put me at 5/24.

I think the combination of Venture X and Savorone is an amazing combination for daily spend. After that I can look at going for SUBs and churning through the upgrade and downgrade paths.

In order to get those C1 cards, is there anything else I need?

Things I'll have prior to the application:

• US bank statement for address verification
• US mobile phone invoice/statement with my address
• ITIN
• FICO >750

 

[BlueHorizonUK]

Can anyone let me know if there's anything I should be aware of with my strategy below?

I've applied for an ITIN and the first card I'll be applying for is the C1 Venture X. I'll wait 3-5 months for the C1 Savorone. Once that's done I'll look at applying for the CSP at a later date and that would put me at 5/24.

I think the combination of Venture X and Savorone is an amazing combination for daily spend. After that I can look at going for SUBs and churning through the upgrade and downgrade paths.

In order to get those C1 cards, is there anything else I need?

Things I'll have prior to the application:

• US bank statement for address verification
• US mobile phone invoice/statement with my address
• ITIN
• FICO >750

Do you have any cards already as Chase won't look at you if you have no credit history?

 

[_TheTraveller_]

Do you have any cards already as Chase won't look at you if you have no credit history?

Yep 2 US Amex cards. Hence 5/24 after CSP. Although with a large enough gap, I might even be 4/24 at that point. Besides the SUB, I don't really see CSP as a card worth signing up for and keeping long term. The Savorone and VX seem to earn more than CSP even on bonuses categories for everyday spend.

I'm hoping that my credit report is old enough by the time I get my ITIN. I was approved for my first Amex card in March last year so hopefully by April/May I should be okay.

 

[levelnine]

Can anyone let me know if there's anything I should be aware of with my strategy below?

Definitely go for the VX before the S1 because C1 is very random with their approvals/denials. There's a decent chance that you'll be denied for the VX, in which case the S1 doesn't make a huge amount of sense.

 

[_TheTraveller_]

Definitely go for the VX before the S1 because C1 is very random with their approvals/denials. There's a decent chance that you'll be denied for the VX, in which case the S1 doesn't make a huge amount of sense.

Have you ever been rejected for VX?

On another note, does anyone know on average how much an EIN and LLC cost?